SACRAMENTO, California, USA—State Senator Richard Pan expressed excitement to see the progress made by the Sacramento Valley Charter School run aside the West Sacramento Sikh Gurdwara.
In his keynote speech, he stated, “Coming together we build a stronger community in Sacramento. We create a better stronger and more just society.”
Principal Sheila Gibson and school board have given the Gurdwara committee an award recognizing their efforts for providing a site for the school students. The school opened in 2011, and an extension has now been given to operate for 5 years. Originally it catered 50 students only, howver now over 225 are enrolled, which is a 400% increase.
Aside from State officials, Gurdwara committee and school board members, students also read poems and took part in a number of performances at the function.
Simran Bains, the student body president, spoke about how special the school is and what it means to the Sacramento Sikh community. “Education is taken seriously but made enjoyable. My experiences here are very special to me,” she stated.
School provides Punjabi as second lanuguage, small class sizes, free lunch, affordable transportation.