La Habra High School

Tuberculosis screening began Wednesday at La Habra High School to test students and staff who were in close contact with a senior who earlier this month was diagnosed with a contagious form of the disease. "Things went very smoothly," said Ron Anderson, assistant to the superintendent at the Fullerton Joint Union High School District. Anderson said of the 291 current and former students who were requested to participate in the screening, 229 were tested during the school day.

Holiday activities -- A listing in Thursday's Calendar Weekend section indicated that the fireworks display and related activities at Chino High School would be held Monday. In fact, the festivities are 3 to 9 p.m. today. Also, an item about the display at La Habra High School should have run with Orange County events, not with those in Los Angeles County.

At 72, Sylvia Gebhart, a security supervisor at La Habra High School whom students and faculty call "Gramma," can still keep order. The great-grandmother does what some describe as one of the toughest jobs on campus. Gebhart, who is in charge of four other campus supervisors, takes no guff. She breaks up food fights and escorts cigarette-smokers and others who break school rules to the principal's office for discipline.

Just call it "CSI: La Habra." The scene? A graffiti-marred school cafeteria where vandals have tipped over trashcans, splashed soft drinks on the ground and even left a small puddle of blood near the door. For a young crime scene investigator, this is heaven. Capitalizing on the popularity of the hit "CSI" television shows -- from Miami to New York -- La Habra High School has hit pay dirt with its forensic science program.

La Habra High School teacher Lorna Paxman has been named Teacher of the Year by the Brea Masonic Lodge. Paxman teaches reading and English and is a member of the school's reading committee. In 1998, she was chairwoman of the school's accreditation self-study, in which La Habra High School received the highest accreditation possible from the Western Assn. of Schools and Colleges.

La Habra High School art teacher Ellen Gumucio is one of 10 finalists for the prestigious BRAVO Awards, sponsored by the Music Center of Los Angeles County. The BRAVO Award recognizes teaching excellence in the visual and performing arts, based on evaluation of classroom performance, including site visits by a panel of judges.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed rookie running back Chuck Weatherspoon, who was put on waivers Monday by Philadelphia. Weatherspoon, the Eagles' ninth-round draft choice from La Habra High School, finished his college career at Houston as the Cougars' all-time leading rusher with 3,247 yards.

Rather than compete with a festival being sponsored by La Habra High School's band later this month, a carnival promoter has canceled an event scheduled for the same time. "I have to, in good conscience, bow out," Jim Bast, director of guest relations for the Ray Commack Show, told La Habra High School band fans and the City Council.

La Habra High School students got an unexpected holiday after a maintenance worker failed to shut off a chlorine gas valve to a swimming pool filter. Only a skeleton crew remained to answer phones while the Orange County school's 1,580 students and 120 teachers, administrators and staff were sent home as they arrived for classes. The maintenance worker was briefly overcome by the gas and was treated and released at a nearby hospital, police said.

Holiday activities -- A listing in Thursday's Calendar Weekend section indicated that the fireworks display and related activities at Chino High School would be held Monday. In fact, the festivities are 3 to 9 p.m. today. Also, an item about the display at La Habra High School should have run with Orange County events, not with those in Los Angeles County.

It was one spike, but it left an indelible memory. Sure, La Habra's Keao Burdine showed off her all-around skills throughout this season, leading the Highlanders to their second Southern Section title in three years and their first state final appearance since 1991. And the USC-bound senior may be most remembered for her 33 kills and 23 digs in a thrilling, five-game victory over Lakewood St.

7 TONIGHT COVINA DISTRICT STADIUM Neither school has been to a section final since the early 1980s, but that's not apparent in their level of play. La Habra has won 12 consecutive games with steady defense and an unpredictable offense. The Highlanders surprised Covina last week with a four-receiver, no-back set on their opening drive, marching downfield for a quick score. South Hills, winner of 10 in a row, isn't without a few wrinkles either.

The city plans to recognize its winning high school athletic teams with a special parade and celebration Saturday at City Hall. La Habra High School's varsity football team, which will compete tonight against South Hills of West Covina for the Division IX Southern Section CIF Title, will be honored along with La Habra High School's varsity volleyball team and Whittier Christian High School's girls' volleyball team.

Tony Sanchez was a Physical Education-class legend long before he starred for La Habra High's football team. He could shoot a basketball straighter, spike a volleyball harder and throw a softball farther than anybody in his fifth-period P.E. class. "Everything he tried he was good at," said Frank Mazzotta Jr., in his third year coaching football and teaching P.E. at the school.

Officials for the Fullerton Joint Union High School District are seeking bids to replace leaky roofs on the gymnasiums of La Habra High, Sonora High and Troy High. All of the roofs are more than 20 years old and qualify for $157,000 in maintenance funding.

Frank McCarroll, boys' basketball coach at La Habra High School, has been appointed the school's athletic director. McCarroll, who also teaches social science, will take over the job when the 1996-97 school year begins. He replaces Duke Reynolds, who retired. Davis VanBreemen, another social science teacher, will become the boys' basketball coach.

La Habra's Keao Burdine is one of Orange County's most talented girls' volleyball players. The 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter has committed to play at USC next season, and this summer she competed with the U.S. junior national team, which traveled to Cuba for an international tournament. So what memories does she retain from that international experience? Challenging some of the world's top juniors? The blistering level of play? "Cockroaches," Burdine said without hesitation.