Congratulations to the winners in the Community Design Challenge, held Thursday evening.
Eight student teams participated from Orosi, Redwood (Visalia), Visalia Technical Early College, Mission Oak (Tulare), Harmony Magnet Academy (Strathmore), and Lindsay high schools.
In first place, and winning $1,500, was Blooming Valley of Orosi High School. U-Knighted of Harmony Magnet Academy (Strathmore) placed second and won $1,000. Finishing third and winning $500 was Harmony’s second team, AG U-Knighted.
This challenge provided students with valuable real-world experience in design, collaboration, financial planning, and presentation skills, offering a meaningful learning opportunity beyond the classroom.
A huge thank you to the participating judges – Thom Black of Thom Black Architects, Therese Arnold of TCOE’s College & Career Readiness, Cynthia Cantu of Rise Utility, and Arnulfo Gonzalez of Central Valley Motherlode Region.
@cutlerorosijointunifiedschools@hmaknights@portervilleschools@missionoakasb@visaliausd@lindsayhighschool
Congratulations to Palo Verde, the inaugural TCOE Esports League Spring Tournament champions!
Seven teams from across the county went head-to-head in a Brawlhalla 2v2 double-elimination showdown, showcasing skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
In the championship round, Palo Verde Union School (Tulare) defeated the team from Carl F. Smith Middle School (Terra Bella) and claimed the custom-made trophy. Sunnyside Union School (Strathmore) also placed third.
This tournament wraps up the premier season of the TCOE Esports League. Thank you to all of the teams, advisors, and volunteers for this memorable beginning to esports at TCOE!
For more information on esports, visit tcoe.org/esports.
@sunnysideunionelementary@tbuesd@lusdrooseveltgrizzlies
Over 500 students from TCOE's AcCEL classes and TCOE’s Bright Start Program, as well as students with special needs from Porterville Unified and Burton School District, were able to enjoy a fun day at the fair with their families and classmates. The morning and early afternoon event included performances by students on the Fair’s Rotary Stage, visits with the animals, and fair rides.
Students and their families were also treated to different booths – some with sensory activities – organized by the Porterville Breakfast Rotary and local high school students.
Thank you to the Porterville Fair, TCOE Bright Start, @portervilleschools and @burtonschools , TCOE Foundation, Janice Castle, Tammy Rice and @pma_cadetz , @granite_hills_1999 ASB and Interact Club, @theportervillehighschool ASB, @summiths ASB, and mhspivetclub for helping make the day special!
Yesterday afternoon, the Community Advisory Committee, a countywide organization of educators and parents of children with special needs, held its annual awards luncheon. Educators, administrators, parents, and students in school districts throughout the county were honored. Two special awards were also given.
The Brent Rast Award is presented annually to one exceptional teacher of students with special needs. This year, the award goes to Ben Gimlin, a teacher in the TCOE AcCEL Learning Center at OTP in Visalia. Ben began his career at TCOE as a special education teacher at El Diamante High School. Currently, he supports students at OTP and their families, which sometimes means visits at home or even to the hospital. Regardless, Ben is there for them.
The second special award was the Linda Hess Award, which recognizes an exceptional parent of a child with special needs. The award was created in 2007. This year's winner is Rosemary Caso, whose daughter attends Mission Oak High School. Rosemary was recognized for supporting her daughter and making the rest of the student body and staff at Mission Oak feel appreciated for the work that they do!
Congratulations, Ben and Rosemary, and all of this year’s honorees for the work you do on behalf of Tulare County’s exceptional learners!
@unitedwaytulare
On this week's edition of Your Character Matters, we meet Sophie Navarro, a student at Strathmore Middle School.
Despite having challenges of her own, she possesses an "unbreakable positivity." She loves to help out and make people laugh. Sophie is also the student teachers count on to get the job done.
Keep up the good work, Sophie!
To see her story, watch /your-character-matters.
@strathmore.uesd@ksee24@theraycenter
This morning, the staff and students at La Sierra Military Academy (LSMA) conducted a Change of Command ceremony for the school's cadet commanding officer.
In a formal ceremony, Cadet Commander Turner Olsen relinquished his command to Bellarie Oliva. Congratulations, Bellarie, on your new leadership position, and thank you, Turner, for your service to the school and your fellow cadets!
The ceremony also included the presentation of Honor Cadet Awards, Essayons Ribbons, the Principal Citation Ribbon, and the Brigade Advisor Ribbon.
The La Sierra Military Academy is a member of the California Cadet Corps. It is a free, public charter school, which welcomes middle school and high school students to a military-style academy or an independent study program.
Interested in learning more about our school? Attend one of the information nights held Mondays June 8, 15, and 22 at 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit La Sierra Military Academy at 1735 E. Houston Ave. in Visalia, or call 559-733-6963.
tcoe.org/LaSierra.
@lsma_eagles
From building and launching their own rockets, to designing boats and towers; nearly 400 eighth-grade students had the opportunity for hands-on fun with science at TCOE’s annual Physics Day at the Porterville Fairgrounds.
Students from 14 schools participated in 11 hands-on stations where they learned about physics concepts and used the Arduino Science Journal App to measure acceleration and force on four rides.
Physics Day is one of several TCOE events that involve students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities, and career exploration. For more on Physics Day, visit tcoe.org/physicsday.
Thank you, Porterville Fair, for welcoming our event again this year!
On Tuesday, in partnership with the Downtown Visalia Kiwanis, TCOE’s CHARACTER COUNTS! Program celebrated this spring’s Pursuing Victory with Honor (PVWH) student-athletes.
The Downtown Visalia Kiwanis recognizes student-athletes, nominated by their coaches, each season for their sportsmanship. The awards included a certificate, patch, and lawn sign that reads "An Athlete of Character Lives Here.”
Below is a list of the students recognized, their sport, grade, and who nominated them.
Central Valley Christian High School
Cody Roark – junior, track and field, Coach Mike Bosma
Elle Bothof – junior, track and field, Coach Mike Bosma
Golden West High School
Raegan Garland – senior, track and field, coach Travis Anderson
Nasiir McGaugh – senior, track and field, coach Travis Anderson
El Diamante High School
Melia Carlton – senior, cheer and STUNT, cheer and STUNT staff
Lily Ruiz – senior, swim, coach Kristen Ruby
Mt. Whitney High School
Noah Sanchez – senior, track and field, coach Kim Moshier
Dolores Carter – senior, track and field, coach Kim Moshier
Redwood High School
Lainey Rowe – senior, track and field, coach Isaac Leppke
Zackahrie Vargas – senior, track and field, coach Kim Leppke
CONGRATULATIONS!
@centralvalleychristian rhsrangers @all4theminers@gwhstrailblazers@mtwhitneyasb@visaliausd
La Sierra Military Academy invites the public to its annual Change of Command Ceremony tomorrow, May 14 at 8:45 a.m. A military change of command ceremony is a time-honored, formal tradition symbolizing the transfer for authority and responsibility for a unit from one officer to another. It ensures the unit is never without leadership, typically marked by the passing of the unit’s colors (flag).
La Sierra Military Academy is located 1735 E. Houston Ave. in Visalia. For more information, call 559-733-6963.
High school students — Circle J-Norris Ranch is seeking applications for research technicians in June. You'll help establish research plots for our Long-Term Oak Forest Inventory – an ongoing project that serves both Tulare County students and researchers within the University of California system.
You'll work five hours each day June 8-11 using GPS coordinates to locate, mark, verify, and label study plots on the ranch. The internship pays $300.
If you're a high school student or Class of 2026 graduate interested in applying for a research technician internship, visit /CircleJ/researchintern to apply before the deadline of May 19.
The Circle J-Norris Ranch is the field study site of the SCICON program and home to the UC Merced/SCICON Field Station.
That's a wrap! The 22nd Annual Slick Rock Student Film Festival was held this evening at the Visalia Fox Theatre. Sixteen teams are headed home with prizes. Two of the award-winning films also received Best of Show honors.
In the high school category, winning Best of Show for their blockbuster, "Somebody, Somewhere," was Makenzie Sconce, Miah Phillips, Madeline Townsend, Lysje Van De Wal, Angela Reppas, and Daniel Shepard of Yosemite High School.
In the middle school category, Sawyer Embry of Heartland Charter School won Best of Show for his blockbuster, "Deserted."
This year, students from five Central Valley counties submitted over 480 films. More than 1,000 students participated, representing 50 middle schools and high schools.
Thank you sponsors: Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force, ABC30, EECU, Tulare County HHSA Programs (Operation Prevention; Tobacco-Free Coalition; and the Alcohol & Other Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services), Tulare County Film Commission, TCOE's Project AWARE, CalFresh, and TCOE's Nutrition Education Obesity Prevention program.
Visit tcoe .org/SlickRock/Winners on Monday for a complete list of winners and their videos!
Congratulations again to the three Educators of the Year – Jeromy Blackwell of Harmony Magnet Academy, Maria Pacheco of Rockford School, and Lupe Acosta of Saucelito School.
We appreciate the partnership we enjoy with the Central California Chinese Cultural Center, recognizing outstanding educators for 30 years. Thank you, Wendy Jay, for helping us present the awards to three very deserving teachers this morning!
@portervilleschools rockfordesd @saucelitoelementary
