Extra Credit

MH Student Competes in Poetry Slam

MORGAN HILL RESIDENT ERICA VILLAREAL, an eighth-grader at MONTE VISTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL in Watsonville, has competed in the school’s annual Middle School Poetry Slam.

On May 18, in a darkened room, with bongos playing softly in the background, finalists stepped into the spotlight on stage to perform their original works before a panel of judges.

More than 60 students entered the first rounds of the competition, which took place in their classrooms. Winners in each round will advance to the next level, with the final 15 earning spots on the stage.           

“The Poetry Slam is a fun way for students to share their writing and to hear each other’s ideas,” said RACHEL HIROTA, a language teacher at the middle school who developed the event last year. “Sometimes the things they come up with are surprising!”

The judges on the panels included teachers, staff, parents and community members. All participants won a prize, which they selected from a collection of small toys, treats, and stickers assembled by Hirota. The grand prize winner will earn the title of Grand Slampion.

Mount Madonna Boys Volleyball Team Scores Top Academic Honor: Best GPA in CCS

Mount Madonna School’s boys varsity volleyball team has received the Central Coast Section (CCS) highest academic honor by the CALIFORNIA INTERSCHOLASTIC FEDERATION, the best collective scholastic grade average for all varsity teams.

“This award exhibits one of Mount Madonna School’s primary themes (which is) academic excellence,” said SIDD MCDONALD, Mount Madonna School’s athletic director, “and is a testament to our students who excel both in the classroom and on the court.”

The CIF Academic State Championships, formerly the Scholastic State Championships, were initiated in 1996 as a way to recognize teams with the highest collective grade-point average in their respective sport.

The Mount Madonna team’s collective GPA is 3.815. Team members are: Aaron Colton, Bodhi Shaffer, Chris Fust, Naveen Hattis, 11th grade; Daniel Nanas, Jeremy Thweatt, John-Nuri Vissell, Jonji Barber, Luke Sanders-Self, Mark Hansen, and Tom Shani, 12th grade.

This is the fifth time a Mount Madonna volleyball team has earned the distinction; they also received the award in 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2004-2005.