End-of-the-Week News A weekly sampling of some of the many great things happening at your Moreno Valley schools – April 15, 2016

Five schools earn state’s Gold Ribbon School award! Moreno Valley Unified, along with Desert Sands Unified, continues to lead all other Riverside County school districts with the greatest number of Gold Ribbon School awards. This week’s announcement by state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson that five MVUSD elementary schools are Gold Ribbon School winners brings the two districts’ total to 12 over the past two years – for us, almost one third of all schools in the district. This year’s winners are Edgemont, Hendrick Ranch, North Ridge, Sunnymead and TownGate

elementary schools. Last year’s secondary-school winners were Vista del Lago and Valley View high schools; Bayside Community Day School; and Badger Springs, Landmark, Sunnymead and Vista Heights middle schools. “These schools shine as bright beacons for others, putting forth an exemplary effort to ensure that every student is ready for 21st century college and careers,” Torlakson said.

MVUSD Board of Education Jesús M. Holguín, President Dr. Denise Fleming, Vice President Cleveland Johnson, Clerk Gary E. Baugh, Ed.S. Patrick W. Kelleher

At North Ridge Magnet Elementary, just add water! Life – at least as we currently know it here on our little blue planet – is dependent on H2O. So it makes sense that the North Ridge school community is building a pond, referred to as a Model Environmental Science Area (MESA), to help students learn

about a variety of earthly life forms and how they use and depend on water. “Our new pond will help us not only provide a serene place for students to work,” explained Principal Dr. Casaundra McNair, “but an area for xeriscape, vermicomposting, a butterfly garden, and a vegetable garden.” (“Xeriscape: landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation.” There, now we’ve all learned something!) Students of the Month Each month from October to April we join with our neighbors at Val Verde Unified to recognize Moreno Valley’s outstanding high school seniors. This month’s honorees are: Meilani Burnham (CSHS); Joshua Geronimo (CHHS); Francisco Becerra, Jr. (MMHS); Sara Rubenstein (Middle College High School, MVC); Nina Doan (MVHS); Diana Alanis (RVHS); Liz Esmeralda Ochoa (Val Verde Academy); Tajohna Hicks (Val Verde HS); Joyce Lor (VVHS); and Al-Yasah Esmael (VLHS). Special thanks to Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring the event.

MVUSD music program earns national recognition! In recognition of its outstanding commitment to music education, Moreno Valley Unified has been designated a “Best Community for Music Education” by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. MVUSD joins just 476 other school districts across the country in earning the award this year, out of a total of more than 13,500 school districts nationwide. Only 12 school districts in California were so honored.

Eagles becoming Coyotes Last week we told you about the large number – 62 – of Valley View seniors accepted by UCR. An even

larger contingent – 89 – has been accepted by CSU San Bernardino, in part due to the “guaranteed admission” agreement we signed with CSUSB back in 2014, which reserves space for MVUSD grads who meet admission requirements. While they soon will be CSUSB Coyotes, once an Eagle, always an Eagle!

Landmark Middle finishes strong at MESA regionals! Congratulations to Landmark Middle School students who recently took top prizes at the MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement) regional competition held at UCR, which featured students from all over Southern California. Led by teachers Aurora Johnson and Catalina Moye, LMS placed in three competitions. Audra Plamondon won 1st place and Javier Arredondo won 3rd in the Speak Up competition. Joshua Agubata and Andrea Cortez took 1st place and Itary Gutierrez and Clinton Offor finished 2nd in the G-I Tract competition. And Audra Plamondon and Javier Arredondo claimed 3rd place in the Non-delegate Math competition. Way to go, Knights!

It’s a Battle of the Books at TownGate America’s Battle of the Books is a reading-incentive program for students in grades 3-12, and recently 4th- and 5th-graders at TownGate Elementary took part in the school’s own 1st Annual Battle of the Books. Six teams of four were challenged to read 10 novels, and then compete to test their knowledge of what they read in a high-energy, quick-thinking contest. It was so fun that TownGate hereby invites other schools to join them next year in a district competition!

History lives at Chaparral Hills! Albert Einstein (pictured, with the Bernie Sanders hair), Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Johnny Appleseed and many more famous names from history came alive recently at the Living Museum at Chaparral Hills Elementary. Students got to choose an historical figure, learn as much as possible about the person, then assume the person’s identity (and hair, in this case) and give museum-goers a brief introduction to their life and claim to fame. (Hold on to that wig, though, for next year’s event, just in case Sen. Sanders becomes president…)

Canyon Springs grapplers honored by Press-Enterprise Congratulations to the Canyon Springs wrestling program for another outstanding season, and for having two of its members honored by the Press-Enterprise. Junior Ethan Diaz (120 lbs.) and senior Jeremy Carroll (152 lbs.) were selected by the P-E for its 2nd team of area all-stars. The Cougars, who claimed their SEVENTH STRAIGHT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP this year, are coached by Jason Lowe. Go, Cougs!

Schools buzzing with construction projects! Construction crews have been busy this year at schools all over the district. Pictured is the newly reconstructed southwest quad area at Moreno Valley High, just one of the many improvement projects taking place there this year. Over at Armada Elementary, they’re watching their school’s new two-story classroom building take shape. And come this summer, Edgemont Elementary, the district’s oldest school, will be razed to make room for the brand new Edgemont that will rise to take its place. Thank you, voters, for overwhelmingly supporting Measure M!

Spring teams continue fall and winter sports success It’s been a great athletics year for all our high schools, as each school has excelled in several sports – and the spring season is no exception. Standouts include Vista del Lago baseball, now 7-0 in league; Valley View softball, 6-0 in league; and MoVal boys and girls track and field, both at 4-0 in league.

Valley View stages “Shout! The Mod Musical” The 1960s were a time of turmoil, change, big hairdos and crazy, colorful clothes. Relive the era (or experience it for the first time) this week at Valley View High School, as the drama, dance, and choir departments combine their creative forces to present "Shout! The Mod Musical." It’s 1960s London, and five girls are obsessed with a magazine that they believe will help them find true love. Catch the show Saturday, April 16, at 2 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, April 21-22, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance or $7 at the door. Be there or be square!