Winters Express Graduation Edition: June 5, 2024

Class

By Angela Underwood Express correspondent

Describing the Win-

ters Class of 2024 in one word is difficult.

But to begin with, a good start is resilience.

Who better to prove the truth than a counselor, a teacher and a principal who all agree that this graduating class sets the bar high for their successors?

“This class has gone through a lot of loss,” said Marcella Heredia, a school counselor for students at Winters High School and Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy. “The Class of 2024 didn’t get to go to high school until March of 2021 physically, and while they were here, classes were only half a day, and we only had half of our student population on campus at one time.”

As Heredia points out, unlike traditional high school students who remember their first and last footsteps on campus from freshman to senior year, the Class of 2024 cannot. When the COVID pandemic shut down the world, these students were at a pivotal transition in their educational careers. Not only did they miss out on the end of their eighth-grade year at middle school, but they started their high school career off in a non-traditional manner as well.

“This is the last class we will have that didn’t get to physically start high school on campus — they started high school on Zoom,” Heredia said. “The Class of 2024 also never got a promotion (event) at Winters Middle School, so this is the first graduation they’ve had since probably preschool or kindergarten.”

Principal Justin Young, who governs both WHS and Wolfskill CRA said the first graduating class, which would have been partially virtual or all virtual during the pandemic, will have lasting effects from the transition to traditional schooling. “They lost a year of

in-person instruction and extracurricular activities,” Young said.

Another loss for WHS students was that of a beloved teacher in WHS art educator Kate Humphrey, who died in 2022, along with three fellow Warriors, according to Heredia. One of whom would have graduated with them, and the other two in the WHS Class of 2025.

“With these losses has come an awareness of the importance of mental health awareness,” Heredia said. “This class has helped reduce

Nathan Jimenez, Dallas Risley, Wesley Coker, Anthony Duran, Aleni Valadez, Yadira Perez, Joel Barrera, Isaiah Pazmino, Luis Lara

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

The Class of 2024 will be remembered for their resilience, camaraderie and courage in the face of adversity through high school. The Winters High School Class of 2024 pose for the traditional senior class photo after the Downtown Homecoming Rally.

Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy

We are proud of all of you. You’ve got this, Howlers!

Principal’s Note

Justin Young Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy Administrator

The 2023-24 school year marked a new and exciting era for Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy as we moved onsite to share the same facilities and — more importantly — resources with Winters High School. The students and staff created amazing things, exercised critical thinking and collaborated

around ideas ultimately to communicate and advocate to school administration about disrupting inequities. Students engaged in the community to make this a better place, like the trees you see behind you, planting and re-branding what it means to be a Wolfskill CRA Howler. Students became more culturally aware, inviting Native American speakers and climate-change advocates into the classroom, and attending museums. All these skills — critical think-

ing, communication, collaboration, creativity, cultural awareness, and community engagement are key skills of our Graduate Profile and our graduates and students in CRA have completely displayed what it means to be a successful graduate of Winters Joint Unified School District. As you begin this new chapter of your lives, know that you have the support of all of us here and the skills, content knowledge, and resiliency gained from your time at Wolfskill CRA and Winters Joint Unified School District to succeed in your next chapter and in life.

Anel Gastelum Martinez Christina Avina

Dallas Risley

Edwin Marentes Eric Gutierrez Gabriel Romero

Hector Bernal Isaac Aguilera Jaime Mora Gutierrez

Jesus Villa IV Joel Enriquez Logan Nottingham

Myla Cueva Nathan Jimenez

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy graduates toss their caps in celebration.

Mock interviews prepare students for future careers

By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer

Graduating can mean a lot of different things for students. Whether students in the Class of 2024 plan to attend college or start a new job after high school, having the skills to interview well is an important aspect of transitioning from high school life to the next chapter. To help students prepare for that transition, Winters High School and the Wolfskill Career Readiness Program allow students to participate in mock interviews that help them develop those interviewing skills for future job applications and beyond.

In the WHS AP Language and Composition class and Wolfskill CRA, students are taught how to prepare for an interview for a job of choice they find online. They then attend an interview with a panel of community volunteers who rank them on a scale of one to five for different categories. The panel gives a “high pass,” “pass,” or suggests if the student should conduct the interview again after giving their feedback on the student’s interview.

This year, one panel included Jason Jurado, Winters District Chamber of Commerce board member; Anietta Kelley, Assistant to the Superintendent; Laura Smith a Winters JUSD Administrative Assistant; and Carol Scianna, a city of Winters council member.

The panel members are from the Winters community and have a vested interest in helping local high school students hone these interpersonal skills to be successful after graduation. Most members of these volunteer panels have done so for multiple years.

“When Wolfskill became Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy, the superintendent said, ‘I want you to do that same program that you did all those years when you were in the classroom with the seniors who are going to be graduating. So now we have the AP Language and Composition kids participating in the program and the seniors at Career Readiness Academy. And it’s a graduation requirement for the seniors at the Career Readiness Academy,’” said Liz Coman, Winters JUSD Career and College Coordinator.

Career readiness program

The Wolfskill CRA program is designed for students who thrive in a non-traditional high school model, including students who are working part-time jobs while in school. The mock interview is another aspect of the strategy of pairing school courses with required work-study. Students are given even more opportunities to learn career skills they’ll need.

“The whole program is geared toward finding a job and then going out into the world and being career-ready (...) So just having the interpersonal skills. It’s more about them getting on that side of the table than it is about the questions, just getting them ready for an interview,” said Jurado, one of the volunteer panelists.

“I just see the value in the kids moving on to another phase in their life and having this experience where they’re interviewed by adults and having to come up with answers and just kind of putting them at ease in that situation,” said Smith.

“One thing I’ve said about Winters — I raised my kids here — this is a great place for kids. And the young

man before us, he didn’t say it in so many words, but coming from a larger school district and the benefits for him in Winters. He got through high school. I don’t know if he would have made it through high school if he hadn’t been here. You have more support. And it hasn’t changed — It hasn’t changed. That is what is so cool about this place,’” said Smith.

To prepare for these interviews, students must make a portfolio consisting of three letters of recommendation, a cover letter, and a resume for the job they are interviewing for. Christine Arina was one of 13 students who participat-

force.

“It’s a win-win. As a manager, I can use my experience to ask them questions to further their answer to our interview questions. And, I like to give students I interview with an opportunity to ask me questions about anything,” Apilado said. “Some ask specifics about how they can interview better or how they can get started on a career idea. While I have had others ask me questions about my journey after high school. As a Winters graduate, I think it’s important for them to see that a smalltown girl can make an impact in whatever they decide to do.”

“It’s more about them getting on that side of the table than it is about the questions, just getting them ready for an interview.”

Jason Jurado, community volunteer

ed in the mock interviews this year.

“My job was a nurse (...) I’m going to go to community college to get my certification,” said Arina.

Arina had three letters of recommendation, a cover letter, and her resume all made up for her portfolio as part of the requirements for Wolfskill CRA students.

“It’s a great program. I think, yeah. It is a wonderful experience for kids and the confidence that a lot of these kids can gain from it and just having that experience of someone working them through a process instead of just saying now, ‘You’ve graduated, go!’ They’ve got some tools to be successful. And they don’t realize it now, but those tools will come back to them in time,” said Smith.

Crystal Apilado, the Winters Express Editor-in-Chief, said she volunteers to interview with Wolfskill CRA students whenever she has availability because it’s important to her to empower local, small-town youth.

“When you grow up in a small town, sometimes you think you are at a disadvantage when you go up against students from bigger cities. But in my experience, it was opportunities to engage and work with local community members that gave me the confidence and know-how to communicate with clients and even run meetings,” Apilado said.

According to Apilado, listening to students’ thought processes and asking them questions to get them thinking about things it is like watching little light bulbs turn on in their heads. She said it’s also an opportunity to sit down and see where youths are coming from since they are the next generation entering the work-

AP Language and Composition

For WHS AP Language and Composition students, the interviewing requirements are the same. However, they must include a personal statement as well as their transcripts, which according to Coman, “are always stellar.”

Jurado, who has experience hiring young people for retail work, says he’s interviewed a lot of potential employees who just finished high school, but some lack those crucial interview skills that can help them land jobs after high school. In recent years, especially since the pandemic, those interpersonal skills have seemed to regress as students and employers have had fewer face-to-face interactions.

“I worked in retail leadership since ‘96. I got my first store, and then until 2020, I think, is when I went full-time with my business. I interviewed thousands of kids, and I say kids because I worked in retail. So a lot of this age, early college and stuff like that, and I always was saying they have to have a program like this because I would get these young people in front of me, and I’m like, you’re great, but you don’t know how to interview,” Jurado said. “We’re not as face-toface as we used to be. And you get a face-to-face interview, and it’s challenging. It goes both ways. Because people talk about, ‘Oh, I had an online interview, and the interviewer was looking around and turned the camera off or whatever. So on both sides of the counter, sure, nice to say we need help. But I think, yeah, now more ever interpersonal skills are not as

developed.’”

The mock interviews are an opportunity to teach students about the skills they’ll need in their adult lives as they leave high school. These opportunities help them prepare for adult life in meaningful, tangible ways.

“Every time I leave here, I leave and I go, the world’s going to be fine,’” said Smith.

Apilado said she has interviewed with some students who had a rough go growing up. Often times in interviews, volunteer panelists will share about their own life experiences and how they came out of it.

“Sometimes I think students need to know that we see them and that they have someone in their corner, even if it’s just that interview,” Apilado said. “You never know what piece of advice or words of wisdom will be the thing that helps to motivate them. These mock interview opportunities are more important than they realize. I’ve interviewed with a lot of adults who could have used something like this in their early careers. And a lot of these students already display strong skills now.”

Identifying soft-skills

Demonstrating strong soft skills can give candidates an edge in the hiring process. In high school, students may not always understand the significance of soft skills in the work setting or may not have had experience utiliz-

ing or learning to identify and utilize them. Having a panel of adults who have experience in looking for them and in giving critical feedback on how students can work on strengthening them is an important piece to the mock interview program.

anelists observe ev-

Perything from how students shake hands and introduce themselves, to whether the clothing they are wearing is business attire, to if a student is making eye contact and engaging in conversation and whether a student is putting thought into their answers or saying what they think the panelists want to hear.

Although students can prepare beforehand, panelists sometimes will ask additional questions to see how students can think and respond on the fly or further share details about their interest in the industry they are applying for. Coman reviews the feedback and works with students afterward to share insight on what they did well and on what they should work on.

Practice and real-time experiences are important to help guide students who are looking to land a job and get noticed in the interview process. Opportunities like the career readiness programs and support from local professionals can help to give students the upper edge off the back.

File photo

Students receive feedback from volunteer panelists on all aspects of the interview from if the clothing they wore was business appropriate to how they interact and communicate during the session.

File photo

Students learn how to draft a resume and can get tips from volunteer panelists on how to strengthen it to better reflect their experience and skills.

Express staff

WHS 2024 scholarship recipients

Some Winters High School seniors were awarded scholarships at the annual Senior Awards Night and the Commencement Event.

• Adam Davis Memorial: Finn Yarnes – $1,500

• Beta Alpha Beta: Ruby Campos Carpio, Alondra Molina – $1,000 each

• Burns Bellhorn: Daniel Del Toro – $1,000 (renewable for 1 year)

• Doug Baldridge Memorial: Ashton Baylor, Alondra Molina

• First Northern Bank: Anahi Gutierrez – $500

• Friends of Winters FFA: Bianca Dyer Gonzalez – $1,200. Lauren Back, Finn Yarnes, John Boy-

kin, Alondra Molina – $700 each.

• Fortnightly Club of Winters: Bianca Dyer Gonzalez, Alondra Molina, Mikenzie Hapworth-El dridge – $1,000 each

• Friday Night Live: Alondra Molina, Albert Mora, Kimberly Garcia, Sabrina Rivas –$250 each

• George and Margery Kresa Memorial: Aleni Valadez – $1,000

• Grace and Frank Pigna taro Sr. Memorial: Albert Mora – $1,000

– $500 each

• Jared Davis Memorial: Mikenzie Hapworth Eldridge – $1,500

• Holden Philbrook Memorial: John Boykin, Finn Yarnes – $400

• Hugh Randolph Memorial: Mikenzie Hapworth-Eldridge, Jack Tuel

• Jessica Patricia Ortiz-Mendoza and Lupe

Ortiz Si Se Puede Memorial: Noemi Lopez Gonzalez, Jonathan Pech – $1,000 each

• Julia Millon Memorial: Alondra Molina – $2,000

• Kate Humphrey Kindness Scholarship: Kenneth Matheson, Hannah Arias-Dunlop, Sabrina Rivas – $500 each. Alondra Molina, Albert Mora, Mayra Borges – $100 each.

• Kiwanis Club of Winters: Albert Mora, Mayra Borges – $500 each Mariani Nut Company: Baldemar Ortiz, Julian Lopez, Daniel Brambila, Luis Lara, Magalit Lona, Hailey Landazuri, Ruby Campos Carpio, Juan Pablo Martinez, Anahi Gutierrez, Rubi Cardenas

• McMahon Graf: Colton Brown – $2,500

• Nick McClellan “Mr. Mac” Memorial: Nick Avi-

na, Esme Mora – $500 each

• Noah Lichwa Memorial: Jack Tuel, Colton Brown, Kenneth Matheson, Alondra Molina

• Michael Bazan Jimenez Memorial: Alondra Molina, Aleni Valadez, Anahi Gutierrez, Mikenzie Hapworth-Eldridge, Albert Mora – $1,000 each. Kenneth Matheson, Colton Brown – $500 each

• Progress View Farms: Estefania Gonzalez –$2,000

• Winters Music Boosters: Kenneth Matheson – $500

• Winters Robotics: Jack Tuel, Ben Nelson – $1,500 each. Juan Pablo Martinez – $1,000

• Anonymous: Alondra Molina – $500, Hannah Arias-Dunlop – $500

Get schooled on the ins and outs of vocational training

Metro Special to the Express

High school graduates or individuals looking to explore continuing education at any age have various options. Among the most popular options is enrolling in a college or university.

Studying a trade in a vocational school is another popular option.

What are vocational schools?

Vocational schools are sometimes referred to as career or trade schools. Vocational schools tend to offer certificate programs that are much shorter in duration than traditional college degree programs, and train students for skilled jobs. Vocational programs prepare individuals for careers in electrical work, hairstyling and cosmetology, certified nursing aids, automotive work, and HVAC services, among others.

Cost of attendance

Cost of education is an important factor when choosing a career, and the cost of vocational school is no exception. The College Board says trade school costs between $5,000 and $15,000 on average for a three-

to 18-month program. By comparison, the national average for a two-year degree program at public and private colleges can range from $3,621 to $15,333 per year. The cost to attend a fouryear college is considerably higher, though it varies widely by institution.

NerdWallet reports that, as of 2021, total student loan debt in the United States exceeded $1.61 trillion. Vocational school can be a much more affordable option than attending college, without the specter of large amounts of debt looming once the training is over.

An obvious job path

Many higher education concentrations are confronting low enrollment, while vocational programs are doing quite well, according to The Hechinger Report, which covers innovation and equality in education. The reason may be that vocational training presents a clear career path, and a more secure way to a solid job. Mechanic and repair trade programs had an enrollment increase of 11.5 percent from spring 2021 to 2022, indicates the National Student Clearinghouse.

“America is lending money it doesn’t have to kids who can’t pay it back to train them for jobs that no longer exist,” says Mike Rowe, television personality and founder of the Mike Rowe Works Foundation, which offers scholarship money to those who are pursuing the trades. Rowe feels that America has convinced people that the best path for most people is an

expensive education. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates there are more than seven million jobs available across the U.S. that do not require a fouryear-degree.

Advantages to vocational schools

Trade school students can look forward to some benefits:

• Hands-on learning

• A more rigid, con-

sistent schedule

• Efficient time usage

• Faster class pace

• Small class sizes

• Ability for licensure, where needed

• Lower costs of attendance compared to other types of schooling

• Instructors who are experts in their fields

Some industrial unions and programs provide apprenticship opportunities

where one can learn through hands-on experience from professionals in the industry. Vocational schools are an option for students right out of high school or those returning to school later in life. Such schools provide access to millions of rewarding and lucrative jobs that can offer financial security and in some cases job security.

Students can utilize a gap year to explore careers, gain experiences

Many high school students tend to enjoy a few months of summer vacation after they graduate and then embark on new adventures at college or trade school. Graduating college seniors follow a similar path of joining the workforce or beginning post-graduate work after earning their degrees. However such paths are not the only ones available to students. Some students may want to consider a gap year.

A gap year is a break from academia to pursue other interests or even experiential learning, according to Forbes. It’s more than just a time to relax and can prove especially helpful to self-development and discovery. If time and budget allow, taking a gap year can be a worthwhile and productive endeavor. Here are a few ideas and benefits relating to gap years.

Hone skills

Some see a gap year as a chance to lounge around. Instead, this break provides an opportunity to sample the workforce and gain experience. Individuals can seek opportunities that will be relevant to the

careers they intend to pursue in the future. A future certified public accountant, for example, may want to spend tax season working with an accounting firm to learn the ropes. Learn a language, explore a culture

Students may think a gap year is the perfect opportu-

nity to become more proficient in a foreign language or two. Bilingualism can be a key advantage in one’s job search and future career. Traveling to a country where a studied language is spoken and learning it while immersed in the culture can be a particularly effective means of acquiring language skills.

Engage in a passion project

There are many projects that may be put on hold because of a lack of time or resources while in school. A gap year can be the ideal

Perform service work A gap year can be an

opportunity to engage in social change or to help a cause. Certain people may want to travel to underprivileged areas on humanitarian missions or teach English to students overseas.

These are experiences that will promote personal growth and help boost a résumé when it comes time to find a job.

Improve academic performance

A study by Colorado College’s Gap Year Research Consortium reported that those who participate in gap years exceeded their predicted GPAs by roughly 0.15 points. A gap year may help a person become a better student.

Land an internship

Some companies may want to extend internship offerings beyond the standard semester. Many professionals land their jobs through networking, so taking time away from school to participate in a lengthy internship can make for a smoother entry into that company should one want to work with them in the future.

Taking a gap year may not be the traditional route for students, but the benefits of time away from formal learning can be profound.

File photo

HVAC services, among others.

Wesley Coker Valeria Cordoba

Alejandro Cruz Heredia Luis Cruz Heredia

Daniel Del Toro Mendoza

Jennifer Alanis Alanis

Hannah Arias-Dunlop

Bryan Angel Ayala

Jenna Ariza

Esteban Arias Garcia Luis Astorga

Nicklaus Avina

Joel Barrera Heidi Ayala Lopez Ashton Baylor Lauren Back

Mayra Borges John Boykin

Ruby Campos Carpio

Daniel Brambila Virgen Rubi Cardenas

Colton Brown

Maria Bermudez

Juan Diego Casillas

Miguel Del Toro Ojeda Nicolas Del Toro

Estefania Gonzalez Kimberly Garcia Gutierrez

Anahi Gutierrez Valentin Guzman Palmerin

Jesus Garcia Gustavo Herrera

Cameron Higgins

Fernando Herrera Michael Hoag

Mikenzie Hapworth Eldridge Fabian Jimenez Rocha Hailey Landazuri Estrada

Fatima Huerta Lopez

Victor Diaz Emily Dodic Ruby Del Toro

Anthony Duran Bianca Dyer Gonzalez Alexander Garcia

Chase Dummert

Daisy Herrera

Omar Ibarra

L-R: Prestlie Hagar, Raelynn Hagar, Taylor Hagar, Madi Gordon, Tyler Gordon, Amy Pearce, Jim Pearce

Luis Lara Tenorio Magalit Lona Mejia

Julian Lopez Acosta

Jacqueline Luna Avina

Marcos Lopez

Bella Macias Erick Madueno Noe Lopez Gonzalez

Juan Pablo Martinez Ramirez Noemi Lopez Gonzalez

Elijah Mayes Runninghawk

Kenneth Matheson

Albert Mora Gutierrez

Maria Mendoza

Alondra Molina

Esmeralda Mora

Benjamin Nelson Cloé Meyer-Heritier

Cali Padilla Isaiah Pazmino

Derick Olson

Jonathan Pech Vazquez

Baldemar Ortiz Ibarra

Edwardo Reyes

Sebastian Pedraza Mejia

Sabrina Rivas

Victoria Perez

Rayanne Roberts

Yadira Perez Cruz

Angeles Sanchez Duarte

Briana Rodriguez Herrera

Xitlali Segura

Isaac Rodriguez Moreno

Carlos Soto Santana

Carlos Salazar Renteria

Roman Stawpert

Lucie Obrist

Samantha Rodriguez

Winters High School

Justin Young Winters High School Administrator

The Winters High School Class of 2024 has 93 students who are graduating. These students demonstrated academic excellence in content proficiency and resiliency in the face of school closures, the loss of fellow students and dear friends, changes in staffing, construction and so much more.

As a result of our students’ resilience and support from our staff, families, and community members, our students graduating this year can demonstrate our community-wide collaborative effort of identifying skills to fulfill our graduate profile.

Students effectively demonstrated critical thinking in courses like Mrs. Mann’s AP Language and Composition course this year by creating claims about relevant topics like Stanley Cups and Lululemon being overrated. Students clearly communicated in so many ways as we saw Bianca and Lauren lead a team of students in the Agriculture Issues Forum — a statewide competition — where students did a deep dive into agricultural topics. Using the Dairy Pride Act as a platform and ultimately placing fourth in the state.

Students collaborated in so many ways ful-

filling one of the AVID strategies and this was on full display in our Career and Technical Education courses with our students placing in the Top 10 in the world in Robotics competition. This was a result of Ben, Jack and Juan Pablo’s collaboration and innovation. Students competed and built a shed at the CIEF Design Build competition in less than two days under the collaborative leadership of Mr. Whitworth and Mr. Beck’s Ag Construction and placed first in the Golden State Ag Fabrication and Welding competition.

Our ASB students planned events and Chef Novello’s students provided desserts and dishes for numerous events in the community including the Taste of Winters, Dinner on the Bridge, and our Hall of Fame event.

Students created in so many ways including in Ms. Holly’s AP Art classes and the beautiful, community murals. Students demonstrated cultur-

al awareness by working with Ms. Cisneros to lead and successfully implement a cultural celebration for our diverse student body in December with activities throughout the week. Community engagement was on full display two weeks ago with our Seniors presenting their Capstone Projects and the impact they had made at the high school and greater Winters community to make both a better place by pairing up with community members throughout town.

Students as you begin this next chapter know that you have the competencies, resiliency, and content knowledge embedded in our Graduate Profile to be successful.

Out of our graduates

• 41 percent of our students have indicated they are planning on going into our state’s amazing community college system with two years of school paid for including at Butte, Cuesta, Napa, Sacramento City, Solano, and

Woodland Community Colleges

• 21 percent of our students will be heading to four-year universities including our wonderful University of California schools- Santa Barbara (Go Gauchos) and UC Davis; our amazing California State Universities including Sacramento and Sonoma; the University of Arizona, University of Alabama, the University of Nevada Reno, Northern Arizona University, Georgetown, Emry Riddle Aeronautics, and more.

• 10 percent of our students are going into trade schools and apprenticeship programs including electrical, welding,

cosmetology, and construction

• 9 percent are planning on going into the workforce right after graduation

• Two students are planning on taking a Gap Year

• One student will be enlisting in the Army this summer

Class of 2024, be confident in using your resiliency, content knowledge, abilities and traits of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, cultural awareness, and allow them to inform and guide you in your college, career and life journeys. I will leave you with some advice, from Tottenham Football Club’s current manager, Ange Pos-

tecoglou, “You can learn from others but you have to be yourself. You can’t start out with the idea that you have to copy others, you have to play to your strengths.” Use the skills you have developed during your career at Winters High School to learn from others but use your own unique strengths.

Dr. Taylor Langdon, DC specializes in family, prenatal, sports, and animal chiropractic. Dr. Taylor is Webster technique certified through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) to treat pregnant women. Dr. Taylor received her animal chiropractic certification through the Animal Chiropractic Education Source (ACES). She treats small animals in her office and commutes to barns for large animals. Her mission is to provide quality chiropractic care to all people and animals in each stage of life.

Aleni Valadez

Kelxie Suarez Jacobo Ben Wandschneider

Jack Tuel

Finnegan Yarnes

Salvador Torres Fabiola Velasco

the stigma surrounding mental illness. They have had open conversations about mental health and increased understanding.”

Young said “The social, emotional impact on a lot of students who knew some of the students” who would be graduating with them is hard.

But rather than let this keep them down, the Class of 2024’s resilience proves they are also best described as a class with grit.

Wolfskill CRA teacher

Greg Wade said this school year served as a major transition for his students as they not only relocated to a new school site but also navigated through the ebb and flow of program changes.

Paving the way

“The highlight of the year was our transition to the main school campus with many questions — (and) would the Wolfskill students be accepted and treated as equals,” Wade said.

Not only were they accepted, but Wolfskill CRA students fought for equity and advocated to have similar benefits as WHS students, according to Wade and Young.

“The Wolfskill students argued for policy changes, namely, to use a B-building restroom which was closer and to have an off-campus lunch,” Wade said. “They won these political battles with their cooperative and responsible behavior.”

Wade said having “to step up and behave themselves in and out of the classroom” taught focus — the next best word to describe the Class of 2024.

“We had off-site administration, and it was detrimental to student behavior,” Wade said, adding that when that changed, so did the students. “They came to school, quit goofing around, and earned credits, and they took on the challenge of learning and performed to our standards. And the teachers had the chance to teach.”

As a leader himself, Young said it was awesome to see “students advocating for themselves and wanting to see a change in schedule that just didn’t make sense to them.”

In addition to making changes, Wolfskill CRA students left an environmental mark and planted new trees in their area of the high school campus.

At the end of 2023, students learned about urban forestry and environmental justice and put action behind the lessons into action by planting new trees on campus.

On Wednesday, Dec. 13, Wolfskill CRA students worked in groups of three and teamed up with Winters Joint Unified School District staff to plant three young Pistacia x Red Push trees outside their class-

rooms.

In a class-wide group project and with their future classmates in mind the trees they planted are expected to grow big enough to provide shade for the open area between the new WHS admin building and the Dr. Sellers Field football field where the CRA classrooms are located. When mature, they will also serve as homes for wildlife and work to create cleaner air.

Class highlights, upcoming challenges

When not achieving it in the classroom, the Class of 2024 showed excellence, the next word to describe their field performances.

“I think we had some great athletic highlights,” Heredia said. “Our football team made it to the playoffs, the boys and girls basketball teams made it to the playoffs, and of course, our girls soccer team won the state championship.”

For a small graduating class, there have been huge wins in technology.

“Our robotics team went to the world championship, placed 10th in the world, and won this prestigious award,” Young said.

These wins are lifelong, according to Heredia, who said, “As educators, it’s important for us to remember that a lot of the memories our students are going to have are the memories they made with each other on the field, on the court, in a robotics competition.”

In the future, the Class of 2024 will need the resilience, grit, focus, and excellence that got them this far. Heredia said one of the unfortunate challenges she thinks the Class of 2024 is facing is economic uncertainty and instability.

“There are concerns over the student debt crisis more now than ever, and this places a huge burden on students and their families,” Heredia said. “Managing so much student debt is not the same as 10 years ago.” Young agrees.

“When I was a student in college or high school graduating, I was lucky enough to get into a number of colleges and universities — but the pressure, the academic pressures alone are so much higher now for students this year,” Young said.

According to the high school counselor, automation/AI is another future challenge for the Class of 2024.

“Automation and AI can be a great tool for support and assistance, but the class of 2024 will need to keep up with technology and be prepared for a job market that is constantly changing,” Heredia said.

Another hurdle for the Class of 2024 is getting money for future education. According to Young, pushback is problematic when educators promote further schooling.

“It’s definitely one of the systemic challenges that was not unique to Winters, but also nationwide,” Young said, adding that both the state and federal aid application processes are intense. “Our counseling staff helps support many students and families, but there’s a lot of frustration.”

Leaving an impact

But like they tackled the last four years of high school, the Class of 2024 will continue to succeed, even leaving behind a bit of

themselves that has rubbed on district officials.

“The Class of 2024 has provided learning and growth for me,” Heredia said. “I’ve learned to be more adaptable and more visible with this class.”

Heredia said educators have a few things to learn from students, including “being aware and open-minded about the new and expanding availability of digital tools, platforms, and resources to better support and communicate with our students.”

Wade said the Class of 2024 taught him to relax and enjoy life again and “that the student and their teacher could be partners in the classroom and have fun.”

The Wolfskill CRA teacher’s last words to the Class of 2024 graduates are, “Thank you for making it Wade’s favorite year of his career.”

Heredia’s last words are, “Don’t be afraid to continue to embrace the challenges that will come your way, and continue to reach out for support when you need it. Turn to your peers, mentors, and loved ones.”

As for Young, the Class of 2024 inspired growth in the leader, who said the posi-

tive 2024 school culture will only get better academically, especially with Winters Joint Unified School District striving to become an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) school district.

“We have established AVID electives and courses right now, and we wanna make it school-wide and embed it that college and career readiness for everything that we do, not just in some classes, but all classes. And that’s exciting,” Young said. Going forward, Young says the school district “will ensure we have the support both academically and socially emotionally to support students and to continue to listen to students’ voices to help inform our decisions.” AVID efforts made an appearance for the first time at the middle school, and AVID leaders are collaborating to make an efficient AVID experience across the two schools.

“We want to find more ways to engage and empower next year in making decisions about resources and programming that directly affects them,” Young said. “I guess I would say we’re only just beginning.”

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

ABOVE: Winters High School seniors dance the Cha Cha Slide with Waggoner Elementary students as part of their Senior Walk.

LEFT: Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy students plant trees to take ownership of their campus.

Crystal Apilado/ Winters Express

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Winters High School seniors calm their nerves through play with a parachute before their Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 30. The Class of 2024 is known for valuing mental wellness.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy students walk to the traditional tune of Pomp and Circumstance at the beginning of their graduation.

Tuel, Matheson earn high honors

Winters High School Prin-

cipal Justin Young introduced the two students with the highest grade point averages from over their high school career at the Commencement ceremony at Dr. Seller’s Field on May 30. He gave high praise for Salutatorian Kenneth Matheson and Valedictorian Jack Tuel.

Matheson and Tuel encouraged fellow Class of 2024 graduates to remember those who supported them and to believe in themselves as they embark on their posthigh school journeys.

Tuel reminded students to reflect on the good and bad memories from high school, and not to forget the people who rallied them on.

“Each one of them at some point told us to keep going and they told us not to give up. They told us to try a little harder and insisted on perseverance. And because of that, you’re all here tonight,” Tuel said.

“Every class we took, every test we stressed about, every sporting event we attended, every competition we participated in — we have gained so much. Whether it be education, life skills,

friends, memories, the lessons the teachers guided us through and the experiences that have shaped us — these will always be a part of us.”

Matheson reminded graduates they will never be alone, and in those moments when they feel lost or in a flurry of motivation, “there will always be a way back to our little community” for support and encouragement.

“We have all emerged stronger, wiser and more resilient than we ever thought possible. So if you shine do so brightly,” Matheson said.

Celebrating the Class of 2024

Crystal Apilado/Winteres Express

Salutatorian Kenneth Matheson and Valedictorian Jack Tuel earned the highest grade point averages for the Winters High School Class of 2024.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

ABOVE: Dallas Risley shakes hands with Superintendent Rody Boonchouy. LEFT: Students walk across campus to celebrate their last day of school. BELOW: Winter High School students give high five to Winters Middle School students on the Senior Walk.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

ABOVE: Emily Dodic walks around the track during the Winters High School Commencement. RIGHT: Nathan “Tax” Jimenez’s family celebrates his graduation from Wolfskill Career Readiness Academy.

BELOW: Graduates celebrate the end of their high school journey.

Students stretch past comfort zones, find growth in Capstone Projects

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

When asked how they grew from the experience of their Senior Capstone Project, every single student said one word, communication. Time management and patience were close runners-up.

For a cohort who transitioned from middle school to high school in a digital world, they proved their mettle with their projects of choice. The pandemic shutdown may have thrown a curve ball, but the Class of 2024 refused to let it hold them back in their senior year.

Winters High School Class of 2024 members showed off the final

results of their hard work on Wednesday, April 15, at the Senior Capstone Night Showcase.

The Senior Capstone Projects are a long-term, independent learning situation similar to what graduating students will experience when taking on projects and experiences in college. The goal is to allow students to experience personal growth through the process, strengthen life skills and dabble in a career or hobby of interest.

Many seniors chose projects that were related to something they had a potential career interest in, while others said they selected a project that focused on something

new they wanted to try or that would push them to take one of their interests to the next level of experience. As they go from start to finish, students receive handson, real-life experience and can gauge if that’s a career path they’d like to pursue.

Other capstone projects focused on providing services, experiences and opportunities for the community or that benefit a cause or nonprofit of choice. These projects can come in the form of fundraising efforts through events, supply drives and in-depth community service experiences.

Michael Hoag took

See PROJECT, Page 15

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Hannah Arias-Dunlop learned about woodworking and the art of woodburning for her Capstone project, and plans to continue dabbling in it as a hobby. ABOVE: One of the free-handed art designs she created with the pyrography technique on a cutting board.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Michael Hoag perfected the art of pizza making and running a team. He sold a pizza lunch meal to Winters High School teachers for his Capstone project.

on creating Warrior Pizza for his Capstone Project. With the support of his peers in the WHS Life Skills Class, he worked to find the pizza dough and sauce recipes and narrowed it down through a series of taste tests.

Hoag sold pizza to WHS staff for lunch utilizing a Pizza order Google form once a week. Once orders were in, Hoag led his team in a week-long effort to make the dough, roll and prep the pizzas, and finally cook and deliver them.

He said working out the best ways to communicate with clients and learning the skills to make the pizza were challenging and yet the best part of his project.

His hope is that the Warrior Pizza program will continue under future Capstone projects.

Hannah Arias-Dun-

lop learned about woodworking to create custom cutting boards. This included learning to use hand tools, wood-burning free-hand art designs, and selecting the right woods.

“I learned so much about wood. I want to continue working with it,” Arias-Dunlop said. According to Arias-Dunlop, one of the fun parts of the experience was the “controlled chaos” of pyrography or pyrogravure. Her growth

was in learning to communicate with others through the process of learning the techniques and in confirming the custom-design requests.

Marcos Lopez said he was inspired by a tufting reel he saw on social media and dove head first into learning the skills to craft custom rugs.

Lopez was unable to find an expert to serve as a mentor and was granted permission to continue on with his project. He purchased a beginner’s kit and self-taught himself with videos, patience, dedication and a lot of practice.

Each of the finalized rugs he had on display took multiple hours to complete, with the most time spent being 15 hours and the fewest clocking in at nine hours.

Lopez said he would like to get into car detailing as a career and believes the skills and experience he gained in tufting will help him. He also gained confidence in trying something new and in taking action to try something new. He also plans to continue tufting as a hobby.

“I thought it was something I could do,” Lopez said. “I learned

Career, life skills

Colton Brown spent his summer learning about running a business and managing a team. Brown managed all aspects of running the Double R Fruit Stand for his Capstone project. This included picking fruit and preparing it to sell, creating and managing staff schedules and payroll.

He said he had major growth in time management. Not only was he running a business, but he also was learning how to consider other people’s schedules when creating the weekly staffing shifts and how to juggle in his football and extracurricular activities.

Brown created a metal sign for Double R Fruit Stand as the final piece to wrap up his Capstone project. He said he plans on hanging it up when the fruit stand opens for the season.

Chase Dummert wanted to learn more about being a safety inspector following his experience in his junior year at the CIEF Shed Design

Build Competition and in his FFA construction class.

“Last year I was the safety inspector and I had no clue what to do. So this year I wanted to train and help future safety inspectors understand and prepare for what they had to do at the competition,” Dummert said.

Dummert took a 30hour training course on safety, earning himself his certification and a card that would allow him to work in the industry.

In his role, he guided his teammates through an OSHA 10hour safety training before this year’s shed competition, created a safety binder for high school students to utilize on projects, and built a safety center board for the team’s competition site. The board included required safety signage, first-aid and safety supplies and important information.

Dummert said he experienced growth in learning to talk to other people. He found the confidence he

needed from managing his team in safety training and the built to talking to judges at the competition.

Wes Coker and Derick Olson launched the inaugural Michael Bazan-Jimenez and Noah Lichwa Memorial Fun Run as their Senior Capstone Project. The 5K fun run/ walk event was part of the annual Winters Youth Day festivities on April 27.

They learned about event planning and working with the city, school district, and other agencies to plan it, market the event, get participants and raise funds for the Michael Bazan-Jimenez and Noah Lichwa Memorial Scholarships.

Both Coker and Olson said communication was their challenge. From public speaking at meetings to talking to different agencies to get permits and supplies confirmed both of them stretched out of their comfort zone. In the end they raised double the amount to donate to the scholarships than planned.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Chase Dummert took safety training courses to earn his certification as a 30-hour safety inspector for the shed design-build competition.

Apilado/Winters Express

Marcos Lopez taught himself to tuft and worked on a rug featuring the Winters High School seal at the 2024 Capstone Showcase in the gym.

Colton Brown welded a sign for the fruit stand he man-

Remembering Bella Laukkanen

By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief

Alone chair in the graduate section displayed a cap and gown and featured a photograph of Isabella “Bella” Laukkanen.

Laukkanen died in July 2020, at 13 years old, right before the Class of 2024 was about to begin their high school journey.

A bench bearing the name “Bella” has a home on the Winters High School campus with an engraved inscription on the back sharing her story. Winters High School Principal Justin Young invited four students who “advocated and wanted to honor the loving memory of Bella Laukkanen whose life was cut too short” to honor her.

“The Laukannen family gave permission for students to speak as part of their own mourning and healing, and graduation process,” Young said. “Tonight is about celebrating our grad-

uates but these four students who represent our class want to ensure that Bella is honored and remembered for the impact that she had and (who) is an honorary graduate of the Class of 2024.”

Emily Dodic said she wanted to take a moment to honor a classmate and her best friend, Isabella Grace Laukkanen.

“She probably scold me for using her full name, but on this occasion, she deserves to be recognized in her entirety,” Dodic said chuckling.

Dodic shared about the medical condition Laukkanen lived with, which often prevented her from participating in contact activities.

However, Laukkanen did not allow this to dull her light.

“And to the average kid this is devastating, but to Bella … her spirit remains shining. Every day she greeted life with a smile and laughter as if she were the luckiest person alive. All

while settling numerous doctor’s appointments to manage her health,” Dodic said. “As we grew older, Bella made a decision. She chose to embrace life fully. Despite the risks, she learned to ride a bike. She joined dance classes and lived with a newfound freedom. Bella was well aware of the risks, but her motto was simple YOLO.”

Bianca Dyer Gonzalez said Laukkanen was one of her first friends when she moved to town.

“She immediately wanted me to add six hearts and a butterfly by her name in my contacts. I would say that goes to show how much love she truly had for everything,” Dyer Gonzalez said. “There was never a dull moment with her around. She was so full of laughter, energy and love.”

Mikenzie Hapworth-Eldridge said Laukkanen had the “most electric energy of any person” she has ever met.

“Bella was always the first to offer a helping hand or shoulder to cry on. Her laughter was infectious, her spirit indomitable and her generosity knew them about the joy that radiating from her soul and the happiness from her heart was uncompetitive,” Hapworth-Eldridge said. She shared that Laukkanen exemplified the “spirit of true friendship and unwavering support”

and said she was “an irreplaceable friend on this journey we call life.”

“Bella had the rare ability to see the best in people to inspire them to be the best version of themselves. Her passion for life was evident in everything she did, from her adventurous spirit to her fierce loyalty to those she loved,” Hapworth-Eldridge said.

Hailey Landazuri Estrada honored Laukkanen saying she “loved going to school” and “making all the memories that she could with her friends despite all her limitations.”

“Although she isn’t here with us in spirit or in person, she’s here with us in the spirit,” Landazuri Estrada said.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Friends of Bella Laukkanen honored her memory at the Commencement ceremony on May 30. A chair was set up, designating Laukkanen an honorar Class of 2024 graduate.

Crystal Apilado/Winters Express

Mikenzie Hapworth-Eldridge shares memories of her friend Bella Laukkanen during the Commencement Ceremony. Laukkanen would have gradutated alongside her peers of the Class of 2024.