Champions on the Road

Earlier this week, the Garden Grove City Council honored GGUSD bus drivers Gabriella D’Angelo, Eduardo Gonzalez, and Jose Navarro-Yepez for their outstanding achievement in winning first place at the 68th Annual CASTO School Bus Safety Roadeo in April! These three incredible drivers showcased their safety skills, precision, and dedication — earning the state championship title and bringing home the trophy for GGUSD!

Thank you to the Garden Grove City Council for recognizing our amazing team. GGUSD is proud of all of our amazing bus drivers whose commitment to excellence keeps our students safe every day! Trustee Teri Rocco, Superintendent Gabriela Mafi, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Tahnee Phan, Director of Transportation Matt Thomas and Assistant Director of Transportation Jill Bender also attended to show their appreciation and congratulate the winning team!

Clinton Corner Hosts a Fantastic Community Health & Resource Fair

What a fantastic afternoon at GGUSD’s annual Community Health & Resource Fair for Preschool Families! Held at our Clinton Corner Family Campus, the event was a huge success—bringing together families with preschoolers for a fun, educational, and resource-filled event! Families enjoyed presentations from Superintendent Dr. Gabriela Mafi and Director of Early Childhood Education Dr. Emma Druitt, who shared inspiring messages about supporting our youngest learners.

Families enjoyed:

• A delicious taco station
• Awesome raffle prizes
• Games for all ages
• A special visit from the Orange County Fire Authority — complete with a fire truck, fire helmets, and stickers!
• Most importantly, dozens of local organizations came out to share resources that help children thrive.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our incredible partners and community organizations for your time, energy, and commitment to supporting early childhood development. Thank you to Trustee Teri Rocco for attending the event and generously donating raffle prizes for families!

Alamitos Intermediate Celebrates Student Success

Alamitos Intermediate recently hosted its 8th Grade Honor Roll and Principal’s Honor Roll Awards Ceremony The celebration brought together students, families, and staff to recognize the hard work, dedication, and academic success of these outstanding scholars. Students were honored for their commitment to excellence, and the event highlighted the supportive school community that encourages every learner to thrive.

A Piece of History from GGUSD

In honor of our 60th Anniversary Year, GGUSD created a "Did You Know?" series on social media to highlight interesting pieces of GGUSD history throughout the school year! The first football game between two GGUSD programs was in 1958 when the Garden Grove Argonauts and the Rancho Alamitos Vaqueros squared off for the first time. The Vaqueros won the first three contests and with them, the Jordan Trophy which was established by retired GGHS principal and GGUHSD Superintendent Donald S. Jordan in memory of his son. The teams faced off annually over the next 58 seasons and the series was one of the longest continuously played series in OC history until it was paused in 2020.

The Argonauts own a 34-26-2 record in the series with two games being played in 2014 - a league game won by GGHS 35-7 and a 35-0 victory by the Argos in the CIF-SS Division 11 championship game.

GGUSD 2025 College Fair

GGUSD is excited to host our Annual College Fair on Monday, October 6, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Orange County (Grand Ballroom – North Tower) in Garden Grove!

This free event is the perfect opportunity for 11th and 12th grade students and their families to:

• Explore college options and find the best fit
• Meet with representatives from CSU, UC, private, and out-of-state universities
• Learn about the college admissions process and how to prepare for future goals

GGUSD counselors will be on-site to answer questions, and interpretation will be available in Spanish & Vietnamese. 11999 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, CA 92840

For more information, call the Department of Parent & Community Outreach at (714) 663-6084. We look forward to seeing our students and families there!

Woodbury Elementary Starts the Morning with a Delicious Treat

Woodbury Elementary hosted a delicious Pancake Breakfast this week! Students and families kicked off the morning with stacks of fluffy pancakes, smiles, and laughter while enjoying quality time together. Thank you to our Food Services team for preparing delicious meals for our families! The event created a special opportunity for families to connect, celebrate community, and start the day with joy and togetherness.

GGUSD Hosts a Successful Job Fair

GGUSD hosted a successful Job Fair last week at the Lincoln Education Center! Community members had the opportunity to connect with district leaders, explore a variety of career opportunities, and learn more about joining the GGUSD family. A big thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event a success!

GGUSD Recognizes September 15 - October 15 As Hispanic Heritage Month

GGUSD is proud that nearly 54% of our student population and a large number of our employees are of Latino/a descent Throughout the year, we frequently host cultural events that celebrate our district’s diversity. We are proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by spotlighting our students and staff! 

GGUSD Honors Its Homegrown Staff

This week we are highlighting Jason Lupei, Activities Director and Teacher at Rancho Alamitos High School. Jason is a proud GGUSD graduate who attended Mitchell Elementary, Jordan Intermediate, and Garden Grove High School.

With 27 years of dedicated service, Jason chose to return to GGUSD because he wanted to give back to the same community where teachers once made him feel valued. He shared, “I think GGUSD is a strong district. I enjoyed my time as a student and thought my teachers valued who I was. I wanted to pay that forward in my home community.”

Jason’s favorite thing about GGUSD is “how we respect and celebrate the diversity of our community while meeting their needs right where they are at.”

GGUSD Recognizes September as National Suicide Prevention Month

GGUSD recognizes September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and remains committed to the mental health and well-being of our students, staff, and families. In 2019, GGUSD launched Choose Wellness as a way to raise awareness and support for important mental health topics. GGUSD has expanded counseling services, opened Wellness Centers, and provided ongoing support for our school community. Trained professionals—including counselors, psychologists, mental health specialists, and social workers—are available on campuses, along with any trusted adult who can help connect students to resources. If you or someone you know is struggling, call 988 or text 741741 for 24/7 confidential support.

Important Dates for the 2025-26 School Year

Looking for important dates and holidays during the school year? View our GGUSD 2025-26 school year calendar and bookmark this page to keep track of the important dates this upcoming school year!

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.