The Horizon

Dear Jurupa Unified families:

October seemed to fly by as our students engaged in enriching learning opportunities and fun extracurricular activities. As we wrap up the fall semester, please ensure your students attend school each day so they won’t miss out on critical lessons and fun experiences with their classmates.

The holidays are just around the corner, but another date is likely top of mind for our high school seniors. November 30 is the final day to submit applications for the University of California and most California State University campuses. This month, our sites held College and Career Kickoff Month activities to help prepare students for the future. At our high schools, seniors received hands-on assistance in submitting college and financial aid applications. Younger students were able to explore career possibilities at fun career day events.

It’s never too early to start planning for the future, and remember JUSD is here to help. Not sure how to get started? Visit our College and Career Readiness webpage for links to resources and a video library with helpful information on everything from college applications to financial aid and more. Be sure to check back often as we will be updating the page throughout the year. You can also learn more in this month’s edition of The Horizon.

As part of our commitment to our students’ future success, we have introduced the GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) at all of our middle schools this year. This grant-funded program, which we are piloting this year, allows us to provide a designated counselor for our 8th graders, who will then follow them as they promote to high school. They will continue that connection as students enter their first year of college, helping ensure they get off to a successful start.

In addition to our strong and rigorous academic programs, JUSD’s engaging extracurricular and hands-on learning experiences also continue to thrive. We were thrilled to share our Jurupa Experience with all of Southern California recently when CBS News featured us in its “Class Act” segment. The crew spent a full morning at Patriot High School, featuring more than a dozen clubs, sports, activities, and classes. You can watch a highlight reel at: CBS LA Class Act.

Although this is a busy time of year, I hope you also will take time to engage with your child’s school. Attend fun fall activities, sporting events, or just check in with your child’s teacher. Our community’s support and involvement are critical to student success. We are: One Jurupa, Stronger Together.

Sincerely,

Trenton Hansen, PhD

Superintendent

Alma Falconer-Ruiz, GEAR UP coordinator, has students at Mission Middle School with big goals of attending Stanford University or becoming engineers, doctors, or veterinarians.

It’s her role to help them get there.

GEAR UP, or Getting Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, is a national, grant-funded program that works with school districts with a high percentage of low-income students to prepare them for college, careers, and the future.

“We want to make sure our students are prepared for the most postsecondary options,” Dr. Joshua Lewis, Director of Secondary Education, said. “Middle school is the time for (students) to become more aware of the requirements.”

In Jurupa Unified, each middle school has a GEAR UP coordinator who supports the class of 2031 from eighth grade through their first year after graduation. Coordinators work with staff, parents, and students to engage them in college readiness and college preparedness.

“The ripple I hope this gives our students is just setting goals for themselves and knowing they can reach them (by) equipping them with the skills they need to be successful and into college,” Allison Hesler, Mira Loma Middle School Principal, said.

Coordinators will keep in touch with students after they graduate to continue to guide them through that big transition.

Currently, the GEAR UP coordinators are at each middle school and will follow current eighth graders when they promote to high school. Ms. Falconer-Ruiz will move with Mission Middle students to Patriot, Ms. Maria Arias will move with Jurupa Middle students to Rubidoux High, and Mr. Angel Garcia will transition from Mira Loma Middle School to Jurupa Valley High School.

“It’s important for students to start this path in middle school so that they know all of the options,” Ms. Falconer-Ruiz said. “We preload them (now) so that when they get to high school, they are ready and they can really work towards what they want.”