The Horizon
May 2024
Congratulations, Class of 2024!
I am so proud to celebrate with our graduates and acknowledge their incredible accomplishments. It is so exciting to see our graduates walk across the stage to accept their diplomas, and then head off to their exciting futures.
Whether our graduates have chosen college, a career, the military, or another field, I know that they are well-prepared for the next step in their life’s journey.
This time of the year is incredibly rewarding, not only for our graduates but for their families and the educators who helped them achieve their goals. One special tradition here in JUSD is our Grad Walks, which allow our graduating seniors to parade in front of their younger peers and former teachers. It is an incredibly emotional and empowering experience for all and you can read more about it in this month’s Horizon.
We also took time this month to celebrate our wonderful JUSD team, as we marked National Teacher Appreciation Week and Classified School Employee Week, as well as School Principal’s Day, School Lunch Hero Day, National School Nurse Day, National Speech Pathologist Day and other employee recognitions. Our employees are at the heart of all that we do and they often do their work behind the scenes. Our classified ambassadors are just one example. These dedicated individuals connect with our students, families, and community to share information and resources and give that little bit of extra care and effort that can transform lives. You can read more about this groundbreaking program in this newsletter.
As always, we love to shine a light on our outstanding team members. This month we highlight Amy Noyes, Coordinator of Education-Information Technology. Amy is a highly-valued team member and this month earned the Riverside County Office of Education Way-Maker award for her work in Esports.
As I acknowledge our graduates and employees, I also want to thank our Jurupa Unified community. Our district appreciates your support and engagement. We have accomplished a lot this past year, and I look forward to what is to come.
This will be our final Horizon until the fall. Enjoy your summer break and we’ll see everyone back at school on Wednesday, August 7.
JUSD graduates visit their elementary and middle schools as role models
Jurupa Valley High School Senior Bryan Gomez was excited to walk the halls of Van Buren Elementary School earlier this month wearing his graduation regalia as a soon-to-be graduate. He was back on his elementary campus to be a real-life example of what a Jurupa Unified School District high school graduate looks like.
JUSD seniors across the district dressed in their graduation attire to visit their elementary and middle schools last week. Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Jurupa Valley High School students visited their 4 elementary feeder schools, Troth Street, Sky Country, Pedley, and Van Buren Elementary days before graduation to say goodbye to their former teachers and inspire the younger students to persevere and become high school graduates themselves.
As Bryan walked down the hallways of Van Buren Elementary full of elementary students cheering him and his classmates on, his proud younger sister, Andrea, pulled him out of the line to hug him. “It's important for the students to see me in my (graduation) gown with all my regalia and medals because it shows them what’s ahead of them, to prosper and pay attention to their (academics),” Bryan said.
JUSD's unique Classified Ambassadors Program
Abigail Amador proudly serves as a middle school campus supervisor…and a community connector.
As a classified ambassador, the Mission Middle School staff member works to inform and engage students and families in myriad ways.
“I think classified ambassadors such as myself help to further the district’s mission and the vision that we have because we are able to reach out differently with some of the parents and …community members,” she said. “We are a face …that they see on the regular. They’re used to our presence. We are able to build good relations with them. Being an extra voice from the district to our parents and to members of the community, I think that’s really important,” she said.
Classified ambassadors are in place at every JUSD school site. The unique program – developed in collaboration with the Classified School Employees Association (CSEA) – provides a way to improve communication and understanding with the community while also allowing classified employees to build leadership skills.
JUSD cowboys have a bright future in rodeos
Two JUSD elementary school students have proven themselves to be up-and-coming rodeo stars.
Clayton Niehaus, a sixth-grader at Stone Avenue Elementary, and Alejandro Ruiz Rivera, a Peralta Elementary School fourth-grader, recently earned impressive honors in bull riding and roping championships.
Clayton, who is 12, has numerous sheep and bull-riding wins under his belt – and some impressive prize belt buckles to prove it. He started riding sheep (mutton-bustin’) when he was about 5 or 6, and has since moved on to “mini-bulls.” He is currently ranked third in the AK Bucking Bulls organization for his age category. His mother and older sister also are active in the rodeo.
Clayton has a busy rodeo season ahead but said his favorite is “My hometown rodeo, Jurupa Valley.” He looks forward to a rodeo career.
Alex, 10, is an award-winning roper and participates in “charreria” events. He recently took first place at the Mexican Federation of Charreria 2024 Southern State Championship for Young Children, which took place in Arizona.
Alex said he’s been roping since he was two years old and brings his cow Lola to competitions. He’s also roped bulls and horses. The hardest part of the sport, he said, is doing tricks with the rope. He hopes to make a career of his showmanship and said he hopes to join family members who perform with Grammy Award-winning singer Pepe Aguilar.
“I’m so proud of Alex,” his teacher, Lisa Cook said.
We look forward to seeing what’s next for these JUSD cowboys!
Photo Courtesy of Stacy Niehaus
JUSD coordinator changes lives through Esports
When Coordinator of Education-Information Technology, Amy Noyes, called a parent last year to let them know their son would receive an award at the upcoming Esports Tournament, the parent choked up and cried on the phone.
That was her 12th-grade son's first award for something he was interested in and good at in his entire education career. These interactions motivate Ms. Noyes to keep growing Jurupa Unified’s Esports league.
The Riverside County Office of Education recently awarded Ms. Noyes the Way-Maker Award. She was nominated by coaches, principals, and Education-Information Technology staff for helping the District’s league overcome challenges and obstacles. “Through her efforts, Amy exemplifies her ability to be a Way-Maker in JUSD and the county,” said Director of Education-Information Technology, Veronica Gonzalez.
“Not only (am I) impacting the students’ lives but the families’ lives also,” said Ms. Noyes.
Ms. Noyes oversees JUSD’s Esports districtwide at all secondary schools. She coordinates tournaments, orders team jerseys, plans events and handles everything in between. Ms. Noyes has made strides in JUSD to make Esports a sport for all students with a shared love of gaming, Ms. Gonzalez said.
Patriot High School CTE students win national recipe contest
Congratulations to Patriot High School CTE students Evan Uribe and Jose Ballesteros who have won a national recipe contest. The students’ recipe – Queso Tomato Soup Dip with Grilled Cheese Dippers – is in the Top 10 recipes in the J.T.M. Crave recipe contest and won the “Fan Favorite” contest.
Their recipe will be featured at the J.T.M. foods booth at the School Nutrition Association’s Annual National Conference in Boston this summer and their contest, and four other top recipes, will now be judged by a panel of experts to determine if they are the Grand Prize winner. The students participated in the contest as part of a collaborative effort with Missy Poirier, JUSD Nutrition Services Director, and her incredible team.
The students’ recipe, as well as two from our Nutrition Services team members, will appear in the 2024 Crave Collection cookbook to be released this summer.
JUSD AAPAC Graduations/Promotions
JUSD’s African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC) held its first Spring Promotion Celebration on May 16. Students promoting from kindergarten, 6th grade, 8th grade, and high school graduates attended, along with their parents. Students received certificates and were celebrated and encouraged to continue to pursue academic excellence. Congratulations to all of those recognized!
Mission Bell Elementary students honored for Cesar Chavez Legacy Writing and Art Competition
Congratulations to the Mission Bell Elementary School students who earned honors in the Cesar Chavez Legacy Writing and Art Competition. The students were feted at a ceremony held at the Riverside Art Museum on April 30.
Winners are:
📸 Photography: First-place, Olivia Zavala, and second-place, Zeus Gallardo
🎨 Art: First-place, Arielle Romero; second-place, Jenna Chavez; third-place, Arlette Espiritu Gonzalez; and Honorable Mention, Analy Delgado.
Congratulations Jurupa Valley High School Softball!
Congratulations to our JVHS Girls’ Softball superstars, who are CIF-Southern Section Division 8 Finalists. Our Lady Jags went on to play in the first round in the 2024 CIF SoCal Softball Championships for Division V.
We are so proud of how far our Jaguars advanced this season. Way to go!