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Wherever the 278 members of Sobrato High School’s graduating class of 2014 end up later in life, they shared one last timeless celebration together at their June 6 commencement ceremony.“Take a pause to take in this moment,” graduate Taylor Chan told her classmates while delivering the ceremony’s senior speech. “Because in this moment, I swear, we are infinite,” she added, paraphrasing a line from the Steven Chobsky novel “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”Hundreds of proud parents, relatives and friends crowded Sobrato High School’s athletic field, waving signs and banners in support of the new graduates during the ceremony. Balloons and flowers were scattered throughout the audience, and an occasional air horn or cow bell broke through cheers and whistles as graduates’ names were called by Assistant Principal Kevin Miller at the end of the ceremony. Morgan Hill Unified School District officials, including the seven trustees, joined Sobrato High Principal Deborah Padilla and other school staff on stage during the celebration. Padilla urged the class to remember the lessons of community kinship and support for their peers that they learned at Sobrato as they proceed into their adult lives. “Take our Sobrato Way beyond the high school walls, and not only show pride in yourselves, but also pride in your alma mater and in your community,” Padilla said. Pride was on display in the audience even before the graduating class made their procession to their prior to the ceremony.Valerie Farris, mother of Sobrato graduating senior Andrew Wilcox, 17, gushed about her son and his achievements.“He’s a great baseball player, he has good grades, he’s handsome,” Farris said warmly. “We’re very, very proud of him.”Wilcox, who his mother said “loves to learn,” will start attending classes at West Valley College later this month. He plans to transfer to a school in the University of California system after a couple years. The graduate played baseball and football, and tried to start a fishing club during his four years at Sobrato, Farris said. Like many graduates, Wilcox had a crowd of family members in the audience. Graduate Alejandra Kendrick’s grandparents and cousin traveled to Morgan Hill from Texas to see Friday evening’s graduation ceremony and celebrate for the weekend. Kendrick, 17, was a cheerleader at Sobrato. She plans to attend West Valley College in the fall, and eventually transfer to San Jose State University to study nursing, according to her family members.“I’m absolutely proud of Alejandra. She’s done really well,” said her father John Kendrick of Morgan Hill. “It’s been beautiful watching her grow up into a mature, intelligent young woman. We as a family are proud of her and will continue to support her.” Sobrato alumna Daisy Topete, graduate of the school’s inaugural class of 2007, was also in the audience to cheer on her “baby sister” Monica Topete, 17. Monica, an active member of FFA while at Sobrato, plans to study veterinary science in college in the fall.After the ceremony, excited graduates and their families could barely find words to describe their reactions as they took photographs and shared hugs in a courtyard outside a Sobrato academic building. Class of 2014 graduate Connor Atwood, 18, graduated with a Golden State Seal Merit Award. He said after spending almost every day for four years with his classmates that it’s “pretty crazy” to think the ceremony marks “the last hour we’re here.” Atwood also plans to attend West Valley College in the fall. Graduate Elizabeth Delgadillo, 18, said the graduation ceremony was “surreal.”“I didn’t expect it to be as emotional as it is. During the speeches, I started to tear up,” Delgadillo said. Specifically, she said the words of keynote speaker and Sobrato English teacher Jamie Simpson, and Valedictorian Michelle Luu—Delgadillo’s best friend—brought back fond memories dating back to freshman year. Delgadillo, who graduated in the top 10 percent of the class with a Golden State Seal Merit Award, plans to attend Santa Clara University in the fall, where she will study bioengineering. “I want to help improve existing medical technology,” she said. When asked how she feels now that she is a Sobrato graduate, Jessica Reid, 18, laughed, “I’m free!” Reid, like many of her classmates, clutched a bouquet of flowers and wore a lei of orchids while walking off the campus with her parents and other family members.Reid plans to attend Sonoma College and study business administration in the fall. During her four years at Sobrato, Reid said she and her friends learned the importance of supporting one’s community—in this case the Sobrato student body—and “banding together” in good and bad times. Class of 2014 member Anthony Jackson, 18, graduated with a Golden State Seal Merit Award and plans to begin studying mechanical engineering at Santa Clara University in the fall. He succinctly expressed fond memories and excitement for the future.“I’ve grown up with these people. I’ve known some of them since elementary school, and it’s great to see everyone do well,” Jackson said of his classmates. 

AAUW Gilroy Branch Scholarship/Jade Katen-Ynzunza/$1,000

Selecting students for the Morgan Hill Times’ annual senior spotlight honor is no enviable task. That’s why we make the principals do it (and they resent us for making them narrow it down to one!). These students have navigated the labyrinth of high school hurdles and we are inspired by their optimistic outlook, refreshing attitudes and heartfelt honesty. We celebrate them, their families, their mentors and all the graduating seniors in the Class of 2014.

There will be more than 1,000 students attending the Morgan Hill Unified School District’s 2014 summer school programs, but some will have to pay to catch up to grade level.While those students classified as migrant, English Learners or special education will attend free of cost, other high school-aged students who are deficient in their credits must pay a $148 per semester charge for a five-unit recovery, according to MHUSD staff.The 285 migrant students will be covered with Title I funds totaling $62,018, according to MHUSD staff. The 225 English Learners will be covered with Title III funds totaling $65,254. The 165 special education students will be covered with special ed funds of about $175,000.“I’m pleased to see that there’s more help for the high school students who may not be (English learners), special ed or migrant students. It looks like there’s a lot of progress made this year,” said Trustee Amy Porter Jensen of the 250-plus students signed up for credit recovery over the summer. “The number was much lower last year. That’s encouraging, but we need to find a way to get funding for the elementary and junior high kids because that just isn’t available right now.”Trustee Ron Woolf said the lack of funding for summer school courses for all students across the board is a statewide challenge.“I’m sure that every (unified school district) in the state of California is asking the same thing,” said Woolf, noting that years ago more than 3,000 students attended summer school in Morgan Hill for various reasons when funding was available.The May 27 MHUSD district staff report reads, “(The Summer School Plan) will target Kinder Readiness for young migrant students, as well as serve migrant students in K-12, English Learners, and all students eligible on their Individualized Education Plan for the extended school year.”When it comes to summer instruction for middle schoolers, only up to 90 students in those grade levels will be eligible, even if they don’t fall into one of the three funded subgroups, according to MHUSD staff. The Silicon Valley Foundation will fund free Elevated Math and Science programs (formerly called Step up to Algebra and Step up to Science) on the Britton Middle School campus, for these 90 seventh and eighth graders. Students in the Elevated Math and Science programs will focus on critical skills to prepare for success in Common Core standards in math and science, according to district staff. These classes do not provide credit recovery, but rather supplemental instruction. “These two programs support underrepresented students and prepare them for college and careers in the areas of math and science,” reads the May 27 staff report detailing the district’s summer school plan.Other students who are deficient in credits can seek financial assistance if they cannot afford summer school fees, according to the district.The summer school programs will be housed at two locations—Britton Middle School and the Loritta Bonfante Johnson Education Center (85 Tilton Ave. site). The summer school principal is Jennifer Smith. She is in charge of the program which runs from June 16 through July 17.The district is also offering a Seamless Summer Meals Program, served by Food Services, which is free to all students ages 18 and under from 10 a.m. to noon at both locations.Board approves two staff positionsBy a 6-0 vote (Trustee Rick Badillo was not present at the time of the vote), the board approved 15 consent items, including two positions totaling $230,000:—Student Information Systems Coordinator, paying approximately $90,000 and responsible for the accurate data collection and reporting of all student data and—Director Informational Technology and Enrollment, paying approximately $140,000 and responsible for leading the implementation of a district-wide instructional technology plan aligned with curriculum and instruction.Both positions will be paid through the general fund, according to MHUSD staffBefore the consent vote, the Board pulled two items from the list:—The revised job description and hours for the Community Liaison position estimated at $90,000 and—A $138,000 contract with Al Bana Construction for modernization of San Martin/Gwinn Elementary School phase one.More construction costs approvedBy unanimous 7-0 votes, the Board approved the following contracts:—$298,928 contract with Lewis and Tibbitts, Inc. for underground utilities for the technology projects;—$79,125 contract with Piana Construction & Painting for the interior painting of Martin Murphy Middle School;—$204,172 contract with Alcal Specialty Contracting, Inc. for Los Paseo roof replacement.These construction costs are funded by bond money.

Live Oak High School senior Robert Alexander’s musical piece, entitled “Sparks,” will be performed by the San Jose Metropolitan Band during this Sunday’s “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” Spring Concert at the McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center in Saratoga.

Gavilan College’s newest fundraiser - “Sowing Seeds, Nurturing Dreams” - is a gala filled with local wine and food for guests as well as a silent and live auction with an ultimate goal of providing enough money for scholarships and emergency assistance to students in need.

Morgan Hill Unified School District is calling all community members who would like to read a book selection to an elementary school class during a special March 4 “Read-in” event.

Local high school seniors are set to benefit from a record $50,000 in scholarships generated by proceeds from the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras, as announced today by the annual fungi festival’s Board of Directors.

Eighth-grade students from Jackson Academy of Math and Music and Martin Murphy Middle School are hosting a Free E-Waste & Metal Recycling fundraiser event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 22 to help finance a school trip to Washington, D.C.