• Biggest Spirit Week Yet

    Every Day this week is something to celebrate. The fun focuses on sports, but you need not be an athlete to join in the fun. Monday is Jersey Day and you can find something that either represents the team that you like best, or find one that shows you off to your best advantage. We will be taking pictures throughout the day to honor those in costume. Tuesday is for Teammates. Can you wear something that pairs or triples your look. Might require some coordination, but you have to stretch to succeed. No pain, no gain, right? Of course, that is what Workout Wednesday is all about. Whether you get fit by running, lifting or aerobics, we want you to come ready. And if you work your brain muscles, you can certainly think of some outfit that tells the world, that the mind is a muscle too. Thursday is time to pick sides--Nike or Adidas? If you have an independent spirit, maybe you'll pick something totally off the wall. Then Friday is the big Day--Rally and class colors. The Seniors wear Black, the Juniors in White, the Sophomores in Blue and the Freshmen in Gold. Then we go into the gym during 4th period and expect fun, games and maybe a surprise or two too. Because Friday is also the day of our Radio Takeover. So 99.7 is going to be here on campus right at the transition between the Rally and the Lunch bell to bring the good times out. Then Friday night, ten Spartan students go to the Radio Station and will have one hour on the air to shout out to their pals who live in Pinole. It's a great week to show and shout what you're cheering for

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  • Softball Season starts with Big Wins

    We thought beating Campolindo 13-3 on the road was a good start. After shutting down Miramonte 15-0, we are raising the bar. Best of all, the mayor of the city of Pinole was present to throw out the first pitch. Maybe we have to have our elected officials at all games. We are also grateful for singer, Sierra Jones who threw out a perfect National Anthem. Wow. Then it was Spartan pitching, offense and defense the rest of the way. What a performance by freshman Kailani Tatro going the distance and striking out 14. Also three hits, but as you can see from the results, it was more than just a one man band. The Spartans head into league play Wednesday hosting Jesse Bethel of Vallejo and hope to make it three straight to start the season. Meanwhile, it is also the season for tennis, and the boys team rolled Richmond 7-0 to start their season with a serious message. We note that our number one singles player Julian Jenkins dominated his match winning 6-0, 6-0. The boys tennis team travels to Jesse Bethel today and the volleyball team is home to host the El Cerrito Gauchos. Everybody else is practicing. If you think Spring is busy now, just wait for another few weeks, when it is actually spring! Go Spartans!

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  • Friday is Red Sand Day at Pinole Valley

    How does one person make a difference in a world where over 40 million people are enslaved or trafficked? Can Art make a difference in the face of such injustice? The answer to both of those questions is yes. And Friday night here on campus starting at 6:00 p.m. we will make our mark. The Red Sand Project will see students committed to making their mark, literally do so by finding cracks in the surface and filling them the aforementioned red sand. Ms. Shokrai has inspired us and we will provide the sand, if you are willing to supply your self. We will get started at sundown and leave a physical legacy on our campus and around our school showing that we are in solidarity against conditions that lead to exploitation. As the project organizers state, "Your participation expands the movement" And we will take images to show the world what we think. And how we act.

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  • Spartan Chorus has a Day (and a Night)

    Wednesday afternoon, over 90 Spartan students traveled to San Francisco to take in the musical landmark, Hamilton. With a number of adult chaperones, the students got to see the phenomenal show and then were treated to a talkback session where they heard from the musical director of the Broadway smash hit. If that wasn't enough, for an evening, our Choir then came back to the East Bay and headed over to the District School Board meeting at DeJean Middle School and performed a show stopper of their own. You might think, well that's a full week's work, but you haven't met Mr. Joe Lim, Choir Director, who is hosting the District Honor Band Thursday here at school, in preparation for the all District show next week. Oh, and the tryouts for Pinole Valley's Got Talent? That's the choir and Mr. Lim too, today at lunch.

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  • Yearbook Announces it is Club Time

    Every day at lunch this week, it is Picture Day. The Yearbook crew in room D102 is looking for you. You and your clubs this week. We have a busy schedule, but you don't want to miss out, and miss your chance for posterity. On Monday it is the Anime Club, the Chess Club, Astrology, Cosmetology, the Car Club and the Poly Club. Tuesday is Culinary, Dominos, Earth Team and the Gay Straight Alliance. Wednesday is a shorter day, but the same length lunch, it will have photo opportunities for Girls Empowerment, Intearct, K-Pop and the Math Club. Then on Thursday, the Yearbook staff will immortalize the MESA club, the National Honor Society and the Ocean Conservation club. Then on Friday it is Political Revolution, Spartan Take Over, Leadership and any missing clubs. We only have the one date and lunch per club, so if you want to be remembered and honored, don't miss out. The Yearbooks go on sale later this month, and you will want to get in on it at the low price it is going for right now, rather than wait til it's too late.

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  • Super Sports Tuesday

    Girls Basketball leads off a big Tuesday at Pinole Valley. The Lady Spartans are in rare air, having gone deeper into the post-season than any hoops team in a decade. And the opponent couldn't be any bigger. The Lady Spartans travel to Hayward to take on first seed Moreau Catholic for a chance to play in the North Coast Section Finals and advance to the California state tournament. The girls would love to have you come out. We encourage you to be a part of what has been a magical season for the hoopsters. Meanwhile it is batter up at Fernandez Park, the boys baseball team opens its season at home vs. San Rafael High School with the first pitch humming in at about 3:30 p.m. The boys are off a TCAL title and hope to earn another flag. You'll want to say you were there "when it all began". The girls softballers are starting their season with a scrimmage at Analy High School. And before you know it, volleyball, tennis, swimming, golf, track and badminton will be taking on all comers making Spring the real season of Spartan sports. Oh, and football conditioning is happening now too. Something for everyone.

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  • Progress Report Time

    Every five weeks, our school community reports on how the students are progressing. The first mark of the second semester happens this week, as Pinole Valley teachers record their progress reports. A note--the progress report is the one report that is not permanent in the sense that there are no direct consequences. A quarter report card (every ten weeks) determines honor roll and eligibility for the subsequent quarter's sport or extra curricular. The semester grade is the one that goes on the transcript and is sent to colleges and universities. We still think the Progress Reports are super useful as a check in terms of how you are doing. If you need to make more progress, head to the library daily after school. Or check with teachers, many of whom host office hours and will meet with students one-to-one. Either way, the PR's allow you a notice that there are five weeks to maintain or improve. We think that that is reason enough to get excited and active about them. So how are you doing?

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  • Ceramics Guild brings Spartan Art to the Community

    What we make in Art is sometimes personal, sometimes assigned and sometimes for the benefit of the artist and the community. Saturdays in the spring, don't be surprised to see Pinole Valley students selling and showing their wares at the local Farmers' Market. We love the creations that are both beautiful and practical. We know that you will want to both support student creation and get yourself something lovely and unique. The team led by Ceramics teacher, Ms. Shokrai put in the hours after school and craft one of a kind works of art. Mugs, vases and plates along with artistic items are some of what you will see displayed. Every week expect something different. We encourage you to drop by the Ceramics classroom on your next visit to campus and see where it all begins. Of course, you can wait til Saturday and pick up the finished product as well. Priced to go!

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  • Girls Basketball Advances to Semifinals

    The Pinole Valley girls keep rolling. The Lady Spartans just knocked off 4-seed Alhambra on the road Friday night 57-41 and move on to the North Coast Section semifinals on Tuesday night. The Lady Spartans trailed at the half but then blew the doors off the Bulldogs who had beaten big Blue earlier this season. It was a total team effort and the intensity and focus was obvious. With the win, Pinole Valley advances to the deepest it has been in over five years in the tournament. Coach BJ Gaither had the team loose and fired up to win as underdogs on the road. The next matchup may be against the number 1 seed at their home gym, but at this point the Spartans look like giant killers. We are Spartan proud of the girls who continue their run of 10 wins in the last 11 games and with bigger dreams still ahead.

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  • Lions Club Speech Contest ends with Spartan Winner

    One of the aspects of our vision is that Pinole Valley High will be a vital and important part of our community. We are going to be showing up tonight at the El Sobrante Christian School for the local Lions Club Oratorical contest. The Club has a new topic each year, this year it about Homelessness. We are hoping that we can advance a student to the District level, where in addition to winning recognition, students can also win cash toward college. The Lions Club asks students to prepare a speech of no more than ten minutes and tasks them to have the speech memorized by the next level. it is a contest of skill and courage to stand before a group of adults who hope their club can represent well. This year was no exception, Lily Johnstone '20 won the first round contest Thursday in El Sobrante and we are celebrating her win. She moves on to the next level and will compete on February 27 at the Richmond Mechanic's Bank and try to advance all the way to the State Level. Lily speaks about the Housing First plan and argues that it is a good first step in addressing the situation. Lilly was also our school's Poetry Out Loud school representative and we are excited to hear what she has to say. Spring time is your best chance to see what our students can do. The service clubs are just one of many organizations that support students locally. We are confident that you will be able to see our Spartan students throughout the Spring at various events and competitions. Look here for results from the Lions Club, and stay online to search out new opportunities.

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  • Spartan Trio wows em at the County Honor Band

    Eli Bird, percussionist, Anthony Augilar (center) saxophone and Emmanuel Soto (tuba) were the only representatives from West County at the 30th annual Contra Costa County Honor Band show held this past Saturday at Campolindo High School in Moraga. Amongst the selections performed were Danserye (a 16th century selection), The Cruel Moon (a modern adaptation of the Calypso story) and The Automatic Earth, a piece that enlisted technology and repetition to send an eerie effect. Then wrapping up with Latin-tinged Dancing Fire, and led by an emeritus professor of Music from Arizona State University, all of our kids looked and played their best. Emmanuel '21 even won a music scholarship for his outstanding work at the rehearsal and dozens of band students came to honor our participants. Great night to be a Spartan

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