October 23, 2019
#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.
GGUSD Hosts RIbbon-Cutting to Celebrate Skylark Preschool
On October 18, GGUSD's Board of Education hosted a ribbon cutting celebration to commemorate the successful opening of Skylark Preschool, which serves students in the district’s new affordable, full-day preschool program, as well as the state preschool program and special education preschool.

More than 150 parents, community leaders, and staff attended the event, which began with a special musical performance from the preschool students. Board of Education President Lan Nguyen and Vice President Teri Rocco offered remarks about the profound benefits of GGUSD’s preschool programs, and the board’s excitement in offering a new low-cost option for families who do not meet the state’s income eligibility requirements for the state preschool program.  Click here for more information.
Watch our Video with Highlights from the 2019 State of the District
On September 25, GGUSD hosted our first-ever State of the District event to showcase district accomplishments and student successes. The event, held at the Garden Grove Community Center, was limited at capacity to 300 guests, including all GGUSD stakeholders (staff, parents, students, and community leaders). Watch our video for event highlights including student performances, student testimonials, and updates from the Board of Education.

GGUSD to Offer Free and Discounted ACT/SAT Prep Workshops
GGUSD high schools are offering free and discounted ACT and SAT Prep Courses to all eleventh grade students beginning in January. Registration for the prep courses begins in November.

To offer the ACT and SAT Prep Courses, GGUSD partnered with Revolution Prep, a leading education company with trusted strategies to help students improve their scores on high-stakes exams and achieve greater academic success. Typically, these courses cost parents a minimum of $700, but GGUSD will cover the majority of cost per student, and parents will pay only $50! Additionally, free and reduced rates are available for income-eligible students based on their free and reduced meal status.  The ACT and SAT exams are administered in the spring.

Watch Our Choose Wellness Call to Action Video & Get Involved Today!
Have you signed up to get involved in our Choose Wellness campaign? The campaign is aimed at equipping all students and staff with mental health and wellness resources and ending the stigma of getting help during a time in need. There are many different ways you can get involved to help promote wellness in our GGUSD community.
Los Amigos Homecoming Game Photos
Los Amigos High School has posted many awesome photos from its Homecoming assembly and football game including selfies with the principal, senior recognition photos, and videos of the half-time marching band show, the dance team performance, the choir performance, and more.
Stanley Elementary Teachers Offer Warm Welcome
As part of our Choose Wellness campaign, we want to highlight the ways our students and staff go above and beyond to create safe, welcoming, and inclusive climates around our district. Here's a look at how two teachers from Stanley Elementary School provide warm welcomes for their students!
Success from Pacifica Athletes

Pacifica's girl's tennis and volleyball programs are seeing a great deal of success this season! Volleyball secured a third-place finish in the Empire League recently with a victory over Valencia in the Mariner Gym! The following afternoon the tennis team defeated Valencia and are on top of the Empire League! Great job Mariners! 


Murdy Students Learn Important Lessons During Red Ribbon Week
Murdy Elementary School hosted a variety of meaningful lessons during Red Ribbon Week. Students learned about making good choices, and about being responsible, respectful, and safe. Each student received their own reusable water bottle from OC Wellness and students loved the visit from Chipper and the California Highway Patrol Officers who spoke about being kind and the importance of student safety!
GGUSD Launches ParentSquare to Expand Parent Communication
GGUSD has launched ParentSquare, an easy-to-use communication platform to reach and engage every parent, ensuring all parents have the opportunity to actively participate in their children’s education and stay up-to-date on district and school news. 

ParentSquare features:
  • district and school-wide mass notifications through voice, email, text, and new mobile application
  • district, school-wide, and classroom posts received as emails or texts by parents with two-way communication features
  • principal and teacher direct messaging with instant language translation using Google Translate
  • automated attendance notifications on student absences and tardies
  • school calendars and event rsvp’s
  • teacher to student communication for seventh through twelfth grade students

ParentSquare allows parents to choose how to receive school and classroom communication via email, text, or mobile application. Parents can also select when to receive messages either instantly or in digest format at the end of each day. Urgent school-wide messages can be sent through voicemail as well.  Parents will receive emails, texts, or voicemail messages to the email address or phone number on file with the school as part of the student enrollment process. 

Parents can download the GGUSD mobile application now on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 
 
GGUSD’s partnership with ParentSquare will enable a stronger dialogue between school and home, and will help empower everyone within the school community to stay connected and informed.