001[Music] Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Hey, Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey, the We're good, right? minutes. One more down. No, we're Yes, for real. [Music] Wow. [Music] Graduates, please be seated. Good evening everyone and thank you for coming to the 2025 Persian Continuation High School and Pathway Community Day School graduation. My name is Trinidad Fuentes and I'm a teacher at Persian Continuation High School and I will be the host for tonight's ceremony. This is a wonderful evening of celebration and achievement for our students who have worked very hard to get to this day. To our graduates, today is about you. You've balanced studies, activities, friendship, and personal challenges, and you've made it through with determination and heart. Each one of you has contributed
002something unique to our Persian and Pathway communities. As we begin tonight's festivities, graduates, please remember to be grateful to for the family members who supported you, the teachers and the school staff who believed in you, and the friends who stood next to you. This year, one student from Pathway and 56 students from Persing will be receiving their high school diplomas. Let's celebrate their accomplishments tonight and have a great time. Thank you. At this time, I'd like to invite Suliana Wright to the podium to lead the pledge of allegiance. Please stand for the flag salute. Ready? Salute. Oh, well. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. You may be seated. Thank you, Sulie. Now,
003I would like to invite our school's principal, Mrs. Jill Young, to the podium. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Uh, my name is Jill Young and I have the honor of being the principal at both Persian Continuation and Pathway Community Day School. Welcome to this special ceremony that is the culmination of all the students hard work, perseverance, and growth. We are truly grateful to have you here, family, friends, faculty, district staff to celebrate this important milestone together. I also want to say hello to all the family and friends joining us via live stream. We are so glad you can be a part of the celebration from wherever you're at. A big thank you to our amazing district tech team who made this a possibility. We have a number of special guests here tonight and at this
004time I would like to introduce them. Starting with the school board of Central Unified Board President Mr. Ernandep Singh Chan board vice president Miss Yena Curio board clerk Mr. Nabial Kerfan, board member. Miss Natalie Chavez, board member, Miss Carla Kirk and board member Mr. Jaspit Sadu. Now, let me introduce you to our district administration, starting with our interim superintendent, Dr. Emir O'Brien. Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Dr. Tammy Boatright, Assistant Superintendent of Student and Family Services, Dr. Marilyn Lopez and the area administrator who is the area administrator for Persian and Pathway Mr. Jeff Garrett. And then we have Maisie Young who is the director of child welfare and attendance. So graduates, you guys would not be here without the support of everybody out here, friends, family. So at this time, I'd like you to give
005them a big thank you. Let's give them a big thank you. [Applause] There you go. I would also like to take a moment to recognize the incredible staff members at both Persian and Pathway. Um, so who come every single day and they go above and beyond for every student and they put their whole heart into this job every day. That's why we go home tired. So, uh, Persian and Pathway staff, can you please stand and be recognized? Come on. All right. So, you guys know Miss Guzman, right? Okay. So last year um for graduation, we were talking about different songs that we could play um before you guys came in while the parents were in here. And Miss Guzman kept bringing up this song called My Wish by Rascal Flats. Not a country fan. I
006never heard it. Um we didn't end up playing it last year. I don't even remember what we did play. But um this year I'm driving home one day, you know, I'm in my car. I love technology. I won't say the phrase. I'll I'll say it differently so she doesn't go off on all your phones. But I asked if my personal assistant Siri could help me out and play this song. And she did. And I played it again and again and again. And I was like, "Wow, I see what she was talking about. So I want to read you these song lyrics. I promise I won't sing them because nobody wants to hear me sing. But it is my wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to that your dreams
007stay big and your worries stay small. You that you never need to carry more than you can hold. And while you're out there getting what you're getting to, I hope you know somebody loves you and wants the same thing too. My that's my wish. And I went, whoa. I think that speaks for every single staff member that we have for all of you. We wish for your dreams to be big. All of you had a dream of graduating from high school. That's done. So, what's next? Get that next big dream. Okay. I heard somebody say working. Yep. Definitely. Okay. And we know that while we want your worries to be small, sometimes they're big, right? But when that happens, keep pushing through. Keep going. Because we are all looking forward to what we know you
008all can become. And with that, I'd say let's get this ceremony going. [Applause] Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Young. I'd now like to introduce the first of two welcome speakers to the podium, Amaya Miller. Hello, my fellow 2025 graduates. The day we've all been waiting for is finally here. We've crossed days off our calendars, counted down the hours, minutes, and even seconds. But as much as I've prayed for this day to finally come, I can't help but be thankful for all the opportunities that I've gotten while being here, like being the president of BSU, the chapter reporter for FFA, and being able to graduate early with my fellow classmates. I'm so grateful to all the teachers who inspired us, the friends who pushed us, and the counselors who listened to us every second of every single
009day. This is a special thank you to the families and the friends who's pushed us to graduate, not just for them, but for us. And obviously a big thank you to the parents and guardians. Today I want to give a very special thank you to us because we did the work. We woke up almost every day and we believed in ourselves even when no one else did. These past few years have been filled with so many memories for all of us, good and bad. So to the classmates and teachers, thank you for these past years full of joy, chaos, and memories that we will never be forgotten. Our high school chapter may end here today, but in our cap and gowns, as we walk this stage, don't let the question of what's next overcome us.
010But instead, let's take a moment to sit with our achievements because young us will be so proud to see us here today. And against all odds, we did it. So now, as of today, we are officially young, wild, and free. Thank you. Thank you, Maya. I'd now like to introduce our second welcome speaker, Brandon Alvarez Gutierrez. Ping pathway. Mustangs. Thank you, Amaya and Brandon. I'd now like to introduce our first of two graduate speakers, Hope Hernandez. [Music] First, I just want to say a big welcome to everyone that came out to be with us on this special day. Welcome and thank you so much on the behalf of the class of 2025. Today is a very special day that a lot of us have been waiting for since we started this educational journey. Today is
011the day day where we officially say goodbye to the chapter in our life. Today is the day where we say we made it through high school. Today is the day where we realize what we've accomplished. We've all reached the end of a chapter, but just because a chapter's over doesn't mean you could never go back and relive it. All the memories and experiences we had at Persian will forever be with us. We will forever hold these memories with us. But right now, these will be the very last moments here al together. Not all of us are ready to let go of the educators that pushed us to be the best we could be or the teachers who believed in us, believed in us when no one else did. Some of us aren't ready to let
012go. And I'm here to tell you that's okay. It's a It's okay to not be ready for what the future may hold because it would be a lie to say we all have it figured out. Make mistakes. It's okay. But learn from them. I think many of us had an idea of what might be in store for us when we walked into Persian for the first time. We may have been a little nervous at the beginning. I would be lying up here if I said I wasn't. However, we made it. The truth is life is unpredictable and the sooner we realize this, the sooner we can find our path to the life we want. Things are going to be okay. Things are going to happen and that's okay. But like a wise person once said,
013it ain't about hard you hit, it's about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. So today, after all of this, I want you to leave with this. Remember this quote I live by every day. You didn't go through that for all for nothing. Thank you and congratulations Mustang and Hordets. [Applause] Thank you. Hope our next graduation or graduate speaker is Yaritel Flores. Good evening and welcome family, friends, teachers, and honored guests. And most importantly, welcome beautiful class of 2025. I'm Yaris Flores, and I'm honored I'm on here standing here before you tonight as your student body president. I want to begin by saying how proud I am, not just of the class of 2025 of PO, but this class
014especially, our class. Every single one of you sitting here has faced something. Whether it's something at home, something in your heart, or even even the quiet fear of wondering if you're going to make it to this moment of walking the stage. And you did. We all did. It's hard to explain the feeling of standing here tonight. It's overwhelming. It's surreal. And it's a mix of joy. A relief and something deeper. A quiet understanding that we have been through something so much more than anyone knows. And yet here we are, capping gowns, ready to close one chapter and step into another. It's wild to think how fast we grew up without realizing. Without realizing it, somewhere between the homework, hallways, and conversation, the moments we felt like giving up. We changed and we matured. We became
015the students. We became more than students. We became survivors of our own story. I've seen strength in this class. I've seen people carry more of their fair share and still show up with a smile. I've seen friends hold each other up even when they're barely standing by themselves. That's a kind of love that's not just in happens in a classroom, but in a kind of community that we built here. As of now, we stand at the edge of something new. Whether it's college, work, or starting to figure out it figure it all out. I'll help you remember you are so much more than your grades and your mistakes. Your resilience and you are worthy and you are ready. So to the class of 2025, thank you for your courage, your kindness, and for your growth.
016for being exactly who you are and for showing up when it was hard and for making this moment. I know the world isn't easy and I know if anyone can face it, it's us. Congratulations to the class of 2025. Thank you, Audi. Now, I'd like to welcome Mr. Mark Brown, our 10th and 11th grade English teacher, to the podium to share this year's Persian and Path Pathway highlights. [Applause] All right, good evening everybody. Tonight is first and foremost about celebrating this incredible group of graduates here on this stage. This year we have one pathway and 56 Persian students who have met and fulfilled all of the requirements for graduation. I would like to take a moment to thank the board, our district staff, our Persian and pathway staff, those watching from home this year, and
017especially all of the friends and family of these talented young adults who are here to both support and honor their accomplishments. For the third year in a row, I am being tasked with doing some humble bragging about both the programs here at Persian Continuation High School and about some of the accomplishments of our marvelous Mustangs. For those of you who do not know who I am, my name is Mark Brown. I am a proud Grizzly, having graduated from the original Central High School about 101 years ago now. Currently, I am, as was stated, the 10th and 11th grade English teacher, and I have one period of credit recovery. I also work with the students after school who need additional help. This is my ninth year here at Persing. Go Mustangs. The first thing you need
018to know that is relevant to tonight's ceremony is that Persing is Wasque accredited. Not all continuation high schools are accredited. Wasque is an organization that validates that a school offers high level and rigorous learning opportunities that meet established criteria. Persing has consistently received the highest level of accreditation. Your children have benefited from those rigorous learning opportunities. This means that their diplomas, which they will be receiving tonight, have value and actually mean something. We continue to be a model continuation high school. As I stated last year, this place is purging at the top four or 5% of all continuation high schools here in California. This simply means that we are a program that other continuation high school programs look up to and hope to become. This is Mr. Parker's second year as our a teacher. Like
019me, he is an alumnest of Central. Go Grizzlies. Yeah. Give it up. And he hit the ground running this year with just as much energy and enthusiasm as last year. This year is our 30th year of FFA here at Persian. This is truly amazing. Few alternative education schools offer such a program. Here are just some of the activities that Mr. Parker's FFA have been up to this year. Persian's FFA's officer team had the first summer leadership retreat in our chapter's history in July. The officers worked together to make a program of activities that all FFA members would be able to enjoy and be a part of. Our FFA meetings had consistently high attendance with growth being seen in student involvement and interest. As a result, our officers attended a leadership conference with other FFA chapters
020leaders, having the opportunity to network and gain new ideas from neighboring chapters. Our chapter was well represented at many activity nights, including winning a dodgeball tournament hosted by Fireball FFA. Several students also attended Blackbeards Fireball FFA's game night and many more activities. Historically, Persing has only involved one team in the West Fresno Madera FFA opening closing ceremonies contest. This year, we broke that trend by sending two teams totaling 12 students to compete. Our FFA members memorized their ceremony speaking parts and competed against members from other FFA chapters. The growth our students demonstrated in their public speaking skills was tremendous. Our egg facilities class has been busy this year continuing the conversion of half of the old warehouse on campus into a wood shop. Also working on setting up for future a mechanics. Some project highlights
021include a seessaw, benches, and planters. Additionally, strides have been made in the quality of our nursery facility with repairs to our shade tarps and new gravel added to help with drainage of irrigation water. Our a biology classes had two outstanding environmental education opportunities this year. our annual visit to the giant sequoas and our salmonids in the classroom program in collaboration with the Shaverl Lake Trophy Trout Project and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Say that 10 times fast. 10 of our students were recognized by the city council for their dedication and service to our FFA chapter. They each received their own FFA jacket gifted by the Foundation for Central Schools in collaboration with Council Member Tyler Maxwell. Six of the graduates on stage this evening serve the Fresno Persian FFA chapter as officers, including our
022chapter president, Yaritel Flores, who earned Persian FFA's outstanding senior award. Persian continues its partnership with the Fresno Elks Lodge on two outstanding programs. The first is the Mount Olympus Challenge, which has now been going strong for nine years. Mr. Flores continues to be the adviser for Mount Olympus at Persing. Students who participate learn about entrepreneurship, serving their community by creating a plan that fills some need in the community, create presentations, fundraising, and develop the skills necessary for public speaking. All participants who complete the rigorous requirements of the program earn a monetary gift and the top three earn additional money and business attire to wear as they present their community plans to the judges of the program. It never ceases to amaze me the quality and inspiration of the quality of excuse me of the community
023projects dreamed up by our students. This year, the Mount Olympus winners and their community plans are first Stevie Rendan. Her project had to do with helping homeless children. Second, Amaya Miller. Her project was in helping victims that have been raped and/or abused. Third was Sakura Rayundo. Her her project involved helping parents with parenting skills. The Veterans Project is the second program involving the Fresno Elks Lodge. The Veterans Video Project has also reached nine years strong. This project, again, guided by Mr. Flores gives our students here at Persing the opportunity to interview veterans about their time in the service. Realia at its finest. Our students do video interviews with veterans and then those interviews are preserved in the Legion of Valor Museum. This is truly an amazing experience for students and veterans alike. This is the
024second year for BSU or Black Student Union here at Persing led by Mr. pull students received personalized Persian BSU shirts. Students participated in daily BSU videos during Black History Month to help spread awareness of influential people in black history. Students participated in the NIA program which is a BSU collaboration with each BSU in the district. On March 21st, Persian students attended Meta National Conference at the College of the Sequoas in Vicelia, California. Persing always attracts or seems to attract amazing athletes. Led by our athletic director, Mr. Gman with an assist from coaches Poleium, Dylan, and Reggerero. Persian sports got off to a great start with both volleyball and football going undefeated. This is the first time in school history that either volleyball or football has gone undefeated. Also, this is the first championship for volleyball
025in school history. Our sports program this year ended with Mushball. Meshball was undefeated until the championship game. Our athletes were great ambassadors of our Mustang respect. Another unique opportunity for our students here at Persing is academic decathlon. Few alternative education programs participate in this academic competition. Mr. Fuentes continues to coach our decathletes. This year the academic decathlon team had eight students who attended a workshop in Madera in October. The workshop went very well and students learned a lot. Students also competed in January and February of this year. Our decathletes faced competition from traditional high schools and other alternative programs. In the academic decathlon, students write essays, must give two speeches, be interviewed, and compete in a super quiz. Students who competed this year were Kalia Vu, Stevie Marie Rendan, Yaritel Flores, Christopher Ramirez, Daniela Lopez,
026Maria Delgado, [Music] Alex Clawson and Brandon Gutierrez. All eight Persian decathletes earned medals this year with a total of 44 medals being earned. Persing took first place in their division this year for the first time in school history. Along with numerous learning opportunities inside the classroom, our students had plenty of learning opportunities outside of the classroom as well. There were several field trips to Scout Island Leadership Academy. There was a making the grade field trip up uh to Chikchansy Park in May to watch the Grizzlies play where many of our students who demonstrated good behavior and good grades attended. The majority of our students went on the end of the year field trip to United States in Clovis where students were treated to pizza and skating some for the first time. Skating that is. students
027had the opportunity to attend a car show on our campus where some of our very own staff and some of our valued community members had a chance to show off their rides. Once again, Miss Guzman coordinated a career day for our students. We had a variety of presenters this year sharing information about their respective careers, often sharing personal stories about their entry into their chosen career fields. Most of our seniors have been prepared for real world financial responsibilities with Miss Guzman's personal finance program offered here at Persian. Let's talk a little about college. This is the first year of Persian uh having a dual enrollment class called Coun Counseling 53 College Life Management. Students received three college units for meeting the rigorous requirements of the class and by completing the course. Mr. Pium was the
028facilitator with help from Miss Guzman. College campus visits to local community colleges included Fresno City's main and west campuses. Clovis Community College and Madera Community College were made. Most of our seniors received help filling out their college paperwork and have signed up for Fresno City College. We have a variety of interventions used to help motivate, support, and redirect students when needed. This involves counselors, liaison, our student resource officer, and staff. This year, we took advantage of a pilot program called Project Stealth, which turned out to be amazing for both staff and most importantly for our students. Our students were truly blessed as a result of their efforts. We also have a program called PBIS headed by Mrs. Dylan that helps in a number of ways. Along with behavioral interventions, we use PBIS as a way
029to motivate students to exemplify our Mustang respect. Students caught displaying respect for others, self, and property are given a PBIS ticket, which they can then exchange for a treat at our weekly student store. We continue to update new signage throughout our campus promoting school spirit and our Mustang Respect. Once again, more PB PBIS tickets were given out this year than the previous year. Based on our PBIS activity, we have now reached gold status and in taking it to the next level, we have applied for platinum status. We love to celebrate our students. Approximately every six weeks at the end of each grading period, we had an awards ceremony where we recognize students for being outstanding students, exhibiting outstanding citizenship, and those who were most improved. Academic excellence and excellent attendance were also noted. You will
030find you will often find members of our staff playing with our students during breaks and lunch. This included activities such as volleyball, pickle ball, pingpong, and basketball to name a few. I would like to highlight a few more of our students tonight. First is Stevie Rendan. She received the Every Student Succeeds Act scholarship from the Association of California School Administrators, Region 9. [Applause] She is now competing for the scholarship at the state level and we'll find out in November the results. [Music] Secondly, with a total of nine students, we have the largest number of students in our district receiving the seal of civic engagement. Seven of those are seniors. Sulie Wright, Stevie Rendan, Stevie Rendan, Amaya Miller, Michael Jackson, Everett Wingfield, Yachty Cell Flores, and Maria Delgado. [Music] Two of them are juniors, Sakura Rayundo
031and Antonia Mendes. because I can't think of a better way to express it. I'm going to end this the same way I have the last two years. As you can see, we do some pretty amazing things here at Persing, and we keep striving to get better each year. But the real reason that Persing is such a special place is that the staff here chooses to be here and chooses to work with your children. Persing is a small campus with a staff that has become family. Like most families, we are a bit dysfunctional at times. We don't see we don't always see eye to eye on everything, but never doubt that we have each other's best interests at heart. The coolest thing about this is that when you allowed your child to attend Persian, they became
032part of our family. I feel certain that each and every one of your children made at least one connection with staff and probably several. We appreciate the trust you extended to us in allowing us to be part of your child's journey. These graduates are the fruit of our efforts and their perseverance. Graduates, as you move forward, continue to put the work in and to persevere. The best is yet to come. My best wishes go with all of you tonight. [Applause] And thank you again to all of you out there. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening. Good night. [Applause] Thank you, Mr. Brown. Mrs. Young will now certify the graduates. All right, members of the board of education and district administration, the graduates before you have met all the requirements set forth by
033the state of California and the central unified school district. I would like to invite Vice Principal Mr. for Romero Alzando and board members to the stage to present the diplomas. [Applause] Thank you, Mrs. Young. Row one, please stand. Graciella Enes, Theran, [Music] Jonathan Isaiah Barasa, [Applause] [Music] Ulissiz Nere, Maria Elvira, Delgado, [Music] Kenneth Perez, Brandon Almarz, Gutierrez, [Applause] Jennifer Sara Bettincourt, Wendell Carter, [Applause] Alberto Ricardo DeLeon, [Music] Yarisel, Lupita Flores. Row one, please be seated. Row two, please stand. Narciso Benavides, Isabella Ceena, [Music] Sam Akoidu [Music] Serio Grimaldo, Hope Hernandez [Music] Mario Ramon, Ibara, Chitan, Churi, Sebastian Leesma Lopez, Michael Pierre Scott Jackson, Everett Damian Wingfield, Sulana Denise Wright. [Applause] Row two, please be seated. Row three, please stand. Evan Lopez, [Applause] [Music] Christopher Derell Madden, Caleb Maldonado, Amaya Murphy Miller, [Applause] Alexis Net, Haru
034Samuel Espinosa Leppe, Dea Newton. [Music] Jeremiah Zachariah Pearson, [Applause] Alejandro Perez Jr. Kenneth Pablo Anthony Perez. Row three, please be seated. Row four, please stand. Jose Eric Alejandro Gonzalez. Jeremiah Sea, [Applause] Christopher Ramirez, [Music] Stevie Marie Rendon, [Music] Josiah Rodriguez Juan Carlos Sardina Cano, Julian Anthony Rinaldo, Trevino Jaden Gold, Yolita Timour [Applause] Daniela Lopez. Row four, please be seated. Row five, please stand. Brianna Rodriguez Vega, Janessa GZ Anuanise Draper, Landon J. Scott, [Applause] Kalia Vu, David J. Sherman, [Applause] [Music] It is my honor to now call forward Arlland Kilgore who will be receiving Wyatt Kilgore's high school diploma on his behalf. Today we recognize and celebrate Wyatt's achievements, his spirit, and the lasting impact he's had on all who knew him. [Applause] [Music] Graduates, please stand. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]
035[Music] Get your towels. Get your towels. You may now move your tassels from right to left. [Music] [Applause] Ladies and gentlemen, the Persian Continuation High School and Pathway Community Day School, class of 2025. Let's give them a round of applause. [Applause] Families and friends, your graduates will be exiting shortly from the c from the auditorium. They will be out as soon as they pick up their diplomas. We ask that you meet your graduates outside the auditorium. Please take about 20 minutes to take pictures outside. then please vacate the parking lot as there is another event right after this. We thank you for being here and your for your cooperation. Where do we go? I don't know. It is what it is. Figure it out.