GGUSD Superintendent Gabriela Mafi, Principal Todd Nirk, and Assistant Principal Holly Jeffries congratulate teacher Shelby Laura and Garden Grove High School student leaders on an assembly to help foster a positive and empathetic school culture and climate.

Garden Grove High School student leaders last month organized and ran an all-school assembly called “Words Hurt” to address important topics like eliminating racist and derogatory language, standing up against hate, and promoting a positive and empathetic school culture and climate.

The assembly is part of the school’s commitment to be a “No Place for Hate School” and featured a panel of student leaders with representatives from Black Student Union, Latinos Unidos, Bridges, Sisterhood Happening Effortlessly (SHE), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), ArgoLog Media, and the varsity football team.

It began with a video created by student Brandon Nguyen that highlighted the powerful impact words have on all people.  The panel was moderated by English teacher Shelby Laura who asked students tough questions about the impact of racial language used in literature and songs, as well as how to be an “upstander to hate when someone is using language to tear others down.

Following the assembly, the panelists encouraged all students to sign school-wide pledges making several commitments including being more mindful about the things I say, being more tolerant of other people’s identities, speaking up for others when hurtful words are used, and standing up against offensive language.

To watch the Words Hurt video created by Garden Grove High School student Brandon Nguyen, visit: https://www.gghs.us/apps/video/watch.jsp?v=228936.

Donor takes care of school lunch debts

An Anonymous donor came forward recently with a check for $7,813.50 to pay off the negative lunch balance in the Ocean View School District. The honor, who has lived in the area for 20 years said he understood how critical the childhood years are for developing a love of learning and how he wanted to alleviate stress for families who couldn’t pay school lunch charges.

The donor said “I want people to look around the community and ask ‘What can I do to make it better?”

The OVSD is a K-8 district that serves northern Huntington Beach and parts of Fountain Valley,  Westminster and Midway City.