Christine Schieferle, Superintendent, Fillmore Unified School District

Written by Christine Schieferle, Superintendent, Fillmore Unified School District

September 23, 2021

This is an exciting week for Fillmore Unified School District. We began Homecoming week on Friday September 17, with a Flashes Football win against Oak Park. Our students played great, demonstrated positive sportsmanship, and our community came out and cheered on our team. Our new Flashes Spirit Tunnel made its debut and contributed to the exciting atmosphere. We thank the Fillmore Athletic Boosters Club for their generosity! On Saturday, September 18, FHS hosted a well-attended, outdoor Homecoming Dance in the West Wing. On Sunday, Trustee Morris and I had the pleasure of supervising Float Building, and we all look forward to seeing the floats this evening in the Blue and White Parade starting at 6:00 p.m. Our amazing Fillmore High Alumni Association has a great evening planned to honor and celebrate Flashes pride and tradition. We will wrap up the week on Friday, hosting Santa Maria High School for our 2021 Homecoming Football Game. These traditions are one of the many reasons why we are proud to live in Fillmore and have our students attend FUSD schools!

On Monday, September 20, Trustees and District Staff had the opportunity to attend the Agriculture Administrator’s night at Otto and Sons. I would like to thank The Fillmore High Ag. Department for coordinating a beautiful evening for the Fillmore, Santa Paula, Ventura, and Carpentaria Agriculture Career Technical Education (CTE) programs.

We’re close to the finish line for the CTE Building construction. Landscaping installation is complete, and they have checked all the irrigation lines. There are 2 final pieces of equipment will be arriving by Friday. Staff is being trained to operate the equipment. We have a Haas Mini Mill, Rotary lifts and Hunter equipment training scheduled. They are also finalizing the date for the plasma table training. We anticipate that the students will be touring the new facilities and trained on procedures and starting to train on the equipment prior to fall break and will fully move into the building after fall break. Finally, Desks are in place, the new building is getting its final clean-up and waiting for students to arrive.

On Friday, September 17, all schools celebrated Constitution Day by participating in a variety of activities from AP Government Students reciting the preamble, discussions, and lessons on the significance of the preamble and constitution. Our teachers planned engaging lessons, and students had fun while learning.

Today is the 26th day of school and we will continue to celebrate our students back in school full time. Fillmore Middle School and Fillmore High are preparing mid-quarter progress reports and will mail home to families by the end of the week. We are completing our beginning of the year testing in English Language Arts and Math and have started reading intervention at 3 of our elementary schools. We are still recruiting for intervention teachers at Piru School.

I’d like to thank our staff for their dedication to our students and for the time they are taking to implement the many new health requirements and public health mandates. I would also like to thank our families for their continued support and patience as we work through this school year prioritizing student and staff safety, teaching and learning, and social and emotional wellness. We ask that you please continue to prescreen your children each day and keep them home if they have any COVID Symptoms. Working together, giving one another grace, and putting our students first will make this a great school year. Thank you!

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Everto “Veto” Ruiz, Professor of Chicano Studies at California State University Northridge and Social Activist, delivered an inspirational message and performed the song "A Ti" which means "To You."
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Six Scholarship recipients were chosen by Piru resident volunteers Sara Martinez and Carrie Celaya (above).
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On May 26th, the Piru Neighborhood Council held its 8th Annual Graduation and Scholarship Dinner. Seniors from Fillmore High School and Sierra High School were in attendance with their families for a lovely evening on the beautiful grounds of the Newhall Mansion, which hosted the event through their generous donation to the Piru Graduating Class of 2021. Adam Brooks, Events Manager at The Newhall Mansion, was giving of his time Manny Mendoza, the PNC’s Member-at-Large and his team of volunteers organized a beautiful evening: Maria Christopher from Rancho Camulos was at the sign in table, Carmen Hernandez and Lorena Cardenas assisted in seating the graduates and their families, and Juanita Mendoza helped to make sure the event was running smoothly.

The gorgeous flowers were donated by Marlene De La Cruz of Marlene's Flowers, a local Piru Business, and Sandra Pirello who cut the flowers herself from her property Raymond Ranch, and were arranged the night prior by volunteers Carmen Hernandez, Maria Christopher, Lorena Cardenas, and Juanita Ramirez-Mendoza. Carrie Celaya, a new member and
volunteer to the Piru community, addressed the guests, and served as a co-Master of Ceremonies.

A delicious dinner was donated by the Newhall Mansion and presented by Newhall Mansion Chef Giancarlo Negron; Dinner was served by Oscar Mendez (PNC President), volunteers Carmen Hernandez, past PNC Treasurer Lorena Cardenas, and volunteer Danny Ramirez. Drinks for the evening were donated by Sanchez Liquor in Piru. Ken Wiseman, the PNC Vice President and Chief Workforce Development Officer at AMS Fulfillment, was the first guest speaker and delivered a powerful and motivational message to the graduates, sharing personal stories of challenges and triumphs along his life path.

Coffee was donated by Starbucks in Fillmore, and the cake was generously donated by the Ramirez and Mendoza Families, and was provided by Super A Foods in Fillmore. Irene Ruiz, past PNC President picked up the cake and coffee for the event, while volunteers Roy Ruiz Jr. and Danny Ramirez helped with the setup of the tables and chairs.

Balloons were possible through generous donations and provided by Lupita Cisneros of Sweet Dlights, a local business in Piru.

Betty Lou Wiseman of AMS Fulfillment arranged for countless products and prizes donated by their clients. Each student received a backpack, water bottle, and Piru 2021 ball cap, and were also invited to each pick an additional item ranging from tablets, restaurant gift cards, designer handbags, shoes, clothing, cookware, bedding sets, computer bags, and an afternoon boat cruise. Volunteers Juanita Ramirez-Mendoza and PNC VP Ken Wiseman kept the gift giving flowing.

Piru Resident Viridiana Quintana, Community Engagement and Economic Development Coordinator for the Mulvaney Center for Community Awareness and Social Action, gave a heartfelt and inspiring speech to the students. She offered herself as a resource and encouraged each graduate to remember to become active in community involvement and shared how special graduating high school was in her life.

Everto “Veto” Ruiz, Professor of Chicano Studies at California State University Northridge and Social Activist, delivered an inspirational message calling out his ancestors who had roots in Piru and noted how much Piru meant to him. He also performed the song, "A Ti", which means "To You", and is a song he wrote, giving thanks to all the family members, friends, and community members who help young adults reach their dreams.

PNC President Oscar Mendez , finished the evening by additionally thanking the PNC Executive Board and all the volunteers and committee members for their hard work.

Six Scholarships were awarded at the close of the event. Recipients were chosen by Piru resident volunteers Sara Martinez and Carrie Celaya, both are educators and remarkably each chose the same recipients so there was no need for deliberation. Carrie praised the students for their hard work, and the forward momentum they have to further their education. Natasha Medina - Sierra High School, Emma Ortiz - Filmore High School, Ricardo Cruz - Fillmore
High School, and Omar Hernandez - Fillmore High School, Conner Appel - Fillmore High School, and Paulina Fernandez - Fillmore High School.

This wonderful event was made possible by many generous donors and sponsors including The Newhall Mansion, Ken and Betty-Lou Wiseman, Piru Pizza, Jimmy and Lucy Sanchez, Anthony and Vicki Henderson Jimenez, The Ramirez Family, Jody and Judy Daley - Lovett, Sweet Dlights Balloons, Designsbyme_ch, “Father Stu” Film Production, Super A Foods, Starbucks, Cold Stone Creamery,El Pescador Mexican Restaurant, Piru Petroleum Club, Dagne Dover, Our Place, Olive and June, AMS Fulfillment, San Salvador Mission, James P Finch, Cliff Nielsen & Lisa Crockatt, The Mendoza Family, Martha Pinon, Marlene’s Flowers, Sandra Pirello, Lorena S. Elias, Vons, Sanchez Market, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Piru Youth Sports, Piru/Filmore Citrus Association, Soludos, Craig Electronics, Magic Mountain.

Volunteers who helped in so many ways include, Roy and Irene Ruiz, Sarah Martinez, Danny Ramirez, Patti Mendez, Anthony Solis, Lorena Cardenas, Carrie Celaya, Juanita Ramirez-Mendoza, Maria Christopher, and Carmen Hernandez.