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Arvin High wins 'We the People'

Courtesy of Arvin High
 On Dec. 2, the Arvin High Constitution Team captured the Region IV and 20th Congressional District Championship in the “We the People” competition.  The local team of 26 Arvin High School seniors defeated 11 other Kern County high schools including the second- and third-place winners, Centennial and Liberty by demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and Government.
Even though Arvin has won the Regional Championship three out of the last five years, victory did not come easy. Preparation for the competition began last summer, continued through the start of the school year and increased in intensity the month before the event. Students worked every day after school for two or more hours and all day Saturdays.
The hard work isn’t over yet. This championship team, led by teacher and coach, Robert Ruckman — with the help of former coach, Larry Hallum — now must prepare to represent Region IV in the State of California Championship to be held in Sacramento on Feb. 5 and 6, 2009. Throughout the holidays and into the New Year, the students will continue detailed study of the Constitution by preparing written presentations and verbal follow-up questions. Each of the students in the six units must become an expert about specific aspects of the Constitution. At the state competition each unit will prepare three, four-minute presentations on specific Constitutional principles and applications. They must then prepare to demonstrate their expertise during an eight- minute question and answer period led by a panel of judges. These hearings are similar to the Congressional hearings televised on C-SPAN. Preparation is a group effort that extends beyond the team, with the help of AHS Principal Blanca Cavazos and a host of community volunteers and teachers.
The winner of the State Championship will represent California in the National “We the People” Championship to be held in Washington D.C. in late April.
Congratulations to the Arvin High Constituion Team (as listed by unit and area of study)!

Unit 1  - What are the philosophical and historical foundations of the American political system?
    Larua De La Riva  General Shafter School
    David Salgado        Mountain View Middle School
    Omar Tinoco          Haven Drive Junior High
    Yesinia Martinez    Sunset Middle School
   
Unit 2 - How did the framers create the Constitution?
    Belen Gutierrez          Haven Drive Junior High
    Leslie Avalos               Sunset Middle School
    Maricela Gutierrez     Mountain View Middle School
    Edward Parra      Haven Drive Junior High

Unit 3 - How has the Constitution been changed to further the ideals contained in the Declaration of Independence?
    Evelyn Zuniga            Haven Drive Junior High
    Elvia Rios                    Haven Drive Junior High
    Stephen Dominguez    Haven Drive Junior High
    Alexander Mendoza   Mountain View Middle School

Unit 4  - How have the values and principles embodied in the Constitution shaped American institutions and practices?
    Ricky Perez        Haven Drive Junior High
    Paulina Gamez    Mountain View Middle School
    Sandra Arias        Mountain View Middle School
    Bianca Perez        Di Giorgio Elementary
    Eleazar Gutierrez    Di Giorgio Elementary

Unit 5 - What rights does the Bill of Rights protect?
    Philip Viramontes     Sunset Middle School
    Laura Guapo         Mountain View Middle School
    Saffire Hawkins    Haven Drive Junior High
    Tomas Saltazar    Mountain View Middle School

Unit 6 - What challenges might face American Constitutional Democracy in the twenty-first century?
    Alexander Williams    Mountain Middle School
    Lisa Hernandez    Haven Drive Junior High
    Paloma Contreras    Haven Drive Junior High
    Maricela Santiago    Mountain View Middle School
    Jesus Alonso        Mountain View Middle School