This is the time of year when high schools are at their peak busiest in the school year with State testing, scheduling and Grad activities. At this point, staff at high schools ponder on what more they can possibly do to help guide teens towards successful adult lives.
For a few hours, Judge Donald D. Coleman, Supervising Juvenile Judge,Ventura County Superior Court, spoke to students from Fillmore High School and Fillmore Community High School, respectively, about his role as a judge, how he planned his career goals, obstacles he met and overcame. He spoke to students about how they have responsible choices to make and how the decisions they make now can follow them throughout their life. Judge Coleman commented he enjoyed coming to Fillmore High School and connecting with the teens at the school on a prevention, rather than punitive level.
At noon, students Luis Muñoz, FHS Senior, and Quetzaly Santiesteban, FHS Sophomore, youth applicants to the Ventura County Juvenile Justice/Delinquency Commission, and Norma Pérez-Sandford, FHS/FCHS Counselor and VCJJDPC Commissioner served as hosts to welcome Judge Coleman with a delicious potluck lunch that was provided and attended by volunteer parents, staff and students.
Fillmore “Legends”, businesses or individuals, who continually and unselfishly support Fillmore Unified School District in the goal of academic success and delinquency prevention were also recognized: Mr. Conway Spitler, The Fillmore Gazette, El Pescador Restaurant, La Fondita Restaurant & Bakery, Yanni’s, La Flor Bonita, VONS Supermarket, Super A Supermarket, Melstone Cyber Café, McDonald’s, Little Caesar’s :Pizza, Dominoe’s Pizza, Carl’s Jr., La Michoacana Bakery, ¡Ay, Chihuahua!, Taco Bell, 7-Eleven, Francisco’s Produce and others.