General Shafter School

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ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Grant

October 2006:  Thanks to the efforts of Fong and Munn Chau of EZ Mart Mobil at
2016 Taft Highway, General Shafter has been awarded a $500 ExxonMobil
Educational Alliance grant.  EZ Mart Mobil is proud to participate in the ExxonMobil
Educational Alliance program by investing in the future of the community through
educational grants to neighborhood schools.

The ExxonMobil Corporation is also proud to support education through Upromise,
which helps ExxonMobil customers earn college funds.  To learn more about the
Upromise program, please visit the www.exxonmobil.com/upromise website.

General Shafter students get new home

BY JENNY SHEARER, Californian staff writer
e-mail: jshearer@bakersfield.com | Friday, Aug 25 2006 9:05 PM

General Shafter School has educated generations.

Photo by Casey Christie - Students at General Shafter School head back to class after the welcome-back rally at the school’s new location.

Photo by Casey Christie - General Shafter School Principal and Superintendent Deborah Rodrigues had some help celebrating her birthday with school staff, parents and students during a back-to-school rally. She was awarded a birthday hat and a bouquet of roses.

Photo by Casey Christie - The kindergartners in Deb Burke’s class called themselves Burke’s Bodacious Bears. Landscaping for General Shafter School was done by about 100 volunteers with mostly donated materials and led by a former teacher and her husband, who owns a plumbing business.

It will continue to do so in its new home, a quarter mile west of its old one on Shafter Road.  Although loved by many, the former site needed improvements. The school turned 100 in 2004 and had outgrown the temporary buildings it used since the big 1952 earthquake.  "It's kind of sad. I miss the old school, but change is good," said Bernice Terrazas, who graduated in 1986, when the kindergarten through eighth-grade school had 100 students.

There are 225 children this year, including Terrazas' second-grade daughter. Her son graduated in 2003 and her aunts and uncles attended General Shafter in the 1950s and '60s." I love the school. It's always felt like a family," Terrazas said. Her fellow students were like her brothers and sisters, she said.

The new school site was donated by the Peter Delis family. The school has 11 modular buildings and the goal is to build several permanent structures, said Deborah Rodrigues, district superintendent and principal. Those additions, including a library and cafeteria, could easily cost several million dollars. Community contributions are welcome, Rodrigues said.

Students paraded down the cement between the modular units Friday to celebrate their new school. Landscaping was done by volunteers led by a former teacher, Angela Devries, and her husband, who has a plumbing business. Funds and materials were donated in part by the Laurelglen Bible Church and parents of General Shafter students. About 100 people helped lay sod, plant trees and dig holes for irrigation the weekend before school started.

"For the first time in my career here, we have in-ground sprinklers," said Tony Rodenburg, who supervises maintenance and operations. He's worked there for 20 years. Rodenburg graduated from General Shafter in 1970 and his two children went there, too. His father was on campus Friday helping to water boxed trees. Seventh-grader Kayte Howell said it was different to be at a new school, but one thing hasn't changed. "You know everything about everybody," Kayte said.

Staff member Carolina Rodriguez appreciates the school's tight-knit vibe. " This school, to me, the staff is like family," she said. "They care about one another."

August 21, 2006:  The new school is open and the grounds are looking beautiful thanks to the efforts of the Cox family, General Shafter School staff, and parent volunteers. Numerous hands installed a sprinkler system and sod, planted trees, and raised a shiny new flag pole. School staff welcomed students and parents to the new classrooms to help everyone get acquainted with all the new surroundings. Everyone is off to a great new start and will be able to watch the new school take shape.

Spring - 2006:  Thanks to the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Fong and Munn Chau of EZ Mart Mobil at 2106 Taft Hwy, Bakersfield, General Shafter School has been awarded a $500 ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Grant.  The money will be used to purchase supplies for our school.  EZ Mart Mobil is proud to participate in the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program and invest in the future of their community through educational grants to neighborhood schools.

The Exxon Mobil Corporation is also proud to support education through Upromise, which helps ExxonMobil customers earn college funds.  To learn more about the Upromise program, please visit www.exxonmobil.com/upromise.

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Phase One of a new school is under construction.  Modular buildings are beginning to move on site and cement walkways will soon be complete. 

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