After two years in existence, the administration decided to stop the “Writing Days” program.

Initially created to help improve students’ writing skills, the program became too constrictive for teachers. They requested more freedom in the manner by which they presented writing in their classes.

Even though teachers no longer have to grade the prompts, they are required to display the use of writing in their classrooms.

The school’s 2008 Academic Performance Index (API) score based on the standardized testing done on May showed an increase of eight points from last year’s 747 to 755, surpassing the targeted increase by five points.

“This shows that our teachers are teaching and our students are learning,” Principal Kevin Welsh said.

At least 25 people were killed and 130 were injured during a collision between a Metrolink passenger train and a Union Pacific freight train on Sept. 17, in one of the worst train crashes in recent history. Foreign language and social science teacher Donald Ashman was among the injured.

The train had just left the Chatsworth station and was en route to Moorpark when it hit the freight train.

Once he exited the train, Ashman, an Anglican priest, gave last rites to eight or nine of the victims, including the engineer.

“I have learned that when these kinds of tragedies happen, it forces us to focus on the more important things in life like our families, our values, and not the silly stupid things in life like gossip, anger, and revenge,” Ashman said. “Such incidents [teach] us to value human life and that every single one of us has dignity and [deserves] that respect.”

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the Metrolink train ran a red light.