\u201cIt\u2019s not only about the soccer game for us,\u201d said Damaris Cuffy, senior program analyst for San Jos\u00e9 Unified. \u201cIt\u2019s also making sure that the students are connected in one way or another.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/BCN-20260620-PLEX-01.jpg\")
San Jos\u00e9 Unified School District students gather at The Plex in San Jose on June 11, 2026, during the Summer Soccer and Student Connection Event. The event brought students together for soccer activities, cultural performances and a viewing of the opening FIFA World Cup match between Mexico and South Africa. (Ekasha Sikka\/Mosaic via Bay City News)<\/p>\n
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Cuffy said the district tried to create opportunities for students from different schools to interact, particularly because some children will be affected by upcoming school consolidations due to the closing of five elementary schools in the district<\/a>. A district spokesperson said as many as 900 students attended the event.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also wanted to make a safe space for them to talk about if they have any fears, or are excited about anything regarding the schools that are merging.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Damaris Cuffy, San Jos\u00e9 Unified School District senior program analyst<\/p>\n \u201cWe also wanted to make a safe space for them to talk about if they have any fears, or are excited about anything regarding the schools that are merging,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Maria Cortes, program director for the YMCA, said organizers spent months discussing how to support students whose schools are closing. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of uncertainty for the students who are going to the new school,\u201d Cortes said, so activities were designed to help students meet future classmates. She said the district has also organized pen-pal programs between merging schools so students can begin forming relationships before the school year starts.<\/p>\n Many of the soccer stations mixed students from different schools. Aileen Garcia of America SCORES, a soccer, poetry and service-learning organization, said participants were divided into teams that encouraged them to meet new people. \u201cWe hope they made at least one more friend,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n Belle Manzo of the YMCA said that students gained a sense of community by participating in activities alongside hundreds of their peers.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI got to learn a lot about teamwork and friendship through the workshops we did,\u201d said Jose Espinza, a rising sixth grader.<\/p>\n Keilani Pina, a rising fifth grader, said she was excited to watch Mexico play and was happy she got to \u201cget closer to my friends and learn how to play soccer with them.\u201d<\/p>\n For rising third grader Alexa Benvides, the highlights included the cultural performances. \u201cI really liked the Mexico dances and I really want Mexico to win!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Students cheered through performances, sprinted across fields and eagerly anticipated the World Cup<\/a> match. \u201cThe kids were happy, they were yelling freely; you could feel the energy,\u201d Cuffy said.\u00a0<\/p>\n District Board President Jos\u00e9 Maga\u00f1a echoed these sentiments. \u201cOne thing that I\u2019ve seen nonstop is smiles,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve heard laughter, not just in the kids, but also the adults.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Shivali H. Patra is a member of the class of 2029 at Saratoga High School. Ekasha Sikka is a member of the class of 2027 at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont.<\/p>\n![\"Dancers](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/BCN-20260620-PLEX-03.jpg\")
Traditional Mexican dancers perform for San Jos\u00e9 Unified School District students gathered at The Plex in San Jose, Calif., to watch the opening FIFA World Cup match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11, 2026. (Ekasha Sikka\/Mosaic via Bay City News)<\/p>\n