Golden Springs Promotes First 8th Grade Class

On Friday, 57 students were promoted as the first eighth grade class in the school's 48-year history during a ceremony at .

Principal Alan Pantanini said in his remarks Friday that the pioneering eighth grade class marked a series of highlights and firsts for the school, including being the first class to make a trip to Washington, D.C. in April and scoring at the top of all seventh grade classes in the Pomona Unified School District on benchmark tests.

"There is no slowing this class down," Pantanini said.

Geometry teacher Johnny Reyes said he was surprised by the academic vigor of the class and was impressed to hear how some of his students were gearing up to make the transition to Diamond Ranch, where Reyes has taught previously.

"I found out that four of my students already went to buy the textbook for algebra 2," Reyes said. "I mentioned it just one time to the class."

Student Austen Hamilton, who spoke Friday, is one of three students that qualified to take an algebra 2 class over the summer to enter high school taking pre-calculus or honors algebra.

Both Hamilton and Brianna Willingham, who spoke as the recipient of the school's Excellence in Academic Achievement award Friday, will be entering Diamond Ranch's Silver Scholars program.

"Transition brings much anticipation," Hamilton said, "but some trepidation as well. I know there are greater challenges ahead."

PUSD School Board Member Robert Perlman provided students advice on the academic as well as social challenges of entering high school.

"Surround yourself with friends that will help you up and not drag you down," Perlman said, "and each day when you look in the mirror, make sure you are proud of the person that looks back."

Friday's graduation was also the first time the ceremony was held in the gymnasium at Diamond Ranch, where all of the 57 students will matriculate next fall.

"We're very excited to have (the promotion) here because it allows the students to come to the campus and start getting acclimated," Diamond Ranch Principal Suzanne Steinseifer-Ripley said.

Golden Springs is one of three Pre-K – 8 schools, a new configuration for the district, with which Diamond Ranch has formed a partnership to provide access to one counselor on a regular basis.