Schools

First-year students at Gavilan College who planned the basics of their futures this school year  when they started classes will receive an extra carrot: priority registration.

“Every day I put a smile on,” said David Galindo, tugging at the bottom of his sweater as he spoke to a classroom full of students. “I’ll be happy at school and at home, but at night when everyone is sleeping I feel myself slowly starting to get depressed. I look outside at the stars and sometimes I just wish I could disappear because I feel like no one cares.”

Virginia Diaz, Gilroy Early College Academy

Michael Sabater Lasquete Jr., 17, senior at Gilroy High School

The kindergartners of Glen View Elementary School watched with wide eyes, bouncing on their tip-toes in anticipation as Principal Corina Sapien cut the yellow ribbon that separated them from their new playground Tuesday morning. As the ends of ribbon hit the pavement, the 5- and 6-year-olds swarmed the brightly colored play space, which has been three years in the making.

A former Gilroy Unified School District substitute instructor—and part of the Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy’s first graduating class—is leaving her hometown to teach English in Thailand. Taylor Hadnot will begin teaching Sept. 29, just two days before her 21st birthday, and will work for the Thai government teaching her native language to children.

With more than 1,500 people expected to attend Gavilan College’s 21st annual High on Health Faire, visitors will be exposed to a wide variety of medical services from a multitude of regional providers and agencies—and it’s free.The annual health and resource fair is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Gavilan College Student Center (5055 Santa Teresa Blvd.) in Gilroy. It is open to the public and any of the free tests can be performed on children, as long as a parent or guardian is present.Representatives from Hazel Hawkins Hospital, Hollister Pregnancy Center/STD Clinic, The LGBTQ Youth Space, Covered CA, Saint Louise Regional Hospital, San Andreas Regional Center, San Benito County HHHSA, San Benito County Public Health’s Tobacco Program, Santa Clara County Valley Health Hospital, Santa Clara County WIC Program Sourcewise, South County Self Help Center, Tobacco Prevention and Education Program and the Gavilan College Allied Health Department.Visitors can request referrals for counseling and be tested for blood pressure, blood glucose and HIV/AIDS (results are confidential and do not require needles). The Gilroy Lions Club will be on hand for free vision screenings by a licensed optometrist as well as free pregnancy testing for women age 18 and older.

The Gilroy Unified School District Board of Education outlined and approved its budget for the year and certified the 2013-14 unaudited actual ending balance at the Sept. 4 meeting. Trustees also approved therapeutic classroom support for students with emotional disabilities, hourly rate increases for elementary school piano accompanists, professional development training for teachers and a memorandum of understanding between GUSD and Fresno State to allow its nursing students to do their practicums within the district.

Sonia Flores always knew she belonged in the classroom, but when she taught her first English class in Gilroy, she knew she had found her place.

On Sept. 5, Christopher High School will unveil its largest “classroom” on campus.