Latest news with #PompandCircumstance
Chicago Tribune
4 hours ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Gary couple charting comeback for lost art of cursive writing
At a local restaurant, Terrell Whittington and wife Chelsea revived a recent conversation about their childhoods and academics at Gary's now-closed Ernie Pyle Elementary. They began discussing those school days with their waitress who told them her children could not write in cursive, a penmanship style in which characters are joined together in a flowing manner. 'I came up with the name and then he started jotting down the concept and ideas on a napkin,' said Chelsea Whittington. That's the origin of the Cursive Academy and now, the Gary couple is on a crusade to bring cursive writing to Northwest Indiana students. Their first cursive writing class, which drew 35 students ages 7-17, concluded Wednesday at the Woodland Child Development Center in Hammond. They met with the kids in two-hour classes twice a week for three weeks. With family members cheering, students walked into the classroom to the strains of 'Pomp and Circumstance' and heard each of their names called out for a diploma. The highlight came as each student signed their name in cursive on the diploma and held it up to the delight of the audience. Cursive penmanship has been kicked to the curb in the past two decades by technology that favors keyboards over paper and pen. Although in recent years, it's made a slight comeback with new laws requiring it in California and Georgia. Indiana schools may still teach it, but it hasn't been required since 2011. Some teach it, while others don't. Hobart Superintendent Peggy Buffington said cursive is still taught in its elementary schools and it's also taught in neighboring River Forest schools, said Superintendent Kevin Trezak. Lake Station Community Schools, doesn't teach it, said Superintendent Tom Cripliver. For the 15th time, state Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, filed a bill requiring the teaching of cursive. It didn't get a hearing during this year's session. A statewide survey of 1,770 public and private schools last fall, found 91% of state-accredited private schools offer cursive instruction, but just 52% of public schools reported teaching it. All the elementary schools in the Diocese of Gary teach cursive writing, said Superintendent Colleen Brewer. 'This is something we have consistently found valuable for our students,' she said. 'Because so many schools do not teach cursive, many students are unable to sign their own names,' Leising said. 'Students are also missing out on the significant benefits of handwriting like increased retention of information. Without knowing how to read or write in cursive, they also lose an important connection to our history as a country, as many of our historical documents were written in cursive,' she said in a statement. Leising's persistence has become the butt of jokes from colleagues in the male-dominated Statehouse, but she told the Indianapolis Star they apparently don't understand cognitive brain development evidence and how writing in cursive has been shown to help children with dyslexia. The Whittingtons agree. They believe cursive writing enhances fine motor skills, improves literacy and can lead to fast, more fluent writing. Like Leising, they think it can improve cognitive development, spelling and coping with dyslexia. 'I want to change lives,' said Terrell Whittington about his new life as an entrepreneur after leaving behind management careers at Ford Motor and Illinois Tool Works. 'My handwriting is part of who I am, and we feel that youth should have the opportunity to learn what is slowly becoming a lost art.' Now, he can share that goal with his wife who's the communications director for the Gary Community School Corp. and a communications consultant in her firm called CWHITT PR. 'It's not obsolete,' Terrell Whittington said of cursive. 'You still need to sign your driver's license and other documents… If you want to read the Declaration of Independence, it's in cursive.' At first, the kids in the class thought they were teaching them a foreign language, he said. 'Then, they started to write and comprehend. They learned quickly.' Jermontae Epps, 11, of Hammond, said he never learned cursive at his Hammond elementary school. He did notice the penmanship style whenever his parents signed notes to school. 'I'm surprised at how fun it's been and how quick I learned,' he said. Sixth grader Ebony Williams, 11, of Hammond, said she never learned cursive, either. 'It was really an experience for us,' she said and she's looking forward to signing her name to future documents. In class last year, Ebony said when she took notes, she printed them. 'This is so much easier,' she said. As her son Devon Gibson, 7, walked up to get his diploma, mom Whitney Barnes trained her cell phone's camera on the moment and could barely hold back her tears. 'He wanted to learn how to write his signature,' she said. 'The class was wonderful.' The next three-week class begins June 30 at the Gary YWCA. For information, contact Chelsea Whittington at 219-712-3182 or Chelsea@
IOL News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Airline crew and passengers come together for a heartfelt graduation ceremony at 30,000 feet
The special event was thrown in honour of five-year-old Xavier Joel, who, due to travel commitments, missed his graduation ceremony back home. In an uplifting display of community spirit, passengers and crew aboard a Frontier Airlines flight made the skies a child-friendly zone with an impromptu graduation ceremony at 30,000 feet. The memorable occasion took place on a flight from Orlando to San Juan, with the joyous celebration captured in a video shared by Xavier's mother, Janeiry Rivas, on Instagram. In the heartwarming footage, Xavier is seen donning a bright red cap and gown as he proudly walks down the aisle of the aircraft to the strains of 'Pomp and Circumstance' while fellow passengers applaud, cheer and offer him high fives. According to Rivas, her son was 'thrilled and beyond excited' about the surprise ceremony. After all, it's not every day a five-year-old gets to graduate mid-flight. "All that know me know the importance of my sons activities but due to a family event he missed his graduation. This was very difficult for me and I decided since we were going to be with family to bring his cap and gown. The day we traveled before boarding the plane I put it on him only expecting a photo with the pilots but the staff at frontier airlines went above and was unforgettable and I am immensely grateful to all those aboard the plane and the you @flyfrontier," she said. In a time when stories of conflict can often dominate headlines, this event served as a heartwarming reminder of kindness and community in unexpected places.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Graduation day at Maywood Academy High, where students are 98% Latino; 100% All-American
The soon-to-be Maywood Academy High School graduates processed, beaming, into an auditorium at East Los Angeles College to a recording of Pomp and Circumstance. The crowd pledged allegiance to the flag. The name of each student joining the U.S. armed forces was read aloud to applause. Cheers erupted when the student singing the national anthem hit extra high notes for "the rockets red glare" and "land of the free." The vocalist, senior Maria Llamas, who also served as ceremony co-host, spoke in Spanish while her counterpart spoke in English. Noisemakers and shouts greeted the announcement of each graduate's name. And, those assembled cheered for more than 10 seconds after L.A. schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho described the tableau before him: "From where I stand you are a perfect pixelation of America: the Black, the brown, the Christian, the Muslim, the native-born, and yes, the powerful immigrant." The Maywood Academy commencement took place in a college that has long been a center of Latino community activism — and which, like the academy, sits in a zone where immigration agents are raiding work places and public spaces, seizing people suspected of living in the U.S. without legal authorization as well as some whose immigration reviews are pending. Valedictorian Abella Gutierrez captured the duality of so many of the graduations that have taken place all week in the nation's second-largest school district — joy tempered with an undercurrent of fear. Read more: All of L.A. is not a 'war zone.' We separate facts from spin and disinformation amid immigration raids "A lot of our class is very optimistic and humorous, and I feel pride knowing that I'm part of that, knowing that I'm making history here," said Abella, who will be attending UCLA and intends to major in architecture. "So, yeah, I'm grateful. I'm happy." At the same time, "I'm very upset when it comes to the situations that have been happening at the moment," she said, referring to raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE that touched off a week of chaotic, sporadically violent protests in parts of downtown. "It's a scar on our community, knowing that a lot of our parents and families have to worry about whether they'll be able to participate in this event, because their safety is jeopardized." "It's hard," said salutatorian Mayah Flores, who plans to attend Cal State Long Beach as a liberal studies major, and then return to Maywood Academy as a teacher. "I feel like I should feel guilty for being so happy during such a trying time for people." The concerns are not theoretical. Two teachers at the school confirmed to The Times that immigration agents arrested a 10th grader, her younger sister and their mother and took them to a detention facility in Texas. The arrest did not take place at the school — there are no such reported instances to date of agents entering a campus in Los Angeles County — although there were two unsuccessful attempts in April. Instead, the mother had been seized when she was reporting in to authorities as part of the family's application for asylum, according to advocates for the family, which is from Guatemala. "Johanna is the top student of the 10th grade at Maywood Academy High School, is an athlete on the swim team, and participates in the Hiking Club," according to a gofundme page set up for the family. "She is a valuable member of the school community. We are asking for her and her family to be reunited with her sister and return home to our community." Although the auditorium, with a capacity of about 2,000, was mostly full to urge on the 230 graduates, some relatives stayed home. After the graduation, one senior said in an interview that his father did not attend over fears that he might be taken into custody by immigration agents. Social studies teacher Cherie McKernan said she gets messages from students "who are very afraid that their parents will be deported. One of the students in this line sent me a message saying that ICE was literally two stores down from where her parents work. So, it has been terrifying, very personal and horrifying to be involved. I feel like we're right in the middle of it." Read more: Immigration raids have shaken communities across Los Angeles County. How can you help? "I apologize," Carvalho told the graduates, "for the world you are inheriting is not a perfect world. The society we are bequeathing to you is not a perfect society. My generation and previous generations have not erased poverty, racism, oppression, depression. We have not addressed climate change. We have not dignified everyone in this land despite the words we use or the protections of our Constitution." Carvalho seemed to be talking about Trump as he continued: "For those who criticize and demonize the immigrant, I want him to know what an immigrant looks like. I want him to know what an undocumented immigrant looks like." "They're looking at me," he said, referring to his own arrival in the U.S. as an unauthorized teenager from Portugal. Yet despite the ominous underpinning, people were determined to be festive, upbeat. "I feel accomplished — hard work and dedication put into this, and now it's just on to the next level," said Adrian Abril. "I'm planning to go to Cal State Fullerton, and major in computer engineering." There also was the more traditional kind of nervousness. "I'm not gonna lie. It's scary," said Sadie Padilla. "Because you lived your whole life, elementary school to high school, everything done for you. Now, it's like, you gotta figure stuff out yourself and just have to see where that takes you." "No matter what is going on," said McKernan, the social studies teacher, "they have triumphed, in this time, to graduate from high school — most of them the first graduates in their families. Their families moved here for this reason, and here they are succeeding beyond their wildest dreams and going off to college." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
13-06-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Graduation day at Maywood Academy High, where students are 98% Latino; 100% All-American
The soon-to-be Maywood Academy High School graduates processed, beaming, into an auditorium at East Los Angeles College to a recording of Pomp and Circumstance. The crowd pledged allegiance to the flag. The name of each student joining the U.S. armed forces was read aloud to applause. Cheers erupted when the student singing the national anthem hit extra high notes for 'the rockets red glare' and 'land of the free.' The vocalist, senior Maria Llamas, who also served as ceremony co-host, spoke in Spanish while her counterpart spoke in English. Noisemakers and shouts greeted the announcement of each graduate's name. And, those assembled cheered for more than 10 seconds after L.A. schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho described the tableau before him: 'From where I stand you are a perfect pixelation of America: the Black, the brown, the Christian, the Muslim, the native-born, and yes, the powerful immigrant.' The Maywood Academy commencement took place in a college that has long been a center of Latino community activism — and which, like the academy, sits in a zone where immigration agents are raiding work places and public spaces, seizing people suspected of living in the U.S. without legal authorization as well as some whose immigration reviews are pending. Valedictorian Abella Gutierrez captured the duality of so many of the graduations that have taken place all week in the nation's second-largest school district — joy tempered with an undercurrent of fear. 'A lot of our class is very optimistic and humorous, and I feel pride knowing that I'm part of that, knowing that I'm making history here,' said Abella, who will be attending UCLA and intends to major in architecture. 'So, yeah, I'm grateful. I'm happy.' At the same time, 'I'm very upset when it comes to the situations that have been happening at the moment,' she said, referring to raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE that touched off a week of chaotic, sporadically violent protests in parts of downtown. 'It's a scar on our community, knowing that a lot of our parents and families have to worry about whether they'll be able to participate in this event, because their safety is jeopardized.' 'It's hard,' said salutatorian Mayah Flores, who plans to attend Cal State Long Beach as a liberal studies major, and then return to Maywood Academy as a teacher. 'I feel like I should feel guilty for being so happy during such a trying time for people.' The concerns are not theoretical. Two teachers at the school confirmed to The Times that immigration agents arrested a 10th grader, her younger sister and their mother and took them to a detention facility in Texas. The arrest did not take place at the school — there are no such reported instances to date of agents entering a campus in Los Angeles County — although there were two unsuccessful attempts in April. Instead, the mother had been seized when she was reporting in to authorities as part of the family's application for asylum, according to advocates for the family, which is from Guatemala. 'Johanna is the top student of the 10th grade at Maywood Academy High School, is an athlete on the swim team, and participates in the Hiking Club,' according to a gofundme page set up for the family. 'She is a valuable member of the school community. We are asking for her and her family to be reunited with her sister and return home to our community.' Although the auditorium, with a capacity of about 2,000, was mostly full to urge on the 230 graduates, some relatives stayed home. After the graduation, one senior said in an interview that his father did not attend over fears that he might be taken into custody by immigration agents. Social studies teacher Cherie McKernan said she gets messages from students 'who are very afraid that their parents will be deported. One of the students in this line sent me a message saying that ICE was literally two stores down from where her parents work. So, it has been terrifying, very personal and horrifying to be involved. I feel like we're right in the middle of it.' 'I apologize,' Carvalho told the graduates, 'for the world you are inheriting is not a perfect world. The society we are bequeathing to you is not a perfect society. My generation and previous generations have not erased poverty, racism, oppression, depression. We have not addressed climate change. We have not dignified everyone in this land despite the words we use or the protections of our Constitution.' Carvalho seemed to be talking about Trump as he continued: 'For those who criticize and demonize the immigrant, I want him to know what an immigrant looks like. I want him to know what an undocumented immigrant looks like.' 'They're looking at me,' he said, referring to his own arrival in the U.S. as an unauthorized teenager from Portugal. Yet despite the ominous underpinning, people were determined to be festive, upbeat. 'I feel accomplished — hard work and dedication put into this, and now it's just on to the next level,' said Adrian Abril. 'I'm planning to go to Cal State Fullerton, and major in computer engineering.' There also was the more traditional kind of nervousness. 'I'm not gonna lie. It's scary,' said Sadie Padilla. 'Because you lived your whole life, elementary school to high school, everything done for you. Now, it's like, you gotta figure stuff out yourself and just have to see where that takes you.' 'No matter what is going on,' said McKernan, the social studies teacher, 'they have triumphed, in this time, to graduate from high school — most of them the first graduates in their families. Their families moved here for this reason, and here they are succeeding beyond their wildest dreams and going off to college.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Othello graduation caps off years of students' hard work
Jun. 12—OTHELLO — Camaraderie and cheer were in the air as the Class of 2025 took the field at Othello High School for their graduation ceremony, a momentous occasion that many expressed they worked hard to reach. Co-valedictorian Natalie Cerrillo had a fitting way to describe the event's significance. "We all have one thing in common ... today," she said. The events opened with the traditional "Pomp and Circumstance" playing over the speakers as 328 seniors walked out onto the field. In groups of four, they gradually made their way from behind the stands through center field and to the bleachers set up at the 50-yard line. Kathryn Acheson, Othello High School's principal, opened the ceremony with congratulations to the seniors and parents for reaching this point. She first welcomed Cerrillo for her speech and took a photo with her family. After she spoke, Acheson welcomed co-valedictorian Claire Gilbert for her speech and family photo. They both spoke in similar tones of achievement and pride in what this day meant, the culmination of early mornings, late nights studying, athletics and other extracurriculars. "I've stayed up late so many nights, and I've spent a lot of time asking my parents and my friends for advice and help with my assignments when I don't know how to do them and stuff like that," Gilbert said. Elizabeth De Jesus Flores from Desert Oasis High School also spoke and praised her peers, teachers and family for helping her throughout high school. She dedicated her success in high school and graduation to her parents, who were huge motivators for her throughout high school. Student Body President Riley Rodriguez was up next to speak, but not before being welcomed with cheers and chants from his peers. Rodriguez was emotional throughout his speech, often holding back tears when thanking family and friends for their support during his high school career. He thanked his teachers for making Othello High School a second home for him and pushing him to be the best version of himself. "This is such a surreal moment for me, and a huge milestone," he said. "I'm a first-gen with my family. They've done so many things for me; they pushed me so hard, they made me, they took me everywhere, took me to study, took me to everything, gave me everything, gave me everything I could have in life." Rodriguez said he did not remember most of his speech because of how emotional he was. After his speech, he was welcomed back to the stage twice more to accept two awards for student activity and service. From there, the presentation of diplomas began. Students formed two lines and administrators began announcing their names. Most students made their walk brief with a handshake and a quick photo. Other students had more fun with their walk; after receiving their diploma, one student stepped onto the grass and did a celebratory backflip. Parents flooded the aisles to get good photos of their kids, and many cheers and chants rained throughout the ceremony. Once the names were read through, and students returned to their seats, Acheson led her students into the traditional turning of the tassel. Congratulations rang out and the Class of 2025 tossed their caps in the air. Students and parents gathered on the field after the ceremony to embrace and take photos.
