TVUSD COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Walk & Talk with Dr. Velez follows TVUSD Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Velez as she visits school sites across the district, connecting with students and listening to their perspectives. Through real conversations and meaningful moments, the series highlights student voice and the experiences that shape our schools.

In this episode, Dr. Velez visits Abby Reinke Elementary School, talking with 5th grader Olivia Gaytan and learning what matters most in her school experience.

This year, our Behind the Scenes: The ♥️ of TVUSD spotlight series shines a light on the incredible certificated and classified employees who elevate experiences, opportunities, and each other across our schools and departments.

Check out this month's spotlight videos to see how our staff bring the spirit of TVUSD to life!

Last week, Gardner Middle School joined schools across the nation in participating in the Great Kindness Challenge. During lunch, Peer Leadership students led a meaningful activity where classmates decorated coffee sleeves with uplifting and positive messages.

With hundreds of students taking part, the goal was simple but powerful: spread kindness beyond the school walls and into the community. The hand-decorated sleeves were donated to local coffee shops, where community members can enjoy a cup of coffee paired with an encouraging message.

Keep an eye out for these kindness-filled sleeves at Temecula Grind Coffee House, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, The Crafted Scone, and Starbucks (32240 CA-79 off Temecula Parkway). TVUSD is proud to see students leading with kindness and making a positive impact - one cup at a time. ☕✨

Photos courtesy of: Scott Padgett Time Stood Still Photography, Delaney Sauceda: D.Sauce Photography, Belinda Ribao

Temecula Valley High School is celebrating a historic season for Golden Bears soccer, as both the Varsity Boys and Varsity Girls Soccer teams clinched the 2026 Southwestern League Championship titles, finishing the season undefeated. This marks the first time in school history that both programs have earned league championships with an undefeated season in the same year, making it a truly unforgettable milestone for the TVHS community.

The Varsity Boys Soccer team captured the Southwestern League title for the first time in 19 years, showcasing resilience, teamwork, and determination throughout the season. Match after match, the Golden Bears rose to the challenge, ultimately securing an unbeaten run and cementing their place at the top of the league.

Leading the Boys program is a dedicated coaching staff made up entirely of TVHS teachers - Head Coach Darren Drago and Assistant Coaches Cole Randall and Daniel Martinez - whose leadership and commitment to student-athletes exemplify the powerful connection between academics, athletics, and mentorship, fostering a culture of excellence both on and off the field.

Equally impressive, the Varsity Girls Soccer team, led by TVHS teacher and Head Coach Jennifer Guinn, along with assistant coach and TVHS alumna (c/o 2020) and former Team Captain Aubree Gessel, also completed an undefeated season while capturing the Southwestern League title. Their consistency, skill, and competitive spirit set the standard all season long and contributed to this unprecedented dual championship achievement.

In addition, the Varsity Girls team earned a Co-Champion title for the top GPA among TVHS winter sports teams, posting an outstanding cumulative grade point average of 3.95. "The program’s strong culture, commitment to academic excellence, and championship mindset are standards that the TVHS girls soccer program continues to set goals on upholding year after year," shares Coach Guinn.

This remarkable season reflects the hard work of the players, the guidance of their coaches, and the unwavering support of families, staff, and the entire Golden Bear community. Congratulations to the TVHS Boys and Girls Soccer teams on an extraordinary accomplishment and a season that will be remembered in school history.

As TVHS celebrates a historic season for Golden Bear soccer, the community is also cheering on Liberty Drago, a TVHS Varsity Girls Soccer student-athlete competing on the international stage. Liberty recently joined the American Samoa Women’s National Soccer Team as they advance to the second round of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifying matches. She is joined by her sister, Cassidy Drago, a TVHS and San Diego Surf alumna and current Brigham Young University soccer player. Liberty and Cassidy are also the daughters of Darren Drago, TVHS Boys Soccer Head Coach, making this achievement a meaningful reflection of the strong soccer tradition at Temecula Valley High School.

Great Oak High School Theatre is celebrating a remarkable milestone following its successful participation in the California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) Festival, marking the program’s first-ever entry into the prestigious competition.

This year, Great Oak High School Theatre competed with its fall production of The Crucible in a festival that serves schools across Southern California, with 73 schools enrolled. The production was exceptionally well-received, earning placement in the Excellent category and receiving a commemorative plaque in recognition of this outstanding achievement.

In addition to the program-wide honor, a strong majority of the The Crucible cast and crew were awarded Certificates of Merit for exceptional acting and technical work. Among the individual honors, senior Eden Wagner received an Adjudicator Award, the highest individual distinction presented at the festival, which serves as an extraordinary accomplishment and a point of great pride for the GOHS community.

Great Oak Theatre students also excelled in the festival’s Scene Competition, further showcasing the depth of talent and leadership within the program. Brady Bravo earned Best Supporting Actor for the festival, while Kristina Mathis and Katie Kinsella were each recognized with Director Awards, highlighting the strong student leadership and artistic vision cultivated within the theatre department.

These accomplishments reflect the scholarship, passion, integrity, and collaboration Great Oak Theatre students bring to their work. They also underscore the continued growth and momentum of the theatre community on campus. TVUSD is grateful for the hard work, artistry, and collaboration demonstrated by Great Oak High School’s theatre students and staff and celebrates the continued growth of this exceptional program.

Several talented TVUSD middle school students from Vail Ranch Middle School and Temecula Middle School were recently recognized at the Rancho Water 2026 Poster Contest Awards Dinner, celebrating their creativity and commitment to water conservation.

Each year, Rancho Water invites students in grades TK–12 to participate in its annual poster contest. This year’s theme, “Being Water Wise Is…”, encouraged students to use art to illustrate the importance of protecting one of our most valuable natural resources.

Winning students and their teachers were honored during a special awards ceremony hosted by Rancho Water. We are proud of our students for using their creativity to raise awareness about water conservation and thankful to Rancho Water for continuing to provide meaningful opportunities that connect learning, art, and environmental stewardship.

▶️ Check out the YouTube video to explore the winning poster designs and learn how students brought the theme “Being Water Wise Is…” to life through art.

Great Oak High School’s Academic Decathlon team delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 Riverside County Academic Decathlon, earning third place overall in this year’s competition.

The 2026 Riverside County Academic Decathlon challenged students from nine high schools to showcase their knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills across a rigorous 10-event format, including written exams, essays, prepared and impromptu speeches, interviews, and the fast-paced Super Quiz. The theme for this year’s event was “The Roaring Twenties,” offering participants the opportunity to explore an era of dramatic social and cultural change.

Great Oak’s Wolfpack team proudly represented Temecula Valley Unified School District as the only TVUSD school to compete. They not only earned a strong third-place finish overall but also placed fourth in the Super Quiz. The team brought home 13 medals, including three gold medals, highlighting their exceptional performance across multiple events. A special shoutout goes to 11th grader Janiyah Houser, who achieved a perfect score in the interview portion — an extraordinary accomplishment that underscores the team’s talent and dedication.

“Every student who participated in this year’s Riverside County Academic Decathlon is a powerful example of academic excellence and focused collaboration,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez.

The Riverside County Academic Decathlon brings together students of varied academic backgrounds, with each team consisting of nine members from Honor (GPA 3.80 - 4.00), Scholastic (GPA 3.20 - 3.799), and Varsity (GPA 0.00 - 3.199) GPA categories. Great Oak’s performance exemplifies the school’s commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and excellence in learning.

Congratulations to the Great Oak High School Academic Decathlon team on this remarkable achievement!

TVHS CTE Culinary Arts students Justin Esquivel, Ian Machoka, Tiffany Sang, and Jakob Troy recently represented the Golden Bears in a high-energy, Chopped-style culinary competition hosted by the Riverside County Office of Education.

Working under pressure, the team showcased their creativity, teamwork, and technical skills by transforming a secret ingredient, celery root, into their competition dish, Marinated Pesto Chicken Pasta. 👨‍🍳✨

This event highlights the power of Career Technical Education, where real-world skills and collaboration take center stage. Congratulations to our TVHS Golden Bears for earning third place in the competition!

🎥 Watch the highlight video to experience the creativity and intensity of the event.

🎬 Video by Drew Crisp, TVHS CTE Media Arts Senior

TEMECULA, CA – The City of Temecula, in partnership with the Temecula Valley Unified School District, is proud to host the 18th Annual Temecula Special Games on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the Great Oak High School Football Field (32555 Deer Hollow Way). This free, family-friendly event celebrates inclusion, community, and the abilities of athletes of all ages with disabilities. Temecula Special Games provides a fun and welcoming environment where athletes can participate in a variety of non-competitive games and activities, followed by a celebratory awards ceremony.

Each athlete is paired with a high school volunteer who serves as a buddy throughout the event, participating alongside them and helping to ensure a positive and supportive experience.

Adult volunteers will also be on site assisting with activity stations.

Words from the District Spelling Bee + brave TVUSD staff = lots of fun! 😄

Use the links below to watch the video

"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.

Take a moment to let us know if your child(ren) WILL NOT be returning for the next school year. If your student(s) will be continuing their enrollment within any TVUSD school, there is no need to complete this questionnaire.

• Registration dates assigned by school site
• Step-by-step enrollment directions for TK and Kindergarten
• Link to submit a Let's Talk message if you are having technology issues or have specific questions
• Call 951-506-7937 to speak with a CEC Technician
• Grade-Level placement for 2026-2027

Enrollment for 1st-12th grade students for next year will start on April 3, 2026, with prioritization for 6th & 9th graders in the first few days.

Join us for a special State of the District event celebrating the heart, talent, and future of TVUSD. Enjoy student performances, insights from Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Velez, and members of the Executive Cabinet - plus a culinary reception to kick off the evening.

📆 March 9, 2026
🍽 5:00 pm Culinary Reception
📍 6:00 pm Temecula Valley Golden Bear Theater
📱 Click the link above to RSVP

We can’t wait to share this inspiring evening with you!

Our students thrive because of the dedicated people who support them every day. From classrooms to offices to playgrounds, every role matters. Join the TVUSD family and discover the rewarding opportunities waiting for you right here in our community.

Thank you to our amazing community partners who have supported the TVUSD Attendance Challenge!

Studies show that regular attendance is crucial for academic and life success. Here are some tips to keep your student on track:

• Prioritize attendance: Make sure your student is in school every day.
• Address health issues: Work with your student's doctor to minimize absences.
• Partner with the school: Stay involved and communicate regularly.

Remember: Chronic absence – missing just two days a month – can have a significant impact. Let's work together to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive!

🖐️ This week's Staff High Five is Raul Cardenas, District Office Maintenance Worker II. "Raul is an amazing and incredibly hard worker. He is always dependable, helpful, and takes great pride in his work. His dedication does not go unnoticed, and he truly makes a positive difference on campus." @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.

Temecula Valley Unified School District is committed to building strong partnerships with parents in support of all students. Part of this commitment includes ensuring that families are informed of their rights and the right to opt their children out of certain instructional activities or assessments, as provided under state and federal law. The Frequently Asked Questions document linked below is designed to clarify the legal requirements, district procedures, and options available to parents regarding opt-outs.

For more information, visit: Know Your Rights and TVUSD Annual Notification for Parents

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