Tuesday, February 24, 2009

La Palma Jr. High School

An anonymous OCThen reader remembers attending La Palma Jr High School in Buena Park and being among the last students there...

I attended the last class, clearly remembering the first day 7th grade and the last day before the start of summer and not realizing that the school would not be opened for 9th grade (everyone was shipped off to different schools).
He's posted some recent photos of La Palma Jr High School, albeit more of an abandoned building now...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/half-dollar_punch/

If you attended La Palma Jr High School, post a comment and share your memories...

44 comments:

  1. What an awesome picture of Jack in the Box in 1979, and I can see Lucky's in the background! That school is a continuation school now for the Anaheim school district. I didn't know it used to be a jr high (I'm in my 20's) when did they shut it down?

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  2. I remember that school. my brother's and I all attended there. What class of 77? Been so so long ago. I lived in the back of the school off of Knott Ave on Berry. But instead of Buena Park High went to Kennedy..Ya Buena Park has changed alot. We were the PATRIOTS

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  3. When I was 12, we used to sneak in Knotts by simply climbing over the chain link fences at the exits.

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  4. La Palma houses two schools, Gilbert Continuation & Hope High school for the mentally disabled. Not even close to being abandoned.
    Graduated in 80, the next school year started the two year jr high, four year high school in the AUHSD. Several other Jr highs were closed: Apollo (gone), Crescent (gone), Trident (adult ed), Fremont (gone), Sycamore & Oak were sold to the Los Al district.

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  5. When I went to La Palma Jr High, it was brand new. (It was built on dairy land.)
    I lived on El Toro Way, by Peak Park, where they always held the Silverado Day Parade.
    I have very good memories of that school, lots of friends and good times.
    Knott's Berry Farm didn't have a fence then and I remember going there to meet new boys. What a great time to grow up, but then of course the
    sixties had it's own problems.

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  6. Me and my sister was in 7th grade the last year it was open. We would walk from Stanton and La Palma past the Alligator Farm and the library. On the way home we would go to the Luckys and buy a can of soda. To date myself even more, I remember seeing a Newsweek or Time magazine with something about Star Wars or George Lucas on it. We used to hang out at the BP Mall, or Jungle Island on the little part of Knott's Berry Farm. I remember stories about the Bacon House and Orchard. We were to go to Brookhurst the next year. Our older siblings attended Cresent Jr, which was located behind the mall. By the way if you remember the mall was an open air mall with only one story. We would play on the huge bolders they had there. Ah, Good times, the best part of my childhood.

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  7. I was in 7th grade at La Palma the last year it was a Jr. High as well. I was supposed to go to Crescent , but it closed the year before. Went to Orangeview in 8th grade. Growing up in Buena Park was the best.

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  8. Same here... I attended Trident and it was there for the last year. Anyone remember what they called us new 9th grade hight schoolers Yea those were the good ole days.

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  9. Oh my gosh, well I was in the 7th grade at La Palma and that was probably 1969/70 and I lived in Buena Park. I remember I drove my Home Ec teacher insane by deliberately putting blue eye shadow on up to my eyebrows despite being instructed not to and I know my math teacher thought I was totally stupid ( math not my subject!) and my boyfriend was a guy named Russell Edwards and we went to school dances ( Three Dog Night was big)I remember walking past Knotts Berry Farm to get to school. Those were the days....

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    1. Bet the Home Ec teacher was June Muroka...I did the same thing with the blue eye shadow, how funny ! I was a student there 1964- 1966.

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  10. Went to La Palma Jr. High 7th to 9th grades '68. Mr. Grace, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Quissell. Seagulls swooping in after lunchtime. I had an awesome childhood on San Helice.

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  11. Anyone out there remember Coach Palmero or Walker how about students like Russ Jones or the Ames twins? 22 - 1 over two years in Football beat Fullerton for the league cahmpionship

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    1. I'm married to one of the Ames twins! Who are you and what's your e-mail address so I can contact you?

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    2. I remember a Coach Amirato amd Coach Walker. I graduated from La Palma in 78. I remember Coach Walker would always make us line up and do a military "Dress right Dress. I was A TA for gym in 9 th grade. Coach Amirato would send me and the other TA over the fence to get their lunch at the Sundowner restaurant. It was next to the Baskin Robbins.

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  12. Hey San Helice, I lived on San Jose cir and am class off 1969.Remember the "Walk To Walker" every year for the football game?We would cut
    through the Dairy and enter the backside of Walker.Now a days the sight of a couple of hundred middle schoolers walking down the street
    together would freak out the residents

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  13. I attended the 9th grade there after Crescent was closed. That was the last year of the school.

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  14. Russell Edwards was my neighbor on on La Costa circle. I remember going to Knotts Berry farm looking for boys too. I'm Pam Keene and Jim Bernhardt was my boyfriend. There's an all year class reunion at William peak park on Sun. July 17th 2011 from 1100:a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Hope to see some I know.

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  15. La Palma is no longer used for Gilbert Continuation High School, just for Hope. AUHSD consolidated the continuation high schools at Trident Learning Center. I've heard that LP is used for adult ed too but not sure.

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  16. I attended La Palma Jr. high from 1974 to 1976 and lived on La Fiesta Dr. Now I drive by and it seems like a graveyard. Where did all the young people go to in Buena Park. I remember our Varsity football team sucked. I remember a Mr. Bain that everyone hated. From there I went to Kennedy wherwe all our rival Walker people were. I remember having a crush on girls like Nancy McDonald, Julie Roeghs, and Cindy Figeral. Goods times but high school was better. Hated Mr. Grace!!!

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  17. I miss those years, especially the staff. I was a counselor there from 1968 to 1972. Great students also.

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    1. I was a teacher at La Palma from 1971 to 1973.

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  18. I haven't strolled down memory lane in a long time, I was looking for someone when i found this web page/site, I went to La Palma from 1968 to 1971 7th 8th and 9th, I remember Lucky's Store was a Market Basket, Jack in the box was new and had no indoor dinning Knott's was not fenced. There was a dress code, Yes i remember Coach's Walker And Palmero Balsis and Ameretto (spelling may suffer) and mr howard who ran the icee machine after gym Mr Ellis math teacher, Mrs rivera History 8th grade
    Mr Wilson and Taylor Service Gents The hottie art teacher vanalstine i belive Mr Weber driving a AUHSD 55 chevy looking for students ditching a class. All I can say now is where did the past 42 yrs go. it seems like yesterday.I lived in Buena Park for 35 yrs from age 4 to 39 In the General track i remember seeing LPJH being built. I was A teachers aide at walter knott elementry in the 8 grade "Where Have All The Good Times Gone"(Kinks Song) If you really want to remember Your school days. Listen to a record/cd
    by the kinks called "school boys in disgrace" and just try not to remember that 1 first love when you was to young and only a kid, I'll never forget you J.J.

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    1. I remember next to the Market Basket was Super X drugstore. It used to be connected to the Market Basket. On the otherside of Market Basket there was a music store. I bought my first trumpet there. Next to that store was TG& Y. Does anyone remember those stores.Sometimes you just wanted to stay with your friends and not go home.

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    2. Jeanine Johnson. Nick name J.JJanuary 14, 2013 9:51 PM

      I was called J.J. in those days. I went to La Palma Jr. High from 1967 to 1970. I might be off 1 year. I Had a lot of good memories during that time. I remember going through the somewhat torn down fence between the parking lot of Market Basket and the front of the school where we all hung out before school started. After school some of us would go across the street to Peak Park and hang out. Would loved to get in touch with people. Cherishyu@aol.com

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    3. Jeanine Johnson. Nick name J.J.January 14, 2013 10:06 PM

      I remember so many memories. Would really like to chat. I was called J.J. in those days. 1968 to 1971. Cherishyu@aol.com

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  19. This is for russell edwards jh g/f I was one of his friends and my brother played football for LPJH with his brother Dave, did you attend russell's party in 7th grade? I know we know each other :) Ill ck here now and then. atleast once a month ive bookmarked this site

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  20. I attended La Palma from 64 to 67 (makes me really old!!!). Because I lived on the "other" side of Holder, I went to Western High School after La Palma, while virtually all of my classmates went to Kennedy or Savanna. I really enjoyed my time there, but unfortunately I have lost track of the people and teachers who were there with me. My favorite coach was Mr. Patterson, favorite teacher was Mr. Costello. I also remember Mr. Rathmann, a marine jet pilot that taught an aeronautics class. I have some great (but distant) memories of those times. By the way, I also enjoyed the pictures!

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  21. La Palma Jr High School - 2nd Annual All Class Reunion
    Saturday, 7/14/2012 at Peak Park, Buena Park
    Time: 11am - 6pm

    $10 per person for picnic (includes lunch & drinks)
    Reunion Tshirts $12 men's S-XL, $15 2X-3X
    Ladies' Vneck $12 S-2X

    mail check/money order/cashier check to:
    Michele Magyar 7439 La Palma Ave #521 Buena Park CA 90620

    See Facebook. Search for La Palma Junior High group and also for the La Palma Jr High school 2nd Annual All Class Picnic

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  22. I was in La Palma's first graduating class of 1965.Went to Walker for 7th & 8th.Had Mr Grace,Mr. Scarsone,Mr.Taylor.Played Football,Basketball,ran Track and was JV.Baseball Manager.

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  23. I entered 7th grade at La Palma Jr.High in 1965. Still have all of my class schedules that were mailed out before each semester. (No, I'm not a hoarder) Had Mr. Rathman, Mr.Glenn, Miss Adams for German and Miss Walker for P.E. Was she scary-"Twice around the track!Get those knees up, 50 sit-ups, 5,000 jumping jacks....." I truly believe that's what started my life-long acid reflux issues. Mr.Strobl for Band-nice guy, but a tad high strung. Miss Scott for homemaking;she really hated me. I was her only student whose sewing skills were so abominable she went ahead and passed me even though I never finished a single sewing project. Remember Family Life and Sex Education? Was that ever eye-opening! Too bad the teacher was so creepy (I won't name names) He actually made us read aloud and say THOSE WORDS. Thank God he never called on me to read. I sat in the back and scooted so far down in the seat he may never have known I was in the class.Loved those giant cookies they sold at lunch, and remember the big bread rolls-I think it was Mr.Cravens who made someone eat about 4 or 5 of them;the rule was, you could only buy for yourself, and when he caught a girl with a bagfull, she said they were all hers, so he made her stand there and eat them all. These days, I'm sure it would be a nice lawsuit-back then it was business as usual. It is nice to think, the worst thing that happened back then were the "bad" kids smoking across the street after school (cigarettes only). We had it good.

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  24. I went to La Palma during the 67 and 68 season . The best teacher I remember, in social science, was Mr. Sellers. This teacher knew his subjects including match making. I was very shy at the time and he would try to match me up with student Camille Brinkman. I enjoyed those times.

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  25. Me, my younger sister and younger brother all attended La Palma. I was there from 1969-1972. The counselors were Mr. Craven and Mrs. Swaitek (sp?). Swaitek and the German teacher, Mrs. Dessekcer (sp?), were a couple of hotties. The principals while I was there was an ex-Marine named Mr. Minor and before that Mrs. Franks, who moved on to be principal at Savanna High (which I attended for a semester before my family thankfully moved---Savanna sucked!). Mr. Weber was a vice principal, iirc. Mr. Weir headed up the cadets program and taught wood shop. Mr. Strobl was the band teacher.

    Anyway, I can remember before that shopping center that included a TG&Y and Market Basket as well as a 31 Flavors at the corner of Knott and La Palma was even built. I used to go to a barber in that shopping center, too. There was also a little music store right next to the perpetual hole in the cinder block wall that separated the center from the school where we used to pick up the KHJ playlists and Peter Max style book covers for free.

    Where the apartments are now on the corner of La Palma and Knott was a vacant lot for the entire time I lived in Buena Park (that would be about 1960-1973). In that strip mall right across the street from where those apartments was a liquor store, a butcher shop, a Chicken Delight and a laundromat. I can also remember the Buena Park library on La Palma and Santa Inez being built, which, if I'm not mistaken, was around 1969 maybe?

    I remember there were days when we had first stage smog alerts and your eyes would tear from all the crap in the air. We weren't allowed to dress out in gym on those days.

    The fast food place in that vicinity I miss was Heinz, which was behind Alpha Beta on Knott and Crescent. They had the best chili dogs and none I've tasted since could touch them. There was also an El Taco Rey in that strip mall with the liquor store and their burritos were awesome.

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    1. Also at the strip mall was Bahia Mexican restaurant next to the Towne Tavern from 1962 to 1974.

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  27. HI MY NAME IS TONY SERRATELLI I SPENT THREE YEARS AT LA PALMA JR HIGH WHAT GREAT MEMORIES I HAD ALL MY FRIENDS FROM GRADE SCHOOL AND MADE EVEN MORE THAT FOLLOWED ME TO KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL AND THE GIRLS I DATED FROM LP JR HIGH WERE JUST FANTASTIC PEOPLE I WISH I COULD HAVE MADE THE PICNIC BUT I HAD A PRIOR ENGADGEMENT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE I WANT TO RECONTACT BUT DONT KNOW WERE THEY ARE SO LEAVE A MESSAGE HERE ILL GET BACK TO YOU. HOPE YOU R ALL WELL AND AS ALWAYS GO LA PALMA PATRIOTS.

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  28. WHO COULD FORGET MRS SAMPSON, THEN SHE MARRIED AND BECAME MRS. SIMPSON MY COUNSLER SHE WAS SO HOT I WENT TO LPJH FOR THREE YEARS 72-74 I REMEBER BEING IN MR MILLER SCIENCE CLASS AND WATCHING A GARBADGE TRUCK BACK OVER THE HYDRANT THAT TOOK UP THE HOLE 45 MINUTES MR MILLER WAS A GREAT TEACHER, I REMEMBER MR TOLAND OUR BASKETBALL COACH HE ALWAYS THREW A ERASER AT YOU IF U FELL ASLEEP, I WAS AT MY LOCKER THE DAY JIM CROCHE DIED . IT DOSENT SEEM LIKE IT WAS THAT LONG AGO MY FIRST REAL LOVE JENNY WOW SHE MOVED TO NORTHCAROLINA I THOUGHT AT 15 MY WORLD WOULD FALL APART. BUT WE ALL MOVED ON. HI MARY ITS DANK!!!!!!AND U TO GRACE...THOUGHT I FORGET (NEVER)_BABY WILL BE THERE AT THE 2014 PICNIC ITS ON MY CALANDER ALREADY :SERIOUSLY: WELL GO PATRIOTS .

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  29. I REMEMBER TAKEING A DRAFTING CLASS THERE IN 74 MY TEACHER WAS MR SCARSON WE HAD SO MUCH FUN IN THAT CLASS ALL THE GREAT TIMES THAT I HAD A LA PALMA THE TIME I MADE OUR FOOTBALL COACH MR. AMAROTO DRESS UP AS A WOMAN FOR A HOLE SCHOOL DAY BUT IT WAS FOR CHARATIE. IF HE COULD OF KILLED ME I THINK HE WOULD OF , BUT HE WAS GREAT SPORT. I REMEMBER MR SCARSON HOW I DROVE HIM CRAZY ONE DAY HE ASKED ME IF I NEW WHAT A HALF INCH WAS I REPLIED NO BUT IF YOU HUMM A FEW BARS ILL FAKE .......HE HAD TO GO OUTSIDE HE TURNED SO RED FROM LAUGHING. I REMEMBER STEVE HUNTER LUTHER MILLER IN CLASS THAT DAY THEY COULDNT STOP LAUGHING`. THAT WAS NORMAL DAY AT LPJH. I REMEMBER BEING IN AV CLASS HAY IT WAS AN EASY A AND BRINGING THE PROJECTOR TO TO THIS GERMAN CLASS AND ALL THE TEACHER WAS GOOINTOG WHATEVERRRRRRR.....ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME LIKE RENE D. KNOWS WHO IAM B GOOD TO EACH OTHER HOPE TO TALK TO ALL OF U REAL SOON, SEE U ON THE RADIO, LISTEN FOR MY VOICE... T. S.

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  30. MY TO BEST FRIENDS AT LPJH WERE LEANNA VANDERGRIFT AND MIDGIE (FORGOT LAST NAME IAM GETTIN OLD HAY LEANNA SEND A COMMENT.....

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  31. i went to la palma in 1971 and i really think growing up in buena park was a blast,i drive by every now @then,buena park looks so different now.i remember the lucky and jack in the box.i remember i thought that was the first jack in the box ever,it was great.then darrell nisewander was popular i married him in 1976

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  32. i would luv to see everyone from la palma.my name is jana dorius

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  33. Mr. Huffman the art teacher was quite nice, Ms. Koerber the ladies P.E instructor would not shame one's shortcommings; Miss Simpson was a waste of the pay as a student councellor.
    I really never understood all of that whistling at lunch all the kids under the awning had to do.
    Was sad to move from B.P., until I found there was a lot less scary place for school.

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  34. i also went to la palma jr. high in 1971-72 then i went to foster home ,i remember the brand new jack in the box,the luckys,the record store there,when you used to buy albums and 45s

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  35. imy first day of school at la palma was in april of 1978 . my stepdad was transferred from toronto canada to buena park . i was in the 7th grade. i was part of the last grade 9 grad class. i went to kennedy in grade 10. the best part was grade 9 was below us so we didnt get picked on at kennedy. does anyone remember mr. shields. he was my history teacher in grade 8. i was his ta in the 9th grade. i am now living back in toronto. if you remember me get in touch. my email is toddleclair44@yahoo.ca.. my name was todd rosa in school but my stepdad and mom split up so i took my original birthname back.... hope to hear from some former classmates soon.

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  36. i went to la palma in 1978 till it closed i was part of the last grade 9 class anyone in the same class? if you remember me send me an email my name is todd rosa and i came to buena park from toronto canada, we lived on crescent ave. i live back in toronto again. would be nice to hear from anyone who remembers the good times back then!!! go patriots!!!! toddleclair44@yahoo.ca

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