News

Local school district leadership’s legal push to erase an authorized charter school from operating in town was thwarted late last month in the Superior Court of Santa Clara County.

The Board of Trustees of Gavilan Joint Community College District unanimously voted in Kathleen Rose as the next President/Superintendent of Gavilan College at their June 14 meeting.

Sixty-five Community Adult School students accepted their diplomas June 9 inside the Live Oak High School Theater, rounding out the graduation season for Morgan Hill Unified School District.

Selecting students for the Morgan Hill Times’ annual senior spotlight honor is no enviable task. That’s why we make the principals, school counselors and staff sort it out (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 2016.

For the 48 Central High School students who received their diplomas, the June 2 commencement ceremony meant the completion of an uphill journey filled with hardships and setbacks that, gradually throughout the school year, turned into successes and accomplishments.“These students don’t take their graduation as simply just another thing to do. They understand how they really had to work for this,” said seventh-year Central High civics/world history teacher Christine Charlebois. “They had to overcome extreme obstacles. They value this very much. These ceremonies are very emotional. Each one of them is very invested in that diploma.”Students come to Central behind in the necessary academic credits to graduate from high school. A more hands-on approach by teachers in a smaller class-size environment helps these at-risk students catch up with their coursework.Central’s 2016 Student of the Year was Jakob Gamboa, who will continue his studies at Gavilan College. Graduates Jerry Juarez and Austin Flower addressed their classmates at the ceremony held at Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center’s Downtown Amphitheater. Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate was the keynote speaker.Graduate Christopher Fuentes, who will enter the U.S. Army Reserves, led the crowd and Class of 2016 in the Pledge of Allegiance.One-third of the student population at Central received some sort of scholarship and/or award from the community, totaling more than $10,000, according to Charlebois.“It was a very enjoyable year, very successful year,” Charlebois said. “The school itself received a glowing accreditation from WASC.”

While awaiting the results from the June 7 election that includes a two-candidate race for one remaining school board seat, Morgan Hill Unified School District’s board of education will reconvene for a regularly scheduled meeting the same night.

The Ann Sobrato High School concert band began to play, cutting all conversations short and directing all the attention to the more than 300 students entering the stage to initiate the June 3 graduation ceremony for the Class of 2016.It was one last day as seniors at Sobrato.And one last high school graduation ceremony for many parents watching their youngest child receive their diploma.That was the case for the David and Feleecia Brown, who, after having attended their oldest daughter’s graduation in 2009, were back doing the same for Savannah Brown. She plans to major in biology at San Jose State University this fall and then advance to medical school on her way to become pediatrician.“I have to admit it was harder—I had to fight back the tears—because at least when the older (daughter) graduated we still had another one coming through,” David Brown said after the ceremony.Some of Savannah’s family traveled from Iowa, Illinois and Georgia to celebrate her graduation.“I love the support. There is nothing like family and support,” Feleecia Brown said.For other families, seeing a child graduate was a new experience.Fred Murray, father of Sean Henry Murray  attended the ceremony—along with 15 family members and friends—to celebrate Sean’s achievement.“We are really proud of him. It’s a big day. He is off to college in a few months, so this is just one more step toward him becoming an adult, becoming a man and going out on his own,” Fred Murray said after the ceremony.Sean will also major in biology at UC Santa Barbara this fall.Fred Murray believes Sean’s achievements will benefit his youngest child, who will be a freshman next year, by demonstrating it can be done.“I think he set a great example for his younger sister,” Fred Murray said. “If you put in effort, work hard and be disciplined it pays off.”The ceremony began with the traditional Flag Salute and National Anthem. Student Dora Jimenez gave the welcome speech in English and Spanish.The language barrier was one of the obstacles graduate Brian Marquez Montoya had to overcome. His family moved to the U.S. in 2007 from Mexico, not knowing a word in English. Now, he is bilingual, with a high school diploma and plans to attend UCLA to study public relations.David Marquez, Brian’s father, said after the ceremony, in Spanish, that he was proud of Brian because he is following his dream to be well-educated and being someone in life. He also noted that Brian has helped his 16-year-old sister stay focused and motivated in school by helping her with her school work.“When she entered here (Sobrato High School), she wasn’t doing too well in school. But then he (Brian) began helping her. She has raised her grades and I could see Brian has been a great example to her,” David Marquez said in Spanish while Brian huddled up to take pictures with about 20 people that came see him graduate.Principal Courtney Macko, in her welcome speech, thanked the staff for their dedication to the students in and outside of class, and the families for their support to their graduates.Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent Steve Betando followed with a speech also acknowledging family, but focused more on an ingredient to success: balance.“I wish for you and charge to you that you all live into adulthood; with so many new adventures and opportunities, that you maintain your balance in life,” Betando said during his speech.The last staff member to take center stage was keynote speaker Kim Stubbe, a Sobrato English teacher, who encouraged the students to reminisce on their paths that led them to graduate. She said graduations are not just for receiving a diploma, but a celebration of all they have achieved and all the obstacles they have had to overcome to be in the position they are in today.  “Now that you know the meaning of this moment, embrace it, don’t take it for granted; enjoy it, relish it, for today’s moment, this moment will become tomorrow’s memory,” Stubbe said during her speech.The graduates were then given one last message from their ASB President Karly Rebozzi. She made a point to remind the graduates to use everything they have learned in high school to be successful in the different paths they will partake in.Senior President Sesa Ferdun had to fight back tears when she talked about saying a final goodbye to friends and family after graduation. She said it was not as easy as it was when they parted ways before and after school, knowing they would see each other the next day.“I aspire to be all of you; I aspire to have the confidence of the drama members, the persistence of our athletes, the commitment of our FFA and the loyalty of our staff members,” Ferdun said during her speech.Salutatorian Natalie Kuwatani reminisced on all the experiences the class of 2016 had, including the bus breaking down on their way to Disneyland and enduring mid-90s temperatures during their graduation.“We gained wisdom, experience and unforgettable friendships within the walls of these classes. Friends may be far away but those memories will always be in our minds,” Kuwatani said in her speech.After all the emotions shown by his peers, Valedictorian Parth Shah took a different approach. He thanked the seagulls for not being part of the ceremony, pointed out it was the first time he had seen some students without their daily coffee cup and poked fun at some teaching methods by some of the staff.When he was serious, Parth encouraged his peers to thank their siblings, parents, coaches and that one teacher who had a positive influence on them.After the speeches, the time had come for the students to walk down the ramp, one by one, victorious. Some showed their excitement by putting their fists up, others “dabbed” down the ramp and even a group of friends opened their gowns to show their superhero shirts.

Not even scorching Friday temperatures—eclipsing triple digits for Live Oak High School’s mid-afternoon graduation ceremony—could stop hundreds of parents, families and friends from coming out to celebrate and honor the Class of 2016.

Ever since she was exposed to the regiment of the Naval SeaCadets program as an impressionable 11-year-old, Vietnamese teen Hanh Phan—now a senior at Live Oak High School—had a feeling it was for her.