Four Years of Great Grades

HOMECOMING SHEDDING A LIGHT COACHING DURING COMES TO Take a look at the A PANDEMIC STUDENTS’ HOMES inside workings of the With the return of SUHSD district. The 2020-2021 sports, coaches have Homecoming learned to guide their occurred virtually teams during the amidst the pandemic. pandemic. SEE PAGE 9 SEE PAGE 5 SEE PAGE 12 VOLUME LIV · ISSUE 4 MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021 BONITAVISTACRUSADER.ORG BVH plans to hold in-person Four years of great grades graduation ceremony for seniors the same household, and the graduate are expected to arrive and wait BVH announces valedictorian, salutatorian Lucia Rivera together, maintaining a distance of six feet from other families as they EDITOR-IN-CHIEF walk through the stadium entrance @lriveraCrusader gate,” the BVH graduation question and answer document reads. “Family s of May 3, Bonita Vista High members who are not able to attend (BVH) plans to celebrate will be able to watch a video of the graduating seniors at an graduation ceremony a few days after Aoptional in-person ceremony on June the ceremony takes place.” 3 at Hilltop High (HTH). Following New changes also include the lack COVID-19 protocol, the ceremony will of any rehearsals, the need to submit be split into three cohort sessions of 30 a liability waiver before attending as a to 45 minutes each at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. guest and the lack of concessions at the and 2 p.m. event. However, students like senior “At first I was really excited that Leah Sides are excitedly planning to I would actually have a graduation attend. compared to last year’s graduating “I was very excited and eager for the class,” senior Jenna Correa said. “But prospect of just having a graduation,” when I saw all the limitations, I was still Sides said. “There was also just a part pretty excited that at least I had some of me that felt saddened because of sort of ceremony.” the past seniors that did not have a Policies like mandated masks graduation, [but] I’m interested to were initially made clear when the see what they’re going to do and how Senior Ursula Neuner is class of 2021 valedictorian. BVH administration congradulated her wiith a suprise visit to her house (left). PHOTO PROVIDED BY URSULA Sweetwater Union High School District they’re going to do this.” NEUNER. Senior Samantha Wu is class of 2021 salutatorian. She was celebrated by BVH administration with ballons and a lawn sign when they arrived at her (SUHSD) previously announced the After requesting all seniors’ top house (right). PHOTO PROVIDED BY SAMANTHA WU plan to hold graduation and eighth cohort picks on May 3 through a grade promotion ceremonies on April Google Form, BVH principal Roman selected by the highest GPA earned in reflecting on it and I think it has so overall. Especially during this time with 19 on their website. Del Rosario, Ed.D., informed them 42 units based on seven semesters. much to do with luck, because so many COVID-19, these kids really work hard, “Once in the venue, students will be of their slots on May 13. Both Sides Nicole Macgaffey “It’s really clear that they’re [Neuner other people are equally deserving and like my companions, my classmates seated together (six feet apart) while and Correa are appreciative of NEWS EDITOR and Wu] both exceptional students,” extremely smart and talented. I just and the teachers. Salutatorian reflects guests will be seated in the stands or administrators’ efforts in planning an @nicolemcrusader Phelps said. “Both of them [are] happen to probably nudge them out by that the students are like me and work other observation area. Guests from in-person celebration. They are also hardworking and committed to their like one tenth of a GPA so I feel really hard despite their situations and will the same household will be expected fully vaccinated and plan to bring their n March 17, Bonita Vista High growth as people. I really considered lucky to have gotten it,” Neuner said. have the honor of representing the to sit together, maintaining six feet of parents as guests. (BVH) announced its class both of them to be very deserving of “Obviously, I’m happy and thankful, graduating class of 2021,” Wu said. distance from other groups while seated “I just hope that graduation will be of 2021 valedictorian and the honor. I’m really pleased that both but it also puts into perspective that Wu explained that the role of [in] a safe and controlled environment Osalutatorian. Senior Ursula Neuner is of them have gotten the opportunity to [the award] seems kind of arbitrary salutatorian was not “extremely” in the stands,” Chief of Educational Equity and Support Services Vernon because anyone there that’s also fully this year’s valedictorian with a Grade be honored this way.” because there’s so many other people important to her and was not her end Moore wrote on the SUHSD website. vaccinated can still try to be careful. I’m Point Average (GPA) of 4.73 and senior Phelps mentioned that a few who deserve it too.” goal. However, she views the title as a Each graduating senior is allowed to hoping that everyone wears masks and Samantha Wu is salutatorian with a GPA counselors, some of the assistant Neuner stated that receiving reward for the hard work she has put bring four guests from their household socially distances from people because of 4.61. The announcement happened principals, BVH Principal Roman valedictorian was a goal of hers and in over the course of these last four who will all sign a district waiver I still think that it’s very important. But during International Baccalaureate Del Rosario, Ed.D. and himself went that she is happy that she was able to years. She described that her family beforehand. Additionally, a maximum I also hope that if I’m able to attend this (IB) program coordinator Jared to each person’s house and surprised achieve it. She considers herself to be was very proud of her for receiving this of 200 students will be in each cohort. event that we have a really good time,” Phelps’s fifth period math class. BVH them with lawn signs and balloons. a hardworking student and strived to achievement. “The four family spectators, from Sides said. teachers and administrators drove Phelps offered to use his class period succeed in her classes and push herself “My mom, very shockingly, cried to both Neuner and Wu’s houses to to celebrate both students to make the academically. Neuner expressed that tears of joy. I did not see that coming. congratulate them. planning process easier. this award makes her think that all her She doesn’t like to cry for the most “I was completely surprised. I “I think it’s valuable that students hardwork and effort paid off. trivial stuff, but seeing her cry [of] joy had no idea they [BVH teachers and get the opportunity to be honored. “After four years of a lot of diligence when she heard that, I was like, ‘Wow,’” administrators] were going to show up Our goal was to make the students feel and stress, it feels really nice to have Wu said. to my house. I was just wearing pajama special and that a big deal was made of this award to validate it. It’s just kind of Both Neuner and Wu are thankful pants and a sweater and I had no idea their accomplishment,” Phelps said. a cherry on top. It was cool to get this to be class of 2021 valedictorian and what happened,” Neuner said. “It was Neuner is an IB diploma candidate award,” Neuner said. salutatorian. Furthermore, Wu had awesome and it was really nice. I was and has taken eight Advanced Wu is also an IB diploma candidate advice for students trying to reach shocked. I didn’t know I was going to Placement (AP) classes during her who has taken several AP classes. She similar goals as her and Neuner. get [valedictorian] and I feel really high school career. She remarked viewed getting salutatorian as a great “It’s not just about getting the lucky.” how getting this title symbolizes the honor and was shocked when she perfect grades and taking the hardest Phelps worked closely with hard work she has put in over the last found out. Wu perceived salutatorian classes; it’s more about trying to enjoy the counselors in computing the four years to get good grades in her as a representation of her graduating high school life. [It’s] trying to put valedictorian and salutatorian GPAs. classes. In addition, she emphasized class. themselves through a much more He explained how there is a board her gratitude as she viewed other hard “I don’t consider [salutatorian] as challenging journey through high Students walk onto stage at the 2019 Bonita Vista High graduation cer- policy document that specifies the strict working students in her graduating this award for the student with the school, to see how far or how much emony. This took place at Southwestern College, unlike the upcom- and clear elements GPAs are computed class as equally deserving of the title. highest GPA, but [for] a student that they could achieve in the future,” Wu ing graduation ceremony for class of 2021. PHOTO BY LUCIA RIVERA from. For instance, the valedictorian is “I’ve been thinking about it a lot and reflects the work of the student body said. TEDx club holds annual speech event Preparing for the dance floor BVH hosts prom for class of 2021 friends.

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