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    Community Volunteer - Brenda Chavez 
     
    Brenda  
     
     
     
     
         To all of my former Madison classmates and to you, who I do not know and is reading my bio, I would like to greet you and welcome you to the Madison Elementary Alumni Page.  My name is Brenda Chavez. I am nineteen years old and currently on my second semester at Santa Ana College; majoring in psychology and criminal justice. I attended high school at Century High, class of 2011. For middle school, I attended Villa Fundamental. From K-5 grade I went to Madison Elementary. Now, after ten years, I am doing community service at this site.  
     
         I find it amazing how those years in my childhood at this school kept so many memories In my mind. I even remember my teachers in grade order: Mr. Perez (retired 10 years ago), Mrs. Orlando (retired as a teacher but is still helping), Ms. Esparza/Miss Lindsay (who is now a sixth grade teacher at Madison, Miss Yee), Mrs. Aceves (Vice Principal at Villa Fundamental), Mr. Hobbis, and Mrs. Kohl (who also retired). There are many, wonderful compliments and recollections that I can share about every single teacher listed above, but I won’t because that will take forever. But I will, however; share my experience at Madison while I was a student here, and also my experience after graduating high school and returning as a volunteer.
         
         I remember so many things from this school. To all my former classmates, I bet you might remember these; the “Don’t do Drugs” wall mural. It is fading off and old, but it is still here. Also, that one spot behind a classroom on the grass that was ALWAYS under construction, well… it is still under construction. They’ve told me that there is always something wrong with that small area. I remember by heart every time during lunch, if a student were to help Karen (who is still also here) pick up the food baskets, she would compensate us by giving us apple juice pouches. Let me remind my classmates, and also other readers, that those apple juice pouches were the greatest, coolest drinks you could possibly give a child at an elementary back then. I know I felt cool when everyone would see me happily drink apple juice and they were not   Everything has been modified for the well being and for the sake of education for the students. Even the State Ed plans have changed. What was once taught to fourth graders back ten years, is now taught to the second graders. I do have personal opinions about this matter, but that is irrelevant at this point.
     
         Now, coming back, I noticed many things have changed here at Madison. Practically, the whole campus has been modified and modernized. The lunch tables are new, the playground is new, there are three new classroom buildings, and a new integrated grade level (6th grade).
         
       Here it is, my memories and the love I cherish for this school. The reminiscences I have preserved from this place will never fade. The teachers and the staff, who have dedicated their lives and their time to inspire these students. To change their lives, and most of all, their education. For this, I want to thank them for helping form the students of tomorrow; for forming me. I want to give a special thanks to Mrs. Cerda, Mrs. Acuna and Sandy for supporting me in my early years as a student and now as I further my education. I want to sincerely applaud them for striving for a better Madison, even after ten long years. I also want to thank Mrs. Gonzalez and Mrs. Perez for their deep appreciation for higher education, discipline and for encouraging the existing students to not give up. To embrace their intelligence and childhood; to believe in themselves.