El Modena Dance Team Wins
May 7, 2012 - Last weekend, El Modena's Dance Team, led by teacher Seonag Bauer, took several top honors at the NRG Dance Competition at Sonora High School. Jacob McCafferty took 5th place in best leaps and 2nd place in his solo performance. Megan Gavitt took 3rd in best high kicks. As a team, the small group dance "Took the Night" placed 3rd. The team's high-kick routine, hip-hop dance, and character dance ALL took 1st place! Congratulations to the whole team for a job well done.

El Modena Top Scholar, Bryn Watkins
April 19, 2012 - Congratulations to one of El Modena's brightest stars, Bryn Watkins, who was accepted as a semifinalist to advance to the final round of the 2012 US Presidential Scholars competition! Of 3.2 million graduating seniors, approximately 3300 were identified as candidates for this honor and only 550 were selected as semifinalists. For more information about Bryn's accomplishment, click here.

Outstanding El Modena Students
March 24 , 2012 -Congratulations to students Peter Phan and Matt Rock who finished among the Top 11 Orange County students on last Saturday's Chemistry Olympiad Exam. These gentlemen have now qualified to take the National Chemistry Olympiad Exam in April. Earlier this year, Peter took 1st in the Chemistry Lab Event at Science Olympiad, beating students from 24 other Orange County High Schools. In other news, congratulations to El Modena's Dance Team for their efforts at the Sharp International Competition. The team, under the guidance of Seonag Bauer, took 1st in the High-Kick division. Megan Gavitt won 1st in best kicks, Lilly Anderson won 1st in best leaps, and Tony Contrerras won 1st in best jumps. The team's next competition will be on May 5th.

OUSD Teacher of the Year:
Susan Hemans
March 07 , 2012 - El Modena High School's own Susan Hemans was recently named Orange Unified School District's 2011-12 Teacher of the Year. An outstanding teacher and mentor, her contributions to El Modena and the Orange Unified School District go far beyond the classroom. Mrs. Hemans works with students outside of the classroom as the advisor to both the Football Academic and Mentorship Programs, as well as the award-winning Robotics Club. Furthermore, during spring of 2011, she led her students on a journey of scientific inquiry and adventure to Costa Rica—a trip none will soon forget. As El Modena’s Science Department chairperson, Susan has been a driving force behind the innovative Biology rotation and the implementation of Science Saturday School, a program designed to provide additional support to struggling students. In addition, Mrs. Hemans has been instrumental in guiding new and future teachers through her roles as master teacher and BTSA support provider, and she has worked hard to support her veteran colleagues through her participation as the staff's Vanguard Club President and through her service as a WASC focus group leader. There is no question that Susan Hemans is an exemplary educator, one truly deserving of this prestigious honor, and the entire El Modena family extends its heartfelt congratulations to Susan and her family.

FIRST Win for El Modena's New Robotics Club
March 05, 2012 -El Modena's new Robotics Club, The Clockwork Oranges, recently won the Rookie Inspiration Award at the 2012 FIRST Robotics Competition Regional Awards. Students Matthew Rock, Kai Stogsdill, Mika Janbahan, David Tu, Alice and Malcolm Bowie, Kelsey Babbitt, Vivian Ngo, Regina Gonzalez, Jordan Nguyen and Joseph Del Rosario were mentored by Bill Gaines, Mark and Sara Bowie, Mark McGary with the help of faculty advisors Susan Hemans and Ernesto Nodado.
Way to go El Mo!

Parent Survey
January 12, 2012 - El Modena would like to give parents the chance to ask questions about their son or daughter's grades and citizenship. Using the form below, parents are able to contact a teacher, in English or Spanish, if calling or emailing is not convenient. Completed forms may be emailed or dropped off at El Modena's front office. Parent Survey