The Glendora Connection
September 2022
Dr. DiGrazia's Digest
Welcome to the first edition of our monthly newsletter, The Glendora Connection. In addition to weekly communication that you receive from our site levels, this update will provide you valuable information about district programs, events, and resources that are available to support all GUSD students, while celebrating and recognizing their accomplishments throughout the year.
The 2022-2023 school year has begun with a renewed sense of hope and energy, and we are thankful for the partnership that each one of you provides as we work together toward the common goal of your student’s success. We are very much appreciative of the ongoing support of our generous community, including thousands of PTA volunteer hours served, the work of the Glendora Education Foundation (GEF), and the extensive efforts of our numerous service organizations.
It was a pleasure to see so many smiling faces at our recent Back to School Nights, as it truly felt like we were back to school. We look forward to seeing you at many school events over the course of the school year. Wellness Week was a wonderful time to focus on the social-emotional well-being of both students and staff, and it is a reminder for all of us that wellness is something to be tended to each and every day. We are thankful for our mental health team across the district that are champions for this work. Please do not hesitate to reach out to them for any needed support.
Thank you for allowing us the privilege to provide the very best education to your child.
We are eagerly looking forward to what the rest of the 2022-2023 school year will bring!
Respectfully,
Dr. DiGrazia
Interim Superintendent
Celebrations
Glendora’s students and staff are full of kindness. During the week of September 5th, each school site celebrated Wellness Week (National Suicide Prevention Week) by providing students with daily activities that help promote wellness and kindness. Thank you to the hard work of our staff, student leaders, and community volunteers who led this initiative.
Wellness Rooms
Did you know that all school sites have a Wellness Room? Our Wellness Rooms are dedicated and staffed spaces available for students to come to decompress, self-regulate or reset for a brief 20 minute (or less) period of time and return to class ready to learn and engage. Wellness rooms are open periodically throughout the week to support student well-being.
GHS's Wellness Room
Goddard's Wellness Room
La Fetra's Wellness Room
GHS Wellness Room Ribbon Cutting
Kind Campaign Assemblies at Cullen Elementary and Sandburg Middle School
Cullen Elementary and Sandburg Middle School hosted Lauren Paul and Molly Thompson from the internationally recognized organization, Kind Campaign, www.kindcampaign.com during Wellness Week. The purpose of the assemblies were to bring awareness and healing to the negative effects of girl-against-girl bullying. Students in 4th through 8th grade heard testimonials from both Lauren and Molly, watched a brief documentary, and participated in interactive and meaningful activities which culminated in students being encouraged to spread kindness in their schools and communities.
College and Career Fair
We hope you will join us for this year’s College and Career Fair on September 20, 2022 from 6:00-8:00pm at Glendora High School. The keynote speaker from Collegewise will kick off the event at 6:00pm in the event center followed by the College and Career Fair located in the gym. This is a great opportunity for students of all ages to come and learn more about the various paths to college and career success.
Universal Meals
Every GUSD student has access to one free breakfast and one free lunch each instructional day. A combination of federal and state funds provide reimbursement to schools to support the cost of these meals. Meal applications are required by federal regulations and also help schools qualify for other educational funding opportunities and resources. It’s critical that the entire school community understand the importance of completing these forms. For more information on the California Universal Meals Program, please visit the CDE California Universal Meals web page
School and Online Tutoring Resources
Student Recognition Opportunity
Award criteria are explained in more detail in the nomination form below.
District Communications/Downloading the ParentSquare App.
All district and school information will be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text via ParentSquare. For even more convenience, download the ParentSquare app (available for free for iOS and Android devices) using the QR codes below. Our goal is for every family to join ParentSquare and engage with our schools and the district.
How to Change Notification and Language Settings in Parent Square
GUSD’s Safety Protocols and Practices
School Safety Plans: All GUSD schools have a Comprehensive Safety Plan. This plan is approved by the School Site Council each year and kept at the school. The Safety Plans detail step-by-step instructions for a variety of emergency scenarios.
Safety Drills: Each month, every school site is responsible for holding an emergency drill (fire, earthquake, or lockdown). These drills have a critical training component and follow the District approved Single Response Protocol (SRP). To learn more about the Single Response Protocol, please view the video below.
School Resource Officers: Glendora Unified is fortunate to have a close working relationship with the Glendora Police Department. Our two School Resource Officers, Officer Pedraza and Officer Morrison, are invaluable members of our support team and work closely with each of our sites to support the needs of our students, their families, and our staff.
Upcoming Events
Red Ribbon Week: Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated district-wide during the week of October 24-28.