To the casual observer, it appears a sixth-grade class reunion took place in Mr. Jon Gomez’s classroom on May 31, 2023. It was much more. It was a celebration for the 51 attendees, from the Morse Elementary School class of 2017, who beat the odds and are college bound in 2023.
As the planned surprises that day unfolded, some students were moved to tears. They read legacy essays they wrote in 6th grade which hung on one wall. They were excited to see what was tantamount to a wall of fame with their names below the name of the college they will be attending. The students reminisced as they watched a video of their past elementary winter performance. These soon-to-be high school graduates captured every detail by taking photos of friends, teachers, and the classroom walls to preserve their memories.
Students from Mr. Gomez’s AVID class of 2017 are going to prestigious colleges and universities. Many, on scholarships; some with full rides. The universities and colleges these attendees have been accepted to include: University of Southern California; Chapman University; University of La Verne; University of the Pacific; Hope University; Arizona Christian University; Northern Arizona University; Arizona State University; University of California, Davis; University of California, Santa Cruz; University of California, Merced; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of California, Riverside; University of California, Irvine; University of California, San Diego; California State University, Fullerton; California State University, Long Beach; California State University, Los Angeles; California State University, Fresno; California State University, Bakersfield; California State University, San Bernardino; California State University, San Marcos; California State University, Northridge; California State University, Dominguez Hills; San Diego State University; San Francisco State University; and Cal Poly Pomona, Fullerton, Santiago Canyon, Santa Ana, Cypress, and Coastline College.
Mr. Gomez invited teachers to the event to reconnect with their former students. In attendance were Mrs. Tang, sixth grade teacher; Mrs. Simmons, fifth grade teacher; Mrs. Ricotta, fourth grade teacher; Ms. Parelli, third grade teacher; Mrs. Korsval, first grade teacher; and Mrs. Lama, Kindergarten teacher. Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Korsval have long since retired. Without even asking donations were provided by Mrs. Tang, Mrs. Loya, and Mrs. Korsval which elevated this celebration.
Some say that after elementary school promotion, students leave campus never giving it a second thought. This night proved this theory wrong. The alumni left the Morse building; however, the heart, soul, and appreciation of the foundation received at Morse Elementary remain with them helping secure their success.
The guests were requesting a repeat of the event next year before the celebration’ ended.
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