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Students, teachers making own mark on new high schools
| Monday, Aug 18 2008 8:34 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Aug 19 2008 10:58 AM
As Alex Godinez waited in line to enroll his freshman son, Nate, at the new Mira Monte High School, he reminisced about starting his sophomore year in 1991 at Stockdale High School, as part of the first graduating class.
Photos:
Angelica Vasquez, center, appears excited to see friends, Ibeth Barajas, left, and Stephanie Vega on the first day of school at the new Independence High School.
First day instructions are posted at the new Independence High School for new freshmen and sophomore students.
Denna Rupert, left, sees her daughter, Tiese Kemp, off to her first day of school at Mira Monte High School.
Leedra Shivers registers her son, Shaquille, for his freshmen year at the new Mira Monte High School.
Mira Monte High School Principal Jaime Quinonez gives students instructions in the layout of the new campus, which opens with freshmen and sophomores.
“They are more organized, and the school looks more finished,” he said. “When I started, Stockdale didn’t have all the lockers in the gym room.”
As students all over Kern County started their first day back at school Monday, Independence High School and Mira Monte had about 2,000 freshman and sophomores walk through their doors for the first time.
Yearbook adviser Amanda Jackson said she is excited to be at Independence because she is starting fresh.
“For the first time ever, I feel like we get to really make it what we want it to be, and in any other place, you wouldn’t have that opportunity.”
Before the first bell, Sabrina Millard walked across campus in her Independence High cheerleading uniform. She also wants to make her mark on the school.
“I think it is exciting coming to a new school and being the first graduating class and getting to get all the new stuff, like all the new books and all the new uniforms,” she said.
With the addition of two new high schools, there are now 19 schools in the Kern High School District.
The schools are usually opened with only freshman and sophomores, said Mira Monte Principal Jamie Quinonez.
“It’s easier to move sophomores,” he said. “If they are at a school too long, it’s hard to move them because they don’t want to, and they’ve developed friendships and things like that.”
While walking to class at Mira Monte, sophomores Staniece Pearson and Tajanee Gardner said they were excited to move from Golden Valley High School to start a new school.
“It’s different,” Gardner said. “But I have been getting lost more.”
Quinonez said the first day isn’t that much different than a normal school day.
“Everybody is kind of excited,” he said. “And everyone has a fresh haircut.”