Monday, Sept. 28, 2026

Congratulations to the Baler Athletes of the Week: Ella Castaneda of Girls Waterpolo; Diana Martinez Ruiz of Girls Volleyball; and Aiyanna Bailey of Girls Golf. Here is what each student-athletes' coach said about them:

Ella continually strives to improve and has grown tremendously in confidence. She brings positivity, energy, and fun to the team, always lifting those around her and strengthening the team dynamic.

Diana was instrumental in our success in our first 3 PCAL league matches. She is a gritty player who leads by example and is emerging more and more as a vocal leader on the court. DIana is not only talented and fierce on the court, but she is the kind of teammate others trust and can depend on to always give her best. We are incredibly proud of Diana!

Aiyanna is the ultimate team-first leader for our team. She has a steady, reliable presence on and off the course, she consistently delivers top-tier scores—most recently leading our team at the 18-hole tournament at The Villages. Yet, her humility shows in how she plays. Aiyanna selflessly prefers competing in the final group to anchor the team rather than seeking individual spotlight. She continually strives to improve her game and sets the standard for leadership on and off the course.

Last week was a BIG one! I got to participate in the Homecoming Parade with my mentee, Vegas!

Vegas is learning the ropes and watching closely as she learns what it means to be a working dog. I am very proud of her! Someday, she may have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students just like U-Haul and I do, and I am honored to help show her the way. Being part of the parade reminded me of something important: we all have a role in lifting each other up. Sometimes we are the ones leading, and sometimes we are learning and following. Both roles matter. So this week, I want to remind my HHS community to be proud of yourselves, celebrate each other, and cheer one another on. When we lift someone else up, we don't make ourselves smaller—we make our whole community stronger.

And if you see Vegas around campus, give her a little encouragement. She is learning, growing, and doing her very best—just like all of us!

🐾 Keep wagging, keep learning, and keep lifting each other up!

TWO PAWS UP! 🐾

Love, Shout 🐶❤️

Hollister High School is excited to celebrate the completion of our newly renovated band room, located in the former cafeteria along Monterey Street!

• Saturday, Oct. 3
• 9:30 a.m.
• Hollister High School Main Campus

The celebration will begin near the Baler Alley breezeway with a special performance by the Hollister High School band. Following the performance, guests will head to the newly renovated band room for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. We invite our students, staff, families, alumni and community members to join us as we celebrate this exciting improvement to our campus and a new home for Baler music! Planning to attend? Please RSVP by email or by scanning the QR code on the event flyer.

Students and families are invited to join us Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. via Google Meet for an informative look at the college admissions process.

Admission counselors from UC Santa Cruz and CSU Monterey Bay will share information about:

• Admission requirements

• The application process

• Majors and academic programs

• Testing requirements

• Campus life

• Financial aid

• And more!

💻 Join with Google Meet:

https://meet.google.com/ixd-gnan-msg

This is a great opportunity for students and families to learn more about preparing for and applying to University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) campuses.

We hope you can join us!

All school-age children with disabilities are invited to a FREE community event featuring games, booths, food, drinks and more!

📅 Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026

⏰ 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

📍 Hollister Elks Lodge, 351 Astro Drive

Come out for an afternoon of fun at the Special Heroes Carnival! For more information, contact Bernie Ramirez at 831-902-7811.

Hollister High School is hiring Special Education Instructional Aides for the 2026-27 school year. Make a difference every day by supporting students and helping them succeed.

• 6-hour work day
• Summer work available
• Opportunity to qualify for Instructional Aide II with 60+ college semester units
• Bilingual applicants highly desirable
• Cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation and transcripts required. Testing required.

For more information and to apply, visit EdJoin.org and search for “Special Education Instructional Aide / 2026-2027 School Year.”

Join our team and be Baler STRONG!

We're Hiring at Hollister High School and the San Benito High School District! Make a difference every day by joining a team dedicated to supporting student success. If you're passionate about serving students in a collaborative, supportive environment, we'd love to hear from you!

Visit www.edjoin.org to view complete job descriptions, learn more about these opportunities, and submit your application today.

Come be part of the Baler family and help shape the future of our students and community!

Stay in touch with all things Hollister High and San Benito High School District by following our various social media accounts. You can find photos, videos, flyers, news and announcements about our students, staff, sports, activities and programs on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. We're also on LinkedIn as "San Benito High School District."