Dear Wolfpack Families,

This week our students and staff were busy closing out the month of January and it was packed with SPIRIT!

Scholarship - Our classrooms continue to impress with students engaged in rigorous learning opportunities. In CTE Engineering we saw students working toward their Six Sigma White Belt Certification. This certification shows that you have a foundational understanding of how to improve processes and reduce waste. In our English Classrooms, we saw students write synthesis essay that ask students to read at least 3 sources and use them to produce an argument on a given topic. In Geometry classes we saw students comparing triangles and discussing how they knew if sides and/or angles were congruent. In ALL of our classrooms we saw students thinking and working collaboratively on grade level content and skills!

Passion - Please see the story below about Junior, Zowein Abariga who placed first in the Riverside County - Poetry Out Load Competition! A huge thank you to English Teacher, Derrick Strosnider, for bringing this event to GOHS.

Integrity -At Great Oak High School, we strive to foster a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for all our students. However, we have recently observed an increase in vaping among our students—a concerning trend that poses risks to their health, well-being, and academic success. We are committed to addressing this issue proactively by raising awareness, educating our students and families, and working collaboratively to create a culture that prioritizes healthy choices. Together, we can guide our young people toward better decisions and a brighter future. Please look for more information in the coming weeks about what we are doing on campus to address the issue and how you can help at home.

Reflection - This week, I presented our Mid-Year Reflection to the TVUSD Superintendent and Executive Cabinet. In this presentation, I shared ALL of the amazing things our teachers are doing to help ALL student be successful. I also shared areas of continued improvement that we will address into second semester. I continue to be incredibly proud of the work our students and staff do every day! I will share the presentation with our community next week.

Involvement - Our Silent Seven was the BIGGEST it has EVER been! We welcomed almost 1,000 students into the Wolfpack Den to support both girls and boys basketball. We appreciate how much our students show up for each other and how well they represent the Wolfpack!

Teamwork - Our athletic and academic teams continue to work hard and make the Wolfpack proud! This week our Boys and Girls soccer and basketball swept Chaparral High School both home and away. In addition, our Academic Decathlon Team placed 4th in the County! More to come on other Winter Sports and Academic Teams next week!

Have a GREAT week Wolfpack,

Dr. Lane

Great Oak High School marked an exciting milestone by hosting its first-ever Poetry Out Loud competition on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. The event, a nationally recognized poetry recitation contest, featured ten talented students from grades 9 through 12, each delivering powerful performances.

Emerging as the top competitor was Junior Zoewin Abariga,earning first place honors. Olivia Yafa, also a Junior, secured second place, while Sophomore Hayley Foo claimed third. With her victory, Zoewin advanced to the Riverside County Poetry Out Loud Competition the following day, where she achieved an extraordinary milestone—winning first place at the county level. In doing so, she surpassed the reigning 2024 Riverside County Champion and California state runner-up!

Zoewin will now represent Riverside County on March 16th at the California State Poetry Out Loud Competition, where she has the opportunity to advance to the national finals and compete for the grand prize of $20,000. Congratulations to all participants for their dedication to poetry and performance, and best of luck to Zoewin as she represents GOHS and TVUSD on the state stage!

Follow these accounts for more:

• Riverside Arts Council: https://www.instagram.com/riversideartscouncil/
• CA Arts Council: https://www.instagram.com/calartscouncil

• National Poetry Out Loud: https://www.instagram.com/iampoetryoutloud

Please consider donations to the GOHS Los Angeles Shelter Donation Drive. Thank you to all of the participating clubs for working together in service of others!

The CIF Foundation is accepting donations to support school communities impacted by the fires in the greater Los Angeles area.

Many people have asked how they can help. We have directed them to impacted communities and the local CIF-Los Angeles City Section and CIF-Southern Section offices, which have provided leadership and support during this difficult time.

The CIF Foundation has also launched an online portal for individuals and organizations to donate to affected schools and families. These donations help replace equipment and ensure students can continue participating in athletic programs.

Interested donors can use the link below to contribute or send a check made out to the CIF Foundation to the address provided. Every contribution reflects our shared commitment to rebuilding and strengthening education-based athletics in the region.

CIF Foundation Link - Contribution and More Information

At Great Oak High School, we value the diversity of our community and embrace the opportunity to learn about and celebrate global traditions. This week we highlight the Lunar New Year!

The Lunar New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year is a cherished holiday celebrated by millions worldwide. The historic Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, which means dates are determined by both the moon (lunar) and the sun (solar). Months begin with every new moon, when the moon is not visible in the night sky. The year starts on the new moon nearest the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, sometime between January 21st and February 20th. China officially adopted the Gregorian calendar, used by the West in 1912 and in the late 20th century the holiday was reintroduced as the “Spring Festival.” The Lunar New Year marks a fresh start and a time for reflection, family, and traditions. In 2025, the Lunar New Year begins on Wednesday, January 29th, ushering in the Year of the Snake according to the Chinese zodiac.

The Snake is a symbol of wisdom, intuition, and transformation. Those born in the Year of the Snake are often seen as thoughtful, elegant, and resourceful individuals. This year represents an opportunity to embrace new beginnings and navigate challenges with grace and insight.

Key Themes of the Lunar New Year:

• Family and Connection: Families gather to share meals, exchange gifts, and celebrate their bond. Traditional foods like dumplings, rice cakes, and tangerines symbolize prosperity and togetherness.
• Reflection and Renewal: The New Year is a time to leave behind the past and set intentions for personal growth and success in the coming year.
• Cultural Traditions: Customs like lion dances, fireworks, and red decorations bring joy and symbolize good luck, wealth, and protection from negative energy.

Mrs. Casady will be holding interventions regarding AP options for students entering their sophomore year. Students can check their 5-star to see what day they need to attend intervention. Please email Mrs. Casady if your student does not have a pass.

The deadline to order or cancel AP exams is March 7th. There is a $40 cancellation fee for any AP exam. All exams must be paid in full by March 10th. Any unpaid exams will be cancelled on March 11th and will incur the cancellation fee. After March 11th, there are no refunds.

Our Intervention is a 30 minute block of time where students can get extra support from their teachers. Interventions purpose is to intervene with the student BEFORE they fail the class. Students with failing or near failing grades should seek out interventions regularly to help achieve academic success.

Are you interested in your student's invites and attendance in intervention?

Please check out our Intervention Newsletter.

Please check out our Saturday Website for:

1. Sign ups for Our Current Offerings

2. The Saturday Google Calendar for future offerings

Saturday offerings are because teachers volunteer their time on the weekend. If you don't see what you're looking for, please look to our Intervention Newsletter to get academic support from your teachers during the school day.

Please see the sample graduation announcement offered by Jostens. Click this link to be taken to the Josten's website directly to order your graduation items. The earlier you order, the more money you save!

Please be aware that these are the only approved GOHS social media handles:

GOHSFacebook

GOHSTwitter

GOHSInstagram

*GOHS does NOT endorse or support the messaging of any other social media platform claiming connection to our site.