Attend Our All About TK Online Webinar on Monday, June 9

Do you have a child born between September 2, 2020 and September 1, 2021? If so, they should be attending GGUSD Transitional Kindergarten (TK) in the fall! Join us for our All About TK Parent Meeting via Zoom on Monday, June 9 at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

District leaders will present information on what to expect when your child begins TK in the 2025-2026 school year. Topics include enrollment, curriculum and instruction, how to prepare your child for TK, and other important things to know as your child begins this exciting step in their education.

You only need to attend one presentation as the same presentation is being provided twice (at 9 a.m. and again at 6 p.m.) to make it convenient for families. Interpretation will be provided in Spanish and Vietnamese.

Please RSVP to attend using this Google Form:

https://forms.gle/Nc1ZKDqhaD4iMDBC9

Use this link to attend the Zoom webinar: https://bit.ly/TKParentMtg25

GGUSD Board Honors 2025 Classified Employees of the Year

It was a full house at this week's Board of Education meeting as we proudly celebrated nine exceptional Classified Employee of the Year and three outstanding Teacher of the Year nominees. The energy and pride in the room were a true reflection of the GGUSD community’s appreciation for these dedicated professionals who go above and beyond to support our students and schools.

Watch our video to learn more about our outstanding 2025 Classified Employee of the Year nominees:

• Jennifer Birmingham – Lead IBIA
• Isabel Chojnacky – Cook/Baker, La Quinta High School
• Gabriella D'Angelo – Behind-the-Wheel Instructor
• Elisa Gonzalez – School Community Liaison, Russell Elementary Language Academy
• Shannon Lacey – Secretary, Peters 4-6 Elementary School
• Kurt Lucas – Head Custodian, Crosby Elementary
• Nancy Monarez – Student Supervision Assistant at Lawrence Elementary (at time of nomination), now Paraeducator/IA2 at Bryant
• Shannon Underwood – Software & Application Specialist
• Jesse Prentice – Painter

GGUSD's Board of Education Celebrates our Teachers of the Year

Watch our video to learn more about our fantastic nominees for the OCDE 2026 Teacher of the Year Program. Congratulations to Patton teacher Kate Setum, Rosita teacher Kris Corder and McGarvin teacher Suzanne Russo who all go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of GGUSD students. Special kudos to Kate Setum who was named one of 15 Orange County semifinalists! We are so grateful for these exceptional teachers who were honored at our recent Board of Education meeting!

GGUSD Celebrates its 2025 CA Distinguished Schools

GGUSD celebrated our 11 California Distinguished Schools last Friday at the California School Recognition Program Awards Ceremony hosted by the CDE at the Disneyland Hotel. Congratulations to our Distinguished Schools: Anthony, Barker, Brookhurst, Cook, Eisenhower, Excelsior, Hill, Patton, Peters K-3 and 4-6 and Zeyen on this tremendous recognition for academic excellence!

GGUSD has the most 2025 Distinguished Schools of any district in Orange County! No district in the state earned more Distinguished School honors than GGUSD, except Los Angeles Unified — which is 14 times larger.

Board of Education Trustees Teri Rocco and Walter Muneton attended the event alongside Superintendent Gabriela Mafi, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Lisa Swartz and Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Educational Services Dr. Lorena Sanchez to support our schools and celebrate this outstanding achievement of GGUSD's wonderful teachers, staff, students and families.

GGUSD's Summer Meals Program is Here!

June 2 marked the first day of GGUSD’s Free Summer Meals Program — helping ensure children have access to nutritious meals even when school is out! A huge thank you to Board of Education Trustee Teri Rocco for joining us on Day 1 at the Garden Grove Chapman Library and helping serve our families with care and smiles! It was a packed house for families who came out to enjoy the Traveling Tidepools exhibit and stay for lunch.

GGUSD's Board of Education Honors Student Board Representative

GGUSD's Board of Education honored Student Board Representative Josephine Le for her service on the Board! Josephine did an exceptional job elevating student voice and fostering a more connected, empathetic school community. She demonstrated outstanding leadership and communication skills in her role on the Board of Education, Student Board Representative Council and during her time at Bolsa Grande High School. She completed her time in GGUSD with an impressive 4.49 GPA and will attend UCLA in the fall where she will major in Pre Statistics and Data Science. We are so proud of Josephine and are grateful for her service on the Board.

Doig Intermediate Secures “45 Celebrations of Excellence” Award

In April, Doig Intermediate School was honored with the prestigious “45 Celebrations of Excellence” Award from the AVID Center, recognizing the school's outstanding commitment to student achievement and a culture of college and career readiness.

Out of 7,000 AVID schools across the nation, Doig is 1 of only 45 — and one of just 4 in Orange County — to earn this incredible honor. As a National AVID Demonstration School, Doig stands out for its commitment to closing the opportunity gap and preparing all students for college, careers, and success in a global society The award celebrates schools that have demonstrated exceptional educator agency and a deep commitment to embedding AVID strategies across all classrooms and grade levels.

At Doig, teachers and staff hold students to high expectations, providing rigorous content and supportive, student-centered instruction across every classroom and grade level.

Murdy Elementary Receives Top Award for SEL

Murdy Elementary School has been recognized as one of the best communities for Social Emotional Learning in California! Congratulations to Murdy Elementary School for being named a 2025 Thriving School by @SEL4CA for its exceptional PBIS program and all that Murdy staff does to promote a positive culture and climate where all students in “Murdy’s Herd” feel valued and respected. Murdy is 1 of 2 schools in Orange County and 1 of 8 in California to receive this prestigious Thriving School Award in the category of Systemic Social Emotional Learning Implementation. Kudos to Murdy staff, students and families on this well-deserved recognition.

GGUSD Showcases CTE Pathways at "Empowering Your Future" Expo

GGUSD's exceptional CTE programs were showcased at an exciting Empowering Your Future CTE Expo held recently at Freedom Hall in Mile Square Park. The event welcomed students and families to explore hands-on opportunities in fields like Automotive, Culinary, STEAM, Medical Careers, and more — including a sneak peek at the brand-new Skilled Trades Pathway launching at Rancho Alamitos High School in 2025-26!

Families heard powerful stories from current CTE students and alumni, including keynote speaker Winston Ta, a GGUSD graduate who shared his journey through the Computer Science Pathway at Pacifica High and into college-level coursework.

GGUSD is proud to empower students to explore their passions, build real-world skills, and prepare for success in college and career — all before graduation.



Special thanks to Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen and Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean for co-hosting this inspiring event!

GGUSD Bus Drivers Win State Championship Competition

Last Sunday, Team GGUSD hit the road and made history at the State Championship School Bus Roadeo in Galt, CA! After earning First Place Team honors at the Southern Sectional Roadeo on April 26 in Ontario, our all-star drivers—Gabby D’Angelo, Eduardo Franco, and Jose Yepez—were invited to go head-to-head with Northern California’s top team.

And they brought the trophy home! GGUSD’s incredible trio took First Place at the State Championship, proving once again that safety, skill, and teamwork drive excellence. BIG congratulations to our Roadeo Champions—Gabby, Eduardo, and Jose! GGUSD is proud to be represented by such dedicated professionals.

Paine Elementary Hosts Grad Walk for La Quinta's Class of 2025

Last week, La Quinta High School’s graduating Class of 2025 took part in a heartwarming tradition — the annual graduation walk at Paine Elementary! Seniors donned their caps and gowns as they walked the halls, cheered on by excited elementary students and staff. The event serves as a powerful reminder of how far our students have come and inspires the next generation to dream big and reach for their goals.

GGUSD Joins TAVIET to Celebrate the End of the School Year

GGUSD was proud to join the Union of Overseas Vietnamese Language Schools (TAVIET) for their recent end-of-year celebration! Board of Education President Lan Nguyen, Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Educational Services Dr. Lorena Sanchez, Director of English Learner Programs Tanya Avina, and Director of K-12 Educational Services Loan Wu attended the event to show their continued support for the preservation and celebration of Vietnamese language and culture. GGUSD is grateful for community partnerships like TAVIET that empower students to embrace their heritage, strengthen language skills, and build cultural pride.

GGUSD Unified Athletes Continue to Shine

On May 9, Unified athletes from La Quinta High School made waves at the CIF-SS Division 3 Swimming and Diving Championship Finals at Mt. San Antonio College. Competing in Unified swimming events, these student-athletes were awarded their CIF Letter, recognizing their incredible dedication, teamwork, and achievement at the highest level of inclusion and competition.

Earlier in the week, on May 7, Unified athletes from La Quinta, Santiago, and Pacifica High Schools proudly represented GGUSD at the CIF-SS Unified Championship Track & Field Meet at Trabuco Hills High School. From the track to the pool, these students embodied the spirit of Unified Sports, where athletes with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities compete together — building friendships, school spirit, and unforgettable memories.

A huge THANK YOU to Coaches Danielle Freeman and Brittany Schmitt for their dedication to our athletes and for making these life-changing opportunities possible.

Summer Learning with GGUSD

As summer kicks off, we encourage families to help students stay engaged and ready for the 2025–26 school year!

Visit our Online Summer Resources webpage for a variety of free online learning resources for students in grades K–12 — including access to digital textbooks, learning platforms, and parent support tools.

Featured Resource: Varsity Tutors (TK–12)

Available through Classlink, Varsity Tutors offers FREE 24/7 chat-based tutoring in all subjects! A great tool for homework help or summer study sessions.

Boost Your Skills with the virtual Parent University program in partnership with Fresno State University! Registration begins now for the FREE virtual classes that begin the week of June 9.

Courses offered:

• Digital Literacy 1-2: Build essential tech skills for the modern world!
• Small Business Development: Turn your ideas into a thriving business with expert guidance.
• Spanish Conversation: Enhance your language skills and open doors to new opportunities.

Classes held twice weekly for 3 weeks

Evenings via Zoom, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Monday/Wednesday Sessions

Tuesday/Thursday Sessions

Whether you're starting a new career, improving your finances, or learning a new language, they’ve got you covered!

Calling all future full-time college students! Are you passionate about education and want to make a difference while gaining valuable experience? GGUSD is looking for AVID Tutors for the 2025-2026 school year! If you’re enrolled full-time in college next year and love helping others succeed, this is your chance to support GGUSD students on their academic journeys. The opportunity offers a competitive salary, is a great resume builder and allows students to make an impact on their school community.

Apply Today and help students reach their college dreams!

GGUSD Supports Safe and Welcoming Schools

GGUSD remains committed to providing safe and welcoming schools to ALL students and families (Goal 2). Visit our webpage by clicking the button below for a variety of resources to support immigrant students and loved ones.

Free Live-Chat Tutoring for All GGUSD Students

GGUSD has partnered with Varsity Tutors to offer FREE 24/7 live chat tutoring and one-hour tutoring sessions to support students in their academic success (Goal 1). The program is accessible from home through ClassLink using a district-provided device.