GGUSD Showcases Student Success at State of the District

On Monday, GGUSD hosted its 2024 State of the District at the Hyatt in Garden Grove, welcoming nearly 600 guests including elected officials, community partners, staff, families and students to celebrate our district accomplishments!

Guests were treated to wonderful musical performances from Pacifica's Commercial Music Group, McGarvin's String Orchestra, Garden Grove High School's Vocal Ensemble and a joint choir performance from Peters 4-6 Elementary, Fitz Intermediate Language Academy and Garden Grove High School.

Guests also enjoyed Santiago High School JROTC's presentation of the colors, the National Anthem sung beautifully by Rancho Alamitos student Rebecca Trejo, the pledge of allegiance led by Student Board Representative Emily Nguyen and powerful student testimonials from Santiago High School Student Jefferson Xitamul and Bolsa Grande High School Student Vivian To. During dinner, guests enjoyed wonderful conversation facilitated by high school student leaders and piano music from Bolsa Grande students Andrew Huynh and Brandon Nguyen! Superintendent Dr. Gabriela Mafi and the Board of Education were proud of the wonderful showcase of the impact of our district goals: equipping all students with the academic skills (Goal 1) and personal skills (Goal 2) for lifelong success (Goal 3).

We all left feeling proud to be part of the amazing GGUSD community! #GGUSDPride #GGUSDGoalGetters

GGUSD Spotlights Medical Career Pathway

Each week, GGUSD showcases our outstanding CTE programs that provide intermediate and high school students with hundreds of engaging courses in 14 Career Pathways that focus on the real-world skills needed for high-paying, in-demand future careers (Goal 3).

This week, we want to share our NEW Career Pathway Video which showcases our Medical Career Pathway. Please take a moment to watch this video to hear from CTE teachers and students about what they love most about the Medical Pathway. #GGUSDPride #GGUSDGoalGetters

Allen Elementary School Students Shine on Stage

Allen Elementary School students delivered an impressive performance of Disney's musical "Frozen." The stage came to life as students sang, danced and transformed into their favorite Frozen characters. Allen Elementary School is one of six schools performing Disney musicals this year, a favorite program among our students, staff, families and community!

Northcutt Student Earns Spelling Bee Championship for 2nd Year

Congrats to Northcutt Elementary sixth-grader Joaquin Ablis who earned the title of Spelling Bee Champion in the district’s 36th annual GGUSD Spelling Bee for elementary students held on February 22 at Edgar District Meeting Center. This is the second year in a row Ablis captured the championship.

GGUSD Schools Earn CA Distinguished Schools Award

Two GGUSD schools have been named 2024 California Distinguished Schools! Congratulations to Bell and McGarvin intermediate schools for being recognized with this prestigious honor and for all they are doing to promote academic excellence and equip students with the academic skills (Goal 1) and personal skills (Goal 2) for lifelong success! (Goal 3)

Pacifica Show Choir Continues Winning Streak

Pacifica's Encore season started with a first place finish a few weekends ago, and the ride continues as they earned additional wins in two recent competitions.

In the Kennedy All-Star Show Choir Competition, they placed first in Musicianship, first in Showmanship, and first Overall. Additionally, Evelyn Nguyen was named Best Soloist, and Candace Nguyen was named Best Performer.

At the Bonita Vista San Diego Sings! Show Choir Competition, they placed first in Musicianship, first in Showmanship, and first Overall once again! Evelyn Nguyen was named best performer for the second show in a row and they also received Best Tech Crew honors. WAY TO GO MARINERS! #GGUSDPride

GGHS Welcomes Guest Speakers for Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month, Ms. Laura, Garden Grove High School English teacher & Black Student Union advisor, hosted former Argos turned business owners, Martha Martinez, Yanelly Martinez, (graduates of Garden Grove High School) along with Trevion Richardson to share all about their experiences as young Black entrepreneurs. They spoke about their journey starting their streetwear brand, Betray the Hype, the inspiration for their designs, and the importance of Black history to them as designers.

GGUSD Promotes Dual Language Programs at CABE Conference

GGUSD attended the 49th annual CABE Conference last week in full force along with educators, staff, parents and students from across the nation to showcase the district’s dual language programs and to attend numerous workshops aimed at advancing educational systems that prioritize multilingualism.

GGUSD Superintendent Dr. Gabriela Mafi was one of the Honorary Chairs of the Conference and in addition to her welcoming message on Saturday, she presented a workshop called College Mentoring Programs: Closing the College Knowledge Gap.

Murdy Elementary School received the 2024 CABE Seal of Excellence Award for its exemplary Vietnamese Dual Immersion Program! During the week of the conference, GGUSD also welcomed CABE visitors to Monroe Elementary Language Academy to showcase the school’s best practices in dual language instruction. Numerous groups performed at the conference including the La Quinta High School Vietnamese Student Association Lion Dance and Traditional Dance teams, Mariachi Los Vaqueros from Rancho Alamitos High School and Murdy Elementary School.

GGUSD Board of Education President Teri Rocco, Vice President Lan Nguyen and Trustee Walter Muneton also attended the conference to show their support! GGUSD is proud of our work to celebrate diversity, elevate our English Learners and advance opportunities for students to become multilingual. #GGUSDPride #GGUSDGoalGetters

Save the Date for Roadmap to Success

SAVE THE DATE: GGUSD invites students in grades 6-12 and their families to GGUSD’s Roadmap to Success event on Monday, March 11, from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Rancho Alamitos High School. Students and their families will have the opportunity to learn about college and career planning, CSU/UC and private college admission updates, financial aid and scholarships, sports recruiting, AB540 information, and strategies that can be used when filling out college applications. Additionally, special education students and their families are invited to attend the Special Education Resource Fair beginning at 4:30 p.m. and workshops on transition services, post-secondary disability services and resources for students who will be transitioning out of high school. Workshops will be in English with interpretation in Spanish and Vietnamese. Interpretation support will also be available in Korean and Arabic. Childcare will be provided for children ages 2-10. If you have any questions, please call the Department of Parent and Community Outreach at 714-663-6084.

GGUSD Promotes Upcoming Parent University Courses

GGUSD invites all parents to participate in the virtual Parent University program in partnership with Fresno State University. Registration begins now for the FREE virtual classes that begin next week March 5th and 6th. There is no cost for the classes which are held 2 days a week for 4 weeks from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Sign up now to enroll in Digital Literacy, English Conversation, Financial Literacy, Health and Wellness, Pathway to College, Small Business Development, Social and Emotional Wellness, Spanish Conversation, and more. A new schedule of four-week Parent University classes is offered each month. Use the QR code to sign up.