Schools

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 2013 for their accomplishments and wish them the best of luck and a fulfilling future.

“Ramon, you did it!” declared one sign amidst a sea of colorful Mylar balloons, bouquets and shade-giving umbrellas during Live Oak High School’s June 6 graduation ceremony, where cap and gown-clad seniors strode onto Richert Field as the traditional graduation song, “Pomp and Circumstance” played in the background.

When something saddens 10-year-old Monique Ourricariet, the Paradise Valley Elementary School student gets inspired.

Fourteen students made up the graduating Class of 2013 for the Silicon Valley Flex Academy in Morgan Hill, which held its ceremony June 3.

Sitting in the bleachers on the visitor’s side of the Ann Sobrato High School football field surrounded by fellow classmates waiting to hear their name called during Thursday’s graduation ceremony, Senior Class Officer Michael Altamirano could not feel more at home.

Each month, the principals of Live Oak and Sobrato high schools choose a "Student of the Week" (two from each high school per month). Live Oak senior Guadalupe Munoz, 18, is this week's Student of the Week. She's also our last Student of the Week for the 2012-13 school year.

The Morgan Hill Unified School District is still deciding whether to accept Navigator Schools’ petition to open a new charter school in the city for 2014-15, and has instead requested a 30-day extension of the mandatory June 15 deadline to vote.

Topics ranging from technology enhancements, to more after school enrichment programs to class-size reductions were brought to attention by local parents during the May 29 community input meetings held at 10 different school sites in Morgan Hill.

An estimated 170-foot, green caterpillar was recently spotted on the front office building at San Martin Gwinn Elementary School in San Martin.