Soboba Tribal Preschool kindergartners are promoted

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Special to the Valley News

The Soboba Sports Complex gymnasium was filled with excitement as family members waited for kindergarten students from the Soboba Tribal Preschool to enter the room Monday, June 5. Before that moment arrived, a slideshow featuring all 21 youngsters in their caps and gowns followed by group photos of them in classroom activities was punctuated by cheers and applause.

After the children were seated on the stage, teacher Laura Aldrete welcomed families and friends to the kindergarten class of 2023 celebration.

“First, we would like to thank Tribal Council for helping and supporting our kindergarten,” Aldrete said. “Thank you to all of our families for their love, support and encouragement. We would like to thank the staff and the teachers. This year has been one to remember but we made it.”

Even though Aldrete and teacher’s aide Mayra Barrientos were only with the class for the past couple of months, due to personnel changes, they said it was a privilege to have worked with such an amazing group of kindergartners.

“Ms. Mayra and I wish the kindergarten class all the best in their new journey and what awaits them,” Aldrete said. “We know you will achieve great things because we know you can.”

Students who completed kindergarten and are headed off to first grade in the fall include Penelope Alcala, Aaron Arenas, Joseph Bentiste, Xwáyish Briones, Demi Cervantes, Jena Davis, Freddie Duran, Koba LindseyGallardo, Manalice Garcia, Zeppelin Godinez, Liam Grant, Charlie Mae Hunter, Nikolas Lara, Luciano Marquez, Hailey Medina, Mila Nunez, Notóomo Salgado, Samuel Shaheen, Journey Silvas, Kenai Silvas and River Valenzuella.

Preschool Director Donovan Post welcomed everyone to the ceremony. He thanked families for choosing to enroll their children at the school and for supporting them and the school throughout the year and thanked staff for all their efforts.

“Our number one goal was to be here for these kids day in and day out,” he said. “I’d also like to thank Sierra Vivanco who was our kindergarten teacher at the start of the year. She worked with us for a few years, and she did an amazing job. We appreciate all the efforts that she gave to us during the time she was with us this year.

Ms. Laura and Ms. Mayra are an amazing team that have stepped up and taken over so now we have a great foundation for how everything can be better in the future.”

Wayne Nelson provided a blessing and with the Intertribal Bird Singers invited the children to join in during two social songs.

Young boys played gourd rattles they had made earlier in the school year and many of the young girls were wearing bird skirts under their graduation gowns that Noli Indian School students had helped them create.

The class performed a song about how they had learned to read, write, listen, tie their shoes and be kind to friends this past year. Then each student was called to the front of the stage to receive their diploma and a personalized certificate to showcase what made them shine. Their favorite memories and future plans were also shared. Some aspire to be superheroes and others are looking to become firefighters or police officers.

Not surprisingly, most students cited playing with friends outdoors or in the classroom as their favorite memory about school. Some said they enjoyed the bus rides they took to the Soboba Sports Complex for special events throughout the school year and several others said doing their homework was their favorite part of school.

Graduates and their individual accolades are Penelope, Rockstar Reader; Aaron, All-Star Athlete; Joseph, Master Mathematician; Xwáyish, Perfect Penmanship; Demi, Fabulous Friend; Jena, Future Teacher; Freddie, Loyal Listener; Koba, Thoughtful Thinker; Manalice, Delightful Dancer; Zeppelin, Spectacular Scissor Skills; Liam, Handy Helper; Charlie Mae, Stellar Smile; Nikolas, Incredible Illustrator; Luciano, Splendid Storyteller; Hailey, Numbers Ninja; Mila, Alphabet Ninja; Notóomo, Outstanding Observer; Samuel, Technology Wiz; Journey, Happy Heart Hero; Kenai, Enthusiastic Explorer, and River, Incredible Imagination. Gloria Vivanco had a front-row seat to watch her great-grandson Aaron Arenas graduate from kindergarten. With two children and seven grandchildren, Vivanco said Aaron is the oldest of her 11 great grandchildren, with three more babies expected soon.

Soboba Elder Alice Helms watched her great-great-granddaughter Manalice Garcia receive her diploma and be laden with balloons and plush toys by many family members after the ceremony.

Soboba Tribal Preschool Office Manager Amber Lopez said if she had one word to use to describe this year’s class, it would be perseverance.

“They had a lot of changes this year and still came out on top. I am very proud of them for all their hard work and focus,” she said. “I will miss my morning chats with them as I walked them down the hall to their classrooms; it was one of the many highlights of my day. I wish them all the happiness and success for their future.”

MSJC culinary arts instructor serves up food and fun with a focus on regenerative practices

She received the honor during a ceremony Monday, March 27. Her farm-to-table eatery serves up meals with a “food as medicine” focus.

As part of her instruction through MSJC’s Adult Education program, Di Bernardo teaches whole systems theory and agile food systems. Whole systems theory is an approach to creating long-term sustainability and profitability that considers issues like reducing greenhouse gases and protection of water quality and habitats. The agile food systems approach focuses on creating flexible and sustainable food systems that can withstand disruptions.

SAN JACINTO – There’s more to Leah Di Bernardo’s culinary arts class at Mt. San Jacinto College than lectures, reading and recipes. Di Bernardo serves up lessons about what farm-to-table means for people and the planet.

To close the spring semester, Di Bernardo took her class to Perennial Pastures in Santa Ysabel located in San Diego County for hands-on education in regenerative practices, what “grass fed” on a label really means and how delicious a meal becomes when prepared with locally sourced foods. The students hiked the sprawling ranch, observed the cattle and grazing practices and sat at tables under the towering oaks for a delicious farm-to-table beef stew, arugula salad and homemade bread.

Student Rebecca Stewart-Wilson of Menifee said the visit to Perennial Pastures showed her the importance of proper feeding, grazing and care of the animals and the health benefits of food grown from using regenerative farming practices.

“Individuals who are trying to stay in a healthy body are interested in knowing what’s going into their body,” Stewart-Wilson said. “It’s good to know and makes us wiser in choosing what we eat.”

Di Bernardo, founder and chef of Extraordinary Artisan Table, or E.A.T. Marketplace, in Temecula, was named this year’s Citizen of the Year by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Di Bernardo is helping to develop whole systems concepts further at MSJC as a member of an MSJC advisory group that is currently in development on a regenerative agriculture program at the college. Collaborating with other MSJC instructors and the MSJC Foundation, the advisory group is exploring an interdisciplinary program that would bring together studies that include environmental sciences, culinary arts and business.

Mt. San Jacinto College, a California Community College, serves 25,000 students annually in a district covering 1,700 square miles from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula. Follow MSJC on social media – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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