Bijou Community School celebrates "Mr. Lopez Day"

For the past eight years, students, teachers, parents and staff have celebrated Pedro Lopez, a man who is the heart and soul of Bijou Community School.

"He has worked here for decades, he has volunteered here for decades, and the time he puts into our school and our community enhances and enriched the lives of all those who are around him," PTA President Kathy Haven said in her speech during the festivities June 1 at the school. "He is an amazing person, and every year we honor someone who shows his attributes in their own actions."

Not only did they celebrate Mr. Lopez, but also Jeanette Riva, a parent who helped spearhead the immersion program at the school, a past teacher in the district, a longtime Tahoe local, and the "most amazing volunteer" at Bijou. She was honored with the "Pedro Lopez Award" for always going above and beyond.

Once a year, kids, staff and the community are invited to dress like Mr. Lopez to honor his amazing volunteer spirit at Bijou. Most of the kids and staff dressed like Lopez, in jeans, collared shirt, boots, belt, glasses, cowboy hat and, of course, a mustache. The school's PTA cut out over 600 mustaches for everyone to wear at the assembly Friday.