Friday, April 10, 2015

What's New in GUHSD

El Cajon PD recognizes Grossmont students and staff
Grossmont High School was highlighted in the news this week to showcase how the El Cajon Police Department is working to utilize students’ innovative minds to work collaboratively on an issue as important as school safety.

Earlier in the school year, Grossmont’s School Resource Officer, Jeannine Johns, developed a classroom competition for students and staff to create "Emergency Preparedness Kits."

The competition was a voluntary effort with staff and students to develop emergency kits and plans that could be used in multiple, “shelter in place” emergency situations including natural disasters, fires, active shooter, etc. The plans were to include basic items such as water and sustainable foods, but also plans of action and other innovative ideas. 

El Cajon PD, El Cajon Fire Department and school administrators judged the preparedness kits last month. Two classrooms were selected as winners and the El Cajon Police Officer's Association sponsored a luncheon for them on Wednesday.

The overall goal of the pilot project was to be a more prepared campus for any type of critical incident. We will determine viability for possible implementation at other schools and explore a variety of funding options.

Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee Issues 2014 Annual Report

The independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) has issued its 2014 Annual Report to community.

It is publicly accessible via this web site link. Print versions of the report are being distributed to PTAs this month. It will also be available in all school offices, county libraries within the district, and at CBOC and Governing Board meetings.

CBOC community volunteers met a total of 28 times last year. They reviewed all planned projects and expenditures, the district’s Deferred Maintenance program, and annual performance and financial audits completed by an independent auditor. They also reviewed a 2013 Grand Jury report concerning the planned high school in Alpine.

The CBOC annual report provides a comprehensive review of the CBOC’s role as well as challenges and accomplishments of the Prop H/U program. Included in the report is a review of the financial status, projects, and results of the latest audits.

We appreciate the work of these volunteers’ steadfast commitment to actively review and report on the proper expenditure of taxpayers’ money for school construction. I also extend our appreciation to 2014 outgoing CBOC members Nick Marinovich and John Pagenkopp.

Grossmont Healthcare District Awards Scholarships


2015 Grossmont Healthcare District scholarship recipients
At a recent board meeting, the Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, presented $85,500 in scholarships to 38 high school students interested in a career as a healthcare professional.

The students from 19 high schools in the East County were selected by school administrators for their academic excellence, outstanding citizenship and a desire to improve our world in the healthcare field. Two students from each high school will receive a GHD scholarship of either $3,000 or $1,500. Students will receive checks from GHD at the end of their first semester of college, contingent on completing at least nine units with a grade point average of 2.0 or better.

GUHSD scholarship recipients include:

Chaparral: Martin LaRue, Julia Genovese
El Cajon Valley: Jesery Mendez, Mustafa Haleem
El Capitan: Leslye Santiago, Torie Rogers
Granite Hills: Joshua Kurtz, Holly Benoit
Grossmont: Kaitlyn Moreno, Sean Dawson
Grossmont Middle College: Ryan Zentmyer, Ivan Jebrael
Helix Charter: Vivian Kimberly Hua, Jennifer Lee Sung
Monte Vista: Cierra Johnson, Diana Gonzalez
Mount Miguel: Cinthya Gonzalez, Cierra Conwright
Santana: Kayla Hayes, Samantha Pazo
Steele Canyon: Linh Cook, Brandon Sanchez
Valhalla: Madelyn Dow, Noemi Barragan
West Hills: Iona Vestemean, Jules Hinderliter

GHD has honored local high school students interested in a healthcare career with scholarship grants since 1999. Over the years, hundreds of local high school students have received individual scholarships totaling $962,000.

Thank you for providing financial support to our students so that they may pursue their dream of working in the healthcare arena.

Students Learn About WWII through Visual Presentation

West Hills' teacher Dan Sutton in uniform
At West Hills High School on Friday, March 20, students in Social Science teacher Dan Sutton’s class were transported back to the World War II era as part of an annual living history presentation. The day-long presentation was held in the school’s outdoor amphitheater and provided an opportunity for students to gain a greater understanding of the largest conflict in the history of mankind.

This was the eleventh year of the World War II Living History presentation, which included original vehicles, weapons, Hollywood props and first-person presentations by historical reenactors. The presenters were dressed in original uniforms as they portrayed actual combatants from various countries.

Superintendent Ralf Swenson