After countless hours of physical training, drill practice and
ceremony rehearsal, the little recruits of the Turning Point
program at Gabilan Hills Elementary have graduated.
After countless hours of physical training, drill practice and ceremony rehearsal, the little recruits of the Turning Point program at Gabilan Hills Elementary have graduated.
“They’re so young and they have gained such great discipline,” Mother and Instructor Andrea Munday-Nicolette said.
The Turning Point program, which is run by former Military Police Staff Sgt. Charles Tutop and is similar to a ROTC basic training program, is an after school program run at Gabilan Hills. The program is aimed at helping the students develop courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. The students have been meeting with Tutop for two hours a day, two to three times a week for 36 weeks. Nicolette said her daughter, fourth-grader Ashley Munday, was very shy before entering the program and the way she has opened up is one the reasons she’s stuck with the program. During the graduation ceremony, Munday gave a speech and thanked Tutop for his help.
“You taught me if I pulled my hair back and yell with the best, I can do anything,” she said. “I thank you for my confidence.”
Parent Mabelia Reyes watched her son Genaro march through drill and said the program has been a positive experience for him.
“We’re really proud of him and one of the things we’ve really noticed is he hasn’t wanted to quit,” she said.
Parent Richalda Rodriguez said she’s seen a real change in her son Stevan’s behavior since beginning Turning Point.
“He’s been very good and very polite,” she said.
Gabilan Hills is the only school in Hollister School District that has the program, and Tutop said he’s proud of all 40 students in the program.
“I think these kids motivate each other,” he said. “This program is great for intervention because a lot of these kids here, the parents don’t have time for them, so if they’re here they have someone teaching them the right way.”
This is the second year the Turning Point program has been at the school, and all four reigning officers are girls. This is Tutop’s last year volunteering with the program, but he’s hopeful it will continue under different command for years to come.
“I would really like to see the program continue for a long time,” he said.
To learn more about the Turning Point program, call Gabilan Hills at 636-4430.
Christine Tognetti can be reached at 637-5566, ext. 330 or at [email protected].
