ALAMITOS Intermediate School teacher Monique Becerra takes a class photo to show that she teaches to make a difference in the lives of her students.

Garden Grove Unified School District launched the #WhyITeach social media campaign to celebrate the work of its more than 2,000 teachers and demonstrate appreciation for all they do to support the academic and personal success of students.

As part of the campaign, teachers created thought bubbles that explain what they love about teaching and photos are posted in online galleries at http://ggusdwhyiteach.weebly.com.  Teachers’ thought bubbles and stories are shared on the district’s Facebook and Twitter pages using the hashtags #WhyITeach and #GGUSDPRIDE.

The #WhyITeach initiative has been implemented at school districts across the nation capitalizing on the power of social media to recognize those who have dedicated their careers to children.  GGUSD’s #WhyITeach campaign will run through the end of February and already, hundreds of teachers have participated.

The campaign aims to showcase to the community the teachers who make a difference each and every day in the lives of more than 45,000 students.  The community is encouraged to get engaged in the campaign by sharing stories of their favorite teachers on the district’s Facebook and Twitter pages using #WhyITeach and #GGUSDPRIDE.   Visit http://ggusdwhyiteach.weebly.com for more info.

BOND OVERSIGHT PANEL MEMBERS SOUGHT

The Garden Grove Unified School District is seeking qualified volunteers to serve on the independent Bond Oversight Committee for the implementation of the district’s school modernization bonds.  The Committee will provide oversight for both Measure A, the $250 million bond measure approved by GGUSD voters in 2010 and Measure P, the $311 million bond measure approved by GGUSD voters in November 2016.

There is an immediate need for four members; one individual representing a bona-fide taxpayer’s association, one member who is a parent of a child enrolled in the district, one member who is a parent of a child enrolled in the district and is an active member in a parent-teacher organization or school site council, and one community member at large.  All interested community members are encouraged to apply as they will be considered for future openings on the committee.

The application and committee bylaws are available online at www.ggusd.us or from the Public Information Office at (714) 663-6503. Completed applications must be received by the Public Information Office, Garden Grove Unified School District, 10331 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove 92840, or emailed to amilone@ggusd.us no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10.  All committee members must be GGUSD residents and be at least 18 years old.

OPEN STREETS EVENTS, ROUTES REVEALED

On Saturday, April 1, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., a 2.5-mile route, planned for the 3^rd annual Open Streets event, will be closed to cars, and open to all forms of non-motorized transportation. The Open Streets route spans from Garden Grove Boulevard at West Street, to Acacia Parkway and Historic Main Street.  A relaxing, fully marked, shared bike route, or neighborhood greenway, will allow bicyclists to connect from West Street to 9^th Street by way of College Avenue, Dorada Avenue, and Morgan Lane.

Along with an afternoon of bike riding, other highlights include:

• Garden Grove Boulevard, 8^th Street, and Acacia Parkway: Open Streets route, filled with numerous activities, displays, and demonstrations including zip lines, a sports zone, rock wall, skate park, food truck court, the Anaheim Ducks Street Team, wine tasting, and live music.
• West Street: 2-way protected bike lane on the west side of the street (bike lane will be physically separated from vehicle traffic).
• Historic Main Street: After Party from 6-10 p.m.

Event pop-up projects, co-sponsored by Go Human, will provide a sneak peek into long-term active transportation improvements, highlighting concepts from the City’s Active Streets Plan (Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan), as well as projects already planned for construction.  Projects, such as the new buffered bike lanes on West Street, funded by a grant from OCTA, will be completed by June 2019.

Bicycle and pedicab rental stations will also be available.

For the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians, several streets will be completely, or partially closed to traffic on April 1:

• Garden Grove Boulevard (approximately 12-7 p.m.): westbound closed between West and 7^th
• 8^th Street (approximately 12 to 7 p.m.): closed between Garden Grove Boulevard and Acacia Parkway.
• Acacia Parkway (approximately 12 to 7 p.m.): closed between 8^th and Main Streets.
• Main Street (approximately 12 to 11 p.m.): closed between Garden Grove Boulevard and Acacia Parkway.
• Intersections of Garden Grove Boulevard and Newhope Street, and Garden Grove Boulevard and Lemonwood Lane: partial closures.

The Garden Grove Police Department’s Traffic Unit will be onsite to direct traffic and suggest alternate routes. For more information on street closures, contact the Garden Grove Police Department’s Traffic Unit at (714) 741-5823.

For event details and updates, visit www.ggopenstreets.com, or @ggopenstreets on Facebook. Updated street closures will be posted in the following weeks.