Val Verde USD Staff Celebrates a New School Year

School wasn’t back in session just yet, but educators with the Val Verde Unified School District (VVUSD) were celebrating its return as they gathered at the Citrus Hill High School Gymnasium on Wood Road in Perris last Friday, Aug. 9. The Welcome Back Celebration hosted by the VVUSD looked to get district staff excited about the upcoming 2013–2014 school year, and is a solid tradition the district celebrates year after year, noted VVUSD Chief of Security Chris Wynn. “It’s now a part of our culture, and it’s very akin to a pep rally,” Wynn said. “We really want to refocus on the school year and get excited about it.” The event is always held on the last day of summer preceding the beginning of the school year. This year, students returned to classes for the 2013–2014 school year on Monday, Aug. 12. Additionally, employees—which include district staff, individual school site staff, teachers, health technicians and others—are also introduced to district administrators and share in the recognition of each of the district’s school sites. The VVUSD is home to 25 brick-and-mortar schools, made up of five high schools, six middle schools, 13 elementary schools and one main preschool campus. Additionally, VVUSD is also home to Val Verde Academy Virtual School, and three other preschools also provide Head Start education programs to the area. Thousands of people participated in the event, noted Wynn, which is most of the employees in the district. Each school was represented by a differently colored T-shirt, worn by the employees working at each individual site. “That’s great, because you can see all the different schools by the colored T-shirts as everyone sits with their groups,” said Wynn. This year, school sites also prepared short skits or videos to share their Val Verde spirit, among other opportunities to show it off, and a “Greatest Hits” video showed off all the highlights of the district throughout its history. “One thing we did this year that was new and well received was that at the end of the event, we highlighted all the valedictorians we had last year,” said Wynn. “We listed their names, which schools in the district they attended, which colleges they are attending and what programs they are studying. That’s cool because it gives teachers the chance to see what some of their students are up to now. You know, you might have had a student in third grade and then not know what they went on to do with their lives, so this gives them that opportunity.” Superintendent Juan Lopez ended the event by praising teachers and district employees for their hard work and the work they will do for the students. Additionally, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Michael McCormick took the opportunity to highlight the charitable efforts the school district is involved in year after year. Last year, VVUSD employees raised over $46,000 for United Way and over $43,000 for the March of Dimes. “Giving to charitable organizations is a win-win situation,” said McCormick. “It is good for the soul, helps the community and models good citizenship for our students.” The Val Verde Unified School District office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for registration and transfer, and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. regular office hours.