Alma Mater

Saxon Shield Volume 1, Issue 1

As many have seen, Loara has gone through many transitions in it's 50 year History.  In digging through the archives we discover that the Alma Mater we have been singing for years is in fact a "newer" Alma Mater then was brought to the Saxons. (See Volume 1 Issue 1 of the Saxon Shield)

Original Alma Mater

All hail Loara, All hail thy fair name,
they loyal sons and daughters will always sing thy fame.
Thy colors I'll cherish, in fond memory.
I'll sing thy praise and glory
Wherever I may be.
I'll sing thy praise and glory
Wherever I may be.

When does it change? Why does it change? Who changes it?

Saxon Shield 11/05/1964

Since being on this fact finding mission we are getting closer to an answer, but no good story goes without intrigue or controversy.  My crack staff, John D. Marshall (class of 69) discovered while preserving the Saxon Shields for posterity sake that there are two articles that show a shift and a controversial voting measure.  It appears that the school was to vote in November of 1964 (Saxon Shield November 5, 1964) on whether they were willing to change the Alma Mater mid year and apparently that vote was thrown out and another was to take place as stated in the December 3, 1964 edition of the Saxon Shield.  Following that we have yet to find any written decision to when the switch actually happened but that it did happen.

Anthony Mastroangelo (Class of 65) offers this "Several, and do not ask for names as I can not tell you, put together a bunch of words that some here are calling the first alma mater. Problem being no one, except perhaps some creating the words were willing to accept it. 

To the best of my knowledge the above referenced individual work was never accepted as our alma mater via a stand alone vote.

By the end of the '62-'63 year the issue of the alma mater started to  become contentious especially because of the insistence over its use.

At the beginning of the '63-'64 term the Chamber Singers had just been formed and their director, Edwin Grace, suggested that as a new group they could contribute greatly to our school by writing new and more musically appropriate lyrics.

Saxon Shield 12/03/1964

The Chamber Singers took on the task with vigor. After an extended period of repeated rewrites it was finally decided that our own Mrs. Molly Wampler should be asked to accept the role of poet laureate for Loara. In all the charm and patience always displayed by this wonderful lady, she agreed to help us in putting together a blend of words that for whatever reason seemed to elude us for too long a time.

The final draft of the alma mater provided by Mrs. Wampler, to the best of my knowledge, never had so much as one word changed since it was presented back to the group that also unanimously approved of it.

The student body ultimately voted to adopt the words written by Mrs. Wampler which was to used in conjunction with the musical composition of James Ployhar."

The Alma Mater has been sung it's current text and tune since then.  It is sung at every Assembly, Game and Event.  The students show two fingers in the air showing sign of victory whether we win our lose, because as Saxons, we always are winners.

Current Alma Mater

Hail Loara, school we cherish,
Built by Saxons loyal and true
She provides a firm foundation
Which will last our whole lives through

May her memories always linger,
May traditions live long too
Red and Gold will fly forever
Loara we'll honor you

Hail Loara, school we cherish,
Built by Saxons loyal and true
She provides a firm foundation
Which will last our whole lives through

This was found following the original blog:

In the Saxon Shield they finally accepted the Alma Mater.  This article doesn't really clear up any mystery we didn't already know, and we don't really have any knowledge to why they threw out the vote, but here it is in black in white that during the 64 - 65 year they "didn't have an Alma Mater and they played the fight song slow" but by November 18, 1965 a day before their Homecoming when they announced their first Queen, an article comes out about the "controversial Alma Mater."

Saxon Shield November 18, 1965

"Saga of the Saxon"

In looking for information in regards to the Alma Mater I was lucky enough to stumble upon this poem written by one of the first Counselors in Loara High School's History, Mr. "Molly" Wampler.  Both of her daughters taught in the AUHSD as well, Penelope Wampler was at Ball Jr. High School as an Art teacher and "Alex" Wampler ended her career as Counselor at Loara High School.

Mrs. Wampler was also key in the re write of the Alma Mater that we sing today:

Saga of the Saxon

Poem by "Molly" Wampler

In the city of Anaheim on a street

Where Euclid Avenue and Cerritos meet,

Stood a grove of oranges, bright and green.

Just about the prettiest grove you’ve ever seen.

But across the way and behind the trees

Over the freeway and thick as fleas

Grew a crop of youngsters, special all through,

Who needed a school that was special, too.

They hired a man-he was hard to find –

A man who was special, good and kind,

Who was crazy ‘bout kids, and he treated them well,

And they liked what this wonderful man had to sell.

He believed that honor is greater than fame.

He knew that what mattered to attain a name

That would stand unrivalled in truth and strength

Throughout the city’s width and length

Was to look for others who taught as he.

So he searched and ferreted, and eventually

Collected administrators, one, two, three,

Whose values were grounded spiritually.

Then he sought out teachers, one by one.

Till he knew his faculty was excelled by none.

They opened their books and collective heart,

And now, at last, they were ready to start,

Like children who followed the Pied Piper man

Along came the students—they shoved and they ran.

They came by dozens, by the hundreds and then

They increased as if multiplied by ten.

There were the Adams, the Millers, the Beckettsand Dobbs,

The Fielders, the Adlers, the Williams, and Hobbs

The Moons and the Pences, the Kozitzkys and Brights

The Rumery and Normintons, the Smiths and the Knights,

The Turanitzas and Ulloms, the Austins and Griggs,

The Saitos, Van Leeuwens, Balsers and Briggs

The Vargoes, Buchleiters, Meadows and Clarks,

The Harpers, MacDonalds, Feethams and Parks,

The Greenbergs, the Menkins, the Longtins and Schmidts,

Bald and Barkers, Tenhagens and Lycks,

Ikemotos and Linkers, Farrows and Brooks,

Carrs, Linds, and Lawrences, Taylors and Cooks,

The Lightseys, the Jansens, the Gillons and Haynes,

Tilloccos and Schwartzes, the Walks and the Spehns,

DeAngelos, Yontzes, Franzens and Foxes

The Dykes and the Lehmers, Schoenings and Coxes,

Radoviches, Rodaways, Catuccis and Stones,

Valuseks and Thomases, Espositos and Jones,

Tingleys and Lipskys, Wheatons and Woods,

Manheimers, Hodges, Burguenos and Goodes.

There were Hagens and Hactens, Fosters and Fords,

The Herberts, the Salisburys, Wamplers and Wards,

The Murdochs, the Sills and McKays,

Winterbergs, Rusbults, Merchants and Hayes

The Kretchmans and Kovaletezs, Ivens and Hills,

The McWerters and Peters, Martins and Wills,

The Passmorese and Armstongs, the Walps and the Chases,

And on and on.  There were thousands of Faces.

They came in such countless numbers so fast,

That they had to house in Quonsets at last.

They bulged at the seams before they were through,

But with them a marvelous spirit grew.

They said, “We are new, this we’ll have to face,

But our future’s as big as all outer space.

Let’s build us a  name that’ll be honored by all.”

And they did it!  They did it, as I recall

By giving their best through thick and thin

By helping each other to get in there and win,

By setting their goals as high as the sky,

And reaching and working to achieve.  That’s why.

They brought home the trophies time after time.

Their awards were longer than even this rhyme.

They excelled in the spoken and written word,

And their band was the best that was ever heard.

Their athletic contestants took cup after cup,

And their scholars won honors on their way up.

The arts and the sciences were their meat.

There just wasn’t anyone they couldn’t beat

Till at last their prowess was something to fear,

And their rivals began broadcasting loud and clear,

Those people out on the South end of town

Have passed us all by,” and they frowned a big frown.

“They’re excelling at everything, why Man, do you know

They even have sophomores who can steal the show?

Their juniors have proved how superior they are,

And their seniors are the best in the district, by far.

“It’s their spirit, I guess, what else could it be?

We’ve never witnessed such loyalty.

It’s a unit school, or… it’s supposed to be.

But they just won’t divide themselves into three.

“They’re one for all and all for one.

They all join together in having fun.

They all join together in creating success.

And that’s why they do it, those Saxons, heck, yes.”

And so on the corner where Euclid Street

And Cerritos once did modestly meet

Stands a monument that now about a thousand feet high

A monument that will grow to the sky.

As the legend Loara continues to grow

And its searching Saxons are on the go

For more and more knowledge, courage and pride,

Marching together, side by side

And for ages to come folks will tell the tale

How the Saxon banner was raised to sail

More proudly, more nobly than any before

By a school of students who knew the score,

Who practiced the age old Golden Rule,

Who loved their banner and were proud of their school

Those rugged Saxons whom no one could stop

Who marched onward together and up to the top.

Academic Rally

Part of the 400 students that were honored

 In the 2011 -2012 school year we realized that we were missing out on recognizing an entire group of students for their talents and gifts in education.  These kids have high academic achievement and great attendance records and nothing was done to recognize them.  Being the Activities Director for the school for 23 years I knew better but I was so overwhelmed by everything else that it was hard to do yet another thing. I remember when I was a student that we received certificates when we hit high academic honors, and that alone was pretty cool to receive.  But why not recognize them in the same manner as the athletes?  The idea isn't a new one, many schools have begun to change cultures and create a positive spin on getting great grades.  A company called Jostens started a Renaissance Program that showed schools how to put on great rallies and how to recognize students differently.  This program is nationwide, and should be applauded for it's efforts.  Many schools have Renaissance Classes and Officers that work just in the academic part of the schools inner workings.

Color Guard before Assembly

At Loara we have taken that idea and made it our own.  For many years Loara has had an Educations Officer in Student Government and that role has morphed into a Renaissance type role.  We do student of the month, read birthdays on announcements and some other minor things but we never hit them all at once in a public setting. On September 28, 2012 we held an assembly to change the culture, and stepped up what we have been talking about ... recognizing high achievers in all they do.  The assembly is very similar to a spirit assembly.

Sammy pumping up the crowd

The kids with 3.5 and higher walk through the sports tunnel as the band and drum-line play them in, the cheerleaders cheer, the color-guard twirls and the band plays the Alma Mater.  The only difference is, we have keynote speakers, the Principal speaks about education and an Honors Teacher talks about how proud they are of all the hard work and accomplishments put in by these students.  The video we show doesn't show how we did at a football game but shows images of the students working toward education and the clubs they are involved in.  Watch the video "What makes you beautiful" 

(spoiler alert) there is one grammar error in the video, I left it there on purpose to see if people were truly watching, I recall hearing that  Disney does things like this so in Disney n  style they always put in some kind of thing just for the people that made the film.