eNewsletter
April 12, 2019 ‌
SCHOOL NEWS
This past fall, Ford Motor Company employees volunteered to be mentors, meeting with students monthly at Glen Yermo. In conjunction with the OC District Attorney's Office program, OC Grip, one of the activities that the students engaged in during this time was designing a car and submitting that drawing for competition. Of all the submissions countywide, Alexa's design was chosen as the winner. Her design was unveiled at the Ford Finale in December. She is pictured above at the unveiling of her design on campus.
Our very own Trabuco Hills High Scholl students shine at Chapman University! Each year since 1999, THHS art students have participated in the international Chapman University Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. Students gain an intimate perspective of a holocaust survivor’s testimony and create a drawing or painting to illustrate the survivor’s story. This is an international contest involving hundreds of junior high and high schools with over 5,000 entries each year. This year THHS had three 11th grade students who were chosen to participate. Tayler Northrup was recognized and accepted into the highly competitive competition. Maxine Fujimoto ranked in the top 7 artists and Amanda Harris took 1st place overall in the Chapman University 20th Annual Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. Amanda received a $400 scholarship and a week-long, all expense paid trip to LA with Chapman University.
de Portola Elementary School's 4th annual Chalkfest was held on April 9th. Parents and students joined forces and talents to create individual class images. The images are selected by the teacher; perhaps a favorite book or theme of what they are studying. Some images are designed by the students in a class competition. Every student chalks a square on a grid of their class image and the end result is a fabulous artistic collaboration. The mantra of the day is “not an artist, not a problem”. Students work as a community to get every image completed in one school day. Students are also reminded that Chalkfest is performance art, and that the art is in the making. Eventually the images will wear away, but the memories of creating these vibrant images last forever!
Mayra Davalos, 2nd grade teacher at Gates Elementary , was selected as one of the 2019 awardees for the $5,000 Schools First Federal Credit Union Inquiry and Innovation Teacher Series Awards.  As a recipient of this award, Mayra was recognized at the March 2 Honor an Educator event at Cal State Fullerton. The monies will be used to purchase flexible learning environment furniture and art supplies to integrate the arts and creativity to daily learning. Congratulations, Mayra!
DISTRICT NEWS
Click on the icons to follow us on social media!
TEACHER OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION
Friends, family, administrators, and peers gathered to celebrate
SVUSD Teachers of the Year .
It is always a special time when teachers are recognized for the
gifts they bring to their students and classrooms.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You to all teachers in SVUSD and
Congratulations once again to our Teachers of the Year!

Cielo Vista - Amanda Gilmartin
Cordillera - Jade Dowbachuk
Del Cerro - Holly Wrobel
Del Lago - Dana Kirby
Esperanza - Richard Ellis
ETHS - Erin Maguire
Gates - Julio Flores
Glen Yermo - Lori Hall
*La Paz Intermediate - Jon VanTassell
La Tierra - Kimberly Brown
Lake Forest - Raniah Crail
LHHS - Lisa Palmstrom
Linda Vista IB PYP Magent - Tricia Gray
Lomarena - Molli Patterson
Los Alisos - Grace Cruikshank
Melinda Heights - Kelli Day-Lambeth
*MVHS - Kelly McAlister
Montevideo - Karen Jones
Olivewood - Stephanie Williams
Portola Hills - Shannon Shanton
Rancho Canada - Robin Pelzer
Robinson - Juli Stowers
RSM Intermediate- William Chavez
San Joaquin - Katey Thompson
Santiago TEAM Magnet - Cecile Vu
Serrano Intermediate - Holly Danielson
Silverado - DeeAnn Crouch
THHS - Stacey Hamamura
*Trabuco Mesa - Mandy Kelly
Valencia - Katie Boyd

* Indicates Teacher of the Year Finalist
Mr. Sean Fletcher was awarded Teacher of the Year by the 4 th District PTA Council , the largest PTA Council in the U.S.! This award, given on March 20 th , recognized the various ways Mr. Fletcher supports the science, students, Serrano Intermediate, and SVUSD!  A few things mentioned: Mr. Fletcher supplemented his SVUSD Innovation classroom grant with additional external grant proposals for a GE 3-D printer, whiteboard, and science lab supplies. He extended his own time to offer science volunteer opportunities for students, and engaged families in science by including them in the students’ extra credit projects. Mr. Fletcher also holds 3 PTA memberships - one for each of his children, and a staff membership at Serrano Intermediate!  Congratulations Mr. Fletcher and thank you for all you do!
On March 22, the district welcomed over 30 community members who served as Principal for a Day. Each volunteer spent the morning, at the invitation of the Principal, visiting classrooms, participating in activities, and witnessing first hand all of the innovative happenings in SVUSD. Following their time on campus, Principals and Principals for a Day, gathered at the district offices for a luncheon with members of the School Board, Superintendent, Dr. Crystal Turner, as well as other district officials. "It was a great time to learn more about those who are giving back to our schools as well as develop new relationships with our community members," said Mark Perez, Director of Communications and Administrative Services.
SVUSD
Employment Opportunities
SVUSD has an array of employment opportunities available throughout the year. The positions represent openings across the district and various divisions. All SVUSD openings can be accessed through the following EdJoin link, which is updated regularly:
DATES TO REMEMBER
Apr. 15 - Apr. 19
now - May 30
May 27
June 11-13
June 12-13
June 13
June 13
Spring Recess
Elementary School Showcases (Selected Sites)
Memorial Day Holiday - No School
High School Final Exams (not Silverado)
Intermediate School and Silverado Final Exams
8th Grade Promotion/Graduation
Last Day of School
SVUSD BOARD OF EDUCATION
Superintendent
Dr. Crystal Turner

Board of Trustees
President
Suzie R. Swartz
Vice President
Dr. Edward Wong
Clerk
Amanda Morrell
Members
Barbara Schulman
Greg Kunath
Student Board Member
Jacob Walker
               Board of Education Meeting Dates
The Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees encourages community members to attend and participate in its business meetings whenever possible.
Closed session board business is typically conducted at 5:00 p.m. followed by open session business typically beginning at 6:00 p.m. Meetings are held in the SVUSD Education Center Board Room located at 25631 Peter A. Hartman Way, Mission Viejo.