Students are organized into four "Houses" — activity groups designed for friendly competition during lunch breaks and throughout the school year.
HILLCREST HOUSES: WHAT ARE THEY?
Each House is named after prominent local figures: Rudee Ballotti, Burbank Byrd, Libby Masuoka, and Rifo O'Farrell.
Student leaders within each House are elected to coordinate teams for a variety of events. These range from sports like basketball, table tennis, and volleyball, to intellectual challenges such as board games and Jeopardy competitions, as well as themed spirit days and community service initiatives like canned food drives.
Points are awarded based on participation and success in these activities, tracked by Mr. S. in the gym.
At the conclusion of the school year, the leading House enjoys a special reward in the form of a field trip. Participation in the House Reward Activity follows the same eligibility guidelines as school dances.
HILLCREST HOUSES: WHO ARE THEY?
Maria Rifo devoted her life to supporting those who couldn’t speak for themselves when language posed a barrier. She was an advocate for the Spanish speaking community in Santa Rosa and throughout California. Her legacy and contributions to our local community will forever be appreciated and remembered.
Jasper O’Farrell was one of the first European settlers of Sebastopol. He immigrated from Ireland and named the valley where his ranch was located Analy, after his hometown of Annaly, Ireland. Analy High School is has its name because of him.
Maria Rifo and Jasper O'Farrell both immigrated to Sonoma County from other parts of the world. Maria Rifo was born in Chile and Jasper O’Farrell was born in Ireland. While the accomplishments and impacts they had on our community are different, they both show that no matter where you come from, you are a valued and important member of Hillcrest Middle School.
Luther Burbank started farming in Sebastopol in 1885. He studied plants and became a world renowned horticulturist who developed new varieties of fruits, grains and vegetables.
Ann Gray Byrd was born in the late 1930s and is known as one of Sonoma County's African-American humanitarians, speakers of motivation, and Civil Rights leader. A graduate of Santa Rosa High School, she is recognized in Sonoma County for being the winner of the Sonoma County NAACP legacy award as well as the author of Glimpses: Eye-Witnessed, Remembered and Lived (History of African-Americans in Sonoma County).
Luther Burbank and Ann Gray Byrd don’t seem to have much in common at first glance but when you learn their stories you can find similarities between them. They are both influential in Sonoma County for their important contributions to art and agriculture.
Willard Libby attended Analy High School and grew up to become a Nobel Prize winning scientist. He developed radiocarbon dating techniques that became the standard tool for archaeologists to determine the precise age of objects.
Peter Masuoka, a graduate of Analy high school, was the senior class president in 1940. After graduating from Analy, he attended Santa Rosa Junior College before joining the Army. Sadly, he lost his life in battle during WWII in France.
Willard Libby and Peter Masuoka were both Analy High School alumni that went on to help our local community and the world.
Helen Rudee was elected as Petaluma’s first female mayor in 1965 and held the position until 1978. She was also part of the Santa Rosa Board of Education and later served as the first female member of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. She was concerned about the amount of hungry people in Sonoma County, so she created the Blue Ribbon Task Force which then developed into the now well known Redwood Empire Food Bank which serves over 100,000 people in Sonoma County.
Reynolds Ballotti was the first superintendent of the Gravenstein Union School District, he held that position for 25 years until his retirement in 1980. Before he was superintendent, he was a teacher and principal in Rincoln Valley.
Both Reynolds Ballotti and Helen Rudee worked in Sonoma County education. They worked tirelessly to improve education for others.
