Dear Mr. Guzman and Staff,

I just want to officially say thank you to ALL the Serra staff for everything you guys do for our children. I want to especially thank a few Teachers and Staff that we’ve encountered so far for their attentiveness, hard work, and extra effort they put forth regarding my son. Serra does not get enough recognition and I wish every parent and every child had an opportunity to experience the things my son and I have since he’s been a student here. I tell all my friends how much I love Serra and encourage them to send their kids here when the time comes. At first it didn’t seem doable financially for me, but I had to make some sacrifices for my son to get the education I know he needed. If I had to choose between paying rent or paying tuition babyyy, we’d be sleeping in Serra’s parking lot in a tent because that tuition is going to get paid before anything! This school deserves every dollar and then some (please don’t add the and some though lol).

Okay let me begin…

When Summer school first started, I don’t think Mr. Jackson had met my son yet, but he and I had a conversation explaining how I didn’t want him around another student and how he’s never even crossed the street by himself. He remembered everything we talked about and told me at a later date how my son had crossed the street to go to 7/11 one day and how he was going to call to inform me, but he just watched him as he crossed from the gate. Although my son did ask me to go and I have an app on my phone that notifies me every time he leaves the school, I knew at that point my kid would be SAFE on Serra’s campus and in good hands with Mr. Jackson as the Dean.

The first-time you guys held Mass, the night before and I watched a million YouTube videos on how to tie a tie. That morning the tie had a mind of its own, but when I dropped him off and looked in my rearview, I saw YOU Mr. Guzman had pulled my son to the side and was tying his tie. I was impressed like WOW the Principal, I told everyone I knew how thoughtful that was to me.

My son has always hated English, until 9th grade Ms. Mucho’s class. He told me it was his favorite class. I did have to check his temperature to make sure he wasn’t running a fever (pre-Covid) but he was fine. Now 10th grade he’s in honors English and loves it.

Mr. Bertrand I like because he held my son accountable (he didn’t play lol) and per my son, he really taught him in a way he could understand Algebra more easily.

Mr. Boyer from open house I knew. I’d like him but what sealed the deal was him calling a couple of times and checking on my son during the pandemic when we first went on lock down.

The Biomedical Teachers Mr. Irvine & Ms. Martin keep my son engaged and makes learning interesting for him. I love this program because it’s guiding him on a career path that he nor I ever even knew existed. So hopefully here’s to our future Biomedical Scientist, Biomed Engineer or Doctor.

ALL the kids love Mr. McDorman, I was even talking to a Serra Alumni who even mentioned him as one of his Favs. I think he’s just the cool Teacher that mixes real life into World History which makes learning a little more fun and interesting.

The next Teacher is a personal fav, I feel I can call him regarding my son for anything. So, playoffs last year my son went to the Varsity game with the players. I believe it was against Lynwood High. I was bored so I went up there to support the Basketball team. I thought I would be hanging out with my kid, yet I ended up sitting alone pretending to watch the game while my heart smiled at him and Mr. Jenkins sitting on the bleachers across from me bonding talking about the game. I know he took a liking to Mr. Jenkins in the beginning of the school year so the fact the he was just sitting there chilling with him I know made my son's day as well as mine.

Now what did it for me was Coach McCrumby…

Pause, let me say this first. My kid thinks I just talk to talk because I like to talk. So, all his life he questioned pretty much everything I had to say (especially about sports) but movies were always my way to get my point across. I’d pop on a movie applicable to whatever we were discussing, then he would listen to me (he thought all movies were true back then). Now a days he doesn’t get off the game long enough for a movie and he’d take Siri’s word for something before mine lol.

Last week before practice Coach McCrumby must’ve seen the frustration on my face or heard me getting upset with my son and asked me what was wrong. After telling him my issues with my son, he asked if he could pop by one day during the week and I agreed. Now this is my only High School kid, so I don’t know if other schools have Coaches that care enough to come to a kid’s home and talk to them, but I was in awe. He ended up taking my son’s PS5 and that boy didn’t even put up a fuss. Had I taken it my son would have been at the courthouse the next day trying to get emancipated lol! Anyway, Coach B reinforced everything that I’ve been saying for years and then some. He not only talked about Basketball, he talked to him about being a better son, a better Student and becoming a GOOD MAN. I saw my kid not only listening but absorbing his words. After Coach left, I told my son “I tell you the exact same things he just did” his response was “It was the way he said it, his delivery”. So not only did Coach drop some jewels on my son, he showed me how to speak to my child to get a better outcome. The analogies Coach used, his tone, the way he talked from his heart was admirable. I appreciate him beyond measure! He is most definitely a standup guy; a Man I wouldn’t mind my Son emulating. His visit meant the world to me.

The MEN at Serra High are a God send to myself and my son, he needs you all more than you know and I want to say I love each and every one of you who have come into our lives. They say it takes “A Village to Raise a Child” and I pray my son makes us all proud one day, but most of all thank you Serra for being “My Village” without even knowing it!

-A Serra Parent