On Wednesday afternoon, 618 students walked across the middle
school graduation stages and into the beginning of their high
school careers.
”
It’s a rite of passage,
”
Maze Middle School Parent Renee Flores said about the
ceremony.
”
They’re moving up to the big time.
”
On Wednesday afternoon, 618 students walked across the middle school graduation stages and into the beginning of their high school careers.
“It’s a rite of passage,” Maze Middle School Parent Renee Flores said about the ceremony. “They’re moving up to the big time.”
Some will become cheerleaders, debate captains and some will soar in academics, but regardless of what they become in the next four years, they all have to start at the bottom again to get there.
“We’re going to be freshies,” Evie Bettencourt, former Rancho San Justo Middle School eighth-grader, said.
Leaving behind their clout as the leaders of Maze and Rancho San Justo Middle Schools, these eighth-graders will soon become the low men and women on the totem pole as the incoming freshman.
“I’m really nervous because it’s a bigger school and I’ll have to start all over again,” former Maze eighth-grader Nikki Locke said.
Although he admits he’s a little afraid of being picked on, Maze eighth-grader Adam Crawford will help the San Benito High School Class of 2008 transition into the next level as their incoming class president.
“I’m very excited about leading this freshman class,” he said.
While Crawford is optimistic, Maze classmate Aubree Thompson doesn’t want to leave her campus of three years.
“I’m not ready to leave,” she anxiously said while twirling her hair and biting her lip. “I’m going to miss all of my friends who are in seventh grade.”
The 290 graduates from Maze walked through the wind in their navy blue gowns at 3 p.m. and Rancho San Justo’s 328 graduates marched in Bolado Park at 5:30 p.m.
While the students at both schools have been together with their classmates for three years, high school will mesh students from the two schools for the first time, introducing them to new faces and friends.
“I’m really excited to meet new people but at the same time I’m scared to lose connections with the ones I already have,” former Rancho San Justo eighth-grader Allyson Acosta said.
Emily Bayne said she’ll miss the lunchtime memories she’s shared with friends at Rancho San Justo, but is looking forward to the new eye candy at the high school.
“I’m excited about all the cute guys,” Bayne said.
Both schools handed out two meritorious service awards to students who were examples of honestly, reliability and character, and they also honored those students with the most outstanding academic performance.
Hollister School District Superintendent Judith Barranti said it’s important to celebrate the eighth-grade promotion.
“It’s a milestone in the students lives and I think it’s important to recognize milestones,” she said.
History Teacher Geoffrey Holland offered words of wisdom to all graduates as he spoke during the Rancho commencement ceremony.
“Good luck as you write the next pages of your life and remember when they say it can’t be done, you say, ‘why not?,” he said.
Christine Tognetti can be reached at 637-5566, ext. 330 or at ct*******@fr***********.com.
