On May 23, the Mission Bay Cluster Committee, chaired by parent Kelly Warner (above), held its fourth and final meeting of the school year in the library at Mission Bay High.

This meeting provided the opportunity for 11 college-bound seniors to share highlights of their four-year journey at Mission Bay in front of an audience of 70-75 parents and community members, as well as school staff. In previous years, the senior panel discussion was moderated by an alumnus of Mission Bay.

This year, the committee invited students from the schools in the Mission Bay Cluster to pose questions to the senior panel. Fifth-grade students from Sessions Elementary, Pacific Beach Elementary, Barnard-Mandarin, and Crown Point Junior Music Academy, as well as eighth-grade students from Pacific Beach Middle, asked questions to the graduating seniors.

Questions ranged from, “How best to balance a high school class workload?” to “Favorite high school classes?” to “Memories and accomplishments these panel members are most proud of?” Also included was the question, “If you could promote Mission Bay High School, what would you want others to know?”

Four themes quickly emerged from the students’ discussions – the academic rigor of the classes, the unique support system between the students and the staff, and the many opportunities and benefits for students to become involved in school activities, clubs, and sports teams, and teachers that had a unique influence in their development and success.

Four of the senior panelists attended Longfellow Spanish Immersion School for their elementary and middle schools before enrolling at Mission Bay. At Longfellow, middle school teacher Sra. De Berzunza was acknowledged as a significant influence.

“She taught me to work hard and that dedication pays off in life…she prepared us well for our high school workload,” Rosie Martinez said.

Alessandra Alluin and Jakayla Harris both credit Sra. De Berzunza for her high standards and expectations that better prepared them for high school. Senior Christopher Zarraga-Jimenez gave a shout-out to Ms. Allan and Ms. Mollica from Cadman Elementary.

“Ms. Allan introduced me to advanced topics after being invited into her combination classes,” Zarraga-Jimenez said. “From that experience, I developed a love for challenging myself within school curriculums.”

“Ms. Mollica,” Zarraga-Jimenez said, “had an immense influence on my ability to express myself. Growing up I was the ‘quiet kid’ and I felt like I struggled and even feared talking to others. My confidence stemmed from her willingness to help me.”

Favorite high school classes and teachers elicited an abundance of responses. Senior Chelsea Long was clear in her praises of her teachers. “I have learned so much in all of my classes and I am grateful to all of the teachers at MBHS. I think the math program at Mission Bay is amazing and I feel like I have grown so much as a mathematician thanks to Mr. Moura and his organized, detailed curriculum,” Long said.

Martinez added: “Before I had Mr. Moura as my math teacher in my sophomore year, I struggled with math and found it difficult to understand. However, Mr. Moura made math a language I could finally understand and I began to enjoy it.”

Victor Lopez said, “I loved my AP intro to computer science, IB computer science, and intro to design.”

Mr. Panian’s IB history class was also mentioned as a favorite by senior panelists Justyn Higman and Camila Figueroa.

“My favorite class at Mission Bay was IB history with Mr. Panian, he is such an amazing teacher. It was one of my most difficult classes but I enjoyed it,” Figueroa said. “The workload can be tough at times but it’s always enjoyable because you have a teacher like Mr. Panian so dedicated to the success of his students it makes you want to work harder.”

Jakayla Harris said her favorite class and teacher was Mr. Lancia in yearbook.

Zarraga-Jimenez noted: “My favorite class was computer science with Mr. Jaffe. I discovered my love of programming through his class.”

What would these graduating seniors say to promote the school to others, to encourage them to select MBHS? A strong selling point for panelist Charles Hutchison is the wonderful diversity of the student body.

“It gives the school a real personality,” Hutchison said.

Higman, Zarraga-Jimenez, and Long each commented on the ease of getting to know the staff and the support that all the staff provides for all students. To promote Mission Bay to the community, Martinez and Alluin would explain the challenge and the rigor that is provided to the students in an IB school. Martinez added: “Academics are a strong suit at Mission Bay. They are very competitive.”

The opportunities and benefits that athletics, clubs, and student government activities provide students were another theme that surfaced during the panel discussion. The two words that repeatedly emerged were opportunities and leadership. Higman has participated in both indoor and beach volleyball. Hutchison shared a favorite basketball memory during an important Div. 1 playoff game away from Mission Bay. He remembers being proud of walking out onto the court and behind the team’s bench were more than 100 Mission Bay students rallying to support them.

Martinez’s club interests include the Outreach Club, Library Club, and MEChA. Figueroa was class president for her sophomore and junior years as well as a member of the First Gen Scholars Club. Long was president of the MBHS Gender-Sexuality Alliance. The Alliance collaborated with the district to earn a grant to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues in high school. In addition, Long participated in Mock Trial and the Academic League.

Harris’ club and sports activities ranged from three years of basketball to vice president of the BSU club and ASB. Harris also served as an on-air talent for Buc TV.

The Senior Panelists included Alluin, Higman, Long, Imani Poole, Figueroa, Harris, Martinez, Hutchison, Jaylen Pablos, Victor Lopez, and Zarraga-Jimenez.

The Mission Bay Cluster Committee is comprised of interested parents, teachers, school administrators, and Pacific Beach community members at large that have a continuing interest in the activities and projects regarding PB schools. The San Diego Unified School District has identified 16 clusters or geographic regions of the district. Each cluster will have a high school and will include the middle school (s) and elementary schools in that geographic area.

The Mission Bay Cluster includes Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary, Sessions Elementary, Crown Point Junior Music Academy, Pacific Beach Elementary, Pacific Beach Middle, and Mission Bay High. The Mission Bay Cluster meets four times a year. The meetings rotate among the six school sites in the cluster and are open to the public.