On January 23, 2007, a Calvine High School student made a state of the school speech to the Elk Grove Unified School District. Below is the speech in it's entirety.

Good Evening Madame President, Board Members, Superintendent Ladd, and Guests:

My name is Jessica E............. and I am a senior at Calvine High School.  I would like to thank the Board for giving me the opportunity to talk about my experience at Calvine High School and bring the Board up to date on current and past events. 

I came to the Elk Grove Unified School District as a sophomore and attended one of your high schools.  The classes were big and the teachers were content to let me sleep in class, since I wasn’t causing any trouble. 

My teachers wouldn’t help me even when I continued failing classes and falling further and further behind.  They would just tell me to ask my neighbor for help.  Finally, I got so far behind on credits that my counselor suggested that I go to Calvine for my junior year. 

At Calvine my teachers actually cared.  They encouraged me and offered one-on-one help.  They didn’t give up.  Now I’m excited about school; I look forward to coming every day.  Calvine’s   high expectations to achieve encouraged me to work harder.  

Today, I completed all of the requirements for graduation.  Today, I graduated.  I plan to go to ITT Technical School in March and begin taking classes in drafting and design.  I was somebody who was ready to drop out and now I have a plan for my future.  I want to thank my principal, Mr. Sofia and his staff for helping me.

I would like to now review a few past and current events at Calvine High School. 

Calvine students are expected to earn 20 credits every nine weeks and after each quarter all students who have earned 20 or more credits are recognized for their academic achievement with a BBQ sponsored by the Elk Grove Rotary Club.  We are celebrating our third consecutive year of cooperation with the Rotary Club.

Beginning in September, Calvine High School students have been actively involved with on going Service–Learning activities with Stone Lake Wildlife Refuge and Liembach Elementary School, Strawberry Creek Watershed and the Watershed Foundation.  The purpose of our service projects is to preserve and understand the environment we live. Please check out our web page for more details and pictures of our service projects.

Since the beginning of the school year at least two (2) assemblies have been held each month providing students opportunities to hear from community colleges, vocational schools, and armed forces, providing all students opportunities to explore college and career options after Calvine.

 The City of Elk Grove/EGPD recently produced a 10-minute video on street racing called “In the Blink of an Eye,” an effort to curb illegal street racing and save lives.  It’s very well done, emotional, and carries the message that any type of exhibition of speed is expensive and potentially fatal.  The video also talks about the “spectator” ordinance whereby being within 200 feet of a street race can bring a $1,000 fine and 6-months in the County jail.  Arrangements have been made to provide Calvine students this week to meet and discuss the hazards and costs both financial and human associated with street racing.

During the month of February we will be recognizing Black History Month with a variety of activities with a partnership with the Sojourner Truth  Multi-Cultural Foundation of Sacramento who will provide historical and cultural activities celebrating Black History Month for the entire month of February. 

Lastly, we are expecting another successful year and in behalf of students and staff at Calvine High School you are invited to visit us anytime and attend our graduation ceremony on June 5, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center located on the Sheldon High School campus.

Thank you for providing me the opportunity to speak to you tonight.

Jessica E., Calvine High School, Class of 2007