Join us in celebrating our first Golden Bell Award for Morongo USD! Our district was recognized this week during the San Bernardino County Board of Education meeting for the Outdoor Classroom Project at Yucca Valley Elementary School.

The Golden Bell Awards recognize outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards of education in school districts throughout California. The Outdoor Classroom Project was launched in 2019 as part of a comprehensive plan to increase student engagement and achievement. The project aims to provide physical spaces for learning outdoors and a platform for project based learning and environmental education.

We are so proud of Yucca Valley Elementary School's accomplishment and look forward to many more.

Superintendent, Dr. Patricio Vargas

Click on this link to see a video about the Outdoor Classroom project.

We're celebrating our 100th day of school. Today our students are 100 days smarter and 100 days brighter. Congratulations on your first 100 days!

The PLUS program has partnered with Cascade Trails Mustang Sanctuary to allow students the unique opportunity to work with local rescue animals.

The partnership was initiated by Antionette Moore, PLUS Mental Health Therapist. She contacted CTMS owners to see how PLUS students can benefit from a relationship with their animals.

"The students are currently working with horses, goats, chickens, cats and dogs," she said. "This partnership wouldn’t be possible without the principal support, PLUS Staff involvement and CTMS dedication to the community."

The Yucca Valley High School girls basketball team completed their fifth straight undefeated Desert Valley League championship with a 62-20 win over Desert Hot Springs High School this week.

The Yucca girls are on a 56 game league winning streak stretching back to the start of the 2019 season. On Wednesday night senior Cadence Tarrant, playing her last regular season game in Trojan Gym, scored a game high 20 points. She pulled down seven rebounds and dished out eight assists. Freshman Kamea Medina had 12 points off the bench and junior CeCe Gilmore knocked in 11 points to go along with her nine rebounds. Junior Tayla Monroy, sophomore Teagan Moon and freshman Nahveah Baclig each scored 5 points while sophomore Lyrics Thompson chipped in 4 points.

With the victory the squad finished the regular season with a 14-0 league record and 24-4 overall record as they await to see who they will face in the CIF playoffs. The playoff brackets will be released on Sunday afternoon at 12:30pm.

- YVHS Lady Trojan Basketball Boosters

The Arts at the Riverside County Office of Education hosted an art contest last fall for Día De Los Muertos; “The Return of the Souls.” Three La Contenta Middle School Lions entered the contest and were awarded for their amazing pieces!

Shiloh Downward earned a second-place plaque in the category of acrylic paint on canvas. Lilli Mata earned a second-place plaque in the digital art category and Audry Hassing earned an honorable mention certificate for her sketch. Well done and congratulations to our Lion artists!

Morongo USD values the input of all our educational partners as we prepare for the 2024-25 school year. The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) survey is for 4th through 12th grade students, parents/guardians and certificated and classified staff. The survey will remain open for responses until Feb. 9, 2024. We need your help to evaluate our progress within the state’s priorities to evaluate and create next year’s LCAP. Please complete the survey below!

Our high schools are hosting preview nights for incoming and current high school students to learn about the course offering at TPHS and YVHS next year! This event is open to current 8th to 11th graders in the district and their families.

The Morongo USD named Katie O'Grady as our January Employee of the Month! Ms. O' Grady has been employed with the district since 2017 as a PE Teacher for La Contenta Middle School. She is universally loved by the Lion community and consistently gets 'shout outs' from students and staff.

Ms. O'Grady always keeps a positive energy and atmosphere around her, said Principal Richard Rossano. She leads the LCMS PE department and holds a high expectation for students in physical education.

"She is very deserving of this honor in a position that can sometimes go unnoticed," Rossano said. "I am so thankful to have her and our wonderful PE department at LCMS!"

Superintendent Dr. Patricio Vargas recognized Ms. O'Grady for her outstanding efforts on Jan. 31 at LCMS.

"Thank you so much for all that you do for our students," Dr. Vargas said. "LCMS is lucky to have you."

February is National Black History Month, a time to recognize the contributions and achievements of African-American leaders in our community. The Morongo USD joins in celebrating and acknowledging the cultural, scientific, political and economic achievements and sacrifices of Black Americans, which have helped shape the America we know today.

The MUSD Board of Education will be holding it's next regular board meeting on Feb. 13 at Joshua Tree Elementary School. Open session will start at 6 p.m.

The Morongo Basin Healthcare District is providing free dental and vision care to children and adults on March 9. An appointment is recommended and can be made by calling (760) 820-2614

Click on the link below to download our new app. The app has some useful features for MUSD families including contact information, up-to-date news from the district and more.

Website: www.morongousd.com

Location: 5715 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms, CA, USA

Phone: 760-367-9191

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMUSD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morongousd/

X: @Dr_Vargas_MUSD and https://twitter.com/MorongoUnified

February 2, 2024