Students, faculty and community partners across the San Diego region will join others across the nation during the month of February to celebrate national Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. It provides CTE programs across the country with an opportunity to demonstrate how CTE educates students to be college and career ready and prepares them for high-wage, high-demand career fields.
CTE in Action: Monte Vista Auto Students Take Home Gold
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| Monte Vista Auto Students Showcase their Awards |
On January 30, Monte Vista CTE Auto teacher Mike Fleming, accompanied 22 automotive students to the Skills USA Regional Competition at San Bernardino Community College. The competitions, for both basic and advance categories, were very competitive and challenging. Every team competed at multiple stations and grading was comparable to common core. The basic competition consisted of a four-person team while the advanced competition was an individual event. Approximately 15 high schools competed in the competition.
In the four-person team competition, Monte Vista captured 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th places. The Gold Medal team consisted of Ashley Martinez, Angeles Hernandez Cruz, Jesus Mendoza Villasenor, and Miguel Castaneda Escobar. They were the only team to have two females. The Silver Medal team was Guillermo Sanchez, Jonathan Gonya, Keven Fletes, and Jeremiah Gaddie. All of these teams will advance to the state conference/competition at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, on March 31 – April 3, 2016.
Prudential Overall Supply Company provided uniforms for the students who competed. Entertainment during the day was provided by Bass Pro Shop. The students ended their whirlwind day with a celebratory ice cream party at Baskin Robbins.
Congratulations, Monarchs! Good luck in the pursuit of your next goal!
GUHSD Students Honored for Achievement in the Arts
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| Monte Vista Student Ian Navarro with his Winning Clay Art Sculptures |
Monte Vista and El Capitan High School PTSAs both received entries for the National PTA Reflections program this year. The annual program encourages students of all ages and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Through the program, National PTA, Ninth District PTA, and PTAs across the country urge students in preschool through grade 12 to create and submit original works of art in the medium of their choice— dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts — reflecting on a specific theme.
There also is a special artist division option for students with disabilities to ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate in the program. Students are recognized each year for their artistic ingenuity to bring the theme to life in a way that is personal and meaningful.
This year’s theme was “Let your imagination fly.” Awards honor imagination, creativity and interpretation of the theme. The following GUHSD students have been honored by the El Capitan and Monte Vista High School PTSAs:
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE:
Ian Navarro - Grade 12, Monte Vista (Special Artist category)
AWARD OF MERIT:
Courtney Reiter - Photography - Grade 10, El Capitan
Cierra Ross - Photography- Grade 11, Monte Vista
HONORABLE MENTION:
Courtney Reiter - Photography, Grade 10, El Capitan
Maya Vallejo - Visual Arts, Grade 9, Monte Vista
Zachary Petrie - Visual Arts, Grade 11, Monte Vista
Julian Lorenzana - Visual Arts, Grade 12, Monte Vista
Desiree Rodriguez - Visual Arts, Grade 12, Monte Vista
Monte Vista High School student Ian Navarro received an Award of Excellence and his 3-D clay art entry will move to the California PTA state level of judging. The Award of Excellence, Award of Merit and Honorable Mention entries will be on display at the Ninth District PTA Reflections Showcase held at the County Office of Education on April 7 in the evening. Congratulations to ALL!
Important Information Regarding Confidential Student Data
A recent lawsuit against the California Department of Education (CDE) is impacting all school districts across the state, including Grossmont Union High School District.
In April 2012, two organizations, the Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association and the Concerned Parent Association, filed a lawsuit against the CDE alleging widespread, systemic non-compliance by local education agencies with special education laws. The suit also alleges the CDE fails to monitor, investigate and correct such non-compliance in accordance with the law. The CDE denies these allegations and is actively defending the litigation.
Our district was not involved in the lawsuit and is not the subject of any of the suit’s allegations.
Nonetheless, as a part of this lawsuit, CDE has been ordered by the court to release all data it has collected on general and special education students since January 1, 2008.
For more information regarding the release of this data and how you can file an objection with the court to consider not releasing your data, visit this link. You may also contact the California Department of Education at 916-319-0800.
Superintendent Ralf Swenson
