Middle schoolers participate in ceremonies with families and
friends watching proudly
Gilroy – Gilroy’s middle school ceremonies featured both a premiere and finale.
The first class of Ascencion Solorsano Middle School students marched across the stage to pick up their certificates on Thursday. But for Suzanne Dam, the ceremony marked the conclusion of a career as Brownell Middle School principal.
“This was a sad one because it’s Ms. Dam’s last,” said Brownell counselor Kara Armijo.
But few tears were shed at the three middle school promotions. Teens and their family members seated at the Ascencion, Brownell or South Valley middle school ceremonies at Christmas Hill Park, wore cheek-to-cheek smiles.
Parents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters, clutched huge bunches of graduation balloons, red roses and purchased colorful leis to give to their special graduates. Each ceremony followed a similar schedule opening with a welcome speech from the school’s principal, the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem.
Principal James Maxwell wrapped-up the ceremony with a short speech welcoming the newly-christened Mustangs to Gilroy High School.
Brownell Middle School
“Are you ready?” Dam asked when she stepped up to the podium.
Yes, the students answered.
“OK, so are we,” she said, before beginning to read off the names of the outgoing graduates.
Worries that promotions would mirror the rain-soaked events of last year, were replaced with complaints about the searing heat. The Brownell Middle School crowd filled the edges of the amphitheater and gathered under the trees, seeking some sort of shade at the 3pm ceremony.
Associated Student Body President Christine Nelson ended her speech with praise for Dam, a principal she said was always around to lend a hand. The eighth-grader wished her good luck at her next job, which will be with the district.
Rachelle Perez, who held a red rose complete with a “Girls Rule” sticker on the cellophane, said her niece Chelsea Costanza barely made it to the promotion. Students must receive a passing grade or a “D” in all classes in order to participate.
“We’re really proud of her because in seventh grade she wasn’t doing well,” Perez said.
But Chelsea managed to improve her grades and happily joined her classmates. And Perez said she thinks her niece will strive to earn better grades in high school because she learned how difficult it is to catch up after falling behind in middle school.
“She’s totally excited,” she said. “It’s a big accomplishment.”
For Devonna Chapa, 14, anxiety about high school has little to do with academics or attending class on a larger campus.
“Guys, what car I want and getting all my credits,” she said.
In Pat Midtgaard’s speech, the school board president reminded the Brownell students that they will have the added pleasure of stepping onto a campus with a brand-new student center. She told the students that it’s important to give back to their school and community and that teachers, staff and sparkling new buildings can only offer so much.
“Students, there’s one thing we cannot do: we can’t provide you with the motivation to reach the highest level,” she said.
South Valley Middle School
Ruby Gonzalez didn’t spend the minutes before South Valley Middle School’s 5pm ceremony thinking about the memories she’ll leave behind. Instead she worried about tripping while picking up her certificate.
But her friend Sonia Dimas did mention why she’s a bit uneasy about high school.
“I’m nervous to meet new people,” the 14-year-old said. “It’s crazy.”
South Valley Principal John Perales kicked off the afternoon event, which fortunately had cooled off considerably. He told the crowd he just wanted to say a few words as his students embark on their high school career.
He began with kind words for his school, calling South Valley “a strong and effective middle school that meets and serves the students.”
Then Perales gave the students, who will graduate from high school in 2010, some advice from his own family. His father, Perales said, always emphasized the importance of attitude and hard work.
“These two are the equalizers in life,” he said.
Associated Student Body President Katy Elston began her speech by reminding her class that middle school promotion is just the beginning. She talked about the first days of middle school when everyone was filled with anxiety, excitement and nervousness “but most of all we were scared,” she said.
Elston mentioned embarrassing moments students experienced in middle school, from running into a pole to calling their English teacher “mom.”
But now that they’re heading off to new scenery and a new crop of students, everything will change once again.
“Today, we are on the road to becoming adults,” she said.
Ascencion Solorsano
Middle School
“I’m sure that most of us will look back on this day and say, ‘Wow!’ And we haven’t even gotten to the dance yet,” said Student Body President Nicolas Morra, as he spoke to the 245 students and their families in the stands.
Morra acknowledged that life will be different as they move on to high school.
The class of 2006 is the first for the school, which opened three years ago. The group has been the eldest students throughout their academic career at Ascencion Solorsano Middle School and now they will head high school and be the “little kids.”
“It’s a bittersweet moment,” said Elisabet Barrios, before the ceremony began at 7pm. “I feel happy because we’re the first to graduate from Solorsano. But it’s sad too because you’re leaving some of your friends behind.”
Other students expressed the same clashing of emotions as they sat in their turquoise gowns ready for their name to be called. Although the students said they were excited they also admitted they did not know what to expect from high school.
But Principal Sal Tomasello said he is not worried about the students he watched grow over the past few years.
“In 2003 we asked them to take responsibility as the oldest kids,” he said about being an example to the younger kids. “They accepted that responsibility and showed leadership to these students on campus.”
Tomasello is not the only one who expects great things from these students. Teachers also feel the newly-promoted students will go on to do just fine in high school and beyond.
“They are an intellectual class,” said sixth-grade teacher Maria Walker. “They are going to do well because they have a strong spirit.”
Holly Parton, a seventh-grade algebra teacher, added, “They are very enthusiastic and they are very successful. They’re positive and they push themselves to succeed.”
As the night wore on, the students expressed that the first thing on their minds was not just the excitement of moving on – but also the sadness of what they were leaving behind.
Former Student Body President Danielle Jimenez, told the crowd that the moment was best expressed by a saying she learned from her “elders.”
“I always knew that I would look back at my tears and laugh,” she said. “But I never knew I would look back on my laughter and cry.”
Ascension Solorsano
HOW MANY PROMOTED?: 245
SCHOOL PRESIDENT NICOLAS MORRA:
“I’m sure most of us will look back on this day and say, ‘Wow!'”
TEACHER MARIA WALKER:
“They are an intellectual class. They are going to do well because they have a strong spirit.”
STUDENT ELISABET BARRIOS:
“It’s a bittersweet moment. I feel happy … but it’s sad too because you’re leaving some of your friends behind.”
Brownell
HOW MANY PROMOTED?: 232
SCHOOL PRESIDENT CHRISTINE NELSON:
“My friends and I have continually learned life lessons. We were always trying to avoid drama but it was (nearly)
impossible.”
BOARD PRESIDENT PAT MIDTGAARD:
“Choose the difficult right over the
difficult wrong.”
STUDENT JOSEPH HEMOSILLO:
On why he was excited about the
ceremony: “Being able to continue
moving ahead in education.”
South Valley
HOW MANY PROMOTED?: 240
SCHOOL PRESIDENT KATY ELSTON:
“Today we are on the road to becoming adults.”
TEACHER KEN REICHERT:
“It’s one step along the way. The next step is high school and hopefully the next step is college.”
nSTUDENT OLIVIA ALTAMIRANO:
“We’re scared of leaving South Valley because we’re been there for a long time.”
