Though their younger counterparts are putting their noses to
grindstone this week for standardized testing, San Andreas seniors
are spending some quality time getting in touch with themselves and
their community before graduation rolls around this June.
Though their younger counterparts are putting their noses to grindstone this week for standardized testing, San Andreas seniors are spending some quality time getting in touch with themselves and their community before graduation rolls around this June.
“We really want to offer our students opportunities to develop the whole individual, not just the academic pieces,” said Barbara Murray, Senior Advisor at San Andreas Continuation High School.
Around the state, students this week are taking their Standardized Testing and Reporting exams, used to determine school performance and progress. But because seniors won’t be back next year, they don’t have to take the cumbersome exams, leaving some …extra time on their hands. At San Benito High School seniors attend regular classes and at Anzar High School they have an opportunity to finish their senior exhibitions before they present them next week.
San Andreas seniors, however, participate in several activities designed to foster an appreciation of their education and community before they head out into the adult world.
Students had an opportunity early in the week to write autobiographical essays – many of which will be submitted for special San Andreas cash prizes worth several hundred dollars that can be used for additional schooling after graduation.
“A lot of our students do want to go on to some sort of post-secondary work, whether that’s Gavilan or a tech school,” said Murray. “And for those that don’t want that, or who are joining the military or something else, we wanted them to think about their public education – what worked, what did they get out of it and how much are they responsible for?”
Seniors looking toward Gavilan College opted to take advantage of a local placement test determining proficiency in math and English, instead of having to take the exams at a later date in Gilroy.
For the third year in a row, San Andreas offered its students CPR training for a day, ensuring that their graduates not only have reading, writing and ‘rithmatic down pat by the time they graduate, but that they will have acquired skills that could one day save another’s life.
“It was amazing to see their faces change throughout the day, how serious they all became,” said Murray. “At first everyone was kind of giddy… but they realized that the person who needs their help will probably be a family member or a friend.”
The most visible of the students’ activities happened yesterday morning as City Public Works enlisted their help painting a sound wall in need of repair after the winter storms at the corner of Recht and Meridian streets and helped collect weed and shrub trimmings along the wall.
“They’re fine young people,” said Marcello Orta, Park Supervisor. “It was great to have the extra help, and you can tell that the kids really come away with a sense of satisfaction about helping their community.”
Public Works maintains about eight miles of sound walls with only seven people to handle the burden, said Orta, so any extra hands the continuation school can provide always make a difference.
“It was neat to see the camaraderie between the students while they worked,” said Murray. “They know each other as fellow students in a casual setting, but watching them in a purposeful situation was really special.”
San Andreas students also volunteer throughout the year with local convalescent hospitals and other community organizations. Murray hopes that the students’ work will help dispel some of the stereotypes people unfamiliar with the school might have about the students and why they attend San Andreas.
“There is that stigma sometimes, and when students come here they might think that they’re ‘bad kids,'” said Murray. “But they’re not, and we see them as completely full of potential.”
San Andreas will hold graduation ceremonies June 8 at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or ds****@fr***********.com.
