Students succeed with a little help
Feb 24, 2010 | 773 views | 0 
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It takes Jessica Bryant more than an hour to get from her Del Puerto Canyon home to school each day, while Jose Jovonni Luna attends school in spite of a painful disability in both of his arms. Both students face life’s challenges head-on.
Jessica, 17, and Jose, 9, are among the eight students in the Patterson Unified School District who will be honored at the district’s Every Student Succeeding breakfast Jan. 26. The pair will go on to be recognized at the county level March 10.
The Association of California School Administrator’s Every Student Succeeding program honors students who exceed expectations, as well as the educators who support them along the way. The students usually have overcome great obstacles to succeed, including returning to school, leaving a gang, improving their attendance, changing their attitude or overcoming physical or mental barriers.
Students on all grade levels who have exceeded expectations and achieve their goals with help from teachers and administrators are honored.
Jessica Bryant: Looking to the future
Bryant’s goal is to graduate from Patterson High School and go on to the military. But at one point, surviving was the main task for her and her family.
Even in the best of times, just getting to school takes perseverance. Bryant must catch a bus from her remote canyon home, a one-hour bus ride from Patterson in good weather. Add in the winter rain and occasional snow, and some of the roads can be downright impassable.
In the worst of times — like when her mother’s car broke down during her sophomore year, just before Christmas break — attending school can be near impossible.
At that point, survival became the family’s priority, and school became secondary.
“Cars have been such a huge problem,” Bryant said. “My mom goes through so many cars — about 25 in the last few years.”
In addition, the family’s generator gave out a couple of years ago, leaving the family without running water and electricity ever since.
The conspiring factors created a downhill slide in Jessica’s education.
“Attendance issues started to mount, and even with teachers trying to work with her difficult issues, Jessica ended up only passing three of her seven classes,” said Phil Alfano, the school district’s human resource specialist.
But she turned it around.
Alfano explained that with hard work, as well as teacher and counselor help, the senior is again on the graduation track. Bryant began a credit remediation program, was able to remain at Patterson High and will earn a diploma in June.
Patterson High counselor Kathy Martinez has been a huge help with her school schedule, Bryant said. And Martinez has nothing but praise for Bryant.
“Jessica is a great kid who has fought hard to have the privilege of graduating from PHS, something she places high value on,” Martinez said. “Life has been very challenging for her, and she never gave up. I have great admiration for her.”
Among her many accomplishments in school, Bryant took an agriculture class that triggered her desire to be in FFA. Her Patterson Required Exit Project is in agricultural mechanics, and she’s building a bookshelf and a nightstand. She wrestled in her senior year and received a medal in her first wrestling tournament. She’s also on the small engines team and in the Ceramics Club at Patterson High.
As if those school accomplishments weren’t enough, Bryant has hands-on construction experience. One of her neighbors in Del Puerto Canyon has employed her to work with him building a house, and she has learned carpentry, how to pour concrete, how to lay drywall and many other skills.
Those talents could factor into her future.
“I hope to join the Marine Corps, but I’m not sure exactly what want to do yet,” she said. “I concentrate on construction, and I am an outside person.”
Alfano confirmed her ambition, which is on track to become reality.
“Jessica sees herself as a Marine and upon graduation will join the corps,” Alfano said. “It is her ticket to a new life — to learn new skills so upon her completion of duty, she will have a chance to make a new life for herself.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Jessica’s story is one that symbolizes the spirit of the Every Student Succeeding award.”
Jose Luna: Time-machine traveler?
Nine-year-old Jose Jovonni Luna is a third-grader at Grayson Charter School who loves learning and loves his teachers and friends.
Someday, he wants to be a scientist who travels via time machine. A sky-high goal, to be sure, but he has already overcome much.
Born with an enlarged heart, a heart murmur and a painful disability involving both of his arms, he has faced down many challenges in his young life. Because of the pain in his arms, Alfano said Jose at first found it hard to hold a pencil, write or play ball like most children.
He and his mother and four siblings share a home with his maternal grandparents. His grandmother, dependent on his mother’s care, faces medical problems of her own.
In addition to those challenges, Jose also began his school career trailing his peers.
After he had missed the first half-year of kindergarten, two district staffers identified Jose as a kindergarten-age child who did not attend school. His reluctant mother enrolled him in classes, despite fears that his physical disabilities would not let him be like his fellow students.
But with school staff connecting his family with health resources and meeting regularly with the family, and with Jose working hard at school with teachers Sandra Garcia and Eugene Iniguez, the now-third-grader has more than caught up.
“I worked hard learning English and Spanish,” Jose said. “I want to be scientist so I can go to a different place in a time machine. I love school, my teachers and friends.”
Alfano said Jose also helps out at home by doing his chores. He loves to read, and his mother buys him books whenever she can.
“Jose is now in third grade, and last year he scored ‘proficient’ in the California Standards Test in language arts, which is a remarkable accomplishment for any student,” Alfano said.
Arturo Duran, Grayson School principal, agrees.
“The entire school is just very proud of him and his accomplishments,” Duran said. “We’re very proud that he’s going to represent us at the county.”
At a glance
• The Every Student Succeeding local award breakfast Jan. 26 was co-sponsored by Kohl’s Distribution Center and Helping Our Westside. H.O.W. donated funds to sponsor gift baskets for each child who was honored. The school district also received donations from Subway, Mountain Mike’s Pizza and Baskin-Robbins for each basket.
• The countywide Every Student Succeeding breakfast will be at 7 a.m. March 10 at the Martin Petersen Event Center in Modesto. Jessica Bryant and Jose Luna will attend.
Other Every Student Succeeding honorees from Patterson Joint Unified School District:
• Jesus Gallardo, Del Puerto High School: After struggles with school, Jesus is attending school regularly and racing through courses, and he aims to graduate in May.
• Micaela Granado, Creekside Middle School: This teen mother has purpose and dedication in her academic career and continues to grow academically and personally.
• Carina Moralez, Walnut Grove School: Carina has an outstanding work ethic and has maintained good academic standing while working toward attending a university after high school.
• Carla Alejandre, Las Palmas School: Carla has blossomed as a student in spite of physical disabilities, and she actively participates in class.
• Hector Camacho, Northmead Elementary School: The confident fifth-grader is polite, hard-working, motivated and determined to be successful.
• Juliana Amador, Apricot Valley Elementary School: This fourth-grader has experienced tragic losses in her life but has remained strong and done well in school.
Jessica, 17, and Jose, 9, are among the eight students in the Patterson Unified School District who will be honored at the district’s Every Student Succeeding breakfast Jan. 26. The pair will go on to be recognized at the county level March 10.
The Association of California School Administrator’s Every Student Succeeding program honors students who exceed expectations, as well as the educators who support them along the way. The students usually have overcome great obstacles to succeed, including returning to school, leaving a gang, improving their attendance, changing their attitude or overcoming physical or mental barriers.
Students on all grade levels who have exceeded expectations and achieve their goals with help from teachers and administrators are honored.
Jessica Bryant: Looking to the future
Bryant’s goal is to graduate from Patterson High School and go on to the military. But at one point, surviving was the main task for her and her family.
Even in the best of times, just getting to school takes perseverance. Bryant must catch a bus from her remote canyon home, a one-hour bus ride from Patterson in good weather. Add in the winter rain and occasional snow, and some of the roads can be downright impassable.
In the worst of times — like when her mother’s car broke down during her sophomore year, just before Christmas break — attending school can be near impossible.
At that point, survival became the family’s priority, and school became secondary.
“Cars have been such a huge problem,” Bryant said. “My mom goes through so many cars — about 25 in the last few years.”
In addition, the family’s generator gave out a couple of years ago, leaving the family without running water and electricity ever since.
The conspiring factors created a downhill slide in Jessica’s education.
“Attendance issues started to mount, and even with teachers trying to work with her difficult issues, Jessica ended up only passing three of her seven classes,” said Phil Alfano, the school district’s human resource specialist.
But she turned it around.
Alfano explained that with hard work, as well as teacher and counselor help, the senior is again on the graduation track. Bryant began a credit remediation program, was able to remain at Patterson High and will earn a diploma in June.
Patterson High counselor Kathy Martinez has been a huge help with her school schedule, Bryant said. And Martinez has nothing but praise for Bryant.
“Jessica is a great kid who has fought hard to have the privilege of graduating from PHS, something she places high value on,” Martinez said. “Life has been very challenging for her, and she never gave up. I have great admiration for her.”
Among her many accomplishments in school, Bryant took an agriculture class that triggered her desire to be in FFA. Her Patterson Required Exit Project is in agricultural mechanics, and she’s building a bookshelf and a nightstand. She wrestled in her senior year and received a medal in her first wrestling tournament. She’s also on the small engines team and in the Ceramics Club at Patterson High.
As if those school accomplishments weren’t enough, Bryant has hands-on construction experience. One of her neighbors in Del Puerto Canyon has employed her to work with him building a house, and she has learned carpentry, how to pour concrete, how to lay drywall and many other skills.
Those talents could factor into her future.
“I hope to join the Marine Corps, but I’m not sure exactly what want to do yet,” she said. “I concentrate on construction, and I am an outside person.”
Alfano confirmed her ambition, which is on track to become reality.
“Jessica sees herself as a Marine and upon graduation will join the corps,” Alfano said. “It is her ticket to a new life — to learn new skills so upon her completion of duty, she will have a chance to make a new life for herself.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Jessica’s story is one that symbolizes the spirit of the Every Student Succeeding award.”
Jose Luna: Time-machine traveler?
Nine-year-old Jose Jovonni Luna is a third-grader at Grayson Charter School who loves learning and loves his teachers and friends.
Someday, he wants to be a scientist who travels via time machine. A sky-high goal, to be sure, but he has already overcome much.
Born with an enlarged heart, a heart murmur and a painful disability involving both of his arms, he has faced down many challenges in his young life. Because of the pain in his arms, Alfano said Jose at first found it hard to hold a pencil, write or play ball like most children.
He and his mother and four siblings share a home with his maternal grandparents. His grandmother, dependent on his mother’s care, faces medical problems of her own.
In addition to those challenges, Jose also began his school career trailing his peers.
After he had missed the first half-year of kindergarten, two district staffers identified Jose as a kindergarten-age child who did not attend school. His reluctant mother enrolled him in classes, despite fears that his physical disabilities would not let him be like his fellow students.
But with school staff connecting his family with health resources and meeting regularly with the family, and with Jose working hard at school with teachers Sandra Garcia and Eugene Iniguez, the now-third-grader has more than caught up.
“I worked hard learning English and Spanish,” Jose said. “I want to be scientist so I can go to a different place in a time machine. I love school, my teachers and friends.”
Alfano said Jose also helps out at home by doing his chores. He loves to read, and his mother buys him books whenever she can.
“Jose is now in third grade, and last year he scored ‘proficient’ in the California Standards Test in language arts, which is a remarkable accomplishment for any student,” Alfano said.
Arturo Duran, Grayson School principal, agrees.
“The entire school is just very proud of him and his accomplishments,” Duran said. “We’re very proud that he’s going to represent us at the county.”
At a glance
• The Every Student Succeeding local award breakfast Jan. 26 was co-sponsored by Kohl’s Distribution Center and Helping Our Westside. H.O.W. donated funds to sponsor gift baskets for each child who was honored. The school district also received donations from Subway, Mountain Mike’s Pizza and Baskin-Robbins for each basket.
• The countywide Every Student Succeeding breakfast will be at 7 a.m. March 10 at the Martin Petersen Event Center in Modesto. Jessica Bryant and Jose Luna will attend.
Other Every Student Succeeding honorees from Patterson Joint Unified School District:
• Jesus Gallardo, Del Puerto High School: After struggles with school, Jesus is attending school regularly and racing through courses, and he aims to graduate in May.
• Micaela Granado, Creekside Middle School: This teen mother has purpose and dedication in her academic career and continues to grow academically and personally.
• Carina Moralez, Walnut Grove School: Carina has an outstanding work ethic and has maintained good academic standing while working toward attending a university after high school.
• Carla Alejandre, Las Palmas School: Carla has blossomed as a student in spite of physical disabilities, and she actively participates in class.
• Hector Camacho, Northmead Elementary School: The confident fifth-grader is polite, hard-working, motivated and determined to be successful.
• Juliana Amador, Apricot Valley Elementary School: This fourth-grader has experienced tragic losses in her life but has remained strong and done well in school.
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