February 5, 2018
#GGUSDPRIDE E-newsletter
The #GGUSDPride E-newsletter features many of the great things happening in GGUSD.   
Send your photos to pio_department@ggusd.us to highlight your school or students in the e-newsletter.
Bell Intermediate School Takes Center Stage

Last week, Bell Intermediate School was named to the 2017-2018 ‘Schools to Watch - Taking Center Stage’ program, the California Department of Education’s (CDE) top honor for high-performing middle schools. Bell Intermediate School was one of only three middle schools from across Orange County and 22 in California to receive this prestigious recognition . Click here to read more.
Dinah Barling is #GGUSDHomegrown
Dinah attended Enders Elementary, Bell Intermediate, and is a 1985 graduate of Pacifica High. She is currently a teacher at Alamitos Intermediate, and has been with GGUSD for 25 years.

“When I was at a crossroads in my life, my former teacher and coach at Pacifica suggested I get my emergency credential and become a substitute teacher since he knew he would be out many days. He remembered that as his teacher's aide my senior year, I would enjoy "teaching" lessons to his RSP students. I took his advice, became a long-term sub in the district, fell in love with the profession, earned my credential, and never looked back.”
Eisenhower Hosts Career Day

Eisenhower Elementary School hosted its annual Career Day last week with special guests from a variety of professions, including firefighters, police officers, doctors, nurses, actors, musicians, and more. Students loved getting behind the fire hose, practicing fire safety, and learning more about real-world professions. This event always helps our young scholars to begin thinking about the future. #GGUSDPride
Pacifica Students Do Good from Across the Globe
As part of a civic learning project, Pacifica High School students in three World History classes have adopted a small preschool of 60 students in Swaziland, Africa. Students raised over $1,300 in two days to donate food, books, and furniture to the preschool which has very limited resources.

The tenth grade civics students learned about the project from their teacher Mr. Buenafe who visited Swaziland last year. Students hope to raise enough money to purchase Chromebooks or other technology to send to the school. The tenth grade students were eager to present the importance of the project to Pacifica's entire student body.

Way to Go Mariners!
Soaring to Success
Faylane Elementary’ s PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) system is going strong in its first year. It is all about the behaviors of Safety, Ownership, Acceptance, and Respect (Falcons "S.O.A.R."). The PBIS Leadership Committee purchased yellow SOAR t-shirts for each student and Thursday has been selected as Yellow T-shirt Day. In the second half of the year, the school will begin a "Kind is Kool: Anti-Bullying" program. Author and licensed Social Worker Nikki Turner will lead students into a new way of looking at and advocating for one another.
Collaborative Art

GGUSD transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students were asked to draw an imaginary creature and their drawings were given to high school visual arts students to develop and enhance using the training they receive in the classroom. The imagination and talent of our students is inspiring. The results of their collaborative project were shown in an exhibit in January. If you missed it, watch the video (on the left) to check out the highlights of the exhibit.
 DEDICATED TEACHERS

Recently, nine GGUSD music teachers attended the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Conference for two days of incredible professional development. Our teachers consistently prove their dedication to keep growing and learning.
Anthony Elementary is All Heart
Students at Anthony Elementary School participated in the Great Kindness Challenge last week and it’s safe to say the heart shown in these pictures pumps kindness! Way to go Bears!
Giving Back
As part of Carrillo Elementary School's longstanding tradition of Peace Day, students held a fundraising initiative to help support disaster relief. Today, students presented $727.00 to the Red Cross during a school-wide assembly. Jana Priest, with the Red Cross, accepted the check and thanked students for their kindness.
Celebrating Play

Monroe Elementary Language Academy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently for the school's new playground equipment, which will definitely add to the fun during recess.