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The Priority Transfer Window is Open Beginning Monda...
Dear GGUSD Families, While the majority of GGUSD students attend their school of residence or the neighborhood school closest to their home, GGUSD has a process that allows families who live within GGUSD boundaries to apply for a transfer from one GGUSD school to another ( intra district transfer) as well as for families living outside of GGUSD boundaries to apply for a transfer into the district ( inter district transfer). The 2025-2026 transfer application window will be open Monday, January 13th . The transfer application process is entirely online, and there is no need to come to the district office or school site to complete your application. To complete a transfer application, visit https://ggusd.us/transfers . Students who live within the GGUSD boundaries on an intra district transfer or students living outside of the district boundaries on an i nter district transfer do not need to complete a transfer application unless: Your student is transitioning from 6th to 7th grade or 8th to 9th grade, and you wish for them to attend a school other than their assigned home school based on your address. You have moved. If you reside outside GGUSD boundaries and request an Inter district Transfer to continue in GGUSD, contact your district of residence and apply for a transfer release. Please know that if GGUSD approves your transfer application, you can continue attending GGUSD schools even if your home district denies your transfer while waiting for an appeal from the Orange County Department of Education. All transfers are subject to space availability at the school selected and applicable regulations. School transportation for any student approved for a school transfer is the responsibility of the student’s parent or guardian. If you have questions or need support, please get in touch with the Office of Student Services at (714) 663-6391 or go to our website for more transfer information and our application at https://www.ggusd.us/departments/student-services/transfers . Transfer Window Timeline 2025-2026: The priority window for the Parental Choice Transfer Application – (Intradistrict Only) and the Interdistrict and Intradistrict Specified Reason Transfer Application is January 13, 2025 – February 14, 2025. Applications received after the priority window will be processed as space allows. If you are submitting an application for one our Dual Language Academies (Spanish Dual Language at Monroe, Russell or Simmons or Vietnamese Dual Language at Murdy), the priority enrollment period ends on January 31, 2025. Visit our Dual Language webpage at https://ggusd.us/dual for more information or to sign up for an upcoming parent orientation meeting.
Tuesday, Jan 07 2025
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School Safety in GGUSD
Dear Families, Yesterday, our nation was shaken by a devastating school shooting in Winder, Georgia. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the entire school community impacted by this tragedy. In light of this tragic event, we want to reaffirm our utmost commitment to the safety and security of our students and staff. This incident reminds us all of the importance of vigilance and preparedness. Year after year, we work alongside our law enforcement partners to review and continually improve our safety practices and protocols. GGUSD has a safety plan in place at each of our 67 schools. The plans are reviewed and revised each year to help strengthen our level of preparedness. Each school carries out several emergency drills every year that include the active shooter lockdown drill. Thanks to our strong partnerships with local law enforcement, GGUSD’s team of eight School Resource Officers work at our campuses, along with their three support dogs, providing safety and support each and every day. We implemented the “I Love U Guys” Standard Response Protocol, which streamlines terminology used to keep schools safe in an emergency. Staff and students are trained on the SRP’s four actions to take in an emergency: Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter. In partnership with the Orange County Threat Assessment Intelligence Center, GGUSD administrators received training in the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guide which better prepares school leaders to identify threats and prevent violence. Over the last few years, GGUSD has invested $100 million to increase panic hardware, safety alarms, security cameras and wrought-iron fencing. As part of Measure P, GGUSD also relocated school campus entrances to the front of each site, limiting access to outsiders. Our district uses STOPit, a web and mobile platform that allows students, parents and community members to anonymously report concerns about inappropriate or unsafe behaviors. Reports received through STOPit have prevented safety threats from occurring. District leaders meet regularly to review district plans, resources, and systems. GGUSD uses Rapid Responder, a web-based system that maintains critical information about our schools which is easily accessible by first responders in an emergency. When it comes to student safety, school districts can never be too prepared. Most importantly, we have wonderful staff, students, and parents – who are the eyes and ears on our school sites. We ask that you never hesitate to report suspicious activity and encourage your children to do the same. Please remember that if you see something, say something. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students safe. Click here to learn more about GGUSD safety procedures.
Friday, Sep 06 2024
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High Heat
Dear Families, As our area experiences high temperatures this week, Garden Grove Unified School District is implementing its standard high heat protocols to help ensure that our students, staff, and schools remain as cool as possible. These include increased water breaks, altered routines, and limited strenuous outdoor activities. As a reminder, GGUSD schools and classrooms are air-conditioned thanks to the successful passage and implementation of Measure P. We ask for your support in keeping students as comfortable as possible during the school day, by considering these suggestions for students: Wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Leave sweatshirts, jackets, sweaters, and long sleeves at home. Bring water bottles to school and drink throughout the day. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. Wear sunscreen. Avoid strenuous activity if you are outside or in non-air-conditioned buildings. Immediately tell your teacher or another adult if you begin to feel ill due to the heat. Thank you for your continued support.
Tuesday, Sep 03 2024
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GGUSD invites all parents/guardians to participate i...
The Garden Grove Unified School District is excited to invite all parents to participate in the Fall Virtual Parent University program in partnership with Fresno State University. The Parent University program will offer a series of classes to help parents/guardians learn skills in digital literacy, financial literacy, small business development, health and wellness, pathway to college, social and emotional wellness, Spanish conversation and English conversation. Parent University classes will be offered in English, Spanish, Punjabi and Hmong. Classes begin August 26th and will take place twice a week for 4 weeks. Classes will be offered in the evening from 6:30 - 8:30pm. For more information and to register, please click on the following link: fresnostate.edu/parentuniversity Please see the attached flyers for additional information. If you have questions, call 714-663-6084.
Saturday, Aug 24 2024
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High Heat
Dear Families, As our area experiences high temperatures this week, Garden Grove Unified School District is implementing its standard high heat protocols to help ensure that our students, staff, and schools remain as cool as possible. These include increased water breaks, altered routines, and limited strenuous outdoor activities. As a reminder, GGUSD schools and classrooms are air-conditioned thanks to the successful passage and implementation of Measure P. We ask for your support in keeping students as comfortable as possible during the school day, by considering these suggestions for students: Wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Leave sweatshirts, jackets, sweaters, and long sleeves at home. Bring water bottles to school and drink throughout the day. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. Wear sunscreen. Avoid strenuous activity if you are outside or in non-air-conditioned buildings. Immediately tell your teacher or another adult if you begin to feel ill due to the heat. Thank you for your continued support.
Wednesday, Aug 21 2024
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Welcome to the 2024-25 School Year
Welcome Back! This week, our schools rolled out the red carpets, constructed balloon towers, and formed cheer tunnels to welcome approximately 38,000 GGUSD students back for the 2024-25 school year. Classrooms were full of enthusiasm as students formed new friendships, reconnected with teachers and staff, and learned about all that awaits them in the new school year. Click here for a fun video which showcases some of our First Week of School festivities. First Day of School Photo Contest! In case you missed it, send us your first day of school photos to pio_department@ggusd.us by Monday, Aug 19 so we can celebrate our smiling students on Facebook and Instagram. Winners of our First Day of School photo contest will be selected at random to win GGUSD swag. Click here to follow us on Facebook and click here to follow us on Instagram. Looking Ahead The new school year is sure to bring about tremendous growth in our students’ academic skills (Goal 1) and personal skills (Goal 2) and move them forward on their path to lifelong success (Goal 3). A few exciting things happening districtwide this year are: Expanded Transitional Kindergarten serving ALL 4-year-olds and more opportunities for younger children to enroll in free state preschool A substantial increase in the number of classroom aides providing individualized support for students Continual expansion of Wellness Centers and mental health supports Ongoing Extended Learning Opportunities to ensure students get targeted support in the areas they need it most An expansion of our College and Career Mentoring Program which is offered to sixth graders at 29 elementary schools Focus on AVID college and career readiness strategies with all intermediate and high schools as well as 19 elementary schools that are AVID certified Strengthened Career Pathways and Dual Enrollment opportunities at our high schools Finally, in GGUSD we value the feedback of our families and are committed to working alongside parents to support the needs of their children. This year, there will be numerous opportunities for families to get engaged in your child’s school and district. Our Family Resource Centers will be offering monthly workshops on important topics like keeping your children safe online and our Parent and Community Outreach Department has a packed calendar of parent events planned that we hope you’ll attend. Our office staff and school administrators are happy to help with any questions you have to ensure your child enjoys a smooth start to a new school year! We wish you a wonderful 2024-2025 school year!
Saturday, Aug 17 2024
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Top 7 Things to Know for the Start of the 2024-25 Sc...
Top 7 Things to Know for the Start of the 2024-25 School Year Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) is delighted to welcome students, staff, and families back to school on August 12 for the 2024-25 school year. Our staff does an exceptional job of equipping ALL students with the academic skills (Goal 1) and the personal skills (Goal 2) for lifelong success (Goal 3). GGUSD has award-winning schools known for academic excellence and for providing a positive culture and climate where all students feel safe and respected. The district has compiled the following important information to help families prepare for a successful school year. Families should contact their school site or the district office with questions or for additional information. District Calendar: As attendance is vital for the success of students, families should mark their calendars now for important 2024-25 school year dates, such as school breaks and holidays. Outside school commitments should be scheduled to occur during breaks and holidays to prevent students from missing crucial learning. The full calendar is available to view by clicking here . Communication: GGUSD is committed to providing our families with accurate, timely information through our communication channels, including ParentSquare, the website , e-newsletter , and our social media channels on Facebook and Instagram . Be sure to connect with us to stay up-to-date on all of the great things happening in GGUSD. Additionally, local non-profit organizations share information on our Peachjar e-flyer platform about their programs that serve our families. For any questions about how to connect with GGUSD, contact our Public Information Office at 714-663-6503 or pio_department@ggusd.us . Click here for our communication guidelines which provides helpful tips on who to contact with questions or concerns for school or district issues. Safety: GGUSD’s highest priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. That’s why, year after year, we work alongside our law enforcement partners to review and continually improve our safety practices and protocols. Emergency and safety drills are conducted each year and GGUSD’s team of eight School Resource Officers work at our campuses providing support each and every day. This year, we are implementing Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to streamline protocols used in emergency situations. In recent years, we’ve invested more than $100 million to increase panic hardware, safety alarms, security cameras and wrought-iron Ameristar fencing which is being installed at all campuses. Students, families, and community members all work together to keep our schools safe. GGUSD uses STOPit, an anonymous reporting system that helps us all work together to deter bullying, discrimination, and other inappropriate or unsafe behaviors. Click here to learn more about GGUSD safety procedures and click here to learn more about STOPit. Nutrition Information: All GGUSD students receive free breakfast and lunch regardless of income. For information regarding school menus, click here to visit our Food Services webpage. Health: The current California Department of Public Health (CDPH) COVID-19 guidance uses a flexible symptom-based strategy similar to that of other illnesses. Students who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and symptoms that are mild and are improving. There is no longer a required isolation period. Please keep your child home from school if they have a temperature of 100 degrees or more, a contagious disease, diarrhea, vomiting, a rash or a persistent cough. Before and After School Programs: GGUSD, in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, is happy to offer free before and/or after-school programs at most elementary and intermediate schools, and three high schools. Click here for more information. Family Resources and Engagement: GGUSD has five Family Resource Centers, one in each trustee area, that connect families with the help they need most. GGUSD’s five Family Resource Centers are staffed by our wonderful school social workers or mental health specialists as well as community liaisons who provide support in multiple languages and are skilled at connecting families with resources for emergency needs, food, health care, immigration and legal resources, mental health counseling and more. Click here for Family Resource Center locations, hours and phone numbers. In GGUSD, we believe that family engagement is crucial to a child’s academic and personal success and we have many opportunities for families to get involved. In partnership with Fresno State, we offer free college courses through Parent University. Click here to learn more about parent engagement opportunities. We are looking forward to a successful 2024-2025 school year and are committed to equipping ALL students with the academic and personal skills for lifelong success. For additional information about GGUSD policies and procedures, click here to view our Parent Student Handbook.
Friday, Aug 09 2024
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2023-24 CAASPP and ELPAC Student Score Reports
Dear GGUSD Families, The 2023-24 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) student score reports have been released from the state. If you child participated in the 2023-34 SBAC for ELA and Math assessments (Grades 3-8 and Grade 11) or the California Science Test (Grades 5, 8 and 11), then you will receive a CAASPP student score report. If your child is an English Learner, then they participated in the 2023-24 ELPAC and you will receive an ELPAC student score report. All student score reports will be mailed to your home the week of July 22nd. CAASPP and ELPAC student score reports can also be viewed in the Aeries Student Portal in the Testing and Assessment tab. Returning this year, you will also receive video student score reports for both CAASPP and ELPAC assessments. You will receive an email/text message from ParentSquare during the week of July 29th that will contain the link and directions for you to access your student's video CAASPP and ELPAC student score report. If you have any questions, then please contact the Department of Evaluation and Research at (714) 663-6491.
Tuesday, Jul 02 2024
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Online Summer Resources
Dear Parents, As parents, we always want to help our children during the summer months to get a head start on the upcoming school year. In order to support student learning this summer, GGUSD has put together a variety of online resources for students from kindergarten to 12th grade in one convenient location. The variety of online resources will help your children stay on track with their learning, and to be ready for the new school year. On this webpage , you will find links to online textbooks and the IXL online learning program your children will be using next year. Recommendations are provided by grade level to ensure your children are getting a head start on the topics that will be covered at the start of the 2024-2025 school year. Use this link to see brief descriptions of what your child will be learning the first month of school in Math. Additionally, we have provided links with parent resources connecting you to information about academic, wellness, and community resources. Parents can access the online summer resources on the GGUSD website for information about what your child should focus on this summer in Math and English Language Arts as well as suggested reading lists by grade level. https://ggusd.us/pages/2024-online-summer-resources-for-students-and-parents Parents can also find information about summer resources and programs using this link: https://ggusd.us/departments/parent-community-outreach/summer-resources For resources to support mental health and wellness, use this link: https://sites.google.com/ggusd.net/osess/ggusd-wellness-toolkit
Thursday, Jun 06 2024
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GGUSD Safety Practices
Dear Families, Student safety is our highest priority. That’s why year after year, we review, update and improve our safety practices and protocols. We wanted to share an update about some of our new and ongoing safety practices. NEW SAFETY UPDATES GGUSD has five highly trained School Resource Officers as part of our wonderful partnership with the Garden Grove Police Department and the district has plans in place to increase our number of SRO’s with GGPD as well as the other police departments that serve our district (Westminster, Fountain Valley and Santa Ana). GGUSD SROs have added a third support dog to their team. “Heart” joins Misha and Nellie to provide students with another layer of social-emotional support. In partnership with the Orange County Threat Assessment Intelligence Center, GGUSD administrators received training in the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guide which better prepares school leaders to identify threats and prevent violence. On Friday, January 13, GGUSD administrators attended an emergency preparedness training hosted by Garden Grove Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority at Bolsa Grande High School. While this was a non-student day, students (with parent permission) and staff carried out an emergency scenario to highlight important preparedness strategies by all agencies involved. This year, GGUSD launched STOPit, a web and mobile platform that allows students, parents and community members to anonymously report concerns about inappropriate or unsafe behaviors. ONGOING GGUSD has a safety plan in place at each of our 67 schools. The plans are reviewed and revised each year to help strengthen our level of preparedness. Each school carries out several emergency drills every year that include the active shooter lockdown drill. District leaders meet regularly to review district plans, resources, and systems. GGUSD uses REMS, a web-based rapid responder system that maintains critical information about our schools needed in an emergency. Over the last few years, GGUSD has invested $100 million to increase panic hardware, safety alarms, security cameras and wrought-iron fencing. As part of Measure P, GGUSD also relocated school campus entrances to the front of each site, limiting access to outsiders. When it comes to student safety, school districts can never be too prepared. Most importantly, we have wonderful staff, students, and parents – who are the eyes and ears on our school sites. We ask that you never hesitate to report suspicious activity and encourage your children to do the same. Please remember that if you see something, say something. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students safe.
Tuesday, Jan 17 2023