End-of-the-Week News A weekly sampling of some of the many great things happening at your Moreno Valley schools – May 6, 2016

Sunnymead and Vista Heights celebrate selection as national Schools to Watch Just 13 schools were chosen by the state Department of Education as “Schools to Watch” in all of California this year, and two of those 13 are our own Vista Heights and Sunnymead middle schools. SMS and VHMS were two of only three schools selected from Riverside County, and only 65 other middle-grade schools in California now hold

this honor out of more than 1,300 total. This week, the two schools held well-deserved celebratory events. "The awards are given to schools that show academic excellence and social equity, as well as respond to the needs of young adolescents. Other schools should follow their practices to boost learning for all students," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. Sunnymead and Vista Heights join Landmark Middle School, which was chosen as a School to Watch in 2014.

Successful district Math Festival earns some math converts The halls of Vista del Lago High School took on a math focus recently for the district’s first Math Festival. Look for this event to become a new MVUSD tradition, as it helped bring the excitement and enjoyment of math to some students for the first time. “I never liked math before because I thought it was hard and that I wasn’t smart,” one student said. “But now I’ve started liking math. This is so much fun!” Congratulations and thanks go to our math teachers for their dedication to their field and for sharing the fun and beauty of math with students.

ABC7 news features award-winning Vista del Lago teacher It was good news when ABC7 reporter Leticia Juarez showed up at Vista del Lago this week. She was there to

highlight English teacher Trenquilla Francis, who is one of just six teachers in the nation recognized for achieving outstanding literacy results with her students by using the Read 180 program. You can see the story here.

WorkAbility banquet celebrates student success, community partnerships One of the coolest programs in the district is WorkAbility, through which special-education students are prepared for the transition from school to the world of work or post-secondary education. WorkAbility helps them find paying jobs with

employers in our city, giving them invaluable work experience and skills, including how to fill out employment packets, create résumés, ask for letters of recommendation and, crucially, how to not only survive but thrive in an interview -- all of which will help keep them moving forward after high school. This week, both students and employers were honored at the 22nd Annual WorkAbility College/Career Education Banquet. Congratulations on a job well done to both the students and all our extraordinary special-education professionals.

Valley View dancers win big at multi-state competition Congratulations to the Valley View High School Dance team (Kate Ackerman, Gabriella Bridgmon, Alissa Buffington, Leslie Ceja, Jackie Cooper, Devany Harden, Madison Haskell, Aliyah Martin, Amani Martin, and Peri Tohm), which claimed 10 awards, including six first places and the top honors for Overall Dance for ages 13 and over, at the Professional Dance Network Competition at Irvine. The Eagles competed against dance studios and high schools from across California and Arizona. In addition, several dancers won scholarships to attend next year’s Dance Workshop and Adjudication. Dance director Debbie McQuain is proud to report that VVHS dancers have been accepted at the following colleges as Dance/Performing Arts majors: Cornish College of the Arts; CSU Long Beach; CSU Fullerton; UCI; Chapman University; UCR; and Arizona State.

Midland Elementary thanks volunteers Midland Elementary’s parent volunteers don’t do the many things they do for students and staff expecting anything but the satisfaction of being of service to their children’s school. That makes it all the more special that they were recognized recently with a thank-you tea event. What a great school community at Midland!

Bear Valley marks Cinco de Mayo with performances The cool, cloudy weather did nothing to dampen spirits at Bear Valley this week as the school community gathered to mark Cinco de Mayo. One of the highlights was a performance by dancers from Moreno Valley Ballet Folklorico Scholarship Association, featuring Bear Valley, Sunnymead Middle and Valley View students. Here’s a brief video.

Parents pack Armada’s Cinco de Mayo event Boy, do we ever get some great parent participation at MVUSD! Armada Elementary is a perfect example. The school is well known for its strong school community, but they may have outdone themselves this week as about 500 parents turned out for the Cinco de Mayo celebration! City Council proclamation honors Vista del Lago The MoVal City Council honored Vista del Lago High School with a proclamation at its May 3 meeting. Here, Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez presents the document to Principal Dr. Janelle Woodward and MVUSD Director of Secondary Education Maribel Mattox. The proclamation lauds the school’s steadily increasing graduation rate, which exceeds both the state and national averages; its welcoming and inclusive culture; and exceptional parent involvement. Those Ravens continue to soar!

Old Glory mural painted by VHMS students, teacher Vista Heights Middle School art teacher Cheryl Conder and three of her students recently put the finishing touches on a bright, new, giant mural they painted on the side of the old American Legion Hall on the Old 215 Frontage Road. The team

worked with a professional artist to paint this flag on what has recently been designated as an historic landmark. The mural will be dedicated on Memorial Day. Students enjoying prom season Remember those days? Some of our high schools have already had prom, including Vista del Lago (pictured), whose students danced the night away at Newport Beach. Other students are still getting ready for their big nights. It’s great to see our students get all dressed up, have a good time, and conduct themselves in ways that reflect well on themselves, their schools and our district and community. Ah, to be young again…

Bayside’s first soccer season! Bayside Community Day School is wrapping up its first year at its brand new location, the Bridges Learning Center. Beside being a beautiful new facility, one of the many

benefits of Bridges is that Bayside now has a playing field on which to practice, which allowed for the formation of the school’s first boys (pictured) and girls soccer teams led by coaches Daniel DuFour and Liz Cos. Bayside’s student-athletes are now preparing for their first playoffs in the Inland Empire Alternative High Schools League. We’re rooting for you, Titans!

Band Spectacular hits the high notes MVUSD’s first annual Band Spectacular certainly lived up to its name! The recent gathering of school bands at Valley View was a “spectacular” showcase for our many student musicians, hundreds of whom took part – including the new Elementary Honor Band, which entertained the big and enthusiastic crowd with four numbers. Pictured is the Valley View Jazz Ensemble with guest performer Eric McKain.

MVUSD Board of Education Jesús M. Holguín, President

Dr. Denise Fleming, Vice President Cleveland Johnson, Clerk

Gary E. Baugh, Ed.S. Patrick W. Kelleher