GILROY
– Lots of jackhammers and deep trenches have torn up the Gilroy
High School grounds, but the construction didn’t stop more than 700
students from attending six weeks of summer school.
GILROY – Lots of jackhammers and deep trenches have torn up the Gilroy High School grounds, but the construction didn’t stop more than 700 students from attending six weeks of summer school.
GHS Summer School Principal John Perales said the students were very successful despite all of the distractions.
“The students have had to deal with lots of construction problems, from electrical shortages with no power for hours to switching classes four times a day because the noise was so loud,” he said.
School started on June 23, and 33 classes were offered this year to students interested in getting ahead in their studies, making up failed courses, or just preparing for upcoming exams.
Many students enrolled in enrichment courses like government, economics and computer graphics and design, said Director of Curriculum Olivia Schaad. Students signed up for these classes so they could graduate early or get a free period, Perales said.
Anna Mesta, 18, will be a senior this year and decided to take Collin Bross’ enrichment economics/government class.
“I want to be able to take some college classes next year when I am a senior,” Mesta said. “Taking this summer class will give me that opportunity.”
There are a couple of new additions to the program this year that offer students a taste of computer literacy and multimedia, Perales said. One of those is the extreme learning program, a computer class that allows students to use the school’s laptop computers. The classes focus on all subjects from English to mathematics all at the students’ individual pace.
“We first test the students to see what level they are at, and then we set up the computer programs to work at their level,” said Gena Sakahara, an extreme learning teacher.
The classes were originally set up to prepare students for the high school exit exam but the exams were officially postponed on July 8, so these students are just taking the class to improve on their skills, Sakahara said.
Andrew Mokres, 17, is one of the 22 students enrolled in the class who says he likes this teaching method much better.
“I love being at my own pace and not having to listen to teachers,” Mokres said. “I am also learning a lot about research on the Internet.”
The students get five elective credits for taking the course and for some this is their only access to the Internet, Sakahara said.
While some students were busy mastering subjects at their own personal levels, other students were able to try out the new contemporary media class with teacher Mark Carik. The class allowed students to learn the fundamentals of making and designing their own movies, while learning about different media programs on the computer, Perales said.
In between classes, students maneuvered their way through the dirt and ditches but got to eat lunch for free.
“The school gave me some grant money, and we thought we would do something nice for the students,” Perales said.
Some of the students really needed this energy boost, like the new women’s athletic training course from 4 to 6 p.m. each day with coach Cari Williams. There has always been a male athletic class, but now with the new girls’ class they had the opportunity to prepare for their upcoming sports in the fall.
“Those girls work so much harder than the boys do,” Perales said. “Cari told me her girls are already four months ahead of schedule because of this class.”
The six-week, fast-track classes come to an end on Friday and GHS will hold a graduation ceremony for those students, who were just short of graduating in May, but have now fulfilled all of their requirements. Nineteen students will receive diplomas at the ceremony to be held on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the GHS theater.
“It’s a right of passage that every child should be able to make, and I am so glad we can end the six weeks this way,” Perales said.
