Tiffany Irby (ALUMNI) Letter to the Board.

 I first attended CHCS in 2003, my 10^th grade year coming from Lynwood High School.  From my very first day CHCS brought a new experience to whole my high school experience, from the students, the teachers, the class room setting, the administrators and even the parents. The overall atmosphere of CHCS was refreshing, uplifting experience and I will forever respect and honor my time spent there. It’s truly heart breaking  to know that not  one of the original teachers from CHCS are longer working there, CHCS is now in  Sherman Oaks and is out of our community.  The best part of CHCS to me was Connections. where   we would meet weekly based on gender and a grade.  There we could openly express ourselves in a confident and trustworthy atmosphere, without any judgment or consequences Connections was our way to connect where we could be ourselves while others could be themselves.

As a student being taught in public school my whole life, coming in to CHCS was inspiring. It made me want to be better, do better, and become better. Coming in to CHCS saved me because I slacked off my 9^th grade year and failed several classes. With the help and encouragement of my peers and the college counselor, Ms, Montoya, I was able to maintain an overall GPA of 2.5. I was also able to pass the California Exit Exam with the help of Ms. Johnson and Mr. Umoja who provided wrap around services, tutors, and a coaching class. Ms. Montoya went above and beyond by constantly encouraging me that I am on the right path and that all my hard work would not go unnoticed.  She would even give me rides to the adult school I attended to make up my credits.  I failed the math part of the exit exam twice and once a tutor came in I was able to pass.   So it is without a shadow of doubt that without the help I received, I would have not graduated on time or even at all.

The genuine love I’ve that I received from attending CHCS will forever be appreciate and cherished.   That none of the original teacher’s and more than half of the staff no longer works there, is truly devastating  to know that the current student will not know how special CHCS was.  So with all the valuable pieces of CHCS gone the school no longer is the school it once was. I am sending this letter with all sincerity for the well being of my school and what it once was.