TVUSD COMMUNITY CONNECTION

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Kimberly Velez, Assistant Superintendent of ESS, on being named Riverside County Certificated Administrator of the Year! 🏆 With almost three decades of dedicated service to our district, this well-deserved recognition highlights her visionary leadership and profound impact on education. 👏🏻 Join us in recognizing Dr. Velez’s remarkable contributions to education and her lasting influence on our community. 🌟 #tvusdelevates #RivCo

Great Oak High School marked an exciting milestone by hosting its first-ever Poetry Out Loud competition on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The event, a nationally recognized poetry recitation contest,

featured ten talented students from grades 9 through 12, each delivering powerful performances.

Emerging as the top competitor was Junior Zoewin Abariga, earning first place honors. Olivia Yafa, also a Junior, secured second place, while Sophomore Hayley Foo claimed third. With her victory, Zoewin advanced to the Riverside County Poetry Out Loud Competition the following day, where she achieved an extraordinary milestone—winning first place at the county level. In doing so, she surpassed the reigning 2024 Riverside County Champion and California state runner-up!

Zoewin will now represent Riverside County on March 16th at the California State Poetry Out Loud Competition, where she has the opportunity to advance to the national finals and compete for the grand prize of $20,000. Congratulations to all participants for their dedication to poetry and performance, and best of luck to Zoewin as she represents GOHS and TVUSD on the state stage!

Follow these accounts for more:

• Riverside Arts Council: https://www.instagram.com/riversideartscouncil/
• CA Arts Council: https://www.instagram.com/calartscouncil

• National Poetry Out Loud: https://www.instagram.com/iampoetryoutloud

On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, James L. Day Middle School was abuzz with excitement as students from across the district gathered for the annual TVUSD Spelling Bee. The competition was fierce, but it was 5th grader Kiyara Gunawardena from ARES who once again emerged victorious, impressing the audience with her mastery of challenging words. Kiyara sealed her win with the words "circadian" and "argot," securing her place as the district's top speller for another year.

The battle for alternate was just as thrilling, with students locked in an intense tie-breaker that spanned two extra rounds. Ultimately, Nivaen Sundarrajan from Temecula Luiseno Elementary School claimed the alternate spot by correctly spelling "diadem."

The event featured nine rounds of spirited competition, with rounds eight and nine dedicated to determining the second-place winner. The dedication and poise displayed by all participants were a testament to the hard work and preparation that went into this annual tradition.

Kiyara now sets her sights on the Riverside County Spelling Bee, taking place on March 26th. Last year, she made an impressive showing by tying for third place. This year, Kiyara has her eyes on the top prize, which would earn her a coveted spot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland at the end of May.

Congratulations to Kiyara, Nivaen, and all the incredible students who participated in this year’s Spelling Bee! Best of luck to Kiyara as she represents TVUSD at the next level!

A total of 150 TVUSD students have been honored by the College Board National Recognition Program for their outstanding academic achievements. This program highlights the dedication and perseverance of high school students across the country, providing them with well-earned recognition for their academic excellence.

The students listed below scored in the top 10% on the Fall 2024 PSAT exam, held during College & Career Kickoff Day in October, and also identified themselves as members of one of the recognized groups: Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, Indigenous, First-Generation College Student, or Small/Rural School.

“This year, the National Recognition Programs are recognizing more students than ever so that the outstanding academic abilities of more than 90,000 deserving students are not overlooked as they plan for their future,” said Amy Reitz, senior vice president of BigFuture at College Board. “We’re proud to support colleges and universities that are committed to supporting all students, and our program offers one way they can strengthen their recruitment efforts to students that will thrive on their campus.”

These students have demonstrated strong academic performance in the classroom and on key College Board assessments, including the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and AP® Exams. Their commitment to learning and drive for success set them apart, and this recognition serves as a valuable distinction as they plan for their futures. We are incredibly proud of our students for reaching this milestone and look forward to seeing them continue to thrive in their academic journeys.

• Earn a GPA of B+ (equal to at least 3.3 or 87%-89%) or higher.

• PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 assessment scores that are within the top 10% of assessment takers in each state for each award program or earned a score of 3 or higher on 2 or more AP Exams by the end of 10th grade.

• Attend school in a rural area or small town, or identify as African American/Black, Hispanic American/Latino, Indigenous/Native American, or a first-generation college student.

"Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary." - Margaret Cousins

The TVUSD Community High Five Program is designed to empower and encourage the community to acknowledge and appreciate the dedicated employees of the district. This program serves as a platform for parents, students, and local residents, to recognize and celebrate the relentless commitment and hard work put forth by district employees.

Fill out this quick form, and the Communications Department will create and send a digital certificate to the employee for their hard work. As an added recognition, one employee will be selected each month as a "Community High Five Spotlight," and their shout-out will be recognized in a future edition of the Community Connection.

Between February 10th and 28th, students at all TVUSD schools in grades 3-12 will be asked to complete a survey measuring student self-efficacy, self-management, and emotion regulation, as well as their perceptions of school climate, safety, and sense of belonging.

Parent Preview:

Per Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 5022: Student and Family Privacy Rights, parents have the right to preview survey content and opt their student(s) out of survey participation. Survey questions are created with students in mind, and use grade level appropriate language. Links to preview student surveys can be found by clicking the button below.

To help you explore our new website, we’ve created a quick tutorial to guide you through the new design and features. We’re excited to continue improving how we serve our students and families. Let us know your thoughts by submitting feedback through the Website Feedback Form.

The Intradistrict Transfer Open Enrollment Window for the upcoming 2025/2026 school year, including Summit Academy, will close on January 31st.

Transfer requests can be completed and submitted via the District’s website ((https://www.tvusd.k12.ca.us/enrollment-and-registration/transfers)).

• Submission Deadline: The window opened on Monday, October 14, 2024, and will remain open until January 31, 2025.
  
  

• Continuing Transfers: If your child is already on an approved transfer and will continue to attend the same school during the 2025/2026 school year, there's no need to submit a new transfer request. New requests are only required if you wish to change schools.

• New Transfers: If you would like your child to attend a school other than your school of residence based on your current address, please be sure to submit a transfer request during the Open Enrollment Transfer Window.
  
  

• Transitioning to Middle and/or High School: The transition from elementary to middle school and/or from middle school to high school is not based on a previous/current school of attendance; it is solely based on primary residence address. If you plan on having your child attend a middle school or high school other than your school of residence, be sure to submit a transfer request prior to January 31, 2025.
  
  

• New to/or not currently attending a TVUSD School: You may submit a transfer request during the Open Enrollment Window for the 2025/2026 school year, even if your child is not currently enrolled in a TVUSD school.

• Equal Consideration: All timely submissions received during the Open Enrollment Transfer Window will be given equal consideration. Consideration will be based on space availability at the requested school and meeting the District’s transfer eligibility criteria.

For more information, please visit our District website.

This week's Staff High Five spotlight is Jodie Mueller, Media Specialist in the Communications Department. "Jodie has consistently demonstrated professionalism, patience, and a positive attitude, addressing my questions and troubleshooting any challenges I encountered. Her proactive approach, which included sending helpful tutorials and offering timely solutions, has greatly minimized any frustration I experienced as I adjusted to the new system." @tvusd.parentcenter

Care Solace's care navigation services are confidential and complimentary to TVUSD students, staff, and their families. Care Solace's team is available 24/7/365 and can support you in any language.

• Call 888-515-0595
• Visit www.caresolace.com/tvusdfamilies and either search on your own OR click "Book Appointment" for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

🧠 Mental Health & 💊 Substance Abuse: Find community-based providers & secure appointments.

🍲 Food Assistance: Access food pantries, home delivery meal programs, and government/non-profit programs.

🏠 Shelter Support: Find transitional housing, shelters, and housing programs.

🏥 Community Health Services: Connect with low-cost or free medical and dental care, female health services, and preventative care.

Catch up on past newsletters by visiting the Community Connection Newsletter Archive webpage or by clicking this link to view our newsletters in the Smore Archive Folder.

Location: 31350 Rancho Vista Road, Temecula, CA, USA
Phone: (951)676-2661