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The story of San Juan as told by its students

The Express
The story of San Juan as told by its students

The Express
The story of San Juan as told by its students

The Express
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Busy Schedule of Activity Director Valderrama

Vanessa Ortiz, Staff Writer
November 6, 2023
Vanessa Ortiz
Reviewing receipts from the Homecoming dance, Brooke Valderrama and Senior William Meshkin laugh as they pass the time doing tedious work together. Valderrama often engages with the student body while conducting her work, finding not only their insight useful but their company a treat.

While there is an endless build-up for Homecoming and football season, the people behind the scenes of these iconic events are rarely recognized.

Brooke Valderrama, Assisted Student Body (ASB) Activity Director revealed that both her and ASB’s schedules are never truly open.

“We are always planning for an event so there is always something going on… this Friday we also have a football game so it’s all hands on deck for us with the lunchtime pep rally, the senior night, poster making, and decorating the stadium,” said Valderrama.

Valderrama also has to coordinate with the football program to schedule and plan the Homecoming game. 

“Me and Coach Frith, we coordinate what game is going to be the homecoming game. Ideally, we want to pick a game that we’re gonna win. Our football team is amazing this year so that hasn’t been difficult,” said Valderrama

That isn’t the end of the workload for Valderrama. Without time to catch her breath, she goes from planning one thing to another, often having to focus on setting up many events, like the dances, pep rallies, and spirit weeks. Valderrama highlighted the substantial amount of effort that specifically goes into the Friday night football games.

“If we’re doing a game we need to ask, Do we have the supplies? Is it appropriate? Who’s the MC?, you know. Do the football kids even know there’s a pep rally they need to show up for? and like cheer and band and all that” said Valderrama.

Between all the planning for football games and dances, Valderrama has to help organize Spirit Week. Between all the stress that comes with organizing events Valderrama has made it abundantly clear that in the end, the success of the events lies in the hands of her students. Not her.

“It’s not really on me. It’s on the kids. It’s all on them. I’ve been doing this for 16 years and we’ve had events where it’s like ‘No this is what we are doing and it’s your job to put your own creative spin on it to really make it great. Like we know the main factors but what are you going to do to make it special?’ It’s all on them to figure that piece out,” said Valderrama.

At their core school events are about finding a way to bring students of SJHHS together and celebrate together as a community. Valderrama stresses the importance of the students being the true masterminds behind school events.

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About the Contributor
Vanessa Ortiz
Vanessa Ortiz, Staff Writer
Vanessa Ortiz is a sophomore who is excited to be joining The Express staff. Vanessa first became interested in journalism when she learned that her Grandfather had worked in the industry his whole life. She believes The Express is the perfect way to dip her toes into the process behind publishing an engaging story. Aside from her interest in journalism, Vanessa enjoys drawing, reading, writing and playing Dungeons and Dragons with both friends and strangers alike. After highschool she hopes to enroll in a four year university so she can major in the field of psychology.
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