SANTA MARIA — Righetti High School officials is advising students, motorists and area residents to expect traffic delays and road closures during the June 5 graduation parade.
The California Highway Patrol and the SB Sheriff’s Office will be strictly enforcing all traffic laws.
Delays are expected on South Bradley Road between Cambria Avenue and Foster Road between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday. The number two lane on South Bradley Road will be closed. Westbound Foster Road will be shut down between South Bradley Road and Hillview Drive. Heavy traffic is expected on Hillview Drive, Dahlia Place, Redwood Avenue, Crestmont Drive and Cambria Avenue. On June 4 (Thursday), a traffic message board will be installed on Bradley Road just north of Cambria Avenue to alert motorists.
Only one vehicle will be allowed per graduate. It must be street legal and can be decorated. No limos, rvs, trailers, box trucks or semi-trucks will be permitted.
The parade begins at 11 a.m. A-L 11 a.m. and M-Z 12:30 p.m. There will be a stage, professional pictures taken of grads and diploma distribution.
“Motorists are encouraged to use common sense and plan ahead,’’ said Principal Karen Rotondi. “We appreciate everyone’s cooperation. Go Warriors!.’’
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Erick Pinedo-Tovar. Courtesy photos.
SANTA MARIA — Erick Pinedo-Tovar definitely understands the concepts of fairness and sharing.
That is why the graduating Pioneer Valley High School senior (in a few more days) has turned down a Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club scholarship. The scholarship he could have had was awarded to Amanda Tonascia of Righetti High School. She will attend Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo next year.
Pinedo-Tovar will continue his education at Cal Poly in SLO and explains to the Rotary that he had already received enough scholarships to pay for his tuition and fees when he starts studies in the fall. He was one of 18 deserving students honored by the Rotary this year.
Amanda Tonascia.
Rotary scholarship officials said the young scholar requested his scholarship be given to another student.
“And what an amazing kid Erick is to give a gift like that,’’ said PV Principal Shanda Herrera. “We are proud of him for being so generous! We want all our kids to be like this- so impressive.”
Superintendent Antonio Garcia agreed, adding “What an incredible young man.’’
Pinedo-Tovar is the President of the Keystone Club (a Character & Leadership Development program for teens) at Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast (BGCMCC).
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SANTA MARIA — The PVHS Peer Tutoring Program shifted to online Canvas tutoring to meet student needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, earning it recent recognition on the National Peer Tutoring Resource Center Website.
The program, which started in 2018, went online in April. Since then, it has utilized more than a dozen students to help more than 200 students. The program uses the Canvas video conference tool, which is similar to a Zoom experience.
Canvas is a learning management system for all SMJUHSD students, a one-stop portal that is used to access all classes and school information.
Panther Peer Tutoring Supervisor/School Librarian Karen Apple monitors and records each tutoring session. Coordinator/School Counselor Heidi Leal works with students and counselors in scheduling students for their tutoring sessions.
“Although, COVID 19 put a halt to many aspects of daily life, we still wanted to continue to provide some educational tutoring assistance to those students who struggle most in academics during this transition,’’ Apple said. “Learning can be much more difficult outside of the normal atmosphere and stress and apprehension can add to that. We had a great team of tutors who were willing to try something new and who wanted to continue to be employed. The program certainly enhanced all of our technology skills and it was a win – win for everyone to continue tutoring.’’
The student tutors are paid minimum wage.