Grossmont High School, Helix Charter High School and Grossmont Middle College High School Receive Prestigious Honor April 2, 2009 (El Cajon)—On April 1, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell announced that 125 California high schools were awarded the prestigious 2009 California Distinguished Schools Award. This marks the first year that a record three GUHSD schools have been recognized by the state for outstanding academic achievement.

Campus Supervisor Tim Wargo (left), Resource Officer Steve Paz, and Officer Joe Crawford spot student Brandon Lawtum-Grindle

Annual bench-press competition fosters trust between El Cajon Police Officers and at-risk teens.

By Gayle Early

March 25, 2009 (El Cajon)—Twenty-three Chaparral Continuation High School students flexed their muscles last week during a weight-lifting competition with members of the El Cajon Police Department in a show of strength and good will. Local TV stations trained cameras on the bench press, center stage, while a Channel 933 music van piped the jams, ratcheting up the already hyperkinetic energy of teens and classmates. The El Cajon Police Officers Association and Wal-Mart sponsored the event. Classmates, family, and friends poured onto the high school lawn at lunchtime to whoop, holler, and pump up the competitors.

Vittorio Arata, Gabriella Quiroga (1), Katya Quiroga, Mariella Quiroga (Mark Raftery)

April 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) — On his first day of work at the Capitol,  Assemblyman Marty Block introduced AB 24, a bill which would require that the California State University trustees conduct a feasibility study for locating the 24th Campus of the CSU System in Chula Vista.

March 26, 2009 (El Cajon) – – A nonprofit group with a goal to increase college attendance in California has honored two local educational programs as among the best in the state.

Grossmont College’s Project Success Learning Communities and the district’s Cal-PASS Freshman Composition Alignment Project are among 15 “working solutions” chosen by the statewide Campaign for College Opportunity for its annual Practices with Promise award recognizing top-notch efforts to improve college access and success.

March 26, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) — With the economy in the tank, many college students are staying in San Diego over spring break. So after you get sunburned at the beach, what’s there to do for the rest of the week? Check out our guide to the coolest spots to have fun in San Diego’s eastern region.

IT’S 5 O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE PARTY: On April 3rd, a warehouse at 131 Main St. in El Cajon transforms into a tropical resort complete with tiki bar, food, and live music by Shipwrecked, a Jimmy Buffet-style band. El Cajon Community Development Corporation is organizing the event, with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego East Visitors Bureau. Food and Beverage Supporters: El Cajon Grand, Main Tap Tavern, Viejas, Rita’s Catering, New York Bakery, L&L Hawaiian Barbeque, Quiznos, Angus Smokehouse Barbecue, and Panda Express.Cost: $20 per person. Festivities run from 4:47 to 8 p.m. and the site is accessible via trolley with a few blocks walk. Aloha!

March 1, 2009 (El Cajon) — The public is invited to experience hands-on scientific demonstrations and view exhibits that celebrate science in our everyday lives at the 2009 Grossmont College Science Festival on Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, to be held on the college campus. Admission and parking are free. Families with students of all ages are encouraged to attend.

By Matt Schauer

March 8, 2009 (San Diego) — An Art Relief Auction on March 14th will raise funds to benefit College Students for New Orleans, a non-profit organization intent on rebuilding homes in New Orleans and restoring lives of people affected by Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Katrina. We travel to Louisiana four times a year with groups as small as four and as large as 37. Our upcoming spring break trip from March 28 to April 4 will be the largest yet, with 50 people. We will spend our spring break rebuilding homes in an impoverished community plagued by a variety of problems. These range from severe economic woes and skyrocketing crime rates to the reason we are there: a lack of homes to live in.

By Miriam Raftery

Evelyn Ponce, 9, receives Peace Award from La Mesa-Sunrise Rotary Club President David Roberts (Miriam Raftery)

March 8, 2009 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Sunrise Rotary chapter has presented its Peacemaker of the Year Award to Evelyn (Evy) Ponce, a nine-year-old student at Lexington Elementary School in El Cajon to honor her "outstanding work" with Peace Patrol and Bullies Beware. "She is a gifted and dedicated student with an incredible ability for peace," said Rotary president Dave Roberts. A trainer of peace patrollers who came to America just two years ago, Ponce is now translating Primary Peacemakers lessons into Spanish and has personally intervened to prevent bullying in her neighborhood. Ponce is the first child to be honored with the annual award.

March 4, 2009 (El Cajon)—The Grossmont College Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds for educational programs benefiting students at Grossmont College in El Cajon, is seeking nominations for its 2009 Walk of Fame Alumni Award. The Walk of Fame, located on campus in the Main Quad area, is a display of several bronze plaques embedded in concrete that feature names of previous distinguished alumni.

Dr. Omero Suarez: 11-year legacy transformed district

March 2, 2009 (EL CAJON)--After more than a decade at the helm of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, Dr. Omero Suarez turned off the lights in his office a final time Friday, ready to embark on a new chapter in his life. He will be replaced by Dr. Cindy Miles, who begins her job today.

Milestones Mark Completion of Phase 2B, Start of Phase 3A for $274 million Prop H School Bond Program

Valhalla High School Principal Mary Beth Kstan takes the ceremonial shovel turn, joined by Valhalla science teachers, a student and District staff in a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 12 for the school's new two-story science building, which will house 12 science clasrooms with labs. Completion is scheduled to be completed in Feb. 2010.

March 1, 2009 (El Cajon) — Grossmont Union High School District has announced that two major milestones have been achieved on the landmark $274 million Proposition H school bond passed by voters in 2004.

First, Phase 2B, which includes standard classroom modernization projects, has been completed at seven of the district's 16 campuses, representing a total of 224 fully upgraded and enhanced classrooms to better serve the needs of East County students and staff.

February 27, 2009 (El Cajon)--The City of El Cajon Teen Coalition presents a "Youth of the Year" Award to recognize those who go above and beyond in serving their community either through their leadership abilities and/or their quality or level of community service in El Cajon. Leadership can be defined as those individuals who consistently facilitate a team vision and help guide others toward success. Community service helps better the community through the value and impact of those served.

February 23, 2009 (El Cajon)--The 21st annual Grossmont College Pow-Wow, a celebration of American Indian culture, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the college's Student Center. Admission is free. The day-long event, which begins at noon with gourd dancing and giveaways, features American Indian dancers and drummers. Vendors will sell American Indian cuisine, clothing, art and jewelry. The Grand Entry, a procession of about 100 dancers, begins at 6 p.m.

February 22, 2009 (San Diego's East County)--The traditional Academic League All-Star match will be held on Wednesday, February 25th at 3:30 p.m. in the Granite Hills Library. The All-Star match will feature the best of ten high school teams versus the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Academic League 2009 Champions, Granite Hills High School.

The All-Star Team will be jointly coached by Cheri Gabler, Brooke Crocker and Betty Jensen. Dick Hoy, Ruth Weiss and Steve Haiman will serve as moderators.
The Academic League competitions are sponsored by

By Miriam Raftery

February 16, 2009 (El Cajon)-- Grossmont Union High School
District (GUHSD) trustees voted unanimously to send a cure and correct letter
to Helix Charter High School administrators, asking for documentation thus
far withheld regarding handling of four cases of sexual abuse and misconduct. "To
have a cluster of four incidents in such a short period of time is a red flag,"
said Superintendent Robert Collins (photo, left), adding that the district
has a duty to restore confidence and protect safety of students. "We
are here to solve a problem, not to win out in the court of public opinion."