Graduating Class Marks County’s Largest

As kindergarten students at El Rio Elementary School in Oxnard lined up outside the classroom for their graduation ceremony, green construction paper hats blew off their heads and into the courtyard.

“My hat keeps falling down,” a frustrated 5-year-old said as he pushed a white string tassel out of his eyes and stomped his feet.

With graduation season in full swing, El Rio, as well as Newbury Park, Nordhoff and El Camino high schools held ceremonies Friday, while Simi Valley, Royal, Thousand Oaks, Westlake and Moorpark grads received their diplomas Thursday. High school seniors in Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo will don their caps and gowns next week.

In all, more than 10,000 seniors will graduate from the county’s high schools this year, marking what is believed to be Ventura County’s largest graduating class. Thousands more will finish elementary and middle school, with corresponding promotion ceremonies honoring their achievement.

“This year’s students are the best we’ve ever had,” said Chuck Weis, county superintendent of schools.

“Every year the students get better, and this year’s have benefited from the increased academics and the beginning of the school-to-career movement.”

In the coming years it’s going to be even tougher to graduate, Weis said, because of new state academic standards and graduation requirements.

“All the educational leaders in Ventura County are working this summer to develop support systems so that the grads next year will be able to meet the more rigorous standards.”

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Along with almost 400 other Newbury Park High School seniors, Monami Chakrabarti paraded onto the football field through a line of yellow and white flags, while her family and friends cheered from the bleachers.

During one of the valedictory speeches, Monami urged her fellow graduates to steer away from ignorance and complacency. “What is happening halfway across the world affects us right here,” she said. “I challenge all of you to educate yourselves and to contribute to this world.”

Jennifer Mastracco, 17, said she was sad to see high school end. But she is looking forward to summer, when she will start pursuing a career as a police officer. “I know I’m growing up and doing new things,” she said.

Cynthia Hill said she is ready for her son Brandon, who also graduated from Newbury Park on Friday, to leave high school and be on his own. “It’s time for them to get out in the real world and take on some responsibility,” she said.

In Simi Valley on Friday, about 600 eighth-graders left Valley View Middle School feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. They were more than happy to escape the scrutiny of their teachers and administrators, but they wondered what is in store for them in high school.

Luke Erickson, one of three students who spoke at Valley View’s promotion ceremony, said going from the big men and women on campus to the “bottom of the barrel” could be tough.

“We’re full of ourselves and now we’ll be in the lower bracket,” Luke said.

Jennifer Fein is looking forward to what she thinks will be a less-strict four years at Simi Valley High School. Meanwhile, she ignored Valley View’s one-bracelet-per-wrist rule Friday--she wore a total of 17 in almost as many different colors.

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“There’s going to be more colorful people [in high school],” predicted Jennifer’s friend, Christa Gonzalez.

In an outdoor ceremony decorated with blue and silver balloons, Valley View Principal Jan Britz lauded the class for helping make the school a 1999 California Distinguished School. And Simi Valley Unified School District Supt. Joyce Mahdesian urged the graduating class of Valley View Vikings to do their best in high school.

“It’s not your aptitude but your attitude that will determine your altitude,” she said.

Across the county at El Rio Elementary School, the kindergartners celebrated their first graduation by singing songs about the days of the week and the months of the year while their proud parents snapped photos and clapped enthusiastically.

Teacher Rosa Navarro congratulated the students and called them up one-by-one to receive colorful certificates, marking their entry into first grade.

“Your children are wonderful people,” Navarro told the parents, tears welling in her eyes. “They will always have a space in my heart. And children, I wish you the best of luck.”

Rachel Swan said finishing kindergarten was a big step for her 5-year-old daughter, Kelsey.

“There are lots of landmarks in life and this is one of the biggest ones because they are so young and impressionable,” Swan said. “Kindergarten shapes everyone’s lives and makes kids decide if they like school or not.”

Gorman is a Times staff writer and Ritsch is a reporter for Times Community News.