SVHS senior: ‘We are more than a headline’

By Edwin Reyes Herrera, Class of 2016

After a period of confusion because of an altercation on the Sonoma Valley High School campus, I would like to elaborate on many of the key features that make the school so great.

We are more than a headline.

When the news was released, it was easy to use it as an excuse to characterize the school. It was easy for parents to justify why they are sending their students elsewhere. It was easy for students to think it was great because the roles were reversed. It was easy to report on the negative aspect of a school. There is more than meets the eye. We are more than a headline.

There are students engaging in their art, their writing, their photos, their videos, their dancing, their playing, their work. There are teachers preparing their lesson plans, their lectures, their insight for students to be engaged. There are administrators that are willing to chaperone dances, have meetings with students during lunch, promote activities. We are more than a headline.

Students are being accepted to schools like Cal Poly, Stanford, University of Chicago. Students are using resources like PLUS, Leadership, SAY, the College and Career Center, counselors, to be prepared for the next stage of their lives.

Students are more than students. They are athletes, performers, speakers, cultivators, workers, leaders. There is Earth Club, willing to help the environment. There is GSA, students not afraid to express who they are. There is Model UN Club, students fascinated by problems that the world faces. There is La Sociedad Hispana, students who are proud of their heritage. There are sports: baseball, girls’ basketball, cross country, volleyball, swimming, teams that have won their league for their town of Sonoma. There is a Dance Team that performs at rallies and games and other competitions; there is FFA that reaps everything they sow.

Teachers, more than ever, are reaching the students outside of the classroom. Mr. Gibson’s excitement for US history; Mr. Jones’ passion for music; Ms. Rivara’s willingness to always put students first; Ms. Manchester’s driven energy for English; Mr. Knight’s years of experience; Mr. Donnelley’s stories about his adventures; Mr. Merino’s wisdom; Mrs. Clark’s, Ms. Dillion’s, Mr. Lyon’s resiliency. Just to name a few. Students and parents understand there are many more. Each will influence a differently. We are more than a headline.

Staff are on deck to progress the school. Campus supervisors that want to monitor the halls. Office receptionists that schedule appointments, make calls, print transcripts. Secretaries that keep everyone organized, report and update our staff. Counselors that all adhere to student academic and emotional requests and concerns. Vice Principals and a Principal who all work together to attend meetings, listen to each and every problem, look for solutions. You name it. We are more than a headline.

It is our school and our community. It is our school full of intelligence, growth, potential. Students choose to lead, to succeed, to take AP classes, to explore, to create, to take on a challenge. Teachers and staff choose to have pride, to guide, to teach, to promote. The community chooses to be engaged, to lead, to support, to remember. It is our campaign. We are more than a headline.

We are a school of tradition. Of parading down Broadway on homecoming. Of playing at Arnold Field. Of rally dances. Of putting on Convention. Of No Name Cafe. Of Golton Hall. Of Senior Project. Of Neon Dance. Of film festival. Of El Padre. Of Dragon’s Tale. Of bleeding green. We are more than a headline.

We are a school full of concerned students, staff, parents, alumni. We want safety, success, and stability. We want inclusiveness and togetherness. We want encouragement, diversity, happiness. We want it to be a great day to be a Dragon. We want to read and see more of what our school does for our students, staff, and community. We are more than a headline.

This is why we matter. We are students, who are sons and daughters that are brothers and sisters who care about our community. We are parents, who have students that are sons and daughters that care about the future of their community. We are humans full of pride and passion for our school because it is part of the same community. This is why we matter. We are more than a headline.

In many ways other than what the news, media, speculators, rumors, outsiders have portrayed us,

We ARE a headline.

Edwin Reyes Herrera, ASB Student Voice of SVHS, Class of 2016