Valley Center schools observed the Rite of Fall under a blazing sun on Tuesday with the return to class of about 4800 students in grades K-12.
“It was a very smooth opening,” said Supt. Jeff Mulford.
Traffic was less tangled than usual because the district adopted staggered opening times for the various schools that kept traffic from both the high school and elementary schools from being on the road at the same time.
“Our concern was to get traffic reduced,” said Dr. Mulford.
Continuation high school and adult education both opened at their new buildings, which were completed on time at the high school, he noted.
VC High School
“Things are going great, with the exception of the intolerable hot weather,” VCHS Principal Lucy Haines told The Roadrunner.
“I was amazed that within ten minutes of the bell there were no students in the quad, they were in classrooms.
“I didn’t see an overcrowded parking. People came off the bus and knew what to do and moved to class.
VCHS back to school night will be Sept. 18, 6:30 p.m. The first home football game is Sept. 13, when the Jaguars will face University. The first pep rally of the year will be that same day, and after the game the ASB plans an ice cream social.
“I’m very pleased with students came back ready to go. it’s going to be a great year,” said Mrs. Haines who added, “Teachers and staff did a really great job in getting ready, which really makes a difference in how the first day goes.”
Primary School
Lydia Vogt, principal of the primary school, commented, “Things really smoothly, even with our secretary out. We had a lot of expert help and volunteers from our teacher parent club. They are indispensible on the first days. helping parents find the classrooms. I only saw one child crying all morning,” she said. There were 552 students for the first day.
Sheriff’s deputies and officers from the California Highway Patrol were also on hand to help school district staff keep traffic under control at Fruitvale & Cole Grade and at Cole Grade at the opening of the school complex.
There was a fender bender accident at the corner of Fruitvale & Cole Grade road, about 9 a.m. with two minor injuries.
Pauma Elementary
At Pauma School, Principal Mary Gorsuch told The Roadrunner, “I think it was very smooth. Lots of bright and shiny faces and students happy to be back.”
There were 247 students, including 16 at Palomar Mountain School.
“We had a lot help from all over the district,” said Mrs. Gorsuch. The migrant office came to direct families to the right place. A lot of different people pulled together to make for a first day. That includes a lot of teachers who were here yesterday pulling together.”
There were even technicians from UCSD making sure that the computer lab was up and running.
Back to school night at Pauma School will be Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m.
Back to School Night at Palomar will be Sept. 25, 5:30 p.m.
Upper Elementary
“Everything is going just as planned,” Upper Elementary Principal Martha Richardson commented. “All the children are really prepared and real good listeners. They’re prepared and ready to go.
Opening enrollment was 623.
Newsletters will be sent out to the parents sometime this week, said Mrs. Richardson.
Back to school night will be Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m.
Lower Elementary
“We had a very nice opening. No concerns. Everything went very smoothly. Kids found their way to the classrooms without a problem,” said Lower Elementary Principal Wendy Heredia.
Of course the exceptionally hot weather is an added complication.
“It’s going to be kind of tough starting the year with scorching weather,” said Mrs. Heredia.
There were 516 students enrolled for the first day.
The school has two back to school nights this year: Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m. and Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m.
Middle School
“Students were in class on time this morning,” noted Chris Sommer, whose school also opened without a hitch. “Teachers were just wonderful. Students are learning.”
Enrollment opening day was 1018.
The school has applied for a math, engineering and science grant of $7.5 million from the National Science Foundation. If funded, it would allow students and teachers to attend programs through UCSD.
Back to school night is Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m.
By DAVID ROSS
From its earliest days, Valley Center has been a town built by volunteers.
The sturdy, ugly, indestructible VC Community Hall, the beating heart of Valley Center’s civic life, was once a school, built with the sweat and muscle of the town’s folk.
That was in the 1920s, but much more recently than that, less than 20 years ago, the Lilac fire station was built mainly by volunteer labor.
Today, we have, for the most part, abandoned the tradition of a civic infrastructure built by muscle and sweat equity. With one notable exception.
The school district has hundreds of employees and was, until the advent of the casinos, the largest employer in town. You don’t see school board trustees cutting the grass. The water district is professional all the way. You don’t see water directors out replacing pipes. So is the fire department. Directors don’t generally get on the roof to effect repairs, although just a few years ago it was not uncommon for directors to be involved in projects benefiting the district.
Only the tiny VC Parks & Rec District (formerly the VC Community Services District) carries on this tradition of civic improvements carried on by volunteers.
And it carries it further. Its directors, unlike those of any other agency in town, are as likely as not to be found making the improvements happen themselves.
This has been a tradition with the parks district since it was created in 1966. The first board, by the way, included Sidney H. Nuss, Roger Ohlsten, Howard Johnson, Mack M. Boynston and Helen V. Wood.
Now, let’s look at what some of the individual board directors have done to contribute to the district, and their community.
Take the case of William Kirchnavy, one of Valley Center’s Citizens of the Year, and a director of the CSD from 1984-94.
Kirchnavy was very instrumental in the development of Aerie Park, VC’s horse recreation facility. He personally planted trees around the perimeter, hauled sand and donated his equipment for grading the arena area.
In addition, Kirchnavy offered his business savvy to the district on many occasions. When the district was trying to raise funds to build a senior center, Kirchnavy helped with the Sunday night bingo games.
Former director and board Pres. Art Weller, frequently visited Adams Park regularly to assess the need for repairs, and was especially interested in the tennis courts.
Ron Lamb, who has been on the board since 1983 has, over the years, volunteered his personal time meeting with County officials on many issues affecting the district, including the transfer of the Cole Grade property to the district.
Prior to being appointed to the board in 1995, John Scibilia, along with the Optimist Club, helped build the gazebo and pavilion that has become one of the crown jewels of the Community Center.
Scibilia spear-headed the construction of the Girls’ Softball field at Cole Grade & School Bus Road, from its initial conception. He bid on the materials, obtained donations from local businesses and took part in building. He has also done numerous paving projects for the district, donating both time and labor.
Another former director, Marge Harms, was involved in the development of the Gazebo/Pavilion and secured the bids for equipment. Part of the Adams Park Advisory Committee, she also helped set up the bookkeeping system for the district’s financial statements.
One of the most active directors has been the current board president, Eric Jockinsen, who became a director in 1995.
A member of the Optimists, Jockinsen prepared specs for paving the front parking lot and behind the hall. He headed the project of installing planters, landscaping and dusk to dawn lights at the park. He drafted the irrigation system plans for the gazebo/pavilion and spearheaded the landscaping at Adams Park Pool, including the installation of fencing. He also worked on the construction of the horseshoe pits at the Community Hall and Adams Park.
As the years have passed, it has become harder for volunteer labor to complete projects. County and state restrictions and requirements have become tougher to meet when volunteers do the labor.
As the parks district’s park system has grown, so has the strain on its resources. That is why the parks board has scheduled a referendum in November asking for the voters to authorize a tax of $14 per parcel per year.
If that tax, or a tax like it further down the road, is approved, the parks district may, perhaps years and years from now complete its transition from an all volunteer district, to a fully professional municipal parks department.
It has been almost one year since two airplanes smashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, forever changing how Americans look at themselves and the world.
Valley Center, too, while not part of the actual maelstrom of death and destruction, was affected by the event. Some Valleyites were witnesses to the disaster; some later went to New York City to help comfort those who survived and help mourn for those who didn’t. Others later went to the city as visitors (or even pilgrims) to see for themselves firsthand the destruction. Others went across the country by car, building friendship and fellowship and demonstrating that we are one people.
Valley Center’s people, always patriotic, responded to 9/11 in a variety of ways that showed how proud we are to be Americans. To many of us, 9/11 has become more than a date of infamy, more than a kaleidoscope of images that become part of a montage of war and a struggle against terror.
To many of us it has become a symbol of who we are, and how we come together in times of crisis.
This upcoming 9/11 Valleyites will once again take time to think about 9/11.
So far we have heard of several ways that local residents will commemorate the event.
VC Community Church will hold a commemorative service Sept. 11, 6 p.m. to remember the fallen heroes and surviving families of 9/11 and to give thanks. The community is invited.
At Skyline Ranch Mobile Home Park the residents tentatively plan a service in which they hope to read all of the names of victims of the attack, and possibly have a 24-hour candlelight vigil. The observance is planned to begin about the time of the first attack, at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Tierra Miguel Foundation will hold a quiet memorial service at the Tierra Miguel Farm on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. The community at large is invited to attend and share in the planting of an olive tree and flowers to commemorate the day.
The Tierra Miguel Farm and its community supported agriculture program (CSA) are located at the corner of Cole Grade Road and Pauma Valley Drive. Questions? Call 742-1151.
President Charlene Orszag suggested that flowering plants or herbs suitable for planting may be brought by attendees, if desired.
“We at Tierra Miguel Foundation wish to join with others to seek courage and support for these difficult times,” Ms. Orszag said.
Undoubtedly there will be others.
To all our fellow Valleyites and fellow citizens of a great and unbowed nation, we say, “God Bless America!”
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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