TVUSD COMMUNITY CONNECTION

TLES did not let the 🌧️ rainy weather dampen their spirits. They chose to dance in the rain and 🙌 celebrate when the clouds cleared. Their 🦅 eagle community had a ton of fun and raised money in the process with our silent auction. Proceeds will go toward school supplies and programs. 👏🏻

📣 BIG NEWS! On Monday, history was made in TVUSD! 🎉 ➡️ We surprised Melissa Chai, a junior at Chaparral High School, with the announcement that she has been selected as TVUSD’s first-ever Student Board Member! 🎥 Watch this heartwarming moment as Melissa learns she’ll be representing almost 27,000 students, bringing student voice directly to the Board of Education. Melissa will be officially sworn in at a future Board meeting — more details to come!

Three years ago, Mackenzie Amidon was a young athlete simply hoping to sharpen her skills for Jiu Jitsu. She stepped onto the wrestling mat for the first time without knowing the incredible path it would lead her down. Today, she is a gold medalist, having stood proudly on an international podium in Serbia, representing not just her country, but every dreamer who ever dared to believe they could.

The road to gold was anything but easy. Mackenzie began with small local tournaments, grappling with early losses and tough competition. As her passion grew, so did her ambition. She entered state tournaments, learning how to push through setbacks and how to come back even stronger after defeat. Last year, she took a bold step forward, traveling outside California to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for her first national tournament, earning an impressive third-place finish. She returned to Tulsa again this January, climbing even higher to claim second place at one of the most prestigious national events in youth wrestling.

But those accomplishments were only the beginning. In March, Mackenzie traveled halfway across the world to Zlatibor, Serbia, to represent the United States at the ISF international wrestling event. There, she faced skilled opponents from Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine, pushing herself harder than ever before.

At the end of the final match, Mackenzie wasn't sure she was going to get the win. "The time felt like forever, waiting for them to review the tape [of the last takedown]," Mackenzie recalls. But whether she won gold or silver, she was proud to have made it that far.

Tears, cheers, and hugs followed, not just for the medal, but for the years of perseverance, heartache, and hard-fought battles it represented.

Mackenzie’s experience wasn’t just about wrestling. It was about forming friendships across borders, trading singlets, and sharing moments with athletes from all over the world. It was about managing the pressure of balancing a five-day-a-week training schedule with her schoolwork, always making sure academics came first, no matter how many practices or tournaments filled her calendar.

Today, Mackenzie dreams even bigger: she hopes to wrestle at the collegiate level, and maybe one day stand on the Olympic stage.

Her message to other young dreamers is simple but powerful: "Just go after them... You will have tough times...but you just need to keep going and keep trying because in the end it's all worth it. Promise!"

Happy National School Nurse Day! 🩺💙 Thank you to our incredible TVUSD nurses for the expertise, compassion, and care you bring to our campuses every day. You make a difference in the lives of our students and staff! #SchoolNurseDay

Earlier this month, outstanding 12th-grade students from all five TVUSD high schools were recognized at the Riverside County Office of Education’s Student Academic Awards ceremony. Held on April 17th, the event celebrated the academic excellence and determination of top seniors from across the county. The evening brought together over 700 guests, including family, friends, mentors, and educators, to honor more than 170 students from the Class of 2025.

TVHS Principal Donna Leon, Mayor Brenden Kalfus, Asst. Superintendent Kimberly Velez and TVUSD Board Trustee Emil Barham at the game. (Photo Credit: Ashley Ludwig/Patch)

TEMECULA, CA — Temecula Mayor Brenden Kalfus is a busy guy, but he's never too busy to capture a moment. This week, when asked if he would throw out the first pitch at the Temecula Valley High School vs. Great Oak High School cross-town rivalry game, he did not balk.

"I haven't been back here in years," he told Patch in an interview behind home plate. "I graduated in 2009, I played all years at TVHS baseball, two on Varsity, it's awesome to be back."

Kalfus arrived with his wife Mia and their five children to show them a bit of their old stomping grounds, both graduates of TVHS.

Temecula Valley Unified is celebrating a major achievement in environmental education and sustainability! Temecula Luiseño Elementary and Ysabel Barnett Elementary have earned top honors as 2025 California Green Ribbon School Gold Level awardees—the only schools in Riverside County to receive this distinction this year.

The prestigious recognition, announced by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond on April 22nd, celebrates schools that are leading the way in reducing environmental impact, improving student and staff wellness, and offering effective sustainability education. A total of 29 schools, seven districts, and three county offices of education were honored across California.

“Our California Green Ribbon Schools exemplify the values of innovation, resiliency, and creativity that drive our efforts to make every school community a healthy and sustainable learning environment for our students,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “I congratulate each of these schools on your incredible accomplishments and contributions to our state.”

This celebration is a testament to the dedication of students, staff, and families at both schools who have embraced green practices, from energy efficiency and waste reduction to garden-based learning and wellness initiatives. It also reflects the behind-the-scenes efforts of countless district departments working together to make sustainability a reality.

Congratulations to TLES & BES! Your leadership is helping pave the way for a greener, healthier future for all.

Last month, the Arts at the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) invited elementary and middle school students to showcase their creativity through the Art Connects Film Contest. Whether working solo or in teams, students submitted short films on a wide range of topics, highlighting their storytelling skills, artistic vision, and teamwork.

Congratulations to all the talented filmmakers who participated! We’re proud to celebrate the 2025 Art Connects Film Contest Winning Entries, a true testament to the imagination and innovation of our young creators!

• Solo: Adishtaa Rotti (HIIA)
• Group: Rotti Family (HIIA)

• Solo: Shaanvi Rotti (GMS)
• Group: 3rd place: Video Production Group 3 (TMS)

Group:

• 2nd place: Video Production Group 4 (TMS)
• 2nd place: Video Production Group 8 (TMS)
• 3rd place: Video Production Group 1 (TMS)

This year, TVHS Media Arts students participated in a digital media competition called DigiFest®, hosted by JDS Creative Academy. Students entered various works anywhere from narrative films, documentaries, and PSA videos to photography, voice acting demos, and finally digital artwork. On April 27th several students attended the DigiFest® Awards Ceremony, met and heard an inspiring career journey from Jorge Gutierrez (writer, director, and character designer for the movie, Book of Life). It was a great experience and students walked away with several awards.

• 1st Place Digi Award (Digital PSA) "Reach Out" by Issiana Kendall & Theran De Leon
• Honorable Mention (Digital PSA) "Forward" by Cash Roiz & Rey Yslas
• Honorable Mention (Digital Narrative) "Dissociated Reality" by Drew Crisp, Olivia Cartwright, Jaedah Aguon, and Noah Clough
• Honorable Mention (Digital Illustration) "Astrid Dreams" by Brinn Roberts
• Honorable Mention (Digital Animation) "Build Your Mental Health" by Van Smith & Ryden Oliva
• Stand Out Award (Professional Voice Acting) "Voice Acting Demo Reel" by Tim Krause
• Stand Out Award (Spirit of Temecula) "TVHS 40th Anniversary Video" by Ella Robbins, Emily Grant, Luna Meyers, and Carson Burr

On Saturday, April 26th, the Temecula Middle School bands spent a rainy day in Valencia, California, participating in the Music in the Parks Festival through Six Flags Magic Mountain.

The TMS Concert Band earned an Excellent rating and ranked 5th place in their middle school band division.

The TMS Symphonic Band earned a Superior rating and ranked 1st not only in their division, but 1st overall out of all middle school bands participating that day. Their score was only topped by two high school ensembles!

We are beyond proud of what these students were able to prepare in less than 3 weeks after returning from Spring Break. Way to go, TMS Bobcats!

Trustees Dr. Joseph Komrosky and Jen Wiersma attended the CSBA-ACSA Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy training and conference in Washington, D.C. this week. Highlights included meeting with Temecula's Congressman Darrell Issa and staff while advocating for TVUSD's special education students, examining key policy issues, and learning more about the intersection of public education, policy, and politics. The trip presented an incredible opportunity for professional development and networking with other school board trustees across the state of California.

"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.

The I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project will have an extended closure of the northbound I-15 Temecula Parkway on-ramp from Sunday, May 11, at 9 p.m. through Monday, May 19, at 5 a.m. The extended closure is required to demolish and reconstruct portions of the on-ramp to provide an additional lane for the Smart Freeway system. Please plan ahead and use alternate routes to avoid delays. Stay updated with closure details and detour routes at rctc.org/temeculaclosures

- Have a valid driver's license or learner's permit. CVC §21235(d)

- Wear a fastened helmet if a minor under 18 years old. CVC §21235(c)

- Travel up to the maximum speed, 15 miles per hour (mph). CVC §22411

- Ride alone. One rider at a time. No passengers allowed. CVC §21235(e)

Purchasing window opens on May 23rd

This update is REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS RETURNING TO TVUSD FOR THE 25/26 SCHOOL YEAR.

Any student who does not have a completed Annual Update:

• may not be enrolled in a class for the 25/26 school year
  
• may not receive a schedule
  
• and may not be able to participate in school business days in August.
  

It is imperative that all families complete the Annual Family Update as soon as possible to prevent any delay in your child's enrollment for the next school year.

Click the links below for RETURNING STUDENT ANNUAL UPDATE INSTRUCTIONS:

If you have a child in your family who will be NEW to TVUSD for the 25/26 school year, you must complete the New Student Enrollment process. Click HERE for New Student Enrollment instructions.

TVUSD is thrilled to announce its very first Back to School Family Engagement Conference, a day packed with valuable information, inspiration, and connection!

This FREE event is exclusively for ALL TVUSD parents/guardians (registration required), and we can’t wait for you to be a part of it! You’ll have the chance to attend content-specific breakout sessions, where you can choose the topics that best match your family’s experience and needs within TVUSD.

We can't wait for you to be a part of this exciting day! Registration is required for each adult attending - please complete this Google Form to participate.

Students are preparing to begin the California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance (CAASPP) in the following weeks. All 3rd-8th and 11th graders will be participating in state testing in the coming weeks. School sites will communicate test schedules with parents via their regular school newsletters. Please avoid making appointments during the testing weeks as it is extremely important your child is at school, testing in their regular classroom environment.

As TVUSD begins planning for the 25/26 school year, we would appreciate it if you could take a moment to let us know if your child(ren) WILL NOT be returning for next school year. If your student(s) will be continuing their enrollment within any TVUSD school, there is no need to complete the questionnaire. We appreciate your time. The school sites will be reaching out to families with the formal withdrawal process.

📣 Is your little one ready to take their first step into learning? Give your child the best start with TVUSD’s TK program.

➡️ TK is a wonderful way for young learners to build confidence, make friends, and develop essential skills that prepare them for Kindergarten and beyond. 🎒✨

➡️ Children who turn 4 by September 1, 2025 are eligible to attend! 🌟

📲 Enroll today for the 25-26 school year and watch them thrive! 📚🍎

🔗 https://www.tvusd.k12.ca.us/tk-enrollment

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

🖐️ This week's Staff High Five spotlight is Rhonda Allan, Administrative Assistant II in Student Support Services. 🤗 "The breadth of knowledge about her job facilitated bringing our project from crazy ideas to fruition. She is extremely organized and wonderful at many methods of communication. We are so grateful to have her at our site. Thank you, Rhonda!" 🙌 #tvusdstaffhighfive #tvusdelevates @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