File:
IsbellColor.jpg
(20k)
|
Isbell School promotion
June 21, 2000
Santa Paula News
By Suzi Skutley
Santa Paula TimesIsbell Middle School promoted 302 students in its Class of 2000 last Thursday evening who, according to Principal Sheryl Misenhimer, “millennium or not...light up the stars, and they will continue to light up the stars!”Doug Stewart Award recipient Marco Abrego briefly addressed the class, expressing hope “that I can follow in the steps of those who won it before,” while Allison Sparkuhl, recipient of the Elizabeth Ramsey Award, told her classmates that “Some things you may only have the chance to do once in a lifetime,” and exhorted them to take opportunities as they arose. Thanking her parents, she repeated their advice to her, “There’s no better time than now.”Salutatorians Jacquelyn Paredes and Nestor Quiroz both maintained almost straight “A”s in their three years at Isbell, each receiving only one “B” in that time. Jacquelyn, who had perfect attendance for 1999-2000, expressed thanks for “what has been a really great year,” and Nestor, with perfect attendance at Isbell since 6th grade, urged the students to “never forget these precious memories that we all had to share.”Valedictorian Fabian Mauricio, a straight “A” student in his three years at Isbell, told his classmates to “Try your best at everything you try. Don’t give up but be confident, persistent. Put goals for yourself and don’t let all those people down. But most of all don’t let yourself down.”Elementary School Board President Ben Saiz formally presented the Class of 2000 to the crowd of families, friends and other well-wishers.Student Julia Zavala was recognized for 100% attendance in the Santa Paula Elementary School District since kindergarten.
Assistant Principal Douglas Armstrong was also recognized for his years of service at Isbell, as he moves next year to the position of Principal at Bedell Elementary.Elementary School District Superintendent Bonnie Bruington spoke to the class, reflecting on the past school year, “the year we moved into a new century and conquered new challenges, fueled by your young and innovative minds - including the fact that on your Stanford 9 tests for this year, the state asked that Isbell have a growth target of almost 13 points - and the preliminary information we have shows that you increased your scores by an average of 24 points.”Noting the rapidly changing face of education, Bruington indicated that “as educators we can only point you in a general direction; we cannot provide you with a recipe for your life. “And if you are surrounded by change, what is it that will be the bedrock, the foundation of your young lives? It will be the traditional values - los valores tradicionales of your family and community - the ideals of courage, valor, honesty, loyalty, as well as excellence in academics and in your personal life. Those are the things which will provide in your life and those are the things for which you will be valued and remembered.”Bruington also expressed her wish for the 8th grade class of 2000, “that you be a part of the solution for a more inclusive and integrated community where all people are valued...,” allowing cultural differences “to provide the glow and sparkle to Santa Paula where we all celebrate the ways we are the same.”
