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Orange County High School of the Arts

www.ocsarts.net

Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA), colloquially called "OH-sha", is a 7th-12th grade public charter school located in downtown Santa Ana, Orange County, California. The school targets middle and high school students with talents in the performing and visual, and literary arts. The educational program prepares students for higher education institutions and/or employment in the professional arts industry. Both the academic and arts program are renowned, prompting recognition in the US News "Best High Schools" program.

Contents

1 History

2 Academics

3 Art Attack Live

4 Arts

5 Student life

6 Campus

7 Notable students and alumni

8 References

9 External links

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History

The Orange County High School of the Arts reorganized as a public charter school on April 20, 2000, and relocated its primary facility from Los Alamitos High School to the Santa Ana Unified School District. OCHSA is a tuition free donation dependent public charter school governed by a Board of Trustees representing parents, the community, educators, and the Santa Ana Unified School District. The school is also supported by The Orange County High School of the Arts Foundation, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to the financial support of the school's tuition-free artistic programs, as well as its ongoing expansion plans. The Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation governed by a volunteer Board of Directors of prominent business and cultural leaders. With Development staff's input and guidance, the Foundation Board of Directors establishes fund-raising goals, manages long-term strategic planning, implements the school's capital, public relations and marketing campaigns, and oversees funding criteria. Members pay annual dues, serve on fundraising committees, attend the school's activities, and serve as ambassadors to the community-at-large.

Academics

The Orange County High School of the Arts provides a rigorous academic program that produces high achieving, motivated scholars. OCHSA's high school hours are from 8:10 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. The middle school schedule is from 8:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Fridays.

Until 1:30 p.m. each day, OCHSA students attend standard academic courses under a block schedule system with three academic classes per day, alternating each day for a total of six classes. Honors classes are offered, as well as many Advanced Placement classes including AP World History, AP U.S. History, AP Physics, AP Statistics, AP Spanish, AP French, AP Literature and Composition, AP Language and Composition, AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Art History, and AP Music Theory. OCHSA also has a unique selection of electives including but not limited to Acting, Piano, Ceramics, Make-Up, Graphic Design, Taekwondo, and Photography.

OCHSA's 2008 Academic Performance Index (API) score of 871 ranked the school as one of the top five ranked high schools in Orange County and in the top 10 percent in California.

OCHSA was named a Blue Ribbon School (American education's top prize for an individual school) in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Education. OCHSA was one of 250 Blue Ribbon schools recognized nationwide in 2006, among 35 schools in the State of California and five public schools in Orange County. OCHSA also was named a California Distinguished School.

According to the school, 99% of OCHSA alumni continue on to college[citation needed]. Students also must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA to continue participating in their art conservatory.

Art Attack Live

Art Attack Live set 2004-2005

The "Art Attack Live" is OCHSA's daily live television broadcast of the day's announcements. The show began broadcasting by a group of 4 students from the Film and Television (Jarrett Fein and Michael Nunes; Ryan Wilkinson and Robert Chambers on technical) conservatory in September 2003.

Today, crew members consist mostly of students from the school's Leadership (ASB) class, not OCHSA's Film and Television conservatory. The show is broadcast from one of OCHSA's two live television production studios in the technology building. Students at the school are given the opportunity to audition to become hosts of the show. This show is filled with creative people who make art attack a very interesting and unique part of OCHSA.

Arts

After 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, the school focuses on arts education, which is divided into 11 conservatories: Production and Design, Ballet Folklrico, Classical and Contemporary Dance, Commercial Dance, Creative Writing, Film and Television, Integrated Arts, Instrumental Music (divided into Classical Instrumental, Piano, and Jazz), Music and Theater (divided into Musical Theater, Drama, and Voice), Opera, and Visual Arts. Conservatory ends at 4:50 though students can stay later if necessary to rehearse or work.

James P. Blaylock, a fantasy author, is Director of the Creative Writing Department at OCHSA. The department's Writer in Residence is the award-winning fantasy author, Tim Powers. Every month the Creative Writing conservatory holds a reading.

The Instrumental Music Department holds many concerts throughout the year, and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City in spring of 2006. Its Symphony Orchestra, directed by Chris Russell, performed in the Sydney Opera House in the summer of 2008.

The Production and Design Conservatory at OCHSA designs the costumes, lighting, audio, makeup, and sets for over 125 school performances each year. This year it welcomes a new director, Kevin Cook, and multiple new teachers including Aaron Kokesch, Wally Huntoon, Ray Gibson, and Scott Collins.

OCHSA's largest event is the annual Season Finale, which takes place in early June at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The Finale recognizes notable graduating seniors, information about each conservatory, theatrical presentations, and instrumental performances, often showcasing pieces from the top performances of that year.

OCHSA's Gala fundraiser is the other large event, held in coastal Orange County towards the end of March. Gala is a themed fundraising event in which OCHSA students from various conservatories showcase their talents. It takes place at a hotel ballroom converted into a fully-functioning theater by the Production and Design students. Gala's theme for 2009 is "Jubilee de Paris".

Student life

Art Attack Live set redecorated to fit the campus's western-themed spirit week.

Because OCHSA is a commuter campus of students from 92 cities[citation needed], many students ride Metrolink and Amtrak train services, utilize OCTA bus service, or carpool with other students.

OCHSA has at least 3 high school dances every year: Homecoming (despite a lack of sports teams), Winter Formal, and Prom (11th and 12th grades only). All dances are themed, held at off-campus locations, and funded by ticket sales. For the 2006-2007 school year, the school added a "MORP" or "Backwards Prom".

The extended hours of OCHSA present a challenge to some students. Most students have to practice their specific art after school and still find time to finish their homework. Many students find little personal free time during the week between schoolwork, practicing their arts studies, homework, and traveling long distances to reach home. Before and after school and performances, many students visit local restaurants in the nearby Artists Village, such as the Gypsy Den or Starbucks.

Campus

OCHSA's campus consists of a seven-story office tower (formerly a bank) and three surrounding buildings. The main tower's bank vault is still in use as a teacher work area, and occasionally an octagonal theater.

Symphony Hall's main stage set up for Awards Night 2005

OCHSA has two on-campus venues. Symphony Hall, a theater which holds most of OCHSA's medium to larger performances, was formerly a historic Church of Christian Science before being converted to a theater. The hall contains a theater, a side rehearsal room, separate practice rooms for instrumental musicians, a basement and library for the creative writers, a front of house audio booth, and a balcony overlooking the auditorium for Production and Design students. This balcony houses an ETC lighting booth, multiple Source Four followspots, and a Lycian M2 Followspot nicknamed " The Spartan laser ". There is a plan to expand Symphony Hall into an adjacent parking lot. The other on-campus venue is the Black Box theater, which holds most of OCHSA's smaller performances.

The single-story "technology building" houses the bulk of the Film and Television department, the computer graphics portion of the Visual Arts department, and a few administrative offices. There are two fully-equipped studios[citation needed], one primarily for live television production and the other for film work. There is also a computer lab and a number of individual video editing rooms. The campus's daily student-run news television program, the Art Attack Live, is broadcast from the television studio and adjacent control room.

Situated between the main campus and the technology building is the "totem pole", a five-story ceramic tower covered in tiles. It serves as a gathering place for students during break times as well as a loading and unloading zone.

OCHSA's "Annex" is a combination of two white, windowless buildings connected by a set of ramps referred to as the "cheese maze" or "Star Tours" (as coined by Vice Principal Mike Ciecek). The Annex is home to many dance and vocal rooms and contains the Production and Design workshop, where OCHSA's production sets are constructed and painted. The Annex also houses the "Harry Potter" room, a Creative Writing classroom at the base of the stairs connecting the building's two halves. The room contains a collection of screenplays and books, as well as padded pillows and beanbag chairs.

Notable students and alumni

Scott Aukerman - Emmy-nominated Writer for Mr. Show/ Actor/ Comedian[citation needed]

Francisco Avina - Dancer/Choreographer, Member of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago[citation needed]

Nathan Trasoras - So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 Top 10 Dancer

Dante Basco - "Rufio" in Hook (film), The Debut, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Naked Brown Men, more

Dion Basco - City Guys, Biker Boyz, The Debut

Drake Bell - Drake and Josh, Yours, Mine and Ours

Eunice Cho - Dibs Commercial in Aug 08[citation needed]

Stephanie J. Block - Elphaba: Wicked on Broadway

Ashley Benson - The OC, Zoey 101, The West Wing, Scrubs[citation needed]

Kara Crane - "Jeanette Pachelewski" in Minutemen (film)[citation needed]

Chad Doreck - Grease: You're the One that I Want!

Susan Egan - Broadway Actress that earned Tony nomination for role as Belle in Disney's first Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast, voice of Meg in Disney's Hercules, served as OCHSA's interim artistic director

Lauren German - Hostel II, Texas Chainsaw Massacre[citation needed]

Katherine Hedrick - Accomplished film director[citation needed]

Vanessa Hudgens High School Musical franchise (home-schooled after 7th grade, did not graduate)

Rachel Jennings - boss of the LA-based gang "The Nair Ladies"

Alexandra Victoria Lee - Guest Star on "ER", Recurring Role on "Mad TV", Young Buffy in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", Guest Star on Scrubs[citation needed]

Robert Prescott Lee - Dancer in the movie "Rent (film)"[citation needed]

Taryn Manning - Crossroads

Daniel Ryan May - Performer in David Henry Hwang's "Flower Drum Song" and the 2003 national touring company of "Thoroughly Modern Millie (musical)"

Joe McGarry - Guitarist for indie band Pop Noir, recipient of the Silver T-Square award from the National Cartoonists Society

Luke McGarry - lead singer of indie band Pop Noir, recipient of the Silver T-Square award from the National Cartoonists Society

Mark Meismer - Guest Star on "Scrubs" My Own American Girl[citation needed]

Lindsay Mendez (Grease on Broadway *Jan)[citation needed]

Matthew Morrison - Starring role on Glee, Hairspray, and Tony-nominated role in The Light in the Piazza

Christi Nicholls (Starlight Express and Hairspray tours)[citation needed]

Monique Powell - lead singer of 1990s ska band Save Ferris[citation needed]

Rachel Reinert - singer in country group Gloriana (did not graduate)[citation needed]

Krysta Rodriguez - In the Heights, Spring Awakening, A Chorus Line on Broadway, Jordan Steele on Gossip Girl[citation needed]

Matthew Shaffer[citation needed]

Joy Shannon - Joy Shannon And The Beauty Marks[citation needed]

Columbus Short - Stomp the Yard, Save the Last Dance 2[citation needed]

Nikki SooHoo - Wei Wei in "Stick It"

Anneliese van der Pol - Chelsea Daniels on That's So Raven, final Belle in Broadway's Beauty and the Beast , Kathy in Off-Broadway's Vanities

Justin Grant Wade - "Steve Holt" on Arrested Development, Class of 2002

References

^ "Orange County High School of the Arts: Best High Schools - USNews.com". http://www.usnews.com/listings/high-schools/california/orange_county_high_school_of_the_arts. 

^ Catherine Gewertz (December 26, 1992). "The Fine Art of Fame". LA Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1992-12-26/local/me-2318_1_junior-high-school?pg=2. 

^ "Dante Basco IMDb Biography". IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002364/bio. 

^ "Drake Bell IMDb Biography". IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0068166/bio. 

^ a b Lori Basheda (December 2, 2008). "Fancy Nancy goes to high school". OC Register. http://strangeoc.freedomblogging.com/2008/12/02/fancy-nancy-goes-to-high-school/1292/. 

^ Sherri Cruz (March 19, 2007). "Piano Man". Orange County Business Journal. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5293/is_200703/ai_n21235816/. 

^ "Laugh It Up!". http://www.liucomedy.com/ourcharity.html. 

^ Laura Weinert (August 29, 2002). "OCHSA's New Direction". Back Stage West. http://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4378826-1.html. 

^ Jocelyn Vena (October 22, 2008). "High School Musical' Was Vanessa Hudgens' Only High School Experience". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1597627/20081021/story.jhtml. 

^ "Taryn Manning Biography". Yahoo! Movies. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1804500979/bio. 

^ "Article from Curtain Up". July 15, 2003. http://www.curtainup.com/flowerdrumsongny.html. 

^ "Article from Playbill.com". July 15, 2003. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/80634-Beat_the_Drums_Here_Comes_Millie_on_Tour_Starting_July_15. 

^ The Daily Cartoonist, 5/28/07

^ The Daily Cartoonist, 5/28/07

^ "OCHSA Alumni". August 26, 2009. http://ocsarts.net/Page.aspx?pid=195. 

^ a b "Official Matthew Morrison website". August 26, 2009. http://matthewmorrison.net/resume.html. 

^ Theresa Walker (May 9, 2006). "People making a difference: Acting out her message". OC Register. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/people-making-a-1134738-difference-acting-out-her-message. 

^ "Celebutopa". http://www.celebutopia.net/anneliese-van-der-pol/. 

^ "Justin Grant Wade (Orange County, CA)". Facebook. October 17, 2009. http://www.facebook.com/justingrantwade. 

Alyssa Pritchett- Disney Movie

External links

Orange County High School of the Arts

California Department of Education

Charter Schools Development Center's Profiles Project

OCHSA Conservatory Survey

GreatSchools.net

v  d  e

Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) Schools

High Schools

Century High School  Godinez Fundamental High School  Saddleback High School  Santa Ana High School  Segerstrom Fundamental High School  Valley High School  Middle College High School  Cesar E. Chavez High School  Lorin Griset Academy

Intermediate Schools

Carr Intermediate School  Lathrop Intermediate School  MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate School  McFadden Intermediate School  Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School  Sierra Intermediate School  Spurgeon Intermediate School  Villa Fundamental Intermediate School  Willard Intermediate School

Elementary Schools

Adams Elementary School  Carver Elementary School  Davis Elementary School  Diamond Elementary School  Edison Elementary School  Esqueda Elementary School  Franklin Elementary School  Fremont Elementary School  Garfield Elementary School  Grant Elementary School  Greenville Fundamental School  Harvey Elementary School  Heninger Elementary School  Hoover Elementary School  Jackson Elementary School  Jefferson Elementary School  Kennedy Elementary School  King Elementary School  Lincoln Elementary School  Lowell Elementary School  Madison Elementary School  Martin Elementary School   Monroe Elementary School  Monte Vista Elementary School  Muir Fundamental School  Pio Pico Elementary School  Remington Elementary School  Romero-Cruz Elementary School  Roosevelt Elementary School  Santiago Elementary School  Sepulveda Elementary School  Taft Elementary School  Thorpe Fundamental School  Walker Elementary School  Washington Elementary School  Wilson Elementary School

Charter Schools

Albor Charter School  Orange County Educational Arts Academy  Orange County High School of the Arts  Nova Academy Early College High School  Edward B. Cole Academy  El Sol Science and Arts Academy  Orange County Educational Arts Academy

Categories: Schools of the performing arts in the United States | Educational institutions established in 1987 | High schools in Santa Ana, California | Blue Ribbon schools in CaliforniaHidden categories: Articles with unsourced statements from February 2008 | All articles with unsourced statements | Wikipedia articles needing copy edit from February 2008 | All articles needing copy edit | Articles with unsourced statements from June 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements from May 2008
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