I was at the Gilroy Unified School District board meeting on Thursday night with two of my teachers, a friend, and my father. We were protesting the change of the field trip policy. They want to take away all field trips that are during school hours, unless all students go. This means no 6th or 7th grade science camp, Washington D.C. trip in 8th grade, Disneyland trip for choir or band, or any promotion trips for 8th graders.

For several of these, not all students CAN go, let alone WANT to go. I am mostly talking about 7th grade science camp, because the money is due to Yosemite National Park in just a few days. We students have worked hard and gotten our hopes up for this for quite a while now, and the school district is about to take it away from us. They have already taken so much. This is the last thing we have left to look forward to.

We need all the help we can get to stop this from happening, and we need it to happen ASAP. If the money does not get turned in to Yosemite, they will cancel our reservation. We need as many people as possible to send e-mails, letters, and phone calls to the school board. Please help us keep science camp this year and all the years coming. It will be a wonderful experience!

Zaira Aahz, a South Valley Middle School 7th grader, Gilroy

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