Share your thoughts by October 31: Facilities Master Plan Survey

In late September/ early October, more than 70 people (staff, students, parents and community members) attended one of three input sessions on the GUSD Strategic Vision Plan and upcoming Facilities Master Plan (FMP).

If you attended any of these sessions, thank you so much!

If you weren't able to attend, and still would like to provide your feedback for the FMP, you can do so by October 31. 

Simply complete this survey in English or in Spanish by October 31, to provide your input on the needs of our facilities throughout the District.  

You can complete the survey in any capacity for each site that you have experience with. Complete one survey per each school site you would like to provide feedback for. All survey submissions are anonymous.

Completing the survey should take you less than 30 minutes. Answers for all questions are not required to finish and submit the survey.

Should you have any questions, please contact Marissa Van Patten or Paul Nadeau in the GUSD Facilities Department.

To learn more about the GUSD FMP, visit: https://www.gilroyunified.org/facilities-master-plan.

Your input is needed and welcomed!

Soraiya Truoung named 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

Congratulations GECA senior, Soraiya Truong, who has been named a 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist! 

Soraiya joins more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. As a NMS Semifinalist, she has an opportunity to earn a National Merit Scholarship worth nearly $26 million that will be awarded in the spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition.

About 95% of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

Congratulations Soraiya! We are so proud of you!

SJSU/ GUSD "Pathways to Success" Partnership

On October 14, the Gilroy Unified School District announced "Pathways to Success," a new partnership with San Jose State University that guarantees admission for any CSU-eligible, GUSD graduate to the University!  

To celebrate this opportunity for our students, we held an official launch party, attended by leaders from SJSU, GUSD and Gavilan College, elected officials and their representatives, students from Christopher and Gilroy High Schools, parents, community members and even Cooper the Cougar and Sammy the Spartan.

Speakers for the day included Dr. Anisha Munshi, Superintendent of the Gilroy Unified School District; GUSD Board President, Tuyen Fiack; Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President, San Jose State University; and Andrew Wright, Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management at SJSU. 

In her remarks to attendees, President Fiack, shared, "The partnership between GUSD and SJSU, through the guaranteed admissions program, is not just about opening doors to higher education. It is about equity, opportunity, and building pathways for long-term student success.  

Our Board of Education has always envisioned a district where every student — regardless of background — has access to the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. This agreement is a powerful step in making that vision a reality. It ensures that the hard work our students put in during high school is rewarded — with a clear path to college, and with it, the promise of brighter futures.  

This achievement is also a reflection of who we are as a community. Gilroy is known for resilience, pride, and collaborative spirit. Today, we celebrate not only what this program will mean for our students, but also the partnerships that make it possible — educators, families, local leaders, and higher education partners — all working together with a shared purpose."

This partnership creates new opportunities for GUSD graduates, so they can go out and change the world for the better. We look forward to celebrating the success of our graduates and future Spartans as a result of this opportunity. 

For more information, visit: https://www.sjsu.edu/soar/promiseprograms/index.php

Gilroy FFA wins South Coast Region Chapter of the Year!

Congratulations to the members of Gilroy FFA who won the the South Coast Region Chapter of the Year award for the Santa Clara Section, for the first time in the program's history!

"Future Farmers of America" was founded by a group of young farmers back in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting-- it's a science, it's a business and it's an art. 

FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways. 

To learn more about the GHS FFA program, visit: https://gilroyhs.gilroyunified.org/our-school/ag-program-ffa.