Valencia High School

David Verdugo has been appointed principal of Valencia High School. Verdugo will take over in place of George Allen, who recently retired after an 18-year career with the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. Verdugo, appointed by the district's Board of Education, has served for the last six years as principal of El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera.

The new "drug free" social clubs at Santa Clarita high schools offer field trips, dances and counseling. But there's a catch: Members must agree to random drug tests. That's no problem, say the 30-plus teenagers who have already signed up for the club at Valencia High School, committing to providing urine samples on demand. "This is a great solution for those people trying to get a better life and stay out of drugs," said Charlie La Vine, 17, co-president of the club at Valencia High, part of an initiative called Drug Free Youth in Town, or DFYIT.

The Valencia High School vocal department will hold its annual Dinner Theater at 6:30 p.m. May 24 to 26 in the music building at Valencia High School, 500 N. Bradford Ave. Tickets are $15 for dinner and the concert. All proceeds will benefit the department and its students. Information: (714) 579-3064.

Determined that their school not be branded as racially intolerant, students and faculty at Newhall's Hart High School dedicated a symbolic "peace pole" Tuesday aimed at affirming their respect for cultural diversity and their commitment to ethnic harmony. The dedication of the 10-foot copper monument comes more than a year after a racially charged clash among students on the north Los Angeles County campus.

Re the Irvine Co. offering $12,000 for safe graduate parties: I'm perplexed as to why Valencia High School in Placentia was overlooked by the Irvine Co. in awarding $1,000 for holding safe graduation parties on campus under parental and school supervision. Valencia High School was the originator of the idea, based on a tragedy occurring on graduation night and has continued this practice for at least the last 35 years. BOB TURNBULL Placentia

Dana Hills High School's Pageantry Corps Team won the sweepstakes trophy for best overall tall flag team at a recent competition at Valencia High School. Thirty teams participated. The flag team leader is junior Wendy Gibson. The school's marching band and percussion unit also took first place in their respective events at the competition.

Four black students alleged in a civil rights lawsuit Thursday that officials had not done enough to quell racist slurs and graffiti by white supremacists at Valencia High School. The federal suit names the William S. Hart Union High School District, its superintendent and Valencia High's principal. It says groups of whites use racial slurs, paint supremacist messages on bathroom walls and display white power stickers.

John O. Tynes, one of Placentia's longest serving City Council members and a former superintendent of the Placentia school district, died Tuesday of respiratory failure. He was 81. Tynes stepped down from the council in 1996 after serving a total of nearly 18 years intermittently since 1950. "His contributions have been overwhelming regarding the youth to the community," City Administrator Robert D'Amato said.

Steve Soto kept a clock radio on the far side of his Valencia bedroom for months. That way, at 5:45 a.m., when the sweet but sudden sounds of classical music erupted, the teenager had to clamber out of bed and propel his muscled 6-foot-1 frame across the floor to restore silence. Those four steps and few jarring seconds were all the 17-year-old high school football player required to resist rolling over and sleeping away any more of his summer vacation.

Four black students alleged in a civil rights lawsuit Thursday that officials had not done enough to quell racist slurs and graffiti by white supremacists at Valencia High School. The federal suit names the William S. Hart Union High School District, its superintendent and Valencia High's principal. It says groups of whites use racial slurs, paint supremacist messages on bathroom walls and display white power stickers.

A teenager's mother has been convicted in connection with the graffiti vandalism committed by her son and ordered to pay restitution, officials said Wednesday. Yolanda Jeronimo, 43, was found guilty Friday of one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for failing to curtail her son's frequent tagging in the Van Nuys area.

It's by far the biggest city in Orange County without a high school, a distinction that causes Yorba Linda no pride. For years, as city leaders have pushed for a high school, officials in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified district have countered that it wasn't financially feasible. That's all finally changing.

A rundown of Orange County fireworks shows and community parades commemorating Independence Day. FIREWORKS Showtimes at 9 p.m. on July 4 unless otherwise noted Aliso Viejo, Grand Park, free, (949) 362-5890, Ext. 207 Anaheim, Disneyland, 9:30 p.m., $33-$43 admission and $7 parking, (714) 781-4565 Buena Park, Knott's Berry Farm, 10:30 p.m.

Pitcher Kyle Wilson of Valencia High went from having no scholarship offers his senior year to turning down schools who barely knew his name a couple months ago. It was tantamount to having no date for the school prom, then having five cheerleaders call a week before the big dance.

Valencia High School students will be returning to school next year committed to stopping campus violence. The Tigers are planning their second annual Yellow Ribbon Week from Jan. 8 to 12 to remember those killed in school violence. Activities include a pep rally for peace Jan. 9; a performance of the play "Dear Child" and a candlelight vigil Jan. 10; and guest speaker Richard Santana, whose "Homeboy Goes to Harvard" presentation Jan.