He didn’t think he’d graduate

This month both SJHHS and CVHS had ceremonies honoring three groups of students:

• Graduates who are the first in their family to graduate high school in this country

• Graduates of the English-Spanish Two-Way Immersion program

• English Learners who reclassified as English proficient this year

It is one of our favorite events of the year! At SJHHS, Cuco, a CUSD executive director, gave a speech about growing up mowing lawns with his dad, and now he has a doctorate. At CVHS, Unidos South OC's Youth Director, Martiza, was a keynote speaker, sharing about her experience as an English learner and encouraging the students to never give up.

A highlight this year was when Maritza got to congratulate several of her students including a Study Hour student who had arrived from Mexico so late in his high school years that it didn’t look like he’d have enough credits to graduate. Maritza did everything she could for him, encouraging his mom, offering him extra tutoring. He didn't think he’d graduate, but he made it!