Martin Plourde, Arcadia High School principal, was recognized at last week's meeting of the Arcadia Unified District's Governing Board, for completing a 3-year program sponsored by the School Leadership Academy.
Arcadia High School Principal Martin Plourde's attempts at racial sensitivity over the school's use of an Apache mascot have not only left the mascot question unsettled, they have also incensed Los Angeles' Native American community.
Arcadia Unified School District to reconsider Apaches as mascot amid online petition drive, officials say it is on agenda. It is a revival of a 20-year-old controversy to remove Apaches name and imagery amid a nationwide movement to erase offensive emblems. Shayan Farooq, a 2013 graduate of Arcadia High School, felt the issue needed to be addressed. Farooq started a petition at Change.org. AUSD spokesperson Ryan Foran said the issue will be addressed in its list of priorities after reopening schools during the coronavirus pandemic and recent sexual assault allegations involving current and former students who were video recorded, without consent, having sex. Controversy surrounding the Apaches mascot dates back two decades when Native American activists protested the Apache Joe mascot at Arcadia school board meetings in 1999. Then Principal Martin Plourde sought the White Mountain Apache Tribe's blessing to use the imagery and tribal leaders approved, but many students at Alchesay High School (Arcadia High School's sister school on Apache reservation) found the mascot offensive and urged Plourde to change it. 2018 Arcadia High School graduate Yumei Lin is leading a Facebook group to change the emblem.
Arcadia High School and music teacher, Mike Danielson from First Avenue Middle School, are among the nominees for the BRAVO awards presented by the Education Division of the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County.
Arcadia High School has been honored with the 2002 BRAVO award for excellence in arts education by the Music Center of Los Angeles. The award recognizes art programs, including music and drama. Notable people Garry Marshall and Gayle Wilson, wife of former California governor Pete Wilson, attended the gala event.
First Avenue Junior High has been nominated as a 1990 California Distinguished School by the State Department of Education. First Avenue will be one of six schools in Los Angeles County to be so nominated.
The State Department of Education has announced that Dana Junior High and Foothills Junior High have been nominated as Distinguished Schools in the 1987-88 California School Recognition Program.
Dr. Suzanne Keavney, principal of Foothills Junior High School, has been nominated by the Arcadia PTA for the National PTA's Phoebe Apperson Hearst Outstanding Educator Award.
Arcadia High School Apache marching band will perform at President Bush's second term inaugural parade on January 20, 2005. 312 students will travel to Washington, D.C., for the event. Tom Landes is the band conductor.
Former Mayor, students reflect on continuing controversy over Apache imagery use at Arcadia High School.1342 people have signed petition to stop its use as a mascot.
Arcadia High School students prepare for its final production at the Little Theatre, a production of "The Three Musketeers." It is located at 180 Campus Drive. Future spring musicals will be performed at the state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center. Steven Volpe is the Theatre Director at Arcadia High School.
Arcadia's Baldwin Stocker Elementary School and Pasadena's Roosevelt Elementary have been nominated for National Blue Ribbon honor. The program recognizes some of the highest performing and most improved schools in the nation.