Subject:Encina (history/athletic support/store/missing/what's new)
Date:Wed, 25 Nov 1998 16:40:57 -0800

Encina alumni,

HISTORY

More on Encina during the 80s from two alumni who were there.

Vancy Beers '82 wrote:
"I graduated from Encina in January 1982 according to school records. 
I only took 5 classes - 2 of which were electives (band and shorthand). 
(I was physically at school thru March 1982 but they bussed me over to 
Marconi Tech where I flew thru computer/word processing training and they 
got me a job so I was done with school.) I was only there for 1 semester 
but it was pitiful. I have a very low opinion of Encina so I can't say many 
nice things about it. The teachers wanted to be our friends, not teach us, 
and didn't bother to take roll, etc. I'd bet I rarely ever had homework. 
It was too-laid back and too easy. I should've gone to El Camino. Plus I 
went there to enroll with my transcript from my old high school showing I 
carried a 4.0 for 3 years and my counselor had me take Consumer Education 
because it was "required" even though I tried to tell her it was probably 
the same as my Consumer Math class I'd already taken. Then I found out of 
end of year you could challenge a class by taking the final -- she should've 
known I could do that with my eyes closed and then I could've used that period 
to actually learn something. I mean I'd already been thru Trig and was balancing 
my mom's checkbook and knew how to read the stock market prices. 

Anyway, the school was in such bad shape that they had to beg everyone to buy 
yearbooks for $19! The yearbook doesn't say size of graduating class but I'd 
say it was low. Oh, and even though I was a valedictorian, they forgot to invite 
me to graduation. I heard that I was from a sophomore that lived in my apartment 
complex -- he had attended the graduation ceremony.

I went to work full-time after graduation. I stopped by the next year on one of 
my day's off and talked to Mr. Kirrene. It was some sort of experimental, 
continuation-type school. I moved out of No Calif and was gone for 10 years. 
I was surprised to hear they were a regular high school again."

Aaron Ford '88 wrote:
"Regarding Encina's Academy program, I was a freshman at Encina in 1984. 
If memory serves me correctly, we were the first batch of students in the 
"Academy" and there were several branches-I was in the "Academy of Science 
and Technology" (I think there was also a medical and a vocational branch). 
We got a fair amount of grant money from the Academy program but it came with 
some restrictions. At least, that was what a couple of the teachers told me 
when I asked why we were using generic software (custom written, low budget 
word processor, spreadsheet, & database). At the time, we should have been 
using word perfect, lotus, and dbase. I think Carol Young's business class 
actually got to use real software, but they were the only ones to my knowledge.

There may have been some administrative advantages, but from a student's 
perspective it was just a lot of hype-didn't seem to change things one bit. 
There were academy related events (career guiding) during 1984 and one or 
two in 1985 but I didn't hear much of anything after that (or I stopped paying 
attention). I guess I was disappointed because we didn't have qualified teachers 
for any technical/computer classes. I ended up taking drafting and Dbase 
programming during summer school at American River College after my sophomore 
year and continued on with night school the next semester for Autocad. The 
only additional class that I saw was an introduction to computers class that 
was a total joke.

My guess is that the Academy probably attracted a few more students and 
funded the purchase of some equipment. So, maybe it wasn't a total waste."

Other comments are welcome. Rebuttal anyone?

ATHLETIC SUPPORT

Deborah Young sent me some additional information on her son Neil. I was going 
to attach the word file but it would have taken too long for most of you to 
download so here's a summary with no picture.

Name: Melvin "Neil" Young II
Grade: Junior
GPA: 3.5
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 200 lb
Position: Center
Neil Young writes:
"I want to attend a College that will afford me the opportunity to play basketball 
and earn a bachelor degree in engineering. I would like to attend Georgetown 
University. I’m currently in the Business Academy at Encina High School. I’ve 
Varsity lettered in Football and Track, and played Basketball last year (and 
earned most improved player). I plan on playing Baseball and Track this year. 
I’ve been active in volunteering in my community through the Open Gym at Encina, 
and worked over this past summer at Greer as a Recreation Aid for the Parks Service. 
I’ve been active in the Boy Scouts of America for the past seven years, and am now 
working on my Eagle Project to earn my Eagle rank in May. I’m going to restore the 
snack bar near the Baseball field here at Encina. I enjoy camping, fishing, and 
all sports."

The Encinan Booster Club is a non-profit organization. Encina alumni who wish to 
contribute to the Encina Booster Club can send their contributions to:

Encina Booster Club
1400 Bell Street
Sacramento,CA 95825
916-971-5801

Deborah Young wrote:
"I raised only $50.00 at Bingo Sunday, towards the needed $3,000.00 for Basketball 
uniforms. I plan on doing a raffle for a donated certificate for karate lessons at 
the game tomorrow and Bingo next Sunday. I've spoken with the Head Coach at EHS who 
wants to put on a spaghetti feed sometime soon."

STORE

Christmas is coming. Order your gifts now on the internet from the Encina store and 
save yourself the grief of fighting the crowds at the mall. If my application is 
approved, I'm hoping to add etoys soon, one of the largest toy stores on the internet. 
The weekly report from amazon.com showed another alumni purchase so that's $3 so far! 
I'm hoping things pick up over the holidays...

amazon.com sent me this message about holiday shopping:

"We've got some good news that we hope will make your holiday shopping more 
enjoyable: our Video and Gift stores are now open.

During the holiday season, you can visit our Gift store and find hundreds of 
our favorite toys, gifts for kids, personal electronics, gadgets, and computer 
and video games-- everything from PalmPilots to Pictionary, chemistry sets to 
cameras. (This is, of course, in addition to our selection of over 3 million 
book and CD titles, at everyday savings of up to 40%.) My favorite new feature, 
Gift-Click, is the easiest way I know of to send a gift. Just type in the 
recipient's e-mail address, and we'll take care of the rest-- we'll even find 
the physical address. Within seconds, you can select, wrap, and send your gift 
to anyone, anywhere.

Our new Video store should also make your holiday shopping easier, now that 
you can stay in the same place to take care of the video fans on your list. 
You'll find more than 60,000 VHS titles (plus thousands of DVD titles), 
comprehensive video information, expert reviews, movie quotes, and trivia. 
With a New Releases section and hundreds of genres to browse through, we 
think you'll find it easy to discover the videos you want.

Finally, don't forget that we can gift-wrap and ship your gifts wherever 
you want. Or, if you can't decide on a gift or if you've waited until the 
last minute (which I've done...once or twice), an Amazon.com Gift Certificate 
is a great solution (you can even send one Christmas Day)."


MISSING

A few new names on the missing list this week. Please check the list and see if 
you can help.

Julie Baxter 83 
Robert Watson 79 
Mark Posehn 79 
Mike Lamb 74 
Laurie Lindseth 74 
Sara Schuler 74 
Julie Stewart 74 
Karen Miller 77 
Greta Miller 73 
Tim Vince 84 
Kym Thorstad 91? 
Ann Schirle 68 
Karen Rhodes 68 
Kathleen Wilkerson 68 
Steve Bradshaw 69 
Cathy Jordan 70 
Nancy Rhinehart 70 
Gail Bogavich 69 

Bill Hutchins 75 (new)
Stephanie Opitz 84 (new)
Brenda Baker 62 (new)

WHAT'S NEW
11/24/98: Ruben Reveles 84, Jerry Baxter 67, Diane Baxter 69, Gail Siemion 82
Teachers: Chester Wilcox, Susan McGuire
11/22/98: Frances Oates 74, Jack Oates 67, Jeff Oates 70, Chris Oates 72
11/21/98: Yvonne Paul 83 bio, Colleen King 78/bio
Class of 1968 directory: added all the alumni who attended 
the 30th reunion (too many to list)
Related links: Added Encina directory with administrators 
and their phone numbers
11/20/98: Steve Mikesell 86, Debbie Peterson 73, Brian Knoff 89 bio, 
Charlie Dodds 89
Teachers: lots of additions thanks to Cindy Rea 68. 
We have addresses/phones for Rees Lee, Jack Bassett, John Figenshu, Don Golden,
Cornelia Whitaker, Susan McGuire

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Harlan
Encina webmaster