Swearing In
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| New Trustees Chris Fite and Elva Salinas after being Sworn In by Dr. Glover & Student Representative Daevionne Beasley |
The recent GUHSD school board election resulted in the election of two new board members, Chris Fite (District 1) and Elva Salinas (District 2). They were sworn in at our Governing Board Meeting on Thursday, December, 15.
Student Representative to the Board Daevionne Beasley and I had the pleasure of performing the Administration of Oath to our new trustees. Afterward, we officially welcomed our new trustees to the Grossmont Union High School District with a brief reception and refreshments.
Also at the December organizational meeting, the GUHSD school board re-elected Robert Shield to serve as President. President Shield reaffirmed his continued commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of our students as he leads the Board through 2017. The Board also re-elected Dr. Gary Woods as Vice President and Jim Kelly as Clerk for the next year.
At the November 15 meeting we also thanked our outgoing Trustees Jim Stieringer, who joined the Board in 2012, and Priscilla Schreiber, who began serving in 2000, for their service on the Board. Both receive a clock commemorating their years of service.
Valhalla Performs in Hawaii to Honor Pearl Harbor Survivors
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| Valhalla Band and Color Guard |
History came alive for Valhalla band director Carl Reed and nearly 70 students in Valhalla High School’s marching band and color guard. They spent a week in Hawaii to participate in a parade on December 7, the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The musicians performed American anthems, “Bravura” and a drum cadence.
Students had the opportunity to talk with veterans who were present during the attack, performed a concert at the USS Missouri, and also toured the USS Arizona, the Polynesian Cultural Center, a macadamia nut farm and the Dole pineapple factory.
Valhalla was the only California band in the parade. We're very proud of Valhalla's representation on behalf of our school district and state.
December Camp LEAD
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| El Capitan Students and Staff at Camp Lead |
Nearly 100 GUHSD students and 30 staff, deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and 12 guide team members participated in Camp LEAD (Leadership, Education and Development) from December 9 - 11, in Pine Valley. San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob was present to observe the successful program.
The three-day, two-night leadership and human relations development program provides an engaging and interactive learning environment where participants gain heightened interpersonal and personal-awareness skills.
During the program, students and staff members come together to explore personal beliefs, challenge their biases and attain a better understanding of others. After attending camp, many students are inspired to make more positive choices for themselves and to serve as change-agents within their schools and communities.
Camp LEAD empowers students to "be the change they want to see in the world" and opens their minds to new ideas, perspectives and cultures.
Grossmont Students win Congressional App Challenge
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| Grossmont High School's App Challenge Winners |
Over 2,150 students from 123 school districts participated in the 2016 Congressional App Challenge.
Grossmont High School's AP Computer Science students Christina Munoz, Angelica Ramirez and Kyle Trusso won the Congressional App challenge by building an Android homework tracker application. They have been invited to Washington, DC to participate in the #HOUSEOFCODE event in Washington, DC next Spring.
El Cajon Valley Photography Student Volunteers for Help-Portrait
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| El Cajon Valley Student Photographer Juan Llamas |
Third-year El Cajon Valley Arts, Media and Entertainment/Photography (AME) pathway student Juan Llamas served as a photographer on December 3, 2016, for the Help-Portrait Project at the Veterans Village of San Diego.
Help-Portrait was founded by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart and Kyle Chowning in 2008. Its mission is to empower photographers, hairstylists and makeup artists to use their skills, tools and expertise to give back to their local community.
Each December, photographers, hairstylists and makeup artists all around the world will find people in need, take their picture, print their picture and then deliver it—free of charge.
This year, the photography subjects are veterans battling addiction, often photographed with their families.
The link to the slide show is available here.
Health Occupations Center Students Participate in Mass Casualty Drill
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| Health Occupations Center Students Participate in Mock Casualty Drill |
Creating real-world scenarios to enhance student learning is a strong component of any Career Technical Education program.
On Thursday, December 1, the Health Occupations Center (HOC) ran a drill simulating a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI). A “Mass Casualty” is when a large number of people have been in a traumatic situation needing medical triage and treatment. This drill was conducted by HOC’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Program but involved HOC students from various medical classes who volunteered to be “patients.” They were artfully made up to look like they had broken bones, lacerations, been impaled, were bleeding profusely, etc.
As the drill began, the EMT students responded appropriately to all the injuries and transported patients to the make-shift “hospital” where the Vocational Nursing students acted as hospital staff. One of our business partners, Balboa Ambulance, brought an ambulance to campus to further add to the simulation. In the end, over 100 HOC students were engaged in several aspects of the Mass Casualty Drill. This vital training will improve student achievement while also providing the practical experience needed to be successful in the healthcare field.
CTE Cosmetology and Barbering Pathway Students Apply Skills
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| Monte Vista CTE Cosmetology & Barbering Pathway Teacher Angie Trujillo with Students |
On Sunday December 4, students from the Mount Miguel and Monte Vista CTE Cosmetology and Barbering Pathway partnered with California Hair Design, a local beauty college, and Rady Children's Hospital at Monte Vista High School to kick off the holiday season with an electric display of "Toys on Parade." Students, utilizing skills they learned in the pathway, brought some of their favorite toys to life.
This student showcase represents how students can be creative with hair, makeup, and fashion, and they applied their skills in an effort to help the community by collecting toys for kids. Cosmetology and Barbering Pathway teachers and professional hairdressers Michelle Munoz and Angie Trujillo, provided their students with this engaging event which is a great example of what is possible when core education combines with career readiness.
Crystal Noblin Named Second Quarter Outstanding Classified Employee
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| Governing Board Recognition of Crystal Noblin |
Classified employees provide critical support to the District’s overall mission. Congratulations, Crystal Noblin, on being selected as the Second Quarter Outstanding Classified Employee of 2016-2017!
In closing, I share with you a few more Board recognitions that showcase the athletic prowess of our talented students and the quality of our community partnerships:
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| El Capitan Girls Volleyball Team - Division III Champions |
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| Granite Hills Girls Tennis Team - Division III Champions |
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| Helix Charter Boys Varsity Water Polo - Division III Champions |
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| Recognition of Prop. BB Campaign Committee Leaders Lisa Stewart, Dick Hoy & Steve Devan |
Dr. Tim Glover
Superintendent
