June 12, 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.
Celebrating Class of 2018 Graduates
With high school graduation around the corner, GGUSD launched  #18in2018 . Our social media campaign is an 18-day countdown to graduation and an online celebration of some of our brightest college-bound scholars.

Garden Grove High School’s Cathy Duong will head on a cross-country trip next fall to attend Yale University as an english major on a pre-med track to pursue her career goal of becoming a geneticist. Speaking of cross country, Cathy is proud to have participated on Grove’s cross country team for all four years of high school. She also stayed on track in her academics as she was named co-valedictorian, took seventh place with honors at the Orange County Academic Decathlon, earned the title of 2017 Questbridge College Prep Scholar, and is a National College Match Finalist. Cathy was given an exciting opportunity to fly to Boston where she spent three weeks studying biomedical and surgical research through the Questbridge STEM Quest for Excellence Scholarship.
GGUSD Celebrates its Class of 2018 Valedictorians and Salutatorians
GGUSD's Class of 2018 valedictorians and salutatorians are an impressive group! The 26 students who have earned the prestigious honor are highly accomplished and well-rounded scholars who exemplify the Garden Grove Way and are well-equipped for lifelong success.
Special Games
Did you make it to our 2018 Special Games event? If not, check out this video which captures 600 students with special needs and 400 general education students coming together to celebrate all students' abilities through a fun morning of Olympic sports. Thanks to the Special Olympics of California for helping to coordinate this wonderful event. And thank you to GGUSD's Board of Education President Bob Harden, Vice President Lan Nguyen and Trustee Teri Rocco for coming out to cheer on our athletes!  #ChooseGGUSD
Exceptional Student Recognition
A big thank you to our Special Education Community Advisory Committee volunteers who organized a fantastic event last week to honor students with special needs. The event opened with beautiful music by the Los Amigos A Cappella Choir, and later students received a certificate and gift and were honored by their principals, teachers, and parents for their many accomplishments during the school year.
LQ Students Give Heritage a New Look
There is nothing more beautiful than a collaboration between GGUSD schools. The very talented La Quinta High School art students painted murals on the hand ball courts at Heritage Elementary. The new Heritage Elementary Computer Science Immersion Academy won't only have new technology, but also a new look to create an inspiring learning environment for all students.
Millionaire's Club

Hazard Elementary School hosted a red carpet ceremony to celebrate its Millionaire's Club, a group of 26 students who each read one million words this school year. With cheering parents, paparazzi-style photos, and celebrity treatment that included a limo ride to Starbucks, these 26 students were celebrated for their amazing reading accomplishments! Students who read one million words in a school year are more likely to excel at state testing and outperform in reading, spelling, and writing, as well as meeting rigorous college readiness standards. Thank you to Board Trustee Walter Muneton who attended the special ceremony. And great job to Hazard's top readers!
Meaningful Mentor
Last week, Dr. Mafi hosted an end-of-the-year celebration for the Los Amigos High School students who she has been mentoring since they were students at Russell Elementary. She recognized each student for his/her individual academic and personal accomplishments as the students finished their freshman year of high school.
Fulbright Scholarship Award Winner
Vietnamese language teacher Phuong Thao Dinh of McGarvin Intermediate School has received a grant from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board to teach abroad in Vietnam during the summer. Miss Dinh, who applied to participate in the program, is one of only 20 educators from the United States who will travel abroad through the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Short-Term Program in 2018-2019. Click here to learn more.
Cook's Distinguished School Celebration
Recently, Cook Elementary School hosted an amazing celebration to recognize students, staff, and parents on the prestigious accomplishment of receiving the state's top honor as a 2018 California Distinguished School! Thank you to Board of Education trustees Teri Rocco and Dina Nguyen for making the celebration extra special and for all you do to support students and contribute to the success of GGUSD!  #ChooseGGUSD
Board Recognizes Simon Scholars

The highlight of last week's Board of Education meeting was the Class of 2020 Simon Scholars from Garden Grove, Los Amigos, and Rancho Alamitos high schools. Thanks to the generous support of the Simon Family Foundation, 24 students from GGUSD's Class of 2020 will receive a $16,000 college scholarship, laptop, and a whole host of resources including mentoring, leadership training, college coaching, application assistance, SAT/ACT preparation courses, and experiences in the arts. While in college, these students will receive leadership workshops, college life support, career networking, and the support of the Simon Scholar family which has been life-changing for so many GGUSD students since our partnership began in 2007.
Jordan Students Shine on Stage

Ninety Jordan Intermediate choir students lit up the stage in the school's production of Disney's Mulan during three mostly sold-out performances May 31 - June 2. The show was seen by an audience of over 700 people which included current Jordan students, family, alumni, and members of the community. It has become an annual tradition that people come back to see year after year. School employees and students began preparing for the production in March. Jordan's Art Club decorated the MPR and ASB helped collect tickets and hand out programs. Various teachers helped with hair, make-up, and costumes. Community members and the band director helped with sound and lighting. The school secretary painted the sets. It was a wonderful collaboration by so many members of the Jordan family.
Jordan Intermediate School students shine on stage during the school's production of Disney's Mulan.
Decision Day at Los Amigos
Los Amigos High School hosted a fun “Decision Day” with games, prizes, and photo stations to celebrate their college bound seniors and the exciting decisions they have made about attending college. These Lobos are ready for greatness!
Irvine Promotes Safety and Peace
School Safety is important at Irvine Intermediate School. Recently, Irvine's school counselor, Mrs. Santacruz, and several teachers led Irvine students in an activity to allow them a chance to express what makes them feel safe at school. The peace project inspired an important conversation about keeping the campus safe.