Dear Editor,
I am a 2005 Gilroy High School graduate. I was a varsity
cheerleader for three years and also held many positions in the
associated student body. I also was enrolled in advanced placement
classes my junior and senior year.
Dear Editor,
I am a 2005 Gilroy High School graduate. I was a varsity cheerleader for three years and also held many positions in the associated student body. I also was enrolled in advanced placement classes my junior and senior year.
The school board last week denied the 11 varsity girls their trip to the Pro Bowl. This school field trip has been on going for many years. As a varsity cheerleader, I had the opportunity to travel to Hawaii and to perform in the Pro Bowl halftime show twice. It’s a memory I will carry with me my entire life.
The main argument against the trip was not allowing the girls to be absent three days of school because they would be missing “in classroom academics”. Academics are extremely important. What I do not understand is this: The girls have to sign contracts with every teacher so that everything they are missing in class has to be made up. If the girls fail to abide by the signed contract, their grades will suffer. Having their grades suffer will result in them being ineligible to cheer.
At the Thursday meeting, Trustee Tom Bundros stated, “Believe it or not, there is life after high school” … adding that the students will have a chance in the future to travel to Hawaii.” Mr. Bundros you are incorrect. You are missing one very important piece of information. In life, when are you ever going to have the same opportunity to travel to Hawaii and be able to perform in a National Football League Pro Bowl game with your cheer team?
I am proud to have been part of cheerleading. I still wear my Pro Bowl T-shirt around my college campus. I am honored I had the opportunity to represent Gilroy. Cheering on a varsity team only happens once in a lifetime, and you have to take advantage of the opportunity.
I would like to thank everyone who stood up for the cheerleaders who were sadly rejected by the school board. To the 11 girls – you are amazing at what you do. You just have to prove to them that they made the wrong decision. Remember the camp theme this year – “We’ve got it” – and you girls definitely have what it takes.
Brittney Fellows, Gilroy
