Community Update

National School Counseling Week 2025, “School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive,” sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated from Feb. 3–7, 2025, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. The special week honoring school counselors provides recognition for school counselors who “implement comprehensive school counseling programs, a vital part of the educational process for all students as they meet the challenges of the 21st century.

A special thank you to our amazing EDHS Counselors: Irene Davis, Vianna Flores, Emily Koop, Jennifer Kirkman, DeShonda Williams, Veronica Gonzalez, and their support staff. Your commitment to the well-being and success of our students does not go unnoticed. We value and appreciate everything you do for our school community!

In Motion Dance Team - Our In Motion Dance Team took 1st place in both the Pom and Contemporary categories at the USA Norcal Regionals in Fair Oaks. Congratulations to our talented dancers and advisor, Meg Bettencourt!

Winter Guard -The El Diamante Winter Marching Arts kicked off their competitive season at Lemoore, and we couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and dedication. A special shoutout to our Winter Guard for earning a well-deserved bronze medal! We’re also incredibly proud of the culture that is slowly starting to build within the group.

Congratulations FFA - Three of our FFA students—Justin Ruelas, Jayden Wong, and Mia Alvarez—were awarded their FFA jackets through the Tulare County Blue Jacket Bonanza. A big round of applause for their hard work and dedication!

Additionally, our EDHS Citrus Judging teams performed exceptionally well at the California State FFA Citrus Judging Finals. The Citrus A Team, consisting of Alex Palomino, John Rosa, and Sienna Mariscal, earned an impressive 5th place. Not to be outdone, our Citrus B Team—Gracie Cruz, Libby Bardonnex, and Megan Jones—also secured 5th place.

Congratulations to all of our FFA students for their outstanding achievements!

The Dig -Our school newspaper, The Dig, is a terrific resource that keeps students and staff alike well-informed and updated on all things happening around our school. Whether it’s the latest school events, sports updates, student achievements, new staff introduction, or even thought-provoking opinions, The Dig covers it all.

What makes The Dig so special is its dedication to connecting our school community. It’s not just about news – it’s about highlighting the voices of students, sharing stories that matter, and keeping everyone in the loop. Every issue brings fresh perspectives and serves as a reminder of how much we have to celebrate and share here at school.

Check out some of the lastest articles:

https://www.eldiamantedig.com/2025/01/30/new-math-stats-teacher-mr-santana-joins-the-miner-family/

(Mr. Santana - feature article)

https://www.eldiamantedig.com/2025/01/14/classrooms-on-the-move-major-transition-for-600-700-buildings/

(600 building move to 900s)

https://www.eldiamantedig.com/2025/01/30/dani-benitez-commits-to-chico-state-for-soccer/

(Dani Benetiz commits to Chico State)

STRONG Academy - We are thrilled to announce that our very first chapter of STRONG students in the HOSA Regional Competitive Events has been a tremendous success! Six of our students have qualified for the State Leadership Conference (SLC), and we couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and hard work. If you see them around, please join us in congratulating them on this fantastic achievement!

A special thank you goes out to our incredible team of teachers who served as testing proctors—your support made all the difference. Additionally, a big thank you to the VUSD CTE department for their continued financial support.

Academic Decathlon -Our Academic Decathlon Team recently competed in the Super Quiz event at the Tulare County Office of Education. We proudly announce that our team earned multiple awards, medals, and plaques. Congratulations to all our students for their outstanding efforts! Great job to our advisor, Mikk Jolly!

National School Counseling Week (2/3-2/7) - To celebrate National School Counseling Week, we’re hosting three days of lunch activities! Check out the flyer below for more details on how you can participate.

School Site Council Meeting (2/3) - Join us for the School Site Council meeting on Monday at 3:40 p.m. in the PICK Center.

FAFSA Workshop (2/4) - A FAFSA workshop will be held on Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the library. Don’t miss this opportunity to get help with your financial aid applications!

Guiding Coalition Meeting (2/4) - The Guiding Coalition will meet on Tuesday at lunch in Room 307. Pizza and drinks will be provided!

ELPAC Testing - Our English Language Learners will be taking the Reading, Writing, and Listening portions of the ELPAC test. Let’s wish them the best of luck as they show what they’ve learned!

Kindness Week (2/10-2/14) - Celebrate Kindness Week with us from February 10th to 14th! We have exciting dress-up days and daily activities planned for both students and staff. Be sure to check out the flyers for more details!

Registration - Thank you to the English Department for your continued support throughout the registration process. We ask that you keep engaging with your students about the courses available to them. Students will submit their registration forms to their counselors during the registration presentations. Afterward, we will follow up with one-on-one meetings to ensure that course requests are accurately submitted in PowerSchool.

Preview Day, February 10th "Welcome to High School: A Kind Place to Grow and Belong" -
On February 10th, we’ll be welcoming our incoming 9th-grade students to campus. The day will include a rally featuring VAPA performances, an elective presentation, and a student panel in the theater. Students will also go on a brief campus tour.

The Miner Foundation is dedicated to supporting our school and students in many ways, from funding school improvement projects and club grants to providing scholarships and offering clubs and organizations additional opportunities to raise funds. Since i2007, the Miner Foundation has raised over $150,000 in scholarships for our students.

Please show your support by attending the dinner and auction on March 15th. For more information, visit our school website.