More teens at Clark Magnet High School

Clark Magnet High School students are getting ready to return to school. Teachers and administrators are having their staff meetings and getting their classrooms ready for another successful year.

Clark is a magnet school with a United Nations type of feel, where each area of Glendale and Crescenta Valley is represented. Eighth grade students who are interested in attending Clark place their name in a lottery-type system. The only criteria is that you live within the Glendale Unified School District. Students who attend come from all walks of life with one thing in common- a strong academic goal.

Although the magnet school is science based it does not lack in the arts. The school was recently recognized as one of the top 12 public high schools in Southern California in Los Angeles Magazine. The article cited its many accomplishments, including the school’s cinematography class and the fact that students presented their first film festival in June.

This year the school has added some new teachers to its roster. Kelly Brinker will be taking over the photography classes after long time teacher Bill Saul retired. School nurse Kym Jarnot is returning to the school after being gone for a few years. Roselle Cacal will be the new school phycologist. Other new teachers include: Conrad Puritt, English and American Literature; Tom Ferguson, computer assistant design class; Nyari Gharibian, English; and Alex Day-Blattner, chemistry.

Last year the school dived under the sea with its engineering exploration using computer software called ArcGIS, Geographic Information System to map the ocean floor. The class will be a continuation of teacher Dominique Evans-Bye program. Louis Herrera is the teacher that will be heading up the introduction to engineering classes.

The school has seen an increase in its enrollment this year with 1,103 students, an increase from last year’s 1,069.

“We finished strong and we anticipate getting even better,” said Principal Doug Dall.

The high school was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 2005, was given the Nation Blue Ribbon Award in 2006, a California Exemplary Career Technical Education Award in 2005 and California Title I Academic Achievement Award in 2007.