Friday, March 31, 2017

What's New in GUHSD

Granite Hills Students Examine US Legal System

Granite Hills Teacher Brendon Sexton & Students with Hon. Jeffrey T. Miller at Conclusion of Mock Trial
On Wednesday, March 15, 30 students from Granite Hills High School participated in the Southern District of California's Open Doors to the Courts program. This national program welcomes thousands of students into local federal courthouses around the country. The local event was divided into three segments: Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE), hosted by experts in the field of bankruptcy law; a Legal Careers Panel; and a mock trial in which students acted out all the parts from defendant to judge.

The purpose of the CARE program is to train young men and women to intelligently manage their credit and to keep them from ever seeing the inside of a bankruptcy court. A local bankruptcy attorney taught Social Studies teacher Brendon Sexton’s students the pros and cons of student loans and credit card hazards to avoid as they begin their own financial journey.

The students next heard from Assistant U.S. Attorneys, a U.S. probation officer, a court interpreter and other court personnel, who each discussed their individual roles in the federal justice system. These professionals also shared information about the education and experience required to attain these positions.

Finally, the students participated in a scripted mock trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey T. Miller. The trial focused on the illegal importation of drugs over the U.S./Mexico border, a common issue tried in San Diego's federal courts. Overall, the day emphasized the importance of civic responsibility, good citizenship and impartiality to these young men and women preparing to leave high school and enter the adult work force.

Junior Achievement “PitchFest 2017”

Grossmont Students Dress to Impress for PitchFest 2017
On Monday, March 20, 2017, 18 students from Grossmont High School’s English for Business classes attended the Junior Achievement PitchFest 2017. In total, there were 22 teams from around the county. The students presented their ideas for a new product or service and were judged by a panel of six professionals, including employees of OtterBox.

Each team had six minutes to pitch, and the judging panel had four minutes to ask questions. Out of the six Grossmont teams from Mrs. Thren’s and Mrs. Ginn’s classes, four have been selected to go to the second round of the JA Company Program on April 20. Each advancing team from the March 20 PitchFest can receive a check in an amount ranging from $200 to $500 to build a prototype of their product. Winners on April 20 will continue to the final competition in Washington, D.C.

Mount Miguel JROTC’s 44th Annual Military Ball

Dr. & Mrs. Glover with Cadets at Mount Miguel's JROTC Military Ball
On Saturday, March 25, my wife and I attended the Mount Miguel JROTC Matador Battalion’s 44th Annual Military Ball at the Town and Country Resort.

The importance of a military ball is ceremonial in nature, but has value as a means of preserving and honoring US Army traditions and customs. It is an occasion that promotes unit cohesion.

I’m very impressed with the caliber of the students in the program. Earlier this month, the program achieved the highest rating, Honor Unit with Distinction.

The Mount Miguel High School Army JROTC program was established in 1967. It is a leadership education program aimed at helping high school students become leaders. Students practice teamwork, discipline, and gain real skills, including resume building and public speaking that will assist them throughout their adult lives.

Every year, Mount Miguel High School Army JROTC produces leaders who succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Students acquire a breadth of knowledge in several fields, including drill and ceremony, history, and leadership skills. 

Monte Vista Participates in MESA Day

Monte Vista Teacher Brian Carpenter with MESA Club Students at SDSU
Last month, Monte Vista Math teacher Brian Carpenter's Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) Club competed in their first MESA Day at San Diego State University against the other San Diego County MESA schools. The MESA Schools Program prepares California students for college in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors. It helps them excel in math and science to become competitively eligible for academically rigorous colleges and universities.

At MESA Day, Monte Vista's student teams coded and designed a prosthetic arm, built a balsa wood airplane, designed an egg carrier to be dropped from from 60 ft and made a balsa wood bridge for strength.

The students also completed age-specific mathematics exams. Student Travis Kulhanek took first place in the math test for 10th graders. Danielle Kelsey, Ami Sanders and Lea Sanders took third place in the senior team math exam (even without a calculator that was allowed), and Brad Iglesia, Katy Clark, Luiz Gonzales, and Rubisela Gonzales took second place in the technical paper for the prosthetic arm competition! 

Congratulations to all of our student winners who will advance to regional competition on April 1. 

Grossmont NJROTC Marksmanship Team Earns Multiple Awards at the NRA Sectional Rifle Match

Grossmont NJROTC Marksmanship Team with Awards
Grossmont High's NJROTC Marksmanship Rifle Team finished second in the NRA's Southern California Sectional Rifle match last Saturday in Fontana, California. Four members of the team also earned individual awards. Cadet Andrew Nguyen was the overall second place shooter in the match. He fired his personal best of 518 to earn that award. Cadet Kayla Mendoza was the number one prone position shooter, while Cadet Cynthia Cortez finished second; they both earned trophies.

The performance of the day went to Cadet Paulina Mendoza, firing in her first ever match. Not only was she a member of the second place Grossmont Team, she also earned an individual award by placing second in the Kneeling Position, earning a trophy.

El Cajon Valley Hosts Faculty Follies this Friday/Saturday

A Recurring Skit from Faculty Follies Past, Real Woman and a Cheerleader
El Cajon Valley is hosting its 35th annual show to raise money for scholarships. I will be joining the performance on Saturday.

Tickets are $5.00 at the door, and show time is at 7:00 p.m. tonight and tomorrow.

Dr. Tim Glover
Superintendent