December 19, 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.
Congratulations to our December Employees of the Month
Congratulations to our December Employees of the Month who were honored at the Board of Education meeting on December 18. Our Classified Employee of the Month is Marcie Zlaket, Library Media Technician at Peters 4-6 Elementary School. She was nominated by a parent for finding innovative ways to inspire students to enjoy reading and supporting students' academic growth. Our Certificated Employee of the Month for December is Kelli Kuberski, AVID Coordinator and teacher at Santiago High School. She was nominated for this recognition by a community member for her dedication to helping students become achievers and pursue their college and life goals.
Mindfulness Moments at Fitz
Students learn mindfulness with yoga and meditation in the newly modernized Physical Education rooms at Fitz Intermediate School. The room was very zen, with students learning how to relax, control their thoughts, and enjoy the process.
Mark Twain Hosts Fun Parent Appreciation Event
Recently, the Special Education Center at Mark Twain hosted Parent Appreciation Day to show parents how much they value their engagement and support for the school and students. Parents were treated to a 10-minute massage as well as a 30-minute circuit training workout! Activities were provided by the OC Wellness Physicians Medical Group and trainers from Orange Theory Fitness. The wellness event included snacks, a raffle for prizes, and a workout towel from Orange Theory Fitness.   #GGUSDPride
Intramural Programs Thrive at Jordan Intermediate School
In addition to a rigorous academic program, students at Jordan Intermediate School benefit from a variety of intramural opportunities and after-school programs. Two popular programs are the Jordan Volleyball and Fitness Club and Jordan Dance Club (JDC) . Physical Education teacher Jillian Page supervises the Jordan Volleyball and Fitness Club. Ms. Page's background includes playing and coaching competitive volleyball and she is motivated to help students whether they intend to play in high school or just for fun. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the Volleyball Club can be found at the nets practicing drills, skills, and playing games.  
 
The Jordan Dance Club (JDC) was established in 2014 to give students an outlet to express themselves creatively through dance. Students not only join JDC to dance but for lasting friendships and the feeling of belonging. JDC has grown from 15 members in 2014 to well over 40 members today. The club is supervised by teacher Duyen Tong, and run by the student leaders who are the officers of the club. They take on their own responsibilities to make sure JDC is running smoothly. Their coach is also GGUSD home-grown and has performed for America's Got Talent with the group BTS .  
Violette Students Get Wise About Water
Violette Elementary School received a brand new Hydration Station from Eaton through Orange County United Way. The school hosted a water education campaign recently, unveiling the new Hydration Station with the help of Board of Education President Lan Nguyen and partners from Eaton, Orange County United Way. and Kid Healthy. Staff and students received reusable water bottles to use at the new station. We love that our students are learning about sustainability at a young age!  #GGUSDPride
Doig Intermediate is Re-Validated as AVID National Demonstration School
Last week, Doig was re-validated as an AVID National Demonstration School for another three years. Kudos to Doig students and staff on this well-deserved honor. GGUSD is the only district in California with three AVID National Demonstration Schools!  #GGUSDPride
Soccer Kicks Off for GGUSD Teams
The winter sports season is now fully underway with many teams enjoying non-league primers before league competition began this week. In boys soccer, one match up that would have usually been reserved for the league slate of the schedule was played last week. Garden Grove, who recently left the Garden Grove League for the Golden West League, faced former league rival Santiago in a match up of two of GGUSD's most recently successful clubs which saw Santiago take their latest meeting 2-0.
Art in Motion
The Pacifica Dance Senior Showcase was beautifully done and a perfect display of our artistic and talented Mariners! The dance program is such an enriching experience for our students, and they sure make the most of it!  #GGUSDPride
Alamitos Condors Come Together for a Great Cause
For the second year in a row, Alamitos Intermediate School has contributed to Pasta-thon, a fundraiser organized by Caterina's Club through the Anaheim White House Restaurant to help feed families in need five days each week. Alamitos students collected 1,376 pounds and 953 items of pasta, sauce, and utensils. The ASB and NJHS worked together to collect, count, sort, box and deliver. Caterina's delivers 20,000 meals each week! Way to go to the Alamitos Condors for giving back to families in need!  #GGUSDPride
Lobos Students Showcase Musical Talents at Los Amigos Winter Concert
It's winter concert season and GGUSD has one of the strongest Visual and Performing Arts programs around. The Los Amigos instrumental concert was a hit and students showcased their many musical talents!  #GGUSDPride
Barker Students Reach Out to Those Affected By Recent Wildfires
It is the season of giving here at GGUSD and one elementary school is sending their thoughts and well wishes to students affected by the recent fire that destroyed much of the area in Paradise, California. Barker's student council led a donation drive to collect pajamas, socks, and story books as well as candy grams to give to the students recovering from this horrible fire. What a great opportunity for Barker students to reach out to others who are suffering from great loss during this holiday season.  #GGUSDPride
Coding and Robotics at Rosita
Technology is alive and well at Rosita Elementary! With transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students using iPads as part of daily instruction, Rosita has completed its goal of a school-wide technology ratio of one device to one student. The Rosita Robotics Team competed in the First Lego League Challenge in November and did an excellent job. Robotics team members also taught and facilitated a variety of robotics and coding activities for the entire school during the Hour of Code in December. They will continue their training to become Tech Mentors to help integrate robotics and coding in each classroom.
Huge Savings on ACT/SAT Prep Courses!
GGUSD juniors can take advantage of huge savings on ACT/SAT Prep Workshops which are proven to improve results on these rigorous college entrance exams. Classes are being offered at a steep discount and will only cost $50! Workshops are offered at all GGUSD high schools. Call your school guidance counselor to sign up today.
Heritage Computer Science Academy is hosting Parent Information Meetings and Tours for parents interested in learning more about student enrollment opportunities at the school. The district's first-ever Computer Science Academy infuses cutting-edge technology into daily curriculum across all content areas. Students learn computer programming, coding, and robotics through innovative lessons powered by Code to the Future, the nation's leader in computer science schools. Parents will have an opportunity to tour classrooms and learn more about the benefits of computer science. Heritage students will have a competitive advantage in mastering the technology skills needed for success in high school, college, and 21st century careers that haven't even been created yet. Meetings will be offered in English on January 10 and January 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. They will also be offered in Spanish on January 10 and January 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese on January 17 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.