March is Arts Education Month and we're celebrating all SVUSD Visual Arts and Performing Arts (VAPA) programs. We especially want to honor our SVUSD VAPA teachers and support staff for their commitment and innovation to ensure our VAPA programs thrive during these difficult times. Thank you!

All SVUSD school sites and the District office will be closed from April 5th through 9th for Spring Recess. Enjoy!

Lily Marchiondo, a fifth grader at Melinda Heights Elementary, has been nominated as SVUSD's “Every Student Succeeding” awardee. The purpose of this award is to honor students at all grade levels who have succeeded against all odds. Lily is the pebble in Melinda Heights pond. Everywhere she goes, with everyone she meets, Lily creates a beautiful ripple. She is pure joy. With the support of her teachers and parents, alongside her own determination, positive mindset and love for life, Lily continues to blossom. We are so PROUD of you, Lily!

For the 3rd year in a row, Trabuco Hills High School takes 1st Place in Chapman University's 22nd 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. Arantza Guerena took 1st place, Orianne Adams was one of the top three artworks to represent THHS, and Maya Benham was a finalist. Congratulations to Mr. Berry, THHS Art teacher, and these amazing students!

March 3rd was National Spread the Word Inclusion Day and many of our SVUSD Unified Champion Schools celebrated with schools across the country by signing pledges, having classroom discussions, making signs, wearing bracelets and shirts, and holding school wide Step Challenges. Our Unified Champion Schools continue to spread the message of inclusion and acceptance for students with and without disabilities to join clubs, teams, classes, activities and opportunities together.

Check out this opportunity for career exploration through general education. Explore your interests, expand your knowledge, gain skills, and earn early college credits through Saddleback College Learning Pathways. New online 8-week courses begin on April 1^st.

The SVUSD podcast, Saddleback Valley Shares, returns with its first episode in 2021! Tune in and learn more about the state of “starting competition” for SVUSD athletics and some important insight on what SVUSD is doing to keep our students safe throughout this process. #svusdshines!

Families who are interested in enrolling their children for Summer TLC 2021, as well as Preschool Connection or TLC for the 2021/2022 school year, are invited to sign up for our interest list. As information becomes available, families will be notified of future programs and enrollment. For questions, please click on the button below or call us at (949) 768-0981.

TLC sites will be open during Spring Recess, April 6 - 9. All TLC Sites will be closed on Monday, April 5th. Services will be available to our families from 7:30am – 5:30pm each day. Open sites: Cordillera, Foothill Ranch, Rancho Canada, Trabuco Mesa, and Valencia.

Tip Sheet for Families: Youth Suicide & Mental Health Concerns During COVID-19 provides parents and other caregivers with research-based practices for recognizing mental health distress and suicidal ideation among children.