Life of Wry

Every year, DHS gives out a whole bunch of awards–academic, athletic, leadership, service, effort, etc–to [some of] its most fabulous graduating seniors.

I’ve read about these awards in the newspaper for years and always projected ahead to our graduating class, wondering who would earn what.

We didn’t expect to be attending to watch Peter receive a prestigious scholarship or service award. I thought it was within the realm of possibility that he’d get a physics award… if numerous were given out (nope, only one). But, when I got home from work at about 6:15, I learned that Peter was, in fact, on the list of kids receiving awards tonight (ceremony started at 6:00).  The list has been posted outside the career center on campus for about a week, but I figured Peter would have mentioned if he was getting anything. (I’d temporarily forgotten who my son is..)

He knew he was getting something because his name was on the list with probably another 100-200 kids, but had no inkling of what award he’d received. He figured it wasn’t anything of note, decided to prioritize his Spanish homework (you heard that right) and chose to stay home. Ray, who’d been hanging out with Peter when I got home, was dashing out to attend (late though he was… he was getting one for band excellence). He’s the one who told me Peter was on the list.

Well, being that parent, I decided I’d go… one, out of curiosity, two, to support/enjoy all the other kids, many of whom I’d surely know (yes and no, as it turns out).

Cutting to the chase, Peter got something called the Seal of Biliteracy, awarded to students achieving a certain level of proficiency in a second language:

There were a smattering of honorees in Chinese, Japanese, German, and French and a LOT of Spanish students who earned this distinction. the huge number of bi-literate Spanish students is largely because hundreds (a new crop of ~100 annually) of Davis kids attend Cesar Chavez and start on the path of language proficiency very early.

Which is not to diminish Peter’s (and his comrades’) achievement at all. I am extremely pleased that Peter can speak Spanish, even as he flounders in his Spanish literature class this year. Let’s remember, it’s Spanish SIX. It wasn’t always pretty, but he stuck it out.. something HE wanted to do. I’m really proud of him for that. And, with a little bit of luck, he’ll pass that bugger of a class (thus his opting to stay home and do his final round of homework) and have under his belt a reasonable proficiency and.. an award for same.

The list of ~143 reads like a Cesar Chavez Elementary Who’s Who… here’s most of it… (my picture misses most of the “S”s and on):

I have to say, there were many kids receiving awards that I didn’t know. Peter didn’t run in organized academic circles (clubs, federations, societies and competing academic teams of this and that), and didn’t knock himself out in service and social clubs. But, I did know a good number of the kids, and enjoyed cheering them on.

Here’s a shot I managed to get… you know… iPhone from a distance in the dark:

Kiddos I know: Ryan K., Jonathan W., Madison T., Chenoa D.

Principal Brown was on stage and got a better shot. He posted this one to Facebook… same kids, much clearer. I think, in addition, that may be Julia K. next to Ryan, and Conner A. in the back. Had Peter gone, he’d have been seated up on stage, as well, with all the student honorees (of which there were about 200). Parents and families were seated in the audience.

Largely, it looks like the future’s in good hands.