Students celebrate Fourth of July on last day of school
Right, O'Connor Magnet School ends the school year with its annual Fourth of July Parade. Left to right, Kaylynn Fuentes, Tiva Wallace and Carrisa Arredondo dance to Brooks and Dunn's "Only in America" during the school's Fourth of July parade on Wednesday morning.
By RUBI REYES •
Originally published July 1, 2009 at 6:21 p.m., updated July 2, 2009 at 9:51 a.m.
O'CONNOR MAGNET SCHOOL PARADE
Grand Marshals: New principal Jill Lau and O'Connor Curriculum Facilitator Shirlene Crawford, who is retiring after 31 years with the Victoria school district
Performances
Pre-kindergarten, "Yankee Doodle Dandy"
Kindergarten, James Brown's "Living in America"
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O'CONNOR MAGNET SCHOOL PARADE
Grand Marshals: New principal Jill Lau and O'Connor Curriculum Facilitator Shirlene Crawford, who is retiring after 31 years with the Victoria school district
Performances
Pre-kindergarten, "Yankee Doodle Dandy"
Kindergarten, James Brown's "Living in America"
First grade, Kenny Loggins "Footloose"
Second grade, Brooks and Dunn "Only in America"
Third grade, Miley Cyrus "Wake up America" and "Hoedown Throwdown"
Fourth grade, Rodney Atkins "It's America"
Fifth grade, a military cadence by Steve Tyler about excitement for what lies ahead and pride for the school they leave behind
Next year O'Connor will be the only year-round school in the district.
Cheers and applause at the O'Connor Magnet School parade became louder as Spc. Michael Gonzales of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne passed by.
The son of first-grade teacher Elva Gonzales and Robert Gonzales waved at the students and was received with smiling faces.
The 14th annual parade celebrates the Fourth of July and the end of the school year for the year-round school.
"I just want to thank the wonderful state of Texas and my hometown of Victoria for the warm welcome and the loving environment," Gonzales said.
The 21-year-old is a 2006 Memorial High School graduate, and like the students at the parade, he too celebrated when he attended O'Connor.
"I came for my mom," Gonzales said. "It's important for me to get together with my family and celebrate this great country."
He is on an 18-day leave and will spend Independence Day with his wife, Lyndi Gonzales, and son, Avyn Gonzales.
"They are my support system. I joined the Army to protect my family," Gonzales said. "I'm honored to serve.
"We are very proud of him and everything he has done," the father said.
His unit pulled out of Baghdad, Iraq, this week, so he is not sure where he will be stationed when he returns on Sunday, July 12, he said.
Students in grades pre-kindergarten to fifth celebrated the holiday and the last day of school.
Each group danced to a different song.
Kindergarteners showed off fancy footwork with their rendition of James Brown's "Living in America."
"Each grade level worked together on their performances," Susan Wheeler, third-grade teacher, said.
Students, parents, faculty and staff also celebrated Principal Sherry Gorsuch's last day as principal of the elementary.
She was principal for 16 years and has transferred to the new Rodolfo Torres Elementary School, scheduled to open for the 2009-10 school year.
