Inspiring Excellence

We are beginning the 2023-2024 school year with about 4,000 students. I want to congratulate all of our principals for an excellent start to the school year. Meet Your Teacher Night was on Thursday, August 3, from 5-7 p.m. at all three campuses with Casa Grande Union providing hot dogs and Vista Grande having food trucks. Football has been conducting practices and next week other sports will begin theirs, including the first ever girls flag football. We are excited about the Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Bowl when Vista Grande plays Casa Grande Union.

Please make sure you are checking your child’s progress on a regular basis. This is a critical time of the year for students and their success as we do not want to see them get into academic achievement holes that are difficult to climb out. I also encourage you to reach out to the school or district staff if you have questions or concerns. We are here to serve your family and their educational needs.

I hope you have a wonderful August as we wish for some cooler weather. Stay safe.

Jeff Lavender

Interim Superintendent

(CGUHSD) Congressman Juan Ciscomani presented the Congressman Juan Ciscomani American Dream Inspirational Educator Awards at the Governing Board meeting on Tuesday, August 1. The yearly awards recognize our district’s support staff, teachers, and administrators. Attending recipients were congratulated by Congressman Ciscomani, took a photo with him, and received a plaque: Sandra Aleman, Jennifer Alley, Sylvestre Amorsolo, Ralph Belloc, Ofelia Cook, Genevieve Davis, Dave Griffis, Martin Hebda, Lorena Jimenez (not present), Mia Khan, Anthony Le, David Leak, Ana Matthews, Charmaine Martinez, Alister Mountz, Stephan Nelson, Tina Ogle, Julie Parks-Evans, and Gretchen Pleggenkuhle (not present). Before the meeting, Congressman Ciscomani met with Governing Board members and district administration. During the meeting, he spoke about how education impacted his life and family. For photos, visit https://www.cguhsd.org/doEducatorAwards.aspx.

(CGUHSD) Lee Brown, Student Services Compliance Specialist, was recognized as the Employee of the Month at the Governing Board Meeting on Tuesday, August 1. Ms. Renée Morales, Curriculum & Instruction Director, recognized her as an unsung hero. Ms. Brown keeps her cool, is kind, keeps everything in line, and holds the fort down. Our district would not be where they are today without her. CGUHSD owes her so much and is proud to recognize her as one of our amazing employees.

(CGUHSD) Jesse Rodriguez, Electrician, was presented with the Stepping Out From Behind The Counter Award. Over the summer break, Jesse went above and beyond to get emergency lighting in place at the Casa Grande Union High School campus. His constant efforts to make the sites safer and look better never go unnoticed by his supervisors. His willingness to help in any way, shape, or form has helped make our team better, as his colleagues want to follow suit in their everyday activities.

Kevin White, CGUHS Girls Flag Football Head Coach

(CGUHSD) On Tuesday, July 18, our district had its back-to-school celebration welcoming teachers and staff with a breakfast and a guest speaker followed by fun door prizes donated by local restaurants. Roberto Rivera spoke about the importance of stepping out from behind the counter to build relationships with students to help them be successful and reach their full potential. Rivera was labeled an at-risk and disadvantaged student with learning disabilities. As an adult, he overcame these labels and completed his college degree. He went on to earn his master's and doctorate degrees. Thank you to Mi Amigo Ricardo‘s, A Latte Vino, and Dell’s Pizza for generously donating gift cards.

(CGUHSD) Check out all the alums who came back to teach and work at CGUHSD. We are proud of these Cougars and Spartans for being role models to the students of Casa Grande. It’s going to be a great year!

(CGUHS) Freshman 1st Day was held Wednesday, July 19. The Class of 2027 had the campus to themselves and got to know their campus, teachers, and other students. Welcome to our district!

(VGHS) Freshman 1st Day was held Wednesday, July 19. The Class of 2027 had the campus to themselves and got to know their campus, teachers, and other students. Welcome to our district!

(CGUHSD) Students attended the first day of classes on Thursday, July 20. Welcome back to school! It’s going to be a great year!

(CGUHS) Freshman AgriScience I students are ready for the new school year. Stay tuned for upcoming FFA events.

(CGUHS) Career & Technical Education (CTE) Automotive Technologies Teacher, Christian Stewart, welcomed Dallas Giddens from Giddens Tire Pros to talk to his students and show him around his auto shop. CGUHSD collaborates with community businesses to prepare our students for careers after high school. Mechanics are in high demand. This class is a three-year program where students can earn Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications. Dallas stressed the qualities he looks for in employees, which include having good communication skills, being a team player, having integrity, and being courteous and honest with the customers. Mr. Stewart says that Mr. Giddens solidified what he is instilling in his 144 students.

2023/24 Openings

Application

More Information

520-836-8500 Ext. 3954

(CGUHS) Biology students in Mrs. Brady's Biology classes had a fun time team stacking cups in a team-building activity. In this activity, students stacked cups in different configurations using string and a rubber band. They could not touch the cups with their hands, just the string and rubber band. Students got to know one another, learn how to work together to achieve a goal, and practice communication. In addition, they showed a true growth mindset by trying repeatedly when the stacks toppled over.

(CGUHS) In Mrs. Owensby's Biology classes, student scientists worked together to investigate popular bubble gum brands to see which one produced a bigger bubble.

(CGUHS) For their first project of the school year, Mrs. Cedillo's Biology classes discussed the characteristics of life to determine if organisms are living or not. Viruses are much debated as to whether they are alive or not. Students researched different viruses and explained their stance based on what they have learned so far.

(CGUHS) To get students comfortable with each other and prepare them for future group activities, Ms. Jessa Espartero’s English 11 and English 12 classes participated in a “Getting To Know” lesson on the first day of school. Students were given a piece of paper to answer, “All About Me”. After 10 minutes, students were divided into groups and given guided questions based on random situations (funny, serious, school, home, and community) for them to share and have conversations with the group. In the end, students realized that the classroom is not only for learning but also for having fun.

(CGUHS) Tables will be set up at lunch, in front of the cafeteria, to promote clubs, activities, and athletics available to students. Stop by to talk to members and get a flyer!

(CGUHS) Casa Grande Union High School is home to the newest Arizona State High School Clay Target League team! We are accepting athletes in grades 6 through 12 for the upcoming fall season, including athletes from other Casa Grande area schools (Arizona City, Coolidge, Eloy, etc.) and homeschooling students.

Interested in clay target shooting but have never shot before? That's ok! We are a co-ed team accepting athletes of all experience levels and abilities.

Concerned about safety? According to the Arizona State High School Clay Target League, "The league is the safest sport in high school. With more than 100,000 student-athletes that have participated and have shot hundreds of millions of times, there has been no reported injuries since the league started in 2001."

Please like and follow us for updates on club sign-ups, team registration, practice schedules, and more in the coming weeks.

Visit https://www.cguhsd.org/cgTrapSkeetClub.aspx.

(CGUHS) Spirit Week was held July 24-28. Students participated by dressing in the following themes: Barbie & Ken, Student/Teacher Swap, Western Wear, Shore to Shore, and Cougar Crazy.

Monday, August 14

Crocs/Socks/Birkenstocks Day

Tuesday, August 15

Jersey Day

Wednesday, August 16

Pink Day

Thursday, August 17

Anything But A Backpack Day

Friday, August 18

Aloha Friday

(VGHS) Tables will be set up at lunch, in front of the cafeteria, to promote clubs, activities, and athletics available to students. Stop by to talk to members and get a flyer!

Friday, August 18

Fall Sports Season

Theme = Aloha (Welcome!)

Sophomores/Juniors = 10:10-10:45 AM

Freshmen/Seniors = 11:05-11:45 AM

VGHS Large Gym

Tickets (gofan.co)

Tickets (QR Code)

*To get started with GoFan, view the video above about purchasing tickets.

Vista Grande High School is pleased to announce that ALL tickets sales for home athletic events are available through GoFan.

Fans must purchase tickets online through the Vista Grande High School GoFan webpage. Buying tickets online at GoFan is easy and secure. All major credit cards and Apple Pay are accepted. Fans are encouraged to buy tickets online prior to reaching the facility. Tickets purchased through GoFan allow fans to access and share tickets easily by email or text.

To purchase athletic tickets online, please visit the Vista Grande GoFan webpage linked here: https://gofan.co/app/school/AZ67946

Note: FANS MUST PURCHASE TICKETS THROUGH GOFAN. NO CASH WILL BE ACCEPTED AT HOME EVENTS.

Purchase your tickets today!

(PACE) Students used Algebra and teamwork to decode.

(PACE) The PACE mascot was revealed on Tuesday, July 25 (Pythons). The mascot was nominated and voted on by PACE students.

(PACE) PACE students participated in concept challenges and team building activities in their first couple of days.

Special Governing Board Meeting @ 5:30 PM

Regular Governing Board Meeting @ 6:30 PM

District Office Board Room, 1st Floor

Governing Board Webpage (Agenda Link)

YouTube Livestream (Watch Live)

Aug 03 = Meet Your Teacher @ 5:00-7:00 PM

Aug 03 = CGUHS Spiritline JV Tryouts @ 6:00-8:00 PM

Aug 04 = Early Release @ PACE (12:05 PM) @ CGU/VG (1:05 PM)

Aug 04 = CGUHS Spiritline JV Tryouts @ 3:30 PM

Aug 04 = Network Outage @ 5:00-7:00 PM (Includes PowerSchool)

Aug 09 = Early Release @ PACE (12:05 PM) @ CGU/VG (1:05 PM)

Aug 09-11 = CGU Rush Days @ Outside Cafeteria @ Lunch

Aug 14-15 = CGU Underclass Picture Days

Aug 14-18 = VG Spirit Week

Aug 14-18 = VG Rush Week @ Outside Cafeteria @ Lunch

Aug 16 = Early Release @ PACE (12:05 PM) @ CGU/VG (1:05 PM)

Aug 17 = CGU Senior Picture Day

Aug 18 = VG Freshman Dance @ 6:00-8:00 PM

Aug 23 = Early Release @ PACE (12:05 PM) @ CGU/VG (1:05 PM)

Aug 30 = Early Release @ PACE (12:05 PM) @ CGU/VG (1:05 PM)

Sep 04 = Labor Day (No School / Offices Closed)

Sep 05 = Governing Board Meeting @ 5:30/6:30 PM

Sep 11 = Freshman Picture Day

Sep 12 = Sophomore/Junior Picture Day

Sep 15 = CGU Homecoming Football Game vs Maricopa @ 7 PM

Sep 18 = Senior Picture Day

Sep 18 = VG Pep Assembly

Sep 22 = VG Homecoming Football Game vs Desert Sunrise @ 7 PM

(CGUHSD) There will be a network outage that will take down the district internet access, which includes access to PowerSchool, on Friday, August 4, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Our internet service provider is doing maintenance on the link.

PACE

VGHS

PACE

VGHS

PACE

VGHS

CGUHS

VGHS

Questions? Durham School Services

CasaGrandeDispatch@durhamschoolservices.com

520- 836-8735

Now is the perfect time to complete a meal application for the 2023/24 school year. We have provided the printable form below. Please mail or email the completed form to: Casa Grande Union High School District, Attn: Tammy Darang, 1556 N Arizola Rd, Casa Grande, AZ, 85122, or tdarang@cguhsd.org. If you prefer, you can also visit www.myschoolapps.com and fill out the online form.

Please consider completing the form even if you do not intend to participate in the Free & Reduced-Priced Meals program. This information is used by the federal government to determine the district’s allocation of funding for numerous grant programs which support school educational activities.

Food Services Webpage

Online Application

English Printable Application

English FAQ

Spanish Printable Application

Spanish FAQ

MySchoolBucks

Questions? Tammy Darang tdarang@cguhsd.org

We offer breakfast and lunch at our schools. Menu items are carefully analyzed to meet USDA nutritional guidelines and follow compliance with the Arizona Nutrition Standards mandated by the Arizona Department of Education. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

• 08/2023 Breakfast
• 08/2023 Lunch

Contribute to student programs and activities in our district, and you’ll receive a DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR TAX CREDIT to help guarantee that our students experience all that high school has to offer. To learn more, visit www.cguhsd.org/doTaxCredit.aspx.

Casa Grande Union High School District has partnered with Parchment.com to order and send your transcript and other credentials securely.

Casa Grande Union High School

Vista Grande High School

Set your computer's homepage to your high school's website and stay up to date with all the activities and news. Explore all the tabs today!

Please help keep our campuses safe by reporting potential concerns to your high school. If you would like to make an anonymous report, you may use AnonymousTips.com. AnonymousTips.com provides a completely anonymous email capability for people to send leads and tips to schools, local police departments, and other law enforcement agencies. This system is independent of any district or government, so informers can be confident they are protected from being identified. The sender will be able to visit AnonymousTips.com site, find the agency they want to notify, and send the information.

Parents are encouraged to log in to Blackboard to support their student’s academic progress. In Blackboard, parents are able to review their student’s classes, check completed assignments, and better understand what students are learning in class. Please ask your student for their password information to access it. If you need support in accessing your student’s password, call 520-374-7170.

Stay up to date with school news, events, announcements, notifications, and much more!

District

CGUHS

PACE

VGHS

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education rewards over $120 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study funds to more than 13 million students. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the only way to apply for federal, state, and college aid. It is completely free and it typically takes ONLY 30 minutes to complete. Many schools offer money on a first-come-first-serve basis, so the sooner one applies, the better. For more information, visit your high school's webpage (CGUHS or VGHS).

The PowerSchool App is available for download on Android and Apple devices with the district code of QJDT. Your username and password are the same as you use to access the web-based PowerSchool portal.

District Code = QJDT

Video: How to Use the PowerSchool Mobile App

Android App Download

Apple App Download

Webpage

For SAT dates, locations, school codes, and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/4dms9ek8.

It is a known fact college is expensive and the cost is rising. Do not let that deter you from applying for college. There are many opportunities to help you cover the cost of college. Scholarships are gifts of "free money" that do not need to be paid back, unlike student loans. Most scholarships can be awarded based on merit, which means that students earn them for having good grades, athletic talent, volunteering, or even for a certain demographic. Every year, hundreds of billions of dollars are awarded in scholarship money. There are many sources of scholarship, such as colleges and universities, military, individuals, communities, nonprofits, ethnic/historical organizations, businesses, religious groups, and more. Some scholarships are highly selective but many are not. The best practice is to apply for as many scholarships as possible and start early.

• CGUHS
• VGHS

Students with technology-related issues or questions may call or email the Technology Service Center for support. We are available on school days.

Phone

520-374-7170

CGUHS Email

ServiceCenterCG@cguhsd.org

PACE Email

ServiceCenterPACE@cguhsd.org

VGHS Email

ServiceCenterVG@cguhsd.org

APS Supply My Class program awards $500 to 500 randomly selected teachers in the APS service territory to help ensure they have the resources they need to support their student’s success. The drawing will be on Sunday, August 13. Selected winners could get a surprise visit from an APS Employee in September. All winners will be notified by October 15.

More Information

Application

Support a classroom. Build a future. Teachers and students need your support more than ever.

DonorsChoose.org

Vote Top 3

Monday, July 31 - Friday, August 11

GreatestoftheGrande.com

National Anthem Singing Contest

Teacher of the Year

Voice of Democracy

Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest

Join Our Team!

https://cguhsd.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

More Information

www.cguhsd.org/doApplications.aspx

ESI Steps To Start Substituting

ESI Application

ESI Webpage

Other Career Opportunities

More Information

The Inspiring Excellence newsletter is created by Marilyn Twehous, Social Media Specialist, and published monthly during the school year. Submit articles and photos to mtwehous@cguhsd.org.

Casa Grande, AZ 85122

520-316-3360 Phone

520-316-3352 Fax

Email: contact@cguhsd.org
Website: https://www.cguhsd.org/Default.aspx
Location: 1362 North Casa Grande Avenue, Casa Grande, AZ, USA
Phone: 520-316-3360
Facebook: facebook.com/CGUHSDistrict
Twitter: @CGUHSD_82