Today, a tradition was born at NUSD elementary and K-8 schools.
Don’t be surprised if, years from now, veteran staff and visiting graduates remember the district’s first “college pennant day.”
Campus-after-campus held rallies this morning to encourage students to consider college and the many opportunities available to those who work hard and follow their academic dreams.
The heart of each rally was the display of college pennants, representing former students of the school who graduated from NUSD in 2016 or 2017 and were pursuing their dream of higher education. Some pennants contained multiple stars, representing numerous students at the same college.
The message was clear: If they can do it, kids, you can too.
UC Berkeley, UCLA, Chico State, Sacramento State, UC Santa Cruz, Texas Southern University, UC Davis, Brown University, the list goes on and on, the number of pennants impressive, each representing a student’s success story of making it to college.
“Start thinking, ‘Where is my star going to go – or what pennant am I going to have at Witter Ranch?” Principal Patrick Birdsong asked the assembled Hawks.
At one point during the Witter Ranch rally, classmates were chanting: “You can do it! We can do it.”
District-wide, about 350 former NUSD students were attending 76 four-year colleges during the two-year period represented. Within a few months, statistics will be available for college-going students in 2018, so more pennants will be added.
Year after year, the collection of pennants will grow at each school, eventually creating an entire wall to honor former students and inspire current ones. Many teachers wore their college T-shirts today in the spirit of the project.
Different schools introduced the college pennants in different ways today, for example:
At H. Allen Hight Elementary, a brief video was played about college and career readiness that featured former First Lady Michelle Obama participating in a dream-big-about-education rap song, with lyrics that included;
o “If you wanna fly jets, you should go to college
o Reach high and cash checks, fill your head with knowledge
o If you wanna watch paint, don’t go to college
o But for everything else, you should go to college.”
· At Natomas Park Elementary, several teachers and one secretary took the microphone to tell students about the college they attended and how they benefited from it. Student leaders also performed a “Path to College” skit.
· At Witter Ranch Elementary, students lined up and took the microphone, one by one, to announce where they plan to attend college: “Sac State,” “Stanford,” “ARC,” “Harvard.”Kids also were asked to draw the pennant of the college, with mascot, they plan to attend.
· At American Lakes, two former Eagles currently attending college – at Folsom City College and Sacramento State – returned to talk to today’s students about the college experience.
Today’s campus rallies were consistent with NUSD’s “The Next 5” strategic plan, which includes the following goal: “Beginning in elementary school, continue to develop college and career access and readiness for all students.”
Though launching a district-wide tradition of college pennant walls is new, college and career-themed activities have been common at NUSD schools. Students are taken on college tours, for example, and campuses typically offer College T-shirt Day, Career Day, or other themed activities.
At Two Rivers Elementary, Principal Colleen Perry asked students to raise their hand this morning if they plan to attend college. Every student did.
“What are your hopes and dreams?” Heron Principal Amy Whitten asked students. “We want to inspire you to dig deep and start thinking about your biggest hopes, your biggest dreams, and your biggest goals.”
H. Allen Hight Principal Jason Manviller stressed to students that every adult working at the school has the same job: To prepare them for college.
Students said they got the district’s message, loud and clear.
“It inspired me that there are so many people going to college,” said Carter, 11.
“The message is, you should go to college so you can get a good job when you grow up,” said Ramsey, 11.
Marley, 10, said that one thing she’ll remember about today’s rally is that college isn’t just one thing, it’s many campuses, many choices, many opportunities.
Preparing for a bright future is what NUSD’s NUSD’s Board-approved Vision is all about. It readsy, “All NUSD students graduate as college and career ready, productive, responsible, and engaged global citizens.”
