The Cypress boys basketball team lost to Fireball 66-37 in the Century Basketball Tournament during the Christmas break. The Centurions came back to defeat Santa Ana 63-32. However, the next two games would not be kind for Cypress as the Centurions dropped a 60-50 decision to Northwood and fell to Riverside Poly 64-59. Cypress plays its next game Jan. 7 against Loara High School.
Cypress falls to Yorba Linda
The Cypress High girls’ water polo team suffered an 11-4 loss to Yorba Linda on Thursday, Jan. 30 at home. This marked the team’s third straight loss.
Game supplied
Cypress resident George Fotinakes recently presented the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress with a handcrafted wooden board game. He is pictured with Club members, Damian, Richard, Dominik, Peter, Jack and Kody. The club was appreciative of the donation and said it would be put it to good use.
Club earns national notice
The Boys & Girls Club of Cypress won national recognition from Boys & Girls Clubs of America for an exceptional increase in the number of youth attending the club. In the past five years the Club has grown from 65 to nearly 250 members on a daily basis.
LAUSD will use church venues
Los Alamitos Unified School District officials currently plan to continue using Cottonwood Church as a venue for the chorale festival and the middle school promotion, according to the assistant superintendent of educational services.
Rosmoor neighbor preparedness
It was a cool, relaxing Sunday morning when more than 80 neighbors gathered in Rossmoor for a Neighborhood Meet & Greet, “Chili Day In January,” a Neighbor 4 Neighbor Event, to hear about crime prevention and emergency preparedness on Jan. 26.
AUHSD Board appoints interim superintendent
Since the abrupt departure of former school chief Dr. Elizabeth Novack, the Anaheim Union High School District have been in rapid response mode for the better part of two weeks.
The district has fired off a couple of press releases-one to name the interim superintendent, the other to assure parents and constituents about maintaining a level of academic excellence.
Sandra Barry, who ran the district previously until her retirement five years ago, was named interim superintendent by the Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees. Barry began her second stint with the district on Dec.9.
Barry served for eight years as superintendent of the Anaheim City School District, until her retirement in 2008. She also previously served the AUHSD as interim superintedent in 2010.
“Sandy Barry is a highly respected educator who is familiar with the Anaheim Union High School District and the communities it serves,” said Board President Mr. Brian O’Neal. “We are very pleased she agreed to assume the interim spot.”
Mrs. Barry said she is looking forward to her new role.
“I have great respect for the AUHSD as a highly accomplished institution,” she said. “All I need to do is maintain the positive momentum.”
Mrs. Barry began her educational career in Orange County as a junior high school English and French teacher and was quickly promoted to director of educational services, assistant superintendent, and then deputy superintendent.
Mrs. Barry hails from Nebraska, where she received her bachelor’s degree in education from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She also has a master’s degree in education, from California State University, Fullerton.
Mrs. Barry has been involved in a variety of community activities in the Anaheim area, including serving on the boards of the Tiger Woods Foundation, Tiger Woods Learning Center, Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Anaheim Family YMCA, and the Salvation Army.
She has also served in various capacities for the Children and Families Commission of Orange County, Anaheim Achieves After School Program, Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, and the Association of California School Administrators.
In 2007, she received the Tracy Gaffey Award from the Association of California School Administrators for “outstanding leadership by an Orange County superintendent.”
While Mrs. Barry serves in the top spot on a temporary basis, the Board will actively seek to make a permanent appointment as superintendent. In keeping with Board members’ desire to maintain transparency, the community will be kept apprised of the selection process. Board members also shared that they will seek external and internal candidates for the position.
Since naming Barry the short-term superintendent, board members released a second document to qualm any concerns parents may have. This time the onus wasn’t on replacing an educator, it was centered around getting the community more engaged and assisting students in preparing for the Common Core State Standards test.
The Board of Trustees appreciates the comments received in the aftermath of the termination of the contract of Dr. Elizabeth I. Novack. It is the connection between the AUHSD and the community that is going to serve us well as we navigate the future as a District, particularly with the selection of a new superintendent.
“As Board members, we assure you that we will continue to act in the best interests of the District,” We have already taken steps in that direction with the appointment of veteran Anaheim educator Mrs. Sandy Barry as our interim superintendent.
Mrs. Barry is skilled in the interim role, as she proved when she previously served the AUHSD as interim superintendent in 2010. As a retired superintendent of the Anaheim City School District, Mrs. Barry has been able to immediately put into action her deep knowledge and appreciation for public education in Anaheim and our communities of Cypress, La Palma, Buena Park, and Stanton.
The Board would like to take the opportunity presented by Mrs. Barry’s appointment to assure the community that we remain committed to the work currently under way in key areas, including:Common Core State Standards; P21—21st Century Skill; Positive Employee Relations; Community (Parent, Student, Faculty, Staff) Engagement/Educations•California Voting Rights Act; General Obligation Bond Preparation
Meanwhile, it is our intention as a Board to conduct a rigorous, transparent search for our next superintendent. Although we have yet to officially outline the selection process, you may be assured that it will include ample opportunity for the community to state the qualities desired in our next superintendent.
AUHSD Board looks for interim superintendent
Former Anaheim High school graduate Dr. Elizabeth Novack was dismissed as superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District. After a three-year stint leading the district, Novack had her contract terminated.
Information regarding Novack’s contract termination is still unclear. So far, phone calls by the Independent to the Anaheim Union High School to get more clarity on the situation have gone unreturned. What is known is that Novack is a longtime educator.
Novack’s educational background includes working for the Cypress School District, Newport-Mesa Unified School District and Downey Unified School District.
On Wednesday, the Board of the Anaheim Union School District decided to release to a statement about going through a process in looking at a replacement for Novack.
The Board of the Anaheim Union High School District on Tuesday decided to undergo a selection process for an interim superintendent to lead the District while the search for a new superintendent is undertaken.
Board President Brian O’Neal said he would contact candidates on Wednesday to gauge their interest in the position left vacant by the termination of the contract of Dr. Elizabeth I. Novack.
“There may be a point where we have to conduct interviews, but I don’t know at this time if that will be necessary,” Mr. O’Neal said. “We are hoping it is going to be a very quick process.”
The Board has indicated that once the interim superintendent is in place, it will also act quickly to begin the search for a new superintendent.
Mr. O’Neal vowed to keep the lines of communication open with the AUHSD community.
“We know how important it is to keep our stakeholders informed about our decision-making process,” he said. “It is our intention to be as open and transparent as possible as we move forward.”
Los Al girls’ water polo impresses in Villa Park Classic
The undefeated Los Alamitos High girls’ water polo team delivered an impressive performance during the opening day of the Villa Park Classic. The team started the day with a 15-3 victory against La Habra and then topped MLK High with a 16-4 win on Thursday, Dec. 12 at Villa Park High.
Los Al volleyball to play for CIF State title
The Los Alamitos High girls’ volleyball team swept Mater Dei to capture the CIF South Regional Championship on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Senior Crissy Jones sealed the 25-23, 25-16, 25-20 victory with a block from the corner of the net inside the Falcon Gymnasium at Cerritos College. That point sends the Griffins to the CIF State Division-I Championship final, where they will face Granite Bay, the Northern California representative.
Los Al basketball leads Sunset League
The Los Alamitos High boys’ basketball team remained hot last week, stretching its winning streak to eight straight games, including all three of Sunset League contests to sit on top of the standings.
Griffins move into second in league
The Los Alamitos High girls basketball team improved to 3-1 in Sunset League play with a 43-39 win over Newport Harbor on Monday.
Burglary information open house
Four daytime residential burglaries have occurred in the last two weeks in the Greenbrook neighborhood located northwest of the intersection of Cerritos Avenue and Bloomfield Street. Each occurred between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.