All the Bryant Sonora graduates were there when Shelby Bryant joined their ranks. The fourth from the left is Roberta Bryant, the mother of the group.

Sonora graduation marked the end of an era for two families in the audience and for the school. Since 1990 there has always been a Bryant child in attendance at the school, sometimes two, but never more.  And a Bryant has always played on the girls soccer team during that same 20-year time period.

Roberta Bryant recounted that her mother had seven sons and one daughter, and she reversed that ratio. Rhonda was the first to attend Sonora. She was followed by Teri, Kurt Shannon, Jennifer, Holly, Samantha and 2010 grad Shelby.  It was two weeks before Jennifer graduated that Rod Bryant, a Whittier police officer died suddenly and unexpectedly. He and she had always been active parents in their children’s school life.

Roberta said there had been changes at Sonora during the 20 years her children have been there, but she didn’t feel they were great changes.

“The school has gone through five principals in that time, built a new wing and changed the mascot, but that’s all that comes to mind,” Roberta said. She did mention that some teachers had been there since her first child went to the school and some current teachers were students who went to school with her children. She also believes the enclosed environment of Sonora makes the school feel like a community.

Her older children feel the younger were spoiled with the arrival of cell phones. “The older kids had to stand in line for that pay phone outside the pool to call for a ride home after sports. That could be a long wait,” she explained.

Since her family and the Fisters’ are Latter Day Saints, all her children attended seminary which begins at 6 a.m. and also participated in sports.

As far giving any advice to the parents of first-time students at Sonora, Roberta said, “There is nothing to be frightened about a child starting high school there, but you should remember they are still youth. What they learn at home will outweigh what they learn at school.”

“Make sure they take advantage of all the possibilities at the school,” she advised. Then she encouraged parents to be involved with booster clubs and the PTA so they knew what all those possibilities were.