:dateline:State Senator Richard Pan expressed excitement to see the progress made by the Sacramento Valley Charter School run aside the West Sacramento Sikh Gurdwara.
Pan, while attending a function organized by the school,�commented on how the academic achievement of students here has exceeded expectations. �He stated that Sikhs have a strong voice in California, and especially the Sacramento area as it could be seen by the efforts put up at the charter school.�
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.
