at STEAM cant be compared to how

Santa Fe was. I guess my expectations

were high since Im used to seeing
greatness all around me.
How are the teachers and students
treating you? Everyone is okay, I guess.

The Birth of a Cub

I mean there are those who stand out

because theyre known to be the class

A new school year means new

students along with new staff members
for Legacy High School STEAM. So,
what is it like to be new at STEAM? To
get an over-view of how it feels, we
decided to interview our new Cubs and
hear their thoughts about the school and
staff; starting with our new STEAM
transfer student from Santa Fe High
School, Juan Avila:
How do you like your new school
this year? Its incredibly smaller than

clown like Fernando Sanchez, but

besides him I have made a couple new
friends like Stacy, Aileen, Crystal,
Kimberly, and a couple freshmen. Mr.
Defer is great artist I have to say. His
artwork is amazing and truly
mesmerizing to look at. Id say his class
is my favorite from everyone else.
What are your plans after High School?
Im capricious when it comes to setting
plans, but for now Im planning on going
to community.

what I am used to. Santa Fe was way

bigger and unfortunately the school spirit

We then moved on to a new faculty

member at STEAM, Mr. Ennis, who

teaches Economics and Government in

How do you feel about the staff? I dont

VAPA. Due to the increase of student

know them, I would want to, but me

enrollment, there was a need to hire new

being in a different building makes it a

staff members as well; however, because

challenge for me. I would like to build

there were no more rooms available in

an AP History Program.

the STEAM building, Ms. Barrera-Ortiz

The last member we interviewed,

had to borrow two extra rooms from

and even though he is not a STEAM

VAPA. We had the pleasure of asking

member, he is new at Legacy High

him some questions regarding his

School, he is the new VAPA Principal

thoughts on the school, and this is what

Mr. Trimis. He was here during the

he had to say:
How do you feel about this change of

summer, so a lot of students that attended

summer school had the opportunity of

environment? Its important as an

meeting him. Even though it was
educator to change environment to
difficult to get a hold of him due to his
enhance your learning. There are
busy schedule, when we finally did, this
different challenges in South Gate than
is what he had to say about his stay at a
in South Central.
What is your biggest concern about
changing schools? Leaving students
hoping theyll receive quality education

new school:
How does it feel to be the new VAPA
principal? I am loving it! VAPA is a

with my absence.
Is there anything you wish was different?

great place, as is all of our Legacy

The size in classrooms and buildings.

schools! This is such an amazing

opportunity for our students. To be a part

of a rigorous, college-prep, specific

In what direction do you want to take the

program at one of three specialty high

school? I think we need to set the

schools PLUS all the athletics, school-

standard for small arts schools. We

wide programs, and benefits of large

should be at the top of the other schools

schools. In the case of VAPA, we offer a

in terms of test-scores, in terms of arts

conservatory-like environment on a

offerings, in terms of students going to

large, university-like campus!

special arts programs and schools, and so

Did the students meet your

expectations? Yes, pretty much. I
taught at Huntington Park HS in the 90s
and the South Gate community is similar
to HP in lots of ways.
What do you foresee for VAPA this year?
We have big plans and great goals. We
are looking at other amazing small arts
schools, and will implement some of the
programs, classes, and processes that
they have. Specifically looking at ELA
Performing Arts Magnet, ARTES Arts
Magnet, and LA County High School of
the Arts.

much more. We are starting a writing for

musical theatre class, jazz band, jazzrock band, orchestra, latin-jazz band,
jazz choir, and much more.
Do you have any plans to cooperate with
STEAM once more? YES! I want to
work as closely as we can with both
STEAM and ISLC. We need to learn
from each other. We can provide arts
integration resources. And hopefully
STEAM and ISLC can work with us on
AVID strategies! Of course, I hope all
three schools will continue to support all
of our sports (swim team, golf, and water
polo are coming, +wrestling +la Crosse?)

and school-wide programs like marching

band and the Spring musical! We want a
Legacy-wide ACADECA next year! This
year its just VAPA.
So, there you have it, the new Tiger
members at Legacy High School have
big aspirations they hope to accomplish,
they feel glad and excited for choosing
Legacy High School as their new school.
We know theres a lot of new people out
there, we encourage you to come and tell
us your story, here at Tiger Times were
always ready to listen to you.