Justin Kooyman wants to give a big shout-out and heartfelt thank you to Josh Estes for running another smooth and well-organized basketball season. Josh’s organization and clear communication help everything run seamlessly from start to finish.
He also sends a huge thank you to all the coaches for their dedication and support of our athletes. Your willingness to coach makes a real difference every day. Thank you again for an amazing season!
He also sends a huge thank you to all the coaches for their dedication and support of our athletes. Your willingness to coach makes a real difference every day. Thank you again for an amazing season!
Falcon Ridge Elementary is sending a special Christmas shoutout to their incredible PTA for creating such a sweet Cookies with Santa experience for students. Nothing is sweeter than seeing their Foxes light up with holiday joy.
A huge thank you is going out to Mrs. Buchiarelli and her mom, Mrs. Gilfry, for an amazing Winter Choir performance. The Sepe family shared that without Erica’s encouragement, their daughter wouldn’t have had the confidence to take on a small speaking part. They are grateful a million times over for this caring team and the heart they show for children.
A special shout-out goes to Alexander T. from his family. They share that Alexander is not only excelling in 8th grade academically, but he is also a talented dirt bike rider, a funny kid, and a truly amazing friend. His family's cheering squad is huge and encourages him to keep it up!
A special shoutout to Kain from his mom! She is so proud of how hard he works every day to reach his goals. Watching him grow fills her with love and gratitude, and he inspires her every day. Keep shining, Kain—seeing you grow stronger and more confident each day is the best! She’s always cheering you on!
A special highlight from Jess Holden recognizes Mrs. Salas’s eighth grade social studies class at Summit Intermediate. The students spent the day exploring the Constitution, engaging in thoughtful and mature conversations that demonstrated care for the rights of others and a strong understanding of how their own actions can shape their community. Their deep reflection was inspiring, and it is exciting to imagine the future they will help create.
Check out some fun snapshots from yesterday’s championship basketball games—way to go! Today, our Etiwanda girls take the court—good luck, girls.
Screens aren’t the enemy, but they shouldn’t take center stage. Being present with our children helps them feel seen, heard, and valued. #HealthyEtiwandaKids
Our community’s voice shapes our direction. Feedback from our LCAP input helps guide decisions that matter most for students, including extending library hours across our school sites. Libraries are now open for an additional 30 minutes after the last bell to support reading, research, and extra study time.
Holiday fun in action. Mrs. Overson’s class at DW Long had a great time working through their gingerbread unit. The students loved the activities and brought so much energy to their learning.
What an incredible week of basketball! Huge congrats to the SIS and DCIS girls teams and the SIS and HIS boys teams—all advancing to next week’s championship games! Your hard work and teamwork truly paid off, and we can’t wait to see you shine on the court!
A big high five to the We Win Organization and Grapeland’s PTA! Last night, they treated all Grapeland staff to a fun paint night at The Purple Easel, and everyone had an amazing time. Thank you for bringing our team together!
Shoutout to Mr. Jerome at Grapeland from Ms. Shinn & Mrs. Schmitt! Always attentive, engaged, and a true role model for our students—he’s such a gift to our school community!
High five to Elijah from his mom. She’s so proud of how hard he works every day. Seeing his growth reminds her what a strong and amazing young man he’s becoming. She feels honored to be his mom and loves him more than anything.
A big high five to Mrs. W, one of Falcon Ridge’s favorite preschool subs. She’s stepped in over the past few weeks with so much joy and enthusiasm, and our students have loved every minute of it.
A big thank you to our Etiwanda educators for reviewing publishers and sharing feedback on the program we are piloting. We had more than 50 educators dedicated to this work, and we appreciate their time and insight.
Shoutout to James and Jacob for spending part of their Thanksgiving break giving back in such a meaningful way. Their family looks forward to taking part in Wreaths Across America each year, and this was the third year for James, a seventh grader at EIS, and Jacob, a second grader at Windrows.
At Riverside Memorial, they helped place wreaths at each gravesite, offered a respectful salute, and shared their thanks with the veterans. Their family has generations of veterans, which makes this tradition especially meaningful.
At Riverside Memorial, they helped place wreaths at each gravesite, offered a respectful salute, and shared their thanks with the veterans. Their family has generations of veterans, which makes this tradition especially meaningful.
We are excited to celebrate the people who make our schools shine. If you have a student, teacher, or administrator who deserves a high five this week, send us a photo and a short description at dosocialmedia@etiwanda.org. We’ll share your shoutouts tomorrow. Please send your submissions by 9 AM on Friday
Instruction in Action: Mrs. Costa’s Differentiated Phonics Magic!
In Mrs. Costa’s kindergarten classroom at Caryn Elementary, every learner’s journey begins with the power of sound, letters, and meaning. Through small-group instruction, she meets each student right where they are — turning phonics into a personalized adventure.
Some students build words with letter tiles, others draw pictures to match the words they hear, and still others read decodable text to strengthen fluency and confidence.
This thoughtful approach helps every child grow as a reader, writer, and communicator — one sound at a time.
Thank you, Mrs. Costa, for showing how intentional instruction sparks discovery and confidence in our youngest scholars!
#InstructionInAction #TeachingBrilliance #EtiwandaExcellence #EarlyLiteracy
In Mrs. Costa’s kindergarten classroom at Caryn Elementary, every learner’s journey begins with the power of sound, letters, and meaning. Through small-group instruction, she meets each student right where they are — turning phonics into a personalized adventure.
Some students build words with letter tiles, others draw pictures to match the words they hear, and still others read decodable text to strengthen fluency and confidence.
This thoughtful approach helps every child grow as a reader, writer, and communicator — one sound at a time.
Thank you, Mrs. Costa, for showing how intentional instruction sparks discovery and confidence in our youngest scholars!
#InstructionInAction #TeachingBrilliance #EtiwandaExcellence #EarlyLiteracy
Your voice shapes our direction. Feedback from our LCAP community drives the decisions that matter most for our students, including providing additional support for small-group instruction for our English learners.
