GILROY
– Gilroy High School’s open house this year was an evening of
entertainment as well as education. Called Spring Fair, the
Wednesday-night celebration included performances by drama
students, the choir and band.
GILROY – Gilroy High School’s open house this year was an evening of entertainment as well as education. Called Spring Fair, the Wednesday-night celebration included performances by drama students, the choir and band.
The school opened its campus to celebrate its accomplishments and bring the school community up to date on recent changes.
“It’s sort of to get everybody together as one family, because as big as we are, many of our elements don’t see the others,” said Greg Camacho-Light, assistant principal. “So we want to get everybody together at the dinner table, so to speak, and celebrate ourselves.”
In addition to the usual classroom and teacher visitations, parents could peruse the school’s quad to learn about extracurricular activities from athletics to the Poetry Club.
The Parent Club, which became an official fund-raiser and increased its activities this year, had a table in the quad where parents could sing up to volunteer, grab a cookie or donate money. The club also was handing out goody bags to each of the high school’s teachers. Stocked with tissues, a pad of paper, pens, highlighters, cookies and more, the blue cloth bags read, “Gilroy High School Parent Club supports teachers.”
The Parent Club is using some of its funds to fulfill a “wish list” for each department. Several departments already received their wish list items, like reams of paper, and more deliveries are on the way.
Parents at the Spring Fair also learned about recent changes in the English department. School staff gave a second presentation on the revised reading list and the textbook that will be adopted next year.
One student who was staffing a table for a GHS group that educates students about health issues, including sexually transmitted diseases, said the Spring Fair format gives students and parents a better idea of what GHS is all about.
“Now, it’s like, ‘See what else we have to offer’,” said Siosiana Hoeft, a junior. “There’s been a lot of parents who are interested in this (group) for their kids, because their kids have questions.”
Two parents staffing the Grad Nite 2004 table were glad for the chance to recruit more volunteers and tell parents all about the safe and sober graduation party.
“I like the setup, I think having the tables along (the quad) will help them feel comfortable,” said Priscilla Young. “We have our fingers crossed that we get more volunteers.”
One parent, who graduated from GHS nearly 20 years ago, was visiting the campus with her daughter, who will be a freshman next year.
“It’s changed a little bit, but it’s pretty much the same,” said Patty Peña. “There are a lot more clubs and more services, which is good.”
