Students performed a one-act play about the life of their school’s namesake
It’s been a decade since Alpha Public Schools opened its first charter school in East San Jose, and it marked the anniversary this past week with a celebration that included a special tribute to former Santa Clara County Supervisor Blanca Alvarado — the groundbreaking politician that first school was named after.
Under the direction of drama teacher Kelsey Wilk, students from Alpha: Blanca Alvarado performed “Blanca Stories,” a one-act play about Alvarado’s life, at the Mexican Heritage Plaza theater. Alvarado, who spoke at a reception before the performance last Tuesday, was touched by the gesture but also aware of what it meant for the students, too.
Alvarado, 92, said it was a unique experience to observe the students as they pieced together parts of her personal and professional life through research and group discussions. They spent weeks asking questions, memorizing lines and ultimately, she said, putting heart and meaning into the life of their school’s namesake.
“They learned to honor my past and to enact skits that highlighted my work to make social changes for the social good. ‘Blanca Stories,’ as written and performed by the students, is a true, true gift of love,” said Alvarado, who was the first Latina elected to the San Jose City Council and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. “And in telling these stories, these students have taken a first big step in expressing their thoughts and ideas about the world they live in. With their small voices, often barely audible, they are speaking to issues that impact the well being of their communities.”Alpha Schools has continued to grow and now has three more campuses in Alum Rock Union School District: Jose Hernandez School, a TK-8 school named for the Stockton-raised NASA astronaut; Cornerstone Academy, a TK-8 school; and Cindy Avitia High School, named for the late immigration attorney and community activist who was a close friend of Alvarado’s. You can get more information on the schools at www.alphapublicschools.org.
Source: Mercury News