SHS Huskies Class of 2004
Since the other alumni reviews shouted out to the music, choir, art and animation teachers, I will also chime in.
My main program, which I still actively support today as a mentor and guest speaker, was the Biotech Academy. This was one of the pathways you could choose (others were focused on visual and performing arts, engineering and building trades, or social sciences), which had specialized classes you took over the 4 years. Now they've even added one more focused on agriculture (FFA). In BTA I was able to be exposed to hands-on microbiology, molecular biology (pipetting, running gels), and learn about ethics and technology in biotech careers on top of the regularly required biology, chemistry, physics and math. They also had field trips, community service, senior capstone project, internship opportunities, Blood Drive, and the Science Olympiad competitive team. Being in this academy really gave me an edge when I went on to UC Davis and inspired me to continue to pursue STEM professionally.
I recently got to see their 2022 Open House showcasing seniors' projects (my 2021 mentee's was on CRISPR/Cas9) and demos such as streaking petri plates, chromatography, fluorescent proteins, extracting DNA from strawberries, and 3-D printing. Shout out to Mrs. Kosney, Ms. Laurison, Mr. Cecil, Mrs. Ziegenhirt, Mr. Fendall and Mrs. O'Bear. The science department also has other electives such as Physiology, Ecology, Criminalistics, Programming, and Lab Tech.
I will also echo that Ms. George was the most amazing art teacher who I had for Art 1 and Commercial Art Graphics (didn't get to take AP Art Studio but she taught that too). That's where I got to learn how to airbrush acrylics, mixed media (pencil, ink, pastel, charcoal, acrylic) and opportunities to enter pieces in the State Fair or local/regional contests (Native Daughters of the Golden West, Duck Stamp).
Shinozaki-sensei was also the sweetest Japanese teacher (now retired). At that time we didn't have honors or AP Japanese but it was so neat to even have it offered as a foreign language option alongside Spanish, French, German and ASL. I participated in the summer exchange program with students from Osaka, Japan where we were a host family and matched with one student every other summer. In the alternating summers, Sheldon and Laguna Creek students would be hosted by Osaka families. We also had an exchange student from Sapporo all year.
It was the newest high school in the area at the time, before Pleasant Grove, Monterey Trails, Cosumnes Oaks and Franklin all popped up. For a public school in the suburbs, I would say I had a pretty well-rounded experience.
Other:
- "Every Day is a Great Day to be a Husky"
- Flight of the Bumblebees playing during passing period before bells rang
- Mazz's Alma mater/fight song "...cheer at the might of the teal, black & white"
- Arts Alive (VAPA)
-DeMarcus Nelson (basketball) before he went on to Duke
- Japan Club taiko drummers at Multicultural Assembly
- American Idol Season 2 Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken visited
- commencement at Arco Arena read more