February 14, 2008

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Stupid mistakes

Talking to teens about the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Staff Writer

Editor’s note: Last May, Leland High School students spent two days involved in a realistic portrayal about what can happen when teens drink and drive (Almaden Times Weekly, May 31). This is the second program in as many years to help keep teens safe while driving.

Leland High School students listen to Silveria’s story of driving after drinking a couple beers. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

Leland High School brought home the risks of drunk driving with a powerful presentation by someone who almost died after having a few drinks and driving.

"I had the world at my fingertips," said Brandon Silveria in speech that is sometimes undecipherable as he grimaces to form words. "I had a car, a girlfriend. It all changed with one stupid mistake."

Shortly before his high school prom in 1987, Silveria, then 17, was involved in a near-fatal crash after drinking a few beers at a party. He fell asleep in the car and smashed head-on into a tree. He was a few blocks from his Los Gatos home.

Silveria nearly died. He was a coma for three months and had part of his skull removed to ease brain swelling. He then spent two years in rehabilitation where he had to relearn everything. He currently suffers from brain damage, which makes clear speech a challenge and causes memory lapses and seizures.

"I thought I was invincible," said Silveria. "Peer pressure will force you to make foolish choices. You'll pay for those choices for the rest of your lives."

But in the true sense of his extraordinary spirit Silveria, now 38, has made this devastating event positive. He, and his father, Tony now travel throughout the country talking to teens about the dangers of drinking and driving. His presentation is followed by a 1992 segment of the television show “Rescue 911.” The excerpt recreates Silveria’s accident, including his parents’ devastation and his recovery where he learns to use his hands and to walk again.

“Brandon was going to Boston College on a Fulbright Scholarship,” said Tony Silveria. “That Saturday night the dream ended—all I could think was to save my kid’s life. [You need to] understand how quickly things can change. This destroys families—emotionally and financially. Many families come apart.”

The accident sent a close friend into therapy for two years, traumatized that he let him drive and didn’t take Silveria’s car keys. His parents struggled to pay the portion of more than $2 million in medical bills the insurance did not pay. His father was quick to remind Leland students “what Brandon did was illegal” and “to take responsibility and remember what you saw and heard today.”

Also in attendance were Deputy District Attorney Julia Alloggiamento and California Highway Patrol Officer Todd Thibideux, who discussed the ramifications of underage drinking and driving.

“In 2006 there were 94,251 DUIs,” said Thibideux. “For an adult over 21 the legal limit is .08, for anyone under 21 there is a zero tolerance and you will be arrested.”

Thibideux explained that if a driver is stopped for something as small as a broken taillight and an officer smells alcohol, the officer will put the individual through a series of tests. A chemical test will be done, which all drivers agree to do when they obtain a license. If the blood alcohol level is above zero, a minor will be arrested and the vehicle towed.

Brandon Silveria, at the podium at Leland High School, shares his story of one stupid mistake. Seated to the right are his father Tony Silveria, who also told his story and CHP Officer Todd Thibideux and DA Julia Alloggiamento, who explained he consequences of drinking and driving.

“After an arrest the case is brought to the DA’s office,” said Alloggiamento. “We hope we never see you; that you make positive choices and never get arrested and face court. There is zero tolerance. You can lose your driver’s license for three years; you’ll have to attend a DUI course. And a DUI costs about $10,000 plus your insurance goes up. But it’s most important that you don’t end up in the hospital or dead.”

As the assembly ended, the students left very quietly, and some were in tears.

“I thought it was very effective because you couldn’t understand everything Brandon said,” said Leland senior Mike Reynolds. “My classmates thought it was really powerful. They were moved and shocked at what had happened to Brandon.”

“It was very powerful,” said Mike’s mom and San Jose Union School District board member Leslie Reynolds. “Anything we can do to drive home the point not to drink and drive is good.”

“I thought it was pretty cool that they had this,” said Leland freshman Justin Dueck. “I’d never seen anything like this. It showed a firsthand experience of what can happen. You hear stories, but to see Brandon with his slurred speech really brought it home. I’m not going to drink and drive.”

“I never heard an assembly so quiet at school,” said junior Kylie Sarpa. “It was so tragic what happened to Brandon but it’s amazing what he does. It was really moving. It shows how one stupid mistake can be heartbreaking and how it’s not worth it.”

In a particular poignant moment after the assembly, Leland Principal Bob Setterlund shook Brandon Silveria’s hand and said, “Thank you for coming to my school. It was difficult for them, but they need to hear it.”

Castillero hosts Big Band Dance

Adults are invited to Castillero Middle School’s 10th annual Big Band Dance at the school’s indoor commons on Feb. 23 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Castillero’s three award-winning jazz bands will provide the entertainment for the school community, with a special guest performance to be announced. Guests will dance to big band and Latin music, there will be desserts and refreshments as well as raffle prizes and a silent auction. It promises to be an exciting evening with incredibly talented young musicians.

The proceeds from the event will support scholarships for band students needing financial aid to attend the Heritage Music Festival and competition in Fullerton and Disneyland in April 2008. Some of the proceeds will also fund Castillero’s band program for things such as instrument purchase/repair and music purchase.

The student musicians are talented and some have a definite future in music.

For more information, contact co-chairs Rita Mausler and Karen Potts through the school at (408) 535-6385 or ritamaus@sbcglobal.net.

Health Trust announces essay contest winners

Four students from Santa Clara County have been named the winners of the Health Trust Essay Contest, which challenged teens to describe how young people can help make Silicon Valley the healthiest region in America.

First place in the high school category was awarded to Vanessa Ing, a junior at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino. Topping the entries from middle school students was Lauren Woo, an eighth grade student at Castilleja School. She is a resident of Mountain View.

Second place awards went to Yesenia Friaz, a freshman at James Lick High School in San Jose, and Kenny Wong, a seventh grade student at Miller Middle School in San Jose. All four of the winning essays are posted on The Health Trust Web site www.healthtrust.org.

"The enthusiastic response to this essay contest shows that young people are concerned about the health of the community," said Frederick J. Ferrer, CEO of The Health Trust. "All of the essays were impressive and contained thoughtful ideas. We have serious health issues to address in this region, but engaging teens such as these in finding solutions so that more people can enjoy a healthier life gives hope for the future."

The Health Trust received 269 entries from students in local middle and high schools. The panel of judges included Walter Bortz, M.D., Ivonne Montes de Oca of The Health Trust Board of Trustees, Joe Pirzynski, a college advisement counselor and Los Gatos Councilmember and Sal Pizarro of the Mercury News.

First place winners will each receive a $500 U.S. savings bond and an Active Life Fun Pack with an iPod and accessories. Second place winners receive a $250 U.S. savings bond and the Active Life Fun Pack.

The Health Trust is a nonprofit foundation that provides grants, services and advocacy to support its vision of Silicon Valley as the healthiest region in America. In January, The Health Trust announced a $30 million investment in three initiatives--Healthy Living, Healthy Aging, and Healthy Communities. For more information, visit www.healthtrust.org.

Leigh senior wins Rotary speech contest

Brian Teng, a senior at Leigh High School, won the speech contest at the Campbell, San Jose West Rotary Club’s annual competition among students from area high schools. The winner of the popular event goes on to compete in a Rotary area competition and the winner of those events competes in a regional and final competition at Rotary’s district conference later this year.

Second place in the competition went to Whitney Dean of Del Mar High School. Hana Vaynshteyn of Prospect High School took third place. Each contestant received a cash prize and a certificate of participation.

Program Chair Janine Payton congratulated the speakers and said she was glad she was not judging the event, a difficult tasking judging by the talented competitors. Some parents and teachers were on hand as well as Dr. Rhonda Farber, superintendent of Campbell Union High School District.

For more information about the Campbell, San Jose West Rotary Club call (408) 287-8119 or visit its Web site at www.RotaryCSJw.org.

Silicon Valley Education Foundation launched

To embrace regional challenges faced by local public schools, the Board of Directors has decided to move beyond the borders San Jose and offer its programming and expertise to the larger Silicon Valley. As of Feb. 4, the San Jose Education Foundation has become the Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF).

These are exciting and challenging times for those who are concerned about education. The stakes keep getting higher for both students and the educators who serve them. At the same time, budgets are decreasing and there are fewer resources to meet growing needs. However, these very challenges have created the motivation at the state and local level to make meaningful changes in public education.

The SVEF is proud of its progressive history of serving just one East San Jose neighborhood and now serves the entire Silicon Valley. It has leveraged its expertise in connecting the larger business community and civic leadership with actual schools and their students. In the past five years, this foundation has raised more than $14.9 million on behalf of schools, serving over 18,300 teachers, students and families.

The Silicon Valley Education Foundation will continue the exciting work of SJEF throughout Silicon Valley. SVEF will focus on the following to achieve its goals:

* A Voice for Silicon Valley schools: We drive debate around education, providing a unified voice for the 34 school districts in the Silicon Valley.

* Connect Silicon Valley Businesses to Silicon Valley Schools: We are the conduit from the boardroom to the classroom, providing Silicon Valley businesses with the expert knowledge to make sound investment decisions in Silicon Valley schools.

* Invest in teachers: We help recruit quality teachers and bring innovation into the classroom, continuing our successful programs like Teach Here, Live Here rental assistance for teachers, and innovation grants for the classrooms.

* Prepare Silicon Valley students to Silicon Valley Jobs: We are launching a program to accelerate math learning for middle school students, and an exciting new program being announced today.

* Advocate for arts education and special education services: Assisting teachers and schools in providing a rich educational environment for a wide range of students.

For more information, please visit us at SVEFoundation.org.

CCOC students earn top honors at regional SkillsUSA competitions

SkillsUSA named 21 Central County Occupational Center (CCOC) students gold medal winners at its regional competitions Feb. 2 in Salinas and Feb. 9 at CCOC in San Jose.

Seventeen other students from CCOC took home the silver. Out of 53 CCOC high school and adult students who competed in the regional competitions, 35 students will advance to represent CCOC in the SkillsUSA State competition in Fresno, Calif., April 10-13.

This year’s Regional SkillsUSA Competition was held over two Saturdays. Students who participated in the first half of the event in Salinas competed in the fields of Air Conditioning Job Skills Demonstra-tion, Auto Service Technician, Welding-Combination, Welding-Tig, and Collision Repair. CCOC was chosen to host the second half of the event in the fields of Air Conditioning, Diesel Technician, Forensics and

Residential Wiring because CCOC could offer a high-quality hands-on competition for those areas of competition. This is the first time since the mid 1990s that a portion of the Regionals competition has been held at CCOC.
SkillsUSA is a national organization for career-technical education students within trade, technical, industrial and health occupations. Annual competitions are held to encourage students to challenge themselves within their chosen technical careers.

CCOC, a unit of MetroED, provides career-technical education for high school students in six districts: Campbell Union High School District, East Side Union High School District, Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, Milpitas Unified School District, San Jose Unified School District, and Santa Clara Unified School District. Students attend CCOC for half of their school day and the other half they attend their home high school.

A complete list of CCOC SkillsUSA regional winners is available from Michelle Alaimo at (408) 723-6464 or malaimo@metroed.net.

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