Palos Verdes Peninsula High School - Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular Activities

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School’s record of sustained excellence has received national, state, and local recognition competing in the areas of mathematics, science, career technical arts, visual arts, dance, drama, student publications, Academic Decathlon, Model United Nations, Speech and Debate, and Mock Trial.

The Speech and Debate Team (accessed here ) qualified 13 students to the CHSSA State Championship in 2010 and 18 in 2011, and has over 70 members who participate in Public Forum, Parliamentary, and Lincoln Douglas Debate as well as in many Individual Events such as Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, Advocacy, and Humorous Interpretation. The team is affiliated with the National Forensic League (NFL) and the California High School Speech Association (CHSSA), and participates in the West Bay Forensic League, where it consistently takes home first place in most events, including HI, Parli, Extemp, Impromptu, Interp, Thematic, Duo, etc. In 2011, the team took home 5th place in Original Prose and Poetry at the CHSSA State Championships, as well as spots in the top 20 and 16 in Lincoln Douglas and Parliamentary Debate respectively. For the first time in its history, PVPHS qualified two students to the National Tournament of Champions, both of whom took spots in the top 30 nationally. The team also travels across the country. In the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons, the team travelled to Texas, New York, Chicago, Nashville, San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Boston. Debaters competed at prestigious tournaments at Stanford University, Harvard University, The Bronx High School of Science in New York City, and the Montgomery Bell Academy Round Robin.

Model United Nations (more commonly addressed as MUN) is a club consisting of approximately 100 students of all grade levels. Together, delegates compete in competitions all over the nation, acting as delegates from countries around the world discussing both past and current world issues. Students have competed at high schools such as Mira Costa, Whitney, Tustin, Mission Viejo, High Tech, El Toro and Huntington Beach High School. Students have also had the opportunity to compete in more advanced conferences, most notably, Berkeley MUN, Bruin MUN and NAIMUN (Georgetown University). The team has won Small School awards at various conferences. Individually, some students have won awards at NAIMUN, one of the most competitive MUN conferences offered at the high school level. Students boast Rapporteur, Commendation, Outstanding and Best Delegate awards from each conference of the 2010-2011 school year. The Model United Nations club is led by Dr. Jim Dimitriou and seven elected seniors. Members of the Secretariat have gone on and introduced MUN to their own prospective colleges as well as have continued to compete at the collegiate level.

The school yearbook, "La Pantera," the 2010 Yearbook was honored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association with the Gold Medal, receiving 973 out of 1000 possible points. The school newspaper, “The Pen,“ has been honored with first place recognition through the Southwest Journalism Education Association. In addition “The Pen” won first place with special merit in the American Scholastic Press Association’s national competition and was a Pacemaker finalist for the 2008–2009 school year.

"Eye of the Panther News", (EOP) the schools broadcast journalism program was created in 2007, and continues today.

Science Research is an elective course which affords students the opportunity to study, in-depth, a chosen topic in Science, Engineering, Social Science or Mathematics. Research students from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School consistently compete in the annual prestigious Los Angeles and California State Science Fairs at one of the highest rates in the state. Two selected students annually attend the INTEL International Science/Engineering Fair. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School research students have obtained finalist status for Siemens-Westinghouse and INTEL Talent Search scholarships. A Peninsula research student in 2008 won the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, the highest level international high school competition for water based projects. Research students develop independent study skills, higher order research techniques and working relationships with peers, mentors, industry professionals and college admission officers.

PVPHS has the strongest Latin program in the state of California, having taken 1st place in the State Latin competition 15 years in a row.

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School has been awarded the National Schools of Distinction Award from the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education.

There are more than 100 extracurricular clubs and activities at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School including: National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, Model United Nations, Mock Trial, Teen Court, Key Club, Black Student Union, Future Business Leaders of America, Junior Statesmen of America, Latin Club, Spanish Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Girls’ Service Club, Amnesty International, Interact, Leo Club, Science Bowl, Academic Decathlon, and Best Buddies.

Arts Education is an essential component of the school curriculum. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School was awarded the prestigious National Schools of Distinction Award from the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education. The drama department is recognized as one of the most outstanding programs in the highly competitive Southern California area, consistently sweeping thespian awards at festivals and competitions, including the Bravo Award for the Outstanding Performing Arts Department in Southern California. The 120 students who participated in the chorus program have had opportunities to compete in local and national competitions. Two full orchestras, a marching band and two jazz bands round out the music program. Upon graduation, 99% of the class of 2011 will have completed at least one full year of a visual or performing art in the following areas: Ceramics, Sculpture (including Glass Blowing), Photography, Video Production, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Chamber Jazz Choir, Women’s Choir, Drawing and Painting, Intermediate Dance, Choreo Dance, Competition Dance, Concert Band, Music Appreciation, Guitar, Music Theory AP, Studio Art AP, Digital Animation, and Graphic Design.

Supervising judges from the Superior Court of L.A. County work closely with our students enrolled in Teen Court. Sudents participate in a variety of actual cases, exposing them to all aspects of our legal system.