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Woodside High School graduated about 400 students during its June 5 commencement on Bradley Field. The Class of 2026, draped in bright orange gowns, closed a chapter of their lives as they crossed the stage with diplomas in hand.
As graduates basked under a cloudless sky Friday morning, June 5, the themes of belonging, hope and new beginnings shined throughout the ceremony in speeches by Principal Karen Van Putten and graduating senior Nicholas Serrano.
“What this world needs is more humanity, more listening, compassion, courage, more people willing to see each other not as an opponent but a human being,” said Van Putten, as she recognized the students’ ability to involve themselves in the community to drive change and innovation.
She looked across the crowd and said she saw a group that is “capable of helping others feel seen, valued, respected and included.”
“The blue skies we hope for don’t appear by accident. They’re created by ordinary people like you, who choose to lift other people up,” Van Putten said. “Wherever life takes you next, go out and be the rainbow after someone else’s storm.”
A new graduate gets a ribbon lei from family at the conclusion of the Woodside High School commencement ceremony in Woodside on June 5, 2026. Photo by BeBe Khue Jacobs. 
Family members and friends cheer on graduates during the commencement ceremony at Woodside High School on June 5, 2026. Photo by BeBe Khue Jacobs. 
Graduating seniors perform a song during Principal Karen van Putten’s address to the graduates on June 5, 2026. Photo by BeBe Khue Jacobs. 
Graduates line up to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas at Woodside High School’s commencement ceremony on June 5, 2026. Photo by BeBe Khue Jacobs. 
Principal Karen van Putten, delivers Principal’s Address to the Graduates at the commencement ceremony at Woodside High School on June 5, 2026. Photo by BeBe Khue Jacobs.
Van Putten’s speech was closed out by a student group’s performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Every year, Woodside’s graduating class presents a gift to the school, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. The Class of 2026 gave umbrellas for the tables in the quad.
“This gift is symbolic of how we look out for one another, as the umbrellas protect students from the sun,” seniors said. “These umbrellas should be a valued part of the quad for years to come and will serve as a reminder of the values of the Class of ‘26.”
The high school journey for Woodside graduates was signified by their ability to empathize and support their peers. Serrano said in his speech that the Woodside experience was also about personal growth and confidence.
Entitled “To my 5-year-old self,” Serrano recalled seeing his first theater performance at Woodside High School, a defining moment that inspired him to take the stage later in life. While he always knew Woodside was where he belonged, he said he didn’t expect the growth and self-discovery that would come along with the high school journey.
“High school isn’t just about grades, classes and transcripts, it is about becoming,” Serrano said. “It’s about how we grow, discovering new passions, new friendships, strengths and parts of ourselves we didn’t know existed.”
As students walked across the stage, family and friends could be heard cheering them on from the bleachers. The ceremony closed out as students tossed their caps into the air. The school’s band played “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic as students walked off the field to reunite with their loved ones in celebration of a milestone.
Editor’s Note: Sequoia Union High School District declined to provide a list of the names of the graduates at all of its campuses this year.
