March 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.
Model Middle School
Bell Intermediate hosted a school-wide event to celebrate being named a 2017-2018 ‘School to Watch’ Model Middle School. GGUSD administrators, Board of Education Trustee Teri Rocco, Garden Grove City Council Members, local elected officials, staff, parents, and students came together for the event. Bell was one of only three schools in Orange County to receive this prestigious honor. The celebration included a posting of the colors from Pacifica High School’s NJROTC, a performance from Bell Intermediate’s orchestra, a performance by the school’s show choir of a tune from Disney’s Moana , brief remarks from administrators and students, and a presentation of the Schools to Watch – Taking Center Stage banner from the California Department of Education. 
Engineering Success
Violette Elementary School received a special visit from Boeing engineers who helped students with a Design Challenge to build a lightweight wing structure that can hold a heavy load without deflecting. Violette students loved picking up engineering tips from the pros and putting their STEAM skills to work during this project-based learning experiment.  
Jan Cody is #GGUSDHomegrown
Jan is the principal of Walton Intermediate School. She attended Mark Twain Elementary School, Lake Intermediate School, and graduated from Garden Grove High School in 1973. She met her husband Keith while attending GGHS. Keith was in the Band and Jan was in Drill Team. Keith attended Violette Elementary, Walton Intermediate, and Garden Grove High School. The #GGUSDHomegrown couple will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this summer! Their son and Jan's brother and cousins all attended GGUSD schools.

“My favorite thing about GGUSD is the family atmosphere. My mother was a clerk at GGHS for 33 years. I returned to work for GGUSD because it felt like coming home.”

Jan has been working in GGUSD for 27 years.
GGUSD - The Best Choice
GGUSD is front-page news! In case you missed it, the front page of the Sunday February 25 Orange County Register newspaper highlights why GGUSD is the best choice! Our award-winning schools and exceptional programs equip students with the academic and personal skills required for lifelong success.
If you agree that GGUSD is the best choice, spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #GGUSDPRIDE
Learning Ukulele from a Pro
Jake Shimabukuro, renowned ukulele virtuoso and composer, spent time at Bolsa Grande High School last week to share his talents with students with special needs. Music teacher Jeinine Urquiza helped coordinate the visit to Ms. Rush’s and Mrs. Rinus' classes, bringing a hands-on ukulele music lesson to students with special needs. The experience proved that music is a powerful teaching tool.
Superb Speller
A big congratulations to GGUSD eighth grader Genevie Nguyen from Irvine Intermediate for her impressive second place win in the Orange County Spelling Bee. We are so proud of you!! Genevie has won GGUSD's Intermediate School Spelling Bee two years in a row.
Simon Scholars
Thank you to the Simon Family Foundation for all they do to support our students. There is no doubt that the Simon Scholar program is life-changing and helps our students reach for the stars and touch them. Last week, the Simon Family Foundation hosted a dinner at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach to showcase the program's 15th anniversary and celebrate our students. 
Lifelong Success

GGUSD recently hosted its annual Life After High School Resource Fair to connect parents of special education students with resources and transition services for post-secondary success. Thanks to all of our wonderful community partners who provide services to adults with special needs.
Rosita Students Compete at Legoland
Three teams from Rosita Elementary's after-school robotics program participated in the First Lego League Robotics competition at Legoland. They built and programmed robots to perform specific tasks and were scored against teams from other schools from southern California. Legos are not just colorful blocks – they are powerful tools in teaching students about cutting-edge STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts.
Pacifica Coach Receives Special Honor
Congratulations to Pacifica High School head football coach Vinnie Lopez for being honored as the 2018 Semper Fi Coach of the Year by the United States Marine Corp. for the Los Angeles area! Coach Lopez led the Mariners in a 10-1 record and their first Empire League title since 2007. Congrats Coach Lopez! The award is presented by the U.S. Marines Corps and Glazier Football Clinics to recognize high school football coaches for commitment to the mission of their team and demonstrating the Marine standard of excellence in developing young leaders