By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
MHS tutoring center takes shape
Furniture Pros, Hafers, California Furniture all assisting with donations
pic mhs-furniture-2
From left, Evelyn Gonzalez, Ariadna Ruelas, Erika Campos, Dominique DiSanMartin, Taylor Bailes, and Jennifer Rodriguez test out the new sectional sofa donated by Furniture Pros. Theyre joined by ROP Interior Design instructor Angie Anaya, MHS custodian supervisor Rey Cavazos and fellow student Braulio Solis in the soon-to-be-completed Tutoring Center. - photo by VINCE REMBULAT

Jennifer Rodriguez and Braulio Solis are students in the Interior Design class.

The first-year Regional Occupational Program of the Manteca Unified under the direction of teacher Angie Anaya is a real world project-based class.

For their part, Rodriguez and Solis spent the past weeks pounding the pavement in search of donations for this project of helping turn the circa 1997 Careers Center at Manteca High into a Tutoring Center via the school’s Science Department.

“We want this to be a place for students to relax after spending the whole day in the classroom,” said Anaya on Wednesday.

Principal Frank Gonzalez, for one, has been amazed with the transformation. His custodian supervisor Rey Cavazos has been part of the process, taking apart the partition and other such items to clear out this once catch-all room in the MHS main office.

“It was used mostly as storage (in recent years),” he said.

Once done – the project is expected to be completed by Jan. 15 but, according to Anaya, there’s still plenty to do, in terms of donations – the Tutoring Center will have a college-type student union feel, with two large flat screen televisions, serving coffee-house beverages and snacks.

Painting and the kitchenette space equipped with cupboards have been completed thus far.

But the donated furniture is what’s been the buzz on campus.

 After getting their share of rejections, Rodriguez and Solis received a big donation from Furniture Pros. The three-piece chocolate brown sectional sofa retailing at $1,600 is the center piece of the room, according to Anaya.

“We couldn’t believe it,” said Rodriguez, who was stunned by the generosity from the folks of Furniture Pros.

The giving didn’t stop there.

Helen from Hafer’s Home Furnishings donated a chair and ottoman while Delores of California Furniture chipped in with the coffee table.

Anaya and her students are still in search of other items to complete the project. That wish-list includes area rugs, microwave oven, lamps and a refrigerator.

For more information, call Anaya at 209.601.6651 or email aanaya@musd.net.