
Spartan Weekly Update Feb. 12-19

Week At A Glance
See What's Happening This Week
Mon. Feb. 12
Block Schedule-EVEN
Tues. Feb. 13
Block Schedule - ODD
PFSO Meeting-Library @ 7 pm featuring AP Capstone Presentation
Wed. Feb. 14
Block Schedule - EVEN
Theater Showcase-Date Night at VP-6 pm
Thurs. Feb. 15
Block Schedule - ODD
Love Me Some Lunch-Club Food Fundraiser @ Lunch
Fri. Feb. 16
NO SCHOOL-Presidents Day Weekend
Administration Update
Counselor Appreciation Week
Villa Park High School is proud to celebrate our awesome counseling team, who is dedicated to meeting the needs of our spartan students and families. Their work consists of meeting with students, consulting on academic goals, post-secondary college and career pathways, and providing support for students in times of struggle and crisis.
Our counseling team includes Mrs. Campbell, Mr. Pham, Mrs. Valentin, Mr. Bulrice, Ms. Bartelli, Ms. Zaffino, and our interns Ms. Genovese and Mr. Viera. Thank you all! We are grateful for all you do!
National School Counseling Week aims to focus on the contributions of our wonderful OUSD counseling team in helping our students achieve success with their academic and career goals. We appreciate all they do for our families! Thank you! 🧡
Learn more about our school counseling teams at: https://bit.ly/OUSDCounseling
AP CAPSTONE PARENT INFO @ JAN. 13 PFSO MEETING
Did you know that Villa Park High School offers the AP Capstone Diploma Program?
At VPHS, students with a passion for academic excellence and a drive for success can delve into the AP Capstone Diploma Program, a rigorous two-year course of study. Designed to hone the critical skills essential for college-bound AP/Honors students, this program offers two distinct AP Capstone awards: AP Seminar and AP Research.
Learn more at our next PFSO Meeting!
Mr. Pongco will be there to discuss this program and answer questions.
Tuesday, February 13th at 7:00pm in the VPHS Library.
VPHS Wins AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award
Congratulations to Villa Park High School for being named one of nine schools in Orange County honored by the College Board for their work toward equal gender representation by engaging more female students in computer science.
Villa Park High School was recognized with the 2023 AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award on January 18, 2024. Read more about this recognition at https://ow.ly/yvTU50Qvzol
VPHS offers the following courses in the area of Computer Science: Robotics 1, Robotics 2, Computer Science, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science. In addition, we have an active Girls Who Code Club focused on bolstering interest in and promoting Computer Science on campus.
Great job, Spartans!
Get Free Rides on OC Bus throughout Orange County
The Youth Ride Free program allows Orange County youth ages 6 to 18 to ride all OC Bus fixed-route service for free for travel to school, work or fun.
Passes and required parental request forms are available at participating Orange County schools.
Though many use the pass to travel to school, it can also be used to access jobs, libraries and summer activities such as trips to the beach, Knotts Berry Farm and the OC Fair.
The pass helps youth become familiar with the advantages of public transportation while taking cars off the road, thereby easing congestion and air pollution.
OC Bus offers service on more than 50 routes with over 5,000 bus stops. OC Bus provides clean, reliable, and convenient service throughout Orange County.
Learn more about the pass here.
Bell Schedule 2023-2024
Counselors' Corner
College Planning Checklist
Parent vs. Student Responsibilities
Which College Admission Process best suits you?
Counselor Assignments & Contacts 2023-24
A - DE - Lauren Bartelli
DF - JA - Jeremy Bulrice
JE - NE - Jason Pham
NG - SAM - Shasta Campbell
SAN - Z - Doreen Valentin
Interventions & Spartan Wellspace - Frankie Zaffino
Morning MATH SUPPORT available Monday - Friday
Activities
Lunar New Year
Written by: Vivian Lam
The Villa Park Vietnamese Student Association is a club striving to spread the Vietnamese culture and bring unity within the community. Their team, consisting of all grades, freshmen to seniors, have practiced over 100 hours to prepare for multiple traditional lion dance performances for VPHSl, other schools in the GGUSD/SAUSD districts, and the Villa Park community with visitor Congresswoman Young Kim. Their team is extra thankful for and enjoy the opportunity to get to spread their culture for all to see!
French Wedding
Written By: Alexander Tran
This Friday, the French Classes and Club held their annual French Wedding for Villa Park juniors Claire Von Ting and Louis Hermann. In conjunction with French teacher Madame Pazargadi, students had the opportunity to not only be a part of the wedding ceremony, but invite friends and family.
The French wedding is a special tradition, especially as the wedding is hosted wholly in French. Included in the ceremony are a myriad of stereotypical French foods, such as crepes and croissant sandwiches.
Villa Park High School’s French wedding attracts numerous visitors from the community including City Council Members and Board of Education Trustees.
Spartan Friendship Spirit Week
Meet our Staff
Michelle Stewart- Math Teacher
Written by Alexander Tran
As the most senior teacher here at Villa Park High School, Mrs. Stewart has served the Villa Park community for over 28 years. Being a longtime Villa Park resident, Mrs. Stewart not only grew up in the city but attended Villa Park Elementary and Cerro Villa Middle Schools. Mrs. Stewart would later attend Villa Park High School, graduating in 1981. During her time at the high school, Mrs. Stewart was an active tennis player and partook in over five years of French class. Following graduation, Mrs. Stewart would enroll at California State University, Fullerton and majored in Business/Finance. She would go on to continue her higher education at Concordia University, earning her Masters in Education. As a math teacher, Mrs. Stewart’s favorite aspect of her job here at Villa Park High School are the students and contributing back to the community that has given so much to her. Besides her career as an educator, Mrs. Stewart has been especially fond of curling and has attended three olympic games from all over the globe.
Doreen Valentin-Counselor
Written by: Alexander Tran
For the past several years, Mrs. Valentin has been a personal and academic asset to so many students on campus. Being a school counselor, Mrs. Valentin’s favorite aspect of her job is helping students find their individual path to success. First attending Montebello High School, Mrs. Valentin would go on to major and minor in Communications and English. Mrs. Valentin would continue her higher education at San Diego State University, where she achieved a Masters in Science. While attending SDSU, Mrs. Valentin worked on a grant that helped Somalian refugees. Mrs. Valentin’s passion for service would be extended within her work for a non-profit “Wahyupa”, and her adjunct professorship at Santiago Canyon College. While at work, Mrs. Valentin loves to sip on matcha tea from Starbucks and hang out with her amazing co-workers. Besides that, Mrs. Valentin is a dog lover and enjoys going out with her family.
Athletics
This Week In Athletics
Written by: Trinity Laurenson-Aumua
GIRLS BASKETBALL
This week, our varsity girls basketball team qualified for the CIF first round and hosted Victor Valley High School for their game this past Thursday. The varsity girls basketball team won with an outstanding score of 59 to 9 which permitted them to continue to the CIF second round. The girls varsity basketball team will be traveling to Gabrielino High School to compete for a win at 7pm. Good luck varsity girls basketball!
GIRLS SOCCER
This past week, the varsity girls soccer team was promoted to the CIF first round this past Thursday. The girls traveled to Temecula Valley High School yet lost with the score of 0-0, falling short of a goal during the last penalty kicks. Congratulations to the varsity girls soccer team for making it to CIF and on behalf of Villa Park High School, we are proud of your efforts as a team.
GIRLS WATER POLO
The varsity girls water polo team qualified for first round CIF and continued to travel this past Tuesday to Xavier Prep High School. The varsity girls water polo team won with the score of 8 to 3, allowing them to continue to CIF round two. The 2nd round for CIF took place this past Thursday versus Marlborough High School. The varsity girls water polo team fell short of the win with the score of 3 to 10. Congratulations on the achievement of making it to round one and two of CIF and on behalf of Villa Park High School, we are proud of the season you have had this year.
WRESTLING
This upcoming Friday, the girls varsity wrestling team will be traveling to San Dimas High School to compete in the CIF first round in the individuals round. Continuing on, the boys varsity wrestling team will be traveling to Sonora High School to also compete in the CIF first round in the individuals round. Best of luck to the girls and boys varsity wrestling teams!
Interested in Joining a Sport?
Contact our Athletic Director, Tom Fox tfox@orangeusd.org
Follow VPHS Teams on Social Media!
Please check out the VP Sports schedule for the latest game schedule, results, and events.
If you are on Instagram, follow our teams to stay updated on game results, schedules, and other team-related events:
- VPHS Boys Basketball
- VPHS Girls Basketball
- VPHS Rugby (NEW)
- VPHS Boys Soccer
- VPHS Girls Soccer
- VPHS Wrestling
- VPHS Aquatics - Water Polo Boys (Fall) Girls (Winter) Swimming (Spring)
- VPHS Cheer & Stunt
- VPHS Cross Country (Fall)
- VPHS esports
- VPHS Football (Fall)
- VPHS Flag Football (Fall)
- VPHS Girls Golf (Fall)
- VPHS Girls Tennis (Fall)
- VPHS Girls Volleyball (Fall)
- VPHS Baseball (Spring)
- VPHS Boys Golf (Spring)
- VPHS Boys Volleyball (Spring)
- VPHS Softball (Spring)
- VPHS Boys Tennis (Spring)
- VPHS Track & Field (Spring)
Upcoming Events
Free and Public Education Notice
Section 5 of Article IX of the state of California constitution guarantees students a "free public education". Any requests financial requests from coaches or teachers shall be donations and therefore not required to participate.
Villa Park is a public school, which means we offer a free public education. Any fees attached to events, such as field trips, are requested as a donation from families. Your child will not be excluded from the event if you are unable to donate for a school day field trip or program.
Villa Park High School Assistant Principal | Curriculum & Instruction