District News

Garden. Our amazing garden team, led by Joanna Rahu and Kris Belau, has created a vibrant, hands-on learning environment for our students.

In the garden, students connect classroom science with the soil as they discover where their food comes from, how ecosystems work, and how to care for our environment. From composting and starting seeds to tasting fresh harvests, students experience the joy of growing. Currently, our students are harvesting colorful Indian corn and seasonal vegetables.

Kindergarten through second-grade classes are caring for the garden and building scarecrows, while upper-grade students are exploring local pollinators and getting an up-close look at hive ecosystems. The team also recently completed four picnic tables, giving students and teachers two gathering areas for small-group lessons and activities. The tables are sanded and ready for use, with painting coming soon. A huge thank-you to our garden team for their hard work and dedication to making this special learning space flourish.

Afterschool Sports. C.T. English Middle School is part of the West Valley Athletic League (WVAL). Our fifth- through eighth-grade students have the opportunity to

participate in a variety of afterschool sports.

Our first season sports were boys’ basketball and coed cross country. We were delighted to have 36 athletes participate in basketball, and 38 in cross country.

After-school sports are a great way for students to bond with others, establish friendships, and connect with other students in different grades. You don’t need to be an expert athlete to join the team. Interest, passion, and having fun with friends are the most important factors in our sports. Two of our three basketball teams made it to the quarter finals and we hosted the cross-country practice meet and the finals. For information about our upcoming sports programs, visit www.loma.k12.ca.us/o/ctems/page/ct-after-school-sports.