MorongoUSD Monthly Update

Trojans Collect Toys for Local Students

The National Honor Society at Yucca Valley High School helped make the season brighter by collecting toys for the Unity Home Toy Drive. Thanks to their generosity and leadership, dozens of children in our community will enjoy a joyful holiday filled with surprises. What a wonderful example of the spirit of giving and Trojan Pride in action!

Supporting Students & Families During the Holiday Season

The winter break can be joyful for many, but the change in routine can also bring stress for some students and families. A few simple strategies can help everyone navigate the holidays with more ease:

Proactive Preparation: Reflect on past holidays to identify triggers and plan healthier responses.
Emotional Regulation: Use self-regulation tools like deep breathing to stay grounded during emotional moments at gatherings.
Communicate Well: Limit distractions, make eye contact, ask open-ended questions, and show active listening.
Set Boundaries: Avoid over-committing and give yourself permission to say no.
Plan Breaks: Take time for yourself and have a strategy for stepping away when needed.
Acknowledge Emotions: Holidays can bring grief or loneliness—encourage families to honor these feelings.

Our district partners with Daybreak Health to offer confidential teletherapy for students ages 5–19. Clinicians support stress, anxiety, depression, focus, relationships, and coping skills.

Appointments are available Monday–Saturday, 8 AM–8 PM—even during school breaks.

Submit a Care Request (quick, confidential, and free): https://care.daybreakhealth.com/patient/create-account

Morongo Unified School District recently completed a demographic study to better understand enrollment and facility needs. With declining enrollment across California, MUSD is taking a proactive approach to ensure resources continue to support strong programs for students.

This year, the Board of Education engaged a consultant to help evaluate “right-sizing” options and guide community discussions. An Enrollment Committee will meet this spring to review data and recommend strategies—such as facility upgrades, consolidations, or program changes—to the Board.

Given MUSD’s vast and diverse region, community input is essential to shaping decisions that reflect local needs and values as we plan for the district’s future. If you are interested in serving on the committee please apply at the link below:

Enrollment Committee

A New Approach to Math: Building Understanding, Confidence, and Engagement for All Learners

Who wants more engaging math instruction? We all do and so does the California Department of Education which updated and approved the new Mathematics Frameworks. Common Core Standards remain the same but the “how” of math will be changing in the months and years ahead and our teachers are up to the task.

The new California Mathematics Framework reflects a meaningful shift in how students experience math in the classroom, moving away from an emphasis on speed, memorization, and early tracking, and toward deep understanding, reasoning, and confidence for all learners. Instead of rushing students through advanced procedures, instruction focuses on helping them truly understand why math works through rich problems, discussion, and multiple ways to solve the same task. Students are encouraged to talk about their thinking, learn from mistakes, and collaborate with peers, which builds both problem-solving skills and persistence. Classrooms prioritize access to grade-level math for every student, with teachers using ongoing checks for understanding to support and challenge students as needed. Overall, the framework aims to make math more engaging, equitable, and relevant, helping students develop strong mathematical thinking skills that prepare them not just for the next course, but for real-world problem solving and future careers.

We are excited for this new shift and look forward to partnering with our amazing math teachers students and community on this new journey.

Dr.Milosavljevic

Director of Instructional Programs and Support

MUSD Keeps Making Gains on the California Dashboard

Morongo Unified School District (MUSD) is celebrating a year of meaningful progress reflected in the 2025 California School Dashboard. Data shows improvement across multiple indicators, highlighting the district’s commitment to equity, academic growth, and student well-being through intentional, districtwide efforts.

In English Language Arts, MUSD improved by 5.4 points to -34.5, while mathematics increased by 2.5 points to -77.2, demonstrating progress in strengthening foundational skills. The English Learner Progress Indicator rose to 0.507, maintaining a medium status and reflecting continued support for multilingual learners. Student engagement also improved, with reductions in chronic absenteeism and suspensions. The graduation rate reached 84.5%, and the College and Career Indicator increased to 0.418, both earning medium status with positive growth.

Significant gains were also seen among student groups facing the greatest challenges, including Students with Disabilities, English Learners, Long-Term English Learners, and African American students, reflecting focused interventions, professional development, and culturally responsive practices.

At the site level, Condor Elementary, Morongo Valley Elementary, and Twentynine Palms Elementary all demonstrated notable growth in ELA and math. These successes reflect strong collaboration, data-driven instruction, and family engagement.

While challenges remain—particularly in chronic absenteeism and closing achievement gaps—the overall trajectory for MUSD is positive. The district will continue building on this momentum to ensure all students are prepared for future success.

Exploring, Learning, and Discovering: Desert Discovery Camp at Joshua Tree

On December 13 Morongo Unified School District’s Expanded Learning program hosted its first non-instructional day field trip, bringing students from across the district together for an exciting day at Joshua Tree National Park.

Students enjoyed a full day of hands-on, outdoor learning through interactive stations led by knowledgeable educators and community partners. Activities included planting native seeds with the Mojave Desert Land Trust, learning about pollinators with the Hi-Desert Nature Museum, exploring soil science, and participating in a walking museum focused on Indigenous history with the 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians. Additional stations highlighted desert birds with Avian Behavior International, desert safety, math mapping, and creative experiences such as sun art and mindful movement.

This enriching experience connected learning to the natural world while fostering curiosity, collaboration, and a deeper appreciation for our local desert environment. Thank you to our community partners, dedicated staff, and supportive families for helping make Desert Discovery Camp a memorable and meaningful experience for our students.

Upcoming Board Meeting

The MUSD Board of Education will be holding it's next regular board meeting on January 13th at Joshua Tree Elementary School.

Board of Education

BOE Meeting Recordings

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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.