More than Just a school

For students and teachers at George Shirakawa Sr. Elementary, the school is more than just classrooms and hallways. It is a place filled with memories, friendships, and with that comes support from the community of the student body. I'd know because I went there from first to eighth grade and met my friend group, who I'm still very close to today. My experience was unforgettable because of the friendships I built there, as well as the support of the staff and community.

But with the school set to close in the future, changes are already beginning to take effect. As of now, the district has decided to remove 7th and 8th grade, with the school board phasing out the upper grades one by one.  

Teachers who have spent years with their students now face an uncertain future, while students must say goodbye to a place they aren’t ready to leave. Many students and teachers are fearing that leaving this school will break the friendships and community, making things harder for them. As they move to new schools, it’s unclear if they’ll get the same support they had at Shirakawa.

Still, staff like the librarian remain as a steady source of comfort, helping students through this rough patch. 

Jean Agra, the librarian at Shirakawa Elementary School in San Jose, is passionate about encouraging a love for reading among students. She not only helps them find books but also supports older students with research projects, ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed.

Agra: Seeing the elementary school students being engaged in reading and seeing that they're actually wanting to read, that gives me joy and then seeing the upper grades like the seventh and eight grade. They already have a better concept of reading so I like seeing them being able to have them work independently and help them with the research if they have any research or find another new book that they like reading. 

Their enthusiasm for reading not only reflects their growing love for learning but also highlights the school’s efforts to foster these school’s efforts across these upper grade levels. Agra sees this impact firsthand and believes that reading plays a crucial role in students’ development. 

However, with the unfortunate decision to close these grades, she fears the impact it will have on students who have thrived and found joy in their learning environment.

For many people, the library has provided an enjoyable and inviting environment in which they can discover new concepts, improve their reading abilities, and develop a love of learning. Losing this familiar environment might negatively affect their academic progress and make it even more difficult for kids who already struggle with participation.

Aside from the closure, Agra confronts difficulties with her work, including engaging learners who struggle to connect with reading.

Agra: They're not engaged in learning, those are the challenges that I see in regards to trying to you know teach students or get them engaged in the love of learning and reading. 

With Shirakawa’s closing, she fears these challenges will only grow, making it even harder to spark students’ interest in learning.

Nevertheless, the most rewarding part of her role has been the connections she’s built with students, especially those from backgrounds that face significant challenges. 

Agra: Rewarding part is being able to connect with the students, especially in the demographics of the population that we service.

Despite the uncertainty, she is hopeful that the lessons and skills students have learned at Shirakawa will stay with them and help them in their future education.