GGUSD Teachers Recognized for Excellence in Education

Last Friday, Garden Grove Unified School District proudly celebrated its three nominees for the 2026 Orange County Department of Education Teacher of the Year Program during a special dinner held at the Disneyland Hotel. GGUSD celebrated Patton Elementary School teacher Kate Setum, who was named one of 15 Orange County semi-finalists, along with GGUSD nominees Kristine Corder from Rosita Elementary and Suzanne Russo from McGarvin Intermediate.

It was a magical evening honoring the best in education! Congratulations to our three nominees on this well-deserved recognition and for all they do each and every day to equip students with the academic and personal skills for lifelong success.

Clinton Elementary Hosts Special Performance in Honor of Veterans Day

In honor of Veterans Day, Clinton Elementary School hosted a heartwarming performance of “This Land Is Your Land,” celebrating patriotic spirit with colorful flags and festive hats. Students cheered, sang, and showed their gratitude for the brave men and women who have served our country. It was a day full of joy, pride, and community spirit!

Walton Intermediate Students Celebrate Arbor Day with Tree Planting

Walton Intermediate students joined the City of Garden Grove in celebrating Arbor Day! Students took part in a special tree planting featuring a beautiful Coast Live Oak tree and had fun planting wildflower paper in compostable pots to take home. The event also included themed giveaways, seed packets, snacks, and refreshments — a wonderful way to celebrate nature and give back to our community!

La Quinta Alumni Inducted Into the Hall of Fame

Last week, La Quinta High School proudly inducted three incredible athletes and alumni into its Hall of Fame!

Kristin Harkins, Class of 1987, was the all-time assists leader in women’s soccer in CIF when she graduated and ranked second in CIF history for goals scored. She helped the Aztecs win the 1985 CIF title in women’s soccer and was also a standout in cross country and track. At Cal Poly Pomona, she was a three-time All-American in the 1500m while also playing for the women’s soccer team, earning a place among the university’s all-time greats. She is now a teacher living in the San Diego area.

Charlie Phillips, Class of 1973, was La Quinta’s first star athlete and a two-time All-CIF pitcher with an incredible 0.42 ERA. After graduating, he went on to USC, where he won a national title with the Trojans in 1974. Drafted by the Braves, Charlie also pitched professionally in the Dodgers and Angels organizations. A lifetime educator and baseball coach, he taught social studies for 37 years and mentored or coached 144 players who went on to play in college or professionally. His coaching career included a historic moment in 1995 at Southern California College (now Vanguard), when he coached Ila Borders, the first woman to pitch and win in a men’s college baseball game.

Christian Ramirez, Class of 2009, was a member of the United States Olympic Development Team in soccer while at La Quinta. After high school, he attended UC Santa Barbara and Concordia University, where he was an All-American. He has played professionally for several Major League Soccer teams, a team in Europe, and represented the United States Men’s National Team. Christian currently plays for the LA Galaxy.

Elks Club of Garden Grove Gives Generous Donation to Clinton Corner

Clinton Corner Family Campus partnered with the Elks Club for a generous free jacket giveaway! A huge thank you to the Elks Club for their awesome donation of nearly 100 brand-new jackets. Clinton Corner was able to reach out to families in need and help keep students warm this season. We are grateful for our community partners, their continued support and kindness!

La Quinta High School Teacher Amanda LaPera Inspires Students Through Creative Writing

Award-winning author and La Quinta High School English teacher Amanda LaPera is celebrating the release of her new novel Dare to Dream — the first in her six-book Desert of Dreams series! We love that she brings her real-world writing experience into the classroom to inspire the next generation of storytellers. Ms. LaPera serves as the advisor of La Quinta High School’s renowned Creative Writing Program, a four-year UC-approved sequence that allows students to develop their voices as writers, performers, and published authors. From the classroom to the bookshelf, Ms. LaPera shows her students that with passion, persistence, and courage, lifelong success in the arts is possible!

Join her for a book signing at Barnes & Noble Bella Terra (Huntington Beach) on Sunday, Nov. 16, 1–5 PM!

Read the November 2025 Issue of School News Today!

Hot Off the Presses! Dive into the latest edition of School News, GGUSD’s showcase of all the amazing achievements, inspiring stories, and exciting events happening across our schools. From classroom highlights to student spotlights, there’s something for everyone to celebrate! Read it now and see the great things happening in our district!

Faylane Hosts a Groovy Celebration for GGUSD's 60th Anniversary

Faylane Elementary flashed back to the 1960s in celebration of GGUSD’s 60th Anniversary! Students and staff showed off their school spirit with tie-dye, peace signs, and plenty of groovy smiles.

To mark this special milestone, classrooms are also creating time capsules filled with memories, photos, and keepsakes that capture what life is like in 2025 — to be opened in 2045! What a far-out way to honor six decades of learning, growth, and community pride.

Bolsa Grande High School Students Are Engaged in Hands-On Learning

GGUSD is proud to highlight the incredible daily learning taking place at Bolsa Grande High School. From hands-on classroom activities to collaborative projects and innovative instruction, Bolsa Grande students are engaged, curious, and working hard toward their academic goals every single day. Teachers and staff continue to create supportive, inspiring learning environments where students can thrive and discover their full potential. GGUSD celebrates the dedication, creativity, and Matador spirit that make Bolsa Grande a place where learning shines all year long!

We Want to See Your GGUSD Throwback Photos!

In honor of our 60th Anniversary, GGUSD is launching a “Then vs. Now” Photo Contest! We’re inviting alumni, staff, students, and families to take a trip down memory lane and share your favorite throwback photos from your time in GGUSD — along with a current photo showing where you are today!

Submit your photos for a chance to win a special GGUSD 60th Anniversary prize!

Contest closes November 24th.

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.