Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Good! Gold! Outstanding!

The San Jacinto Unified School District (SJUSD) is proud to celebrate the recent successes of its student musicians at various band festivals. Scores earned by the San Jacinto High School Tiger Concert and Symphonic Bands, SJUSD Strings, Monte Vista Middle School Band and North Mountain Middle School Band during recent regional and state assessments have confirmed that SJUSD has many talented musicians, led by dedicated instructors who inspire them to work together to create something truly beautiful.

San Jacinto High School Director, Patrick Harris stated, “These festivals are about more than just scores, they’re about excellence, growth, and being inspired by other amazing student musicians across the region. My students have grown tremendously as people and musicians! Every year they improve and challenge themselves! They are extremely dedicated to their music artistry!”

North Mountain Middle School Director, Skye Kooyman commented, “The joy and pride I witnessed in our students was truly transformative. Some cried tears of accomplishment, one student expressed that it was the best day of his life, and another stated he never thought he’d earn anything gold.”

The San Jacinto High School Choir students have their annual festival/competition on May 9 and are looking to extend their seven consecutive year Gold rating streak!

Without a doubt, the success in the upper grades ties back to the great foundational work being done in our elementary schools by full time music teachers who challenge students to join choir, band, strings and dance groups and develop a love for performing arts.

SJUSD remains committed to fostering a vibrant and inclusive music education program that encourages creativity, discipline, and teamwork. The district looks forward to more celebrations of student success in future festivals and performances.

The community is invited to get a glimpse of some of our talented students at the upcoming San Jacinto High Fine Arts Festival on Wednesday, April 2 at 5-8pm. The evening will include: Choir, Theater, Band, SJHS Ballet Folklorico, and the Mariachi Club. Live music will continue all night with the professional trombone band “The Bone Zone”, of which former North Mountain Middle School Music teacher, Tony Jauregui, is a member. In addition to music, dance and drama, guests will have the opportunity to see live woodworking demonstrations and incredible student art on display in the Media Center.

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On September 20, 2024, family, friends, San Jacinto Unified School District staff, former players
and coaches gathered with Coach Powell during a half-time celebration of the naming of “Coach
Bill Powell Field.”

Former players teamed up to gift Coach Powell with a set of golf clubs. A commemorative helmet,
signed by many players and colleagues, and a plaque were also presented, all tokens of
appreciation to a man who instilled core values of teamwork, resilience and excellence to players,
students and co-workers. Through all of his successes, Coach Powell is humble and gracious and
quick to deflect the attention and praise to his players, coaches and family for their unwavering
support.

Coach Powell served San Jacinto Unified School District as a teacher, coach and Assistant Principal
and we are grateful for his service and care for our students and community.

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The Soboba Foundation reached out to a few department stores to help them with this large endeavor, and special elves from the San Jacinto Walmart stepped in to help out. Walmart’s Store Manager Sandy Cifuentes, Academy Lead Lisa Flores and GM Coach Irma Hernandez worked closely with the Foundation’s coordinator Andrew Vallejos in the true spirit of community and Christmas. Cifuentes said, “We appreciate this event and are here to give our support!

And support they did. Before the popular Unstuff the Bus events could take place, Walmart team members shopped, rang up and ensured toy inventory to help accomplish the mission. They also provided manpower to load 1,000 toys onto the Soboba bus for each day of delivery.

“It’s always the season for unity, inclusion and giving,” Vallejos said. “We are grateful to all those who said yes and asked how they could help.”

The first event took place at San Jacinto Unified School District’s main office parking lot on Dec. 5 where hundreds of community members waited for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians’ bus to arrive. Forming a “toy brigade” from where the bus parked to the entrance of the DO’s warehouse, gifts were passed along one at a time. SJUSD’s School, Family and Community Liaison Sheila Blythe helped members of the San Jacinto High School cheer team and other volunteers sort each gift onto tables labeled for age groups and gender located inside the huge warehouse.

“We love to see everyone out here working together,” Blythe said. 

Soboba Tribal Council and Foundation members were on hand, as well as Soboba Fire Department personnel, working alongside other volunteers as toys were passed down the line. Tribal members were there to help, too.

“It filled my heart to see so many wonderful people come out and jump in to help and be a part of such a huge community giving event,” Carla Adame, Family and Community Engagement Specialist for SJUSD’s Student, Community and Personnel Support Department said.

She explained that each year, the school site family liaisons work with their principals and staff to identify worthy students. There were about 350 families who got selected this year. Plus, they always save a small stash for last-minute needs so there will be close to 400 SJUSD families that Soboba will help this Christmas with their generous donation. The toys were distributed during a Christmas-themed event on Dec. 10 and Adame said she was thankful to all the amazing liaisons, principals and staff who helped make it a great event by decorating beautiful stations.

“Soboba has been one of our biggest and most consistent blessings by far,” Adame said. “It’s never about anything else for them other than to help. They are always asking us how they can help so in turn our district works hard to be the best stewards we can with what they give us for our students and families; we implement equitable systems into each step of our process. We make it fun for our families because at the end of the day we’re all here for them and seeing their grateful, happy faces is what it’s all about.”

Vince Record, SJUSD’s Director of CTE and Special Programs, welcomed all the volunteers and guests at the Unstuff the Bus event and thanked the Soboba Foundation for 13 years of giving back to the San Jacinto district’s families and community.

“The Soboba Gives Back toy distribution program started in 2009 with former Soboba Tribal leader and SJUSD Board Member Rose Salgado, who is dearly missed,” he said. Some of the special guests that were acknowledged with a round of applause included Soboba Tribal Council, Soboba Foundation and Tribal members, Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce members and Walmart team members who helped make event possible by providing the toys that were purchased by the Soboba Foundation and Soboba Casino Resort.

San Jacinto Unified Board and Cabinet members, students, staff and families and Riverside County Office of Education’s Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez were also introduced before everyone got ready to unstuff the bus. Hot chocolate and fresh cookies were provided by the district’s Nutritional Services Department and the holiday music was turned up as the crowd cheered the arrival of the bus, led by a Soboba Fire engine.

Cathi Hill and Billie Jo Williams, from the American Cancer Society, said they were happy to help out at such a great event. “We are always happy to support Soboba because they do so much for the American Cancer Society and the community,” Hill said.

Soboba Tribal Chairman Isaiah Vivanco said, “We are thankful to be in a position to help out others. The Tribe has had its ups and downs this year but we’re still in a position to give back and that’s a good feeling.”

The Soboba bus was then stuffed with another 1,000 toys at the San Jacinto Walmart store on the morning of Dec. 8. That evening, at Tahquitz High School, it was unstuffed for distribution to children within the Hemet Unified School District. Christmas lights shined over the heads of a long line of volunteers who made sure all the toys were safely stored at the school while joyful Christmas music played on loudspeakers.

“We are continually overwhelmed by the generosity of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and their support of our children and families,” Emily Shaw, HUSD’s Director of Wellness and Community Outreach, said. “Through their generous toy donation this year, more than 1,000 children will receive a toy who may otherwise not have gifts. We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support and commitment to our community.”

Miriam Ortiz, HUSD’s Coordinator of School, Family and Community Partnerships, said Hemet families continue to express gratitude for the toy donations.

“The toys provide our parents relief during the holiday season and allows them to sprinkle joy into the lives of their children!” Ortiz said.

 Soboba Tribal Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado said she looks forward to connecting with the community at these events. “To see so many people take time to come out to help us secure Christmas gifts for the neediest children in our valley always makes me smile,” she said.

An additional 3,000 toys purchased at Walmart were made available to local nonprofits that serve the mission statement of the Soboba Foundation and had requested the donations. More than 300 Starbucks cards in the amount of $20 each were given to each district as gifts for students 14 and older in selected families receiving toys for their younger siblings.

Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas said, “It’s a blessing to be able to help bring some joy and cheer to kids, especially at this time of year.”

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In order to provide a quality instructional program for our students and staff families, we will be postponing our students’ start of the school year. The first day for students will be August 17, 2020, and the last day of school for students will be June 10, 2021. You can expect your child’s school to forward more detailed information in the near future about what this learning at home will look like.

Our school site offices are open for our families during our regular school business hours and our staff are working hard to answer questions about the distribution of supplies and distance learning equipment that is needed to launch our new school year.

We encourage you to continue to check your email and our district website and/or the school websites for the latest information and updates as we approach the first day of school on August 17.

Thank you for your patience and support of our students and staff,

Superintendent Dr. Pyle

-SJUSD

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San Jacinto Unified School District announces two changes to the administrative staff at Monte Vista Middle School, pending Board of Trustee approval expected March 10, 2020. Juan Penaloza will be the Principal replacing Jessica Miller, and David Sheiner will be the Dean of Students, filling a vacancy since the beginning of the school year.

Mr. Penaloza brings 25 years of service to education. He served eight years as a teacher and named the 2004 SJUSD Teacher of the Year. He then spent two years as an assistant principal in Jurupa Unified School District, followed by 12 years as Principal. During his school site leadership years, he exited two schools from Program Improvement status: Ina Arbuckle Elementary (2007, Jurupa Unified) and San Jacinto Elementary (2009, SJUSD). Mr. Penaloza was SJUSD’s first Megan Cope Elementary principal 2010-2013, and after serving as the district’s Director of Technology in 2013, he returned to serve as the principal at San Jacinto Elementary 2014-2018. Prior to his new post at Monte Vista Middle, he served as Principal on Special Assignment, focusing specifically on the reduction of chronic absenteeism, truancy and elementary Tier III behaviors. Through the end of the June 2020, outgoing Principal Jessica Miller will undertake the Principal on Special Assignment duties. When asked about his new journey as a middle school principal, Mr. Penaloza stated, “I am honored for the challenge to be the principal of Monte Vista Middle School. With such awesome staff and incredible students and families, together I know we can make a difference. I am proud to serve such a great school and community.”

David Sheiner, now in place as the full-time Monte Vista Middle School Dean of Students, had been serving as the District’s Educational Technology Coordinator since 2016. During this timeframe, Mr. Sheiner contributed greatly to the understanding and implementation of educational technology throughout SJUSD.

Prior to his tenure at SJUSD, Mr. Sheiner was a middle school teacher for five years at Norco Intermediate School (Corona-Norco Unified) and a high school teacher and instructional technology coach at South El Monte High for nine years (El Monte Union HS District). “I am super excited and appreciate the opportunity to work again at a school site and support the MVMS Bobcat students, teachers and family with leadership, innovation and discipline,” shared Mr. Sheiner.

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San Jacinto, CA – October is San Jacinto Heritage Month and San Jacinto Unified School District has been busy preparing and celebrating with annual traditions.

“The Heritage Month light pole banners were once again put on display by the City,” shared Diane Perez, SJUSD’s Superintendent. “These banners depict the establishment dates for us, the City of San Jacinto and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians – the big three entities that have remained steadfast in this community since the 1800s,” she noted.

The school district’s Board of Trustees passed a resolution at their September meeting, once again declaring October as Heritage Month. The City of San Jacinto did the same with a proclamation at their regular meeting on October 1, 2019, and Soboba also followed with steps to declare October as a month to celebrate local heritage.

On Friday, October 11, more than 40 entries in the San Jacinto High School annual Homecoming Parade made their way from the school along Ramona Boulevard, San Jacinto Avenue and Idyllwild Drive, back to the school stadium.

“Our theme this year was ‘Lights, Camera, Action,’ and we had many expressive student floats and entries this year,” explained Antoinette Miles, San Jacinto High’s ASB Director, who oversees the activities for homecoming. “We appreciate the City’s help with closing streets for about an hour—this is such a strong community tradition,” said Miles.

The final entry in the parade featured members of the San Jacinto High School Class of 1969, who held their 50th class reunion during this year’s Homecoming weekend. The group had special seating at the football game on October 11, to watch the Tigers beat West Valley High School Mustangs.

Over 400 attendees are expected at the 12th annual “Into the Future” Parent/Student Conference on Saturday, October 19, to be held on the MSJC San Jacinto campus. The conference, designed to foster a college-bound culture in the San Jacinto Valley through advocacy, access and community relationships, features a guest speaker and multiple workshops after a free breakfast and concludes with a free lunch featuring In-n-Out Burgers. Parents can pre-register at any SJUSD school office or from a link on the District’s website.

“This free event offers a wide range of information for all K-12 students and parents looking for higher education opportunities,” said Carla Adame, SJUSD’s Family Engagement Specialist. “We also have school heritage displays and student groups performing,” continued Adame, “not only to remind us of our San Jacinto heritage but also to celebrate our current culture.”

Visit the SJUSD website for more information about the “Into the Future” Parent/Student Conference, www.sanjacinto.k12.ca.us.

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