La Canada High School

"Gentlemen," the head coach says. Spaghetti-twirled forks freeze. Sixty high school football players snap to attention. On game days like this one, the varsity players wear ties and shirts with collars under their gold jerseys. That morning, defensive back Sara Rathbun put on her father's $16 tie and had him knot it for her. She's wearing his black Levi's, her No. 35 jersey and a tucked-in white Oxford shirt. Coach Rich Wheeler hates it when his players walk around with shirttails out.

Henry Ramirez, meet Kyle Gosselin. We thought you should be introduced, at least virtually, because you have some things in common. You're a couple of low-key, low-drama, low-maintenance 17-year-olds who have just navigated 11th grade at large public high schools. Both of you are planning to go to college. Both thinking about careers in medicine. Both willing to work hard (but not insanely hard). Both smart (but not gunning to be No. 1). Yet how different two young lives can be.

A South Pasadena High School student was charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting Thomas Johnson-Blasucci, 18, a La Canada High School varsity football player, during a fight at an after-prom party, the district attorney's office said Monday. More than 100 people were at a La Canada post-prom party May 25 when a fight broke out between students from La Canada and South Pasadena high schools. Prosecutors said they will ask the court to try the 17-year-old suspect as an adult.

Situated in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest, La Canada Flintridge retains the small-town spirit that fueled its quest for cityhood. Put on the map by Civil War veterans seeking a place with recuperative clean air, the area is known for its breathtaking views. Beginnings How did the city come to have such a long name? In 1963, the rural town of La Canada, located in the glen between the San Gabriel Mountains and San Rafael Hills, wanted to grow into a proper city.

A South Pasadena High School student pleaded no contest Wednesday to the attempted murder of a La Canada High School student in a deal that will send him to prison for 16 years. David Melendez, 18, entered the plea in Pasadena Superior Court and admitted he used a firearm, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a drug and alcohol awareness program next month at La Canada High School. It is a joint venture between the city and the La Canada Unified School District. On March 11, area professional athletes--as yet undetermined--who are undergoing drug or alcohol rehabilitation will lead a round-table discussion about substance abuse with junior and senior high school students. On March 22, Dr.

Four students of Glendale-area schools have been selected to receive $2,000 National Merit Scholarships. The winners and their fields of study are: Lapoe E. Lynn of Eagle Rock, Glendale High School, electrical/aerospace engineering; Jennie M. Kim of La Canada, La Canada High School, genetics; Ivan C. Yen of Los Angeles, Franklin High School, business management, and Catherine A. Andrews of Pasadena, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, biological engineering....

The Sheriff's Department is investigating the stuffing of 70 anti-Semitic flyers into student lockers at two La Canada Flintridge schools over the weekend. About 40 flyers were found Monday morning at La Canada High School and 30 flyers were discovered at the Ability Plus School, a private elementary school, said sheriff's spokesman George Ducoulombier. The flyers contained caricatures of Jews, talked about deadly violence against Jews and listed a telephone number. James E.

Enrollment in La Canada public schools grew this year for the first time in more than a decade. Attendance figures for the first day of classes showed enrollment of 3,101, an increase of 3.5% over last year. All the growth occurred in the district's two elementary schools, which gained 135 pupils. La Canada High School enrollment fell by seven, and the district special education program declined by 23 students.

La Canada High School was chosen as a "Blue Ribbon School" by the U.S. Department of Education. As part of the recognition--260 other schools in the country are also being honored--Principal James E. Stratton, a counselor and a student will travel to Washington in September to receive an official plaque and a "Blue Ribbon" flag from President Clinton.

The spring musical at La Canada High School doesn't open until June 1, but it's already getting bad reviews -- from some parents. Last week, detractors and supporters of "Bat Boy: The Musical," now in rehearsal, packed a meeting of the La Canada Unified School District board. Worried parents asked officials to cancel the production of the satiric comedy about a creature who is half-human, half-bat.

A South Pasadena High School student pleaded no contest Wednesday to the attempted murder of a La Canada High School student in a deal that will send him to prison for 16 years. David Melendez, 18, entered the plea in Pasadena Superior Court and admitted he used a firearm, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

Re "UC Berkeley Admissions Scrutinized," Oct. 4: What is the surprise? That UC Berkeley recognizes that talent comes not only under the guise of high SAT scores? That Berkeley recognizes that most students would have high scores if they attended high-performing schools? That under-represented students tend to attend low-performing schools that fail them? I teach at a low-performing school that in 1999 earned the distinction of being the lowest-performing middle school in the state.

A South Pasadena High School student was charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting Thomas Johnson-Blasucci, 18, a La Canada High School varsity football player, during a fight at an after-prom party, the district attorney's office said Monday. More than 100 people were at a La Canada post-prom party May 25 when a fight broke out between students from La Canada and South Pasadena high schools. Prosecutors said they will ask the court to try the 17-year-old suspect as an adult.

A South Pasadena High School student was under arrest Friday for allegedly shooting and critically injuring a popular football player from La Canada High School during a fight at an after-prom party last weekend. The shooting at a La Canada Flintridge home early Sunday was sparked by an argument between students from both high schools, said Sheriff's Sgt. Victor Ibarra.

An 18-year-old football player from La Canada High School remained in critical condition Monday after being shot in the face during a melee between students from rival schools at a late-night, after-prom party, officials said. No one has been arrested in the shooting. The victim's name has not been released by authorities.

Tammy Ketabgian sits down at the piano and launches into a prelude and fugue by Bach. And although she plays the piece from memory, she declares herself unsatisfied. "I'm just learning this piece," she said. "I don't have it down." And then she begins the piece again. The energy that Ketabgian puts into her music is just one of the characteristics that helped the La Canada High School senior win honors from the L. A. County Commission on Youth earlier this month.

Frightened by recent terrorist attacks on Americans in Europe, a La Canada High School choral group has canceled a long-planned summer invitational tour of Austria and Germany. "Terrorism is a definite threat, especially for a large group of youth from this country," said John Kelsey, director of the La Canada High School Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers. "I didn't feel that any of us should be put in a position to jeopardize our health and safety."

Band members at Canyon High School weren't thinking about supporting one political party or another. They were thinking about the more than $4,000 their Anaheim band could get for just a few hours of work, knocking on the doors of Garden Grove Republicans on election day, urging them to go vote. State and district education officials used words like "inappropriate" and "partisan politics." An attorney for the state Department of Education said it likely violated the state Education Code.

Crescenta Valley High seemed headed toward a rout of La Canada on Friday night when Hudson Gossard threw two first-quarter touchdown passes to Jason Hogan and the Spartans committed three turnovers. However, the Falcons' offense disappeared over the next two quarters, gaining only 26 yards. La Canada stayed close, thanks to a touchdown on the final play of the half, courtesy of two Crescenta Valley penalties and an official's call.