College videos get Ceres students pumped about their future

CERES -- College was never in the cards for most of their parents, but kids at Don Pedro Elementary see endless possibilities in their future.

The school devoted a day to giving students a sneak peek at higher education last week, showing 21 short videos prepared by colleges. The school makes college a focus, with every class displaying a college banner and kids wearing that college T-shirt each Monday.

Don Pedro's other name is No Excuses University, a program that's been in place for six years, Principal Rick Hall said.

"Parents tell me all the time, they think this is the greatest thing," Hall said.

Those high, no-excuses expectations are paying off, he said. A five-year streak of test score growth fell to a disappointing dip last year, but the school still ranks among the highest of those with similar students.

Nearly all of Don Pedro's kids are low income and two-thirds are learning English. Asked how many had parents who went to a four-year college, only a dozen or so hands went up during a recent assembly.

Asked what careers they're looking at, excited students ticked off science, medicine, teaching and, of course, pro football. College, they said, can make it happen.

"I learned a lot about college and what it means for my whole life," said fifth-grader Miguel Juarez.

Faith Postley said the videos made her look forward to going.

Sixth-grader Priscilla Rodriguez realized that different colleges concentrate on different majors. "It really got me thinking," she said.

What got Brandon Kearney thinking was the part about scholarships. "I learned college is expensive," he said with a sigh.

Joseph Martinez, a fourth-grader, liked "Air Force college." He said, "I want to learn to fly a plane!"

Zacchary Fish wants to be a police officer. Anthony Guerrero plans on going to California State University, Humboldt, to study engineering.

Fifth-grader Hannah Brammer said she's worried about leaving her family, but college students have lots of friends, she noticed in the videos.

Lissette Vierra said she's aiming for the University of California at Davis. "I never thought I'd be a doctor," she said, but she thinks at Davis it could happen.

"That's what it's all about, getting them all excited about college," said Sandy Yonan, the fourth-grade teacher who arranged the virtual college tour. "I thought, we have the technology, why not use it?"

'So worth it'

Sixth-grade teacher Joanne Anderson said her students came back pumped. "It was so worth it," Anderson said. "It was a great new idea for our school."

Parent Juan Reyna said he never got the chance to go to college, but his oldest plans to start Modesto Junior College next year and he sees big things ahead for his sixth-graders, Priscilla and Joshua. Joshua wants to own a trucking company. Priscilla could do anything.

"She has a 4.0. With grades like that, she can go to any college," Reyna said.

"I said, 'They've got to reach for the stars,' and they've done it," he added with pride. "I like that this enabled them to look forward to a future."

Principal Hall tracks Don Pedro alums who went to college. Along a main corridor wall, yarn stretches from class pictures to points on a U.S. map where former students are studying. An alum, now at West Point, came in uniform to talk to classes.

"The whole purpose is to let them know that kids from their community are going to college. They need to believe that they can go to college and that they will," Hall said.

Bee education reporter Nan Austin can be reached at naustin@modbee.com or (209) 578-2339.