El Camino Fundamental High School

infobox school
name=El Camino Fundamental High School


established= 1951
streetaddress=4300 El Camino Avenue
city=Sacramento
state=California
country=United States
zipcode=95821
principal=Mike Stockdale
website=http://www.sanjuan.edu/ElCamino.cfm

El Camino Fundamental High School is an American public high school in Sacramento, California in the San Juan Unified School District. Their many sports teams ranging from football to water polo are known as the Eagles, and their band program, dance team and cheerleading squad are nationally recognized.

Ernie Boone was the principal for 14 years from 1993 to 2007. He was replaced by Mike Stockdale. The vice principals are Peter Efstathiu, Sandi Karagianes, and Jill Spears.

Academically, El Camino has ranked as the top school in the San Juan Unified School District for 4 years as measured by their Academic Performance Index. Some outstanding programs include the Eagle Polytechnic Institute (EPI) which focuses on engineering, and the Honors and AP programs.

El Camino Band

El Camino Fundamental High School has three academic bands and one Pep Band. All four bands are under the leadership of Band Director Kevin Glaser, who has been teaching at the school since 1994, was a News 10 KXTV Teacher of the Month in 2007, and has made the EC (El Camino) band program what it is today.

The three academic bands in the EC Band program are Concert Band (the Freshmen band), Symphonic Band (the advanced group, which consists of Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors), and the Jazz Band (a compliance of Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors).

The Concert Band is the beginning band in the EC Band program. Students are taught scales, more advanced note fingerings and tested on what they're learned. The Concert Band consisted of around 50 students in the 2007-2008 school year.

The Symphonic Band is the advanced band in the program. To get into the Symphonic Band, students must demonstate that they have learned enough for the advanced class. This band goes on a Spring Tour or Summer Tour every year, including a trip to Disneyland in 2006, Oahu, Hawaii in 2007, and most recently, San Diego in 2008. Tour are not just for leisure however; students must attend music clinics and play at public venues. The Symphonic Band consisted of around 70 students in the 2007-2008 school year.

Both the Concert and Symphonic bands are judged every March at the Golden Empire Music Festival (the highest ranking music festival in the Greater Sacremento area). Both bands are notorious for doing very well at the festival, having received a Superior rating in all areas that they were judged for 2 years in a row (this is including the Concert Band; the Symphonic Band has received a Superior rating for many years).

While considerably smaller, the Jazz band plays at more festivals and public events than the other two, including the world-renown Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

The Pep Band is notorious for not marching or wearing marching band attire to El Camino football games. Instead the required dress is a black jacket, black pants and the official EC Band t-shirt.

Students in their Juniors or Senior year of high school may challenge themselves and sign up for Honors Band. This actually isn't a band, although it was at one point, but rather an out of class activity that consists of students learning all twelve major scales, mastering the full range of their instrument and taking a music theory course. Students who complete the course are given Honors Band credit which can count toward their college credits.

EPI (Eagle Polytechnic Institute)

The EPI program is for students who wish to get a career in the engineering field. They offer classes in engineering for every year. Students take Engineering 1 their sophomore year, and advance through their senior year.

Notable alumni

* Mike Burton - Olympic gold medalist swimmer
* Phil Isenberg - State Assemblyman and former Sacramento Mayor
* Claude "Butch" Lee Edge - former MLB pitcher
* Derrek Lee (1993) - first baseman for the Chicago Cubs
* Larry Linville - Major Frank Burns in the television series M*A*S*H
* Herman Segelke - former MLB pitcher
* Timothy B. Schmit - Bass Guitarist for The Eagles
* Jon Mauerer - Rio Americano Baseball Coach

External links

* [http://www.sanjuan.edu/ElCamino.cfm El Camino Fundamental High School official website]
* [http://www.sanjuan.edu/webpages/kglaser/ The El Camino Band website]