Evolution
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We Change With You
Issue 1
Santa Ana, California
Oct. 2016
Orange Is the New White: OCSA Renovations
The newly painted Tower building.
Photo by Ryan Porter
Lily Williams
Editor-in-Chief
Upon returning from
summer vacation,
OCSA students were
surprised to see the
Tower had been partially painted from
white to an ombre
orange. The new look
was part of a larger
series of renovations
across the OCSA campus.
The month-long painting project wrapped
about two weeks into
the school year, and
covers all four faces
of the Tower. Other
improvements to OCSA’s main academic
building include an
all-new air conditioning
system, which is now
digitally and remotely
controlled. This allows
teachers more control
over the temperature in
their classrooms.
Additionally, more
wireless access points
have been added,
increasing Internet
bandwidth and speed
across campus.
Doing Art in
Duarte:
CSArts-SGV
Underway
“Where did this all
really stem from? A
total reconstruction of
the financial package.
[We put] aside about
$4.5 million for specific
capital improvements,”
said Michael Ciecek,
dean of facilities and
supervision.
Improvements are
currently being made
to Symphony Hall,
including new lighting
and audio systems,
new seats, refinished
floors, and a revamped
backstage area. The
Becky Lee and Maya
Maharaj
Arts Editor and News Editor
A new school year
brings a lot of familiar faces—the newest being Michael Ciecek. But alas, all
good things come to an
end. Dr. William Wallace
made the decision to
move OCSA’s sister campus: California School
of the Arts—San Gabriel
Valley (CSArts-SGV) as a
principal, alongside Abbe
Levine who will serve as
the dean of arts conservatories.
While OCSA lost these
administration members,
backstage area is now
equipped with headset
communication, similar
to the Webb Theatre’s
capabilities.
“It’s a much more
viable, sustainable
space,” said Ciecek.
He believes the improvements to Symphony Hall will especially help Production
and Design students,
as they can now work
with the most up-todate lighting and audio
equipment.
“It’s really going to
help how smoothly
everything runs,” said
junior Halle Shumate
(PD).
Symphony Hall also
has a new high definition video projection
system, for improved
film screenings.
Because of these
structural changes,
there are no academic
classes permanently
scheduled in Symphony
Hall this year.
Most classes formerly
held there have been
relocated to the DMS,
though Creative Writing
and Instrumental Music
conservatory classes still
utilize the space.
Symphony Hall’s
grand reopening and
rededication ceremony
will be held on Oct. 7.
There are also currently plans to add
more photo murals, like
those by Cheryl Walsh
Ciecek returned to
OCSA as the dean of
facilities and supervision. Ciecek previously
served as the assistant
principal of business
and facilities, along
with ninth and 10th
grade discipline, at Mission Viejo High School.
“After thinking about it
and discussing it with
my wife and looking at
all the options, we felt
that this was the best
thing to do for OCSA
and for my family,” said
Ciecek.
Ciecek coming back
to OCSA may be the
on the sides of the
DMS, in other locations
around campus.
Despite these promising new features, the
aspect of the overhaul
that has received the
most attention from
students is the most surface-level: the Tower’s
new paint job.
“Orange is the
grossest color,” said
senior Alex Tomlinson
(CW). “It’s a waste of
money. I wish it had
stayed white.”
“It’s a color,” said AP
Biology and Medical
Applications of Anatomy teacher Christopher
Weitzel. “They should
have painted it more
than one color, though,
[and] they should have
students put up murals
all over the place.”
When asked if he had
heard feedback on
the changes, Ciecek
stated he had not, although he did note not
all new changes have
been perfect.
“Sometimes the [wireless] networks go down.
When you’re dialing in
new systems, that’s not
going to be 100 percent,” said Ciecek. “All
I know is that teachers
want to be able to
teach.
Students want to be
able to learn. From my
understanding, all of
these things have happened.”
best thing that’s happened yet; OCSA’s sister campus CSArts has
across some issues in its
startup.
CSArts attempted to
start another location in
Oceanside, intending
to be another charter
school. However, some
Oceanside residents
felt that the school
would only benefit students from other areas
in California instead of
the local students. On
the other end, shared
concerns over the fact
Continued on page 7