Celebrating Student Achievement at JCCS Graduations Across the County

Graduation ceremonies across Juvenile Court and Community Schools (JCCS) were spirited, supportive, and full of cheers, whistles, and encouragement, for the more than 50 students who graduated from one of the San Diego County Office of Education’s JCCS campuses last month. 

JCCS ceremonies are more intimate, allowing most students the opportunity to address audiences personally and thank their family, friends, and staff members who supported them in their journey. It also allows many to host the special rose ceremony in which the graduates share a rose with someone special in attendance, including parents, teachers, or siblings. Many in the audience are inspired and moved to tears after hearing about the obstacles students have overcome to reach graduation day.

Elly, who attended South County Community School, balanced motherhood and schoolwork to receive her diploma. 

“This day is important for me because I feel like I’m going to have a good future and I’m going to have a good life for my baby,” she said. “I’m proud of myself for what I did. I’m happy and excited.”

She and four other students graduated June 27 as families and friends filled the South County Regional Education Center. 

At Monarch School, seven students received their diplomas in a packed gym that included families, staff, and younger Monarch School students. 

Julieta, the school’s valedictorian, said she learned in her time at Monarch School it was important to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. She’ll take that lesson to San Jose State in the fall where she’ll study criminal justice.

“I’m excited, being the second one in my family to graduate, it’s a very big accomplishment,” she said. “It’s a new chapter in my life and I’ve never lived alone. I’m excited for that.”

Monarch School Teacher Sherell Tyler spoke fondly of all the graduates, first sharing stories about each one of them, then calling out how “kind, warm, patient, and thoughtful,” they all were as buddies to several of the first-grade students at the school.

San Pasqual Academy celebrated 17 graduates in front of hundreds of guests on June 28. Attendees listened to pre-recorded audio clips with thank you messages from the students and a photo montage created by Friends of San Pasqual Academy before hearing from several students, who shared their stories of overcoming adversity to graduate.

Additional schools that celebrated their graduates include: North County Tech Academy, Innovations Academy of Empowerment, Escondido Community School, Cuyamaca Prep, East County Community School, SAFE East and North, SOUL Academy, 37ECB, Bayside Community School, Career Technical Education Center, Global Academy, and Victoria Community School.