Um, and he kind of falls under the radar sometimes that way because he's not one of those kids that's out front, but he's always doing the right things. He's always um, you know, making the world around him better. Um, in fact, I'm sure he's probably embarrassed right now and expects no recognition ever, right? Yeah. Um, he's an A student and, uh, he's a two sport athlete. He played football and was in wrestling. um he was the center on the football team and those of you that have coached well and played football know that uh he's the guy that's the captain of the offensive line and uh we we ran a pretty advanced offense for a junior high team and Evan always knew where to block back, where to reach, helping everybody know what to do and uh I think he underestimates his value as an athlete and as a student.
So we're super excited about that. And if you have middle school students, you know um where they've been, um the issues they've been having with being too hot and too cold. So, we're finally going to get that fixed. We're looking at roughly 8 to 12 weeks. We took our seventh and eighth graders to visit the federal court. And the students observed two different court hearings. We met with Judge Warner and we explored his courtroom. Students had a great Q&A session with um four different attorneys. Lunch was provided by them and we also were able to talk to the US Marshals and the kids were able to try out some of their equipment. So, it was a really good day of learning for our seventh and eighth grade social studies um students. Mr. Mr. Cox organized that trip. Our eighth grade civics civics trip is right around the corner.
We're asking kids under 18 to go on the internet and some of the choices they make sometimes aren't safe, right? Just because there's so many scary things. Well, AI is is computer generated. So, it's really a scary thing for me when I look at it with kids cuz they don't know the difference. So, he had made that point that years ago, say 10 years ago, kids always said, "You believe everything on the internet." And now because AI is so prevalent, now they're all saying, "We don't believe anything on the internet." So, how it's changed in a decade. But, it was pretty interesting um to go to the meeting and listen to what he had to say. But, AI is going to just start introducing itself into school districts more than we maybe some of us more than we want to, but we just got to figure out what's safe and and what's right.
Vote carries 3-0. Moving on to item 4.01, motion to adjourn this special special special session. May I have a motion? So moved. So moved by Mr. Angel. Second. Seconded by Mr. Warning.
Personal attacks upon board members, district staff, or students are not permitted. Discussion of confidential student matters is also prohibited. The president may terminate a speaker's privilege to address the governing board if, after being called to order, the speaker persists in improper conduct or remarks. Each speaker shall be allotted 3 minutes each. When you begin, I'll go ahead and set the timer. Good evening. I just wanted to come and introduce formally introduce myself.
I want to make sure he gets this award and he understands that he's awesome. And uh and I want to also note that his teachers said that uh they were happy he got this award because he is nominated for almost every single character award we have every single time. And uh I just think he's a fantastic young man. >> Congratulations Evan. >> Good evening. All right. at the high school. Our student of the month is Miss Leah Gaffne. I was just going to wing it, but I know Miss Thompson's going to want to know what she wrote is being read. So Leah is probably, and I probably shouldn't say it, but one of my favorite students on campus. She is one that that can give sarcasm as good as she can get it. Um, we joke around that she's slow. We all know that she's not.
We had our um last fundraiser which was a big bowling ball tournament. And we have 43 eighth graders ready to go to DC. We will leave on May 5th and we will return May 8th. All fundraisers are complete and we just had our seventh grade balances of over $4,000 and $22,000 was raised with tax credit funds. So, again, we're very um blessed and thankful to our tax credit donors who helped make this trip possible for our eighth graders. Eighth graders and fifth grade students visited the Marine Station at the Santa Rita hosted the federal event and it's called the Sky Island Field Station. So, it was We really want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Love for all of their hard work in organizing these field trips and spending the day to just expand the knowledge of our students of the animals that were in our own backyard.
But, other than that, the meeting was pretty productive from that point and uh they talked about the upcoming uh convention in in November and stuff like that. But, it was pretty good meeting. I think that was a recognition pin, the same one used to They didn't give me a certificate in the in the envelope. Okay, well, thank you. Thank you both for participating in that endeavor. And I guess anybody else? Anything else? Yeah, um so there was a STEM lab grand opening at Creek Elementary School. I don't remember the date. Um when we in the Creek Hill Monifa So I attended the one where they made the road show and visited Creek. Um I loved it. Um one of the things that I took home from it was the idea that STEM is an identity that can be applied in cross every single industry. >> Mhm.
Any questions or comments? If there be no questions or comments, uh we'll move to a vote. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Nay. The vote carries 3-0, and we'll show this meeting adjourned. >> Mhm.
Um Good evening members, board, um parents and families, superintendent and colleagues. My name's Pollyanna Flores and I'm truly honored to stand before you as the uh school counselor for Indian Oasis Elementary. Um I bring with me over 20 years of service in education, working in marginalized communities, supporting students in every space imaginable from yard duty to instructional aid to substitute teacher. I was a high school librarian, um school counselors across all grade levels including >> [clears throat] >> um behavior and correctional settings. Uh those experiences didn't just build my career, they shaped my purpose. I don't just see students for where they are, I see them for who they can become. Before coming here, I served um before coming here from California, I served with the Agua um division here on the nation and advocating for native youth and families, ensuring their voices were heard, respected, and protected.
Um, as far as her speed in running, um, because I keep telling her that I could beat her in foot race. Also, not true. Um, but Leah's just always around. She's always happy. She is just that kid that when she walks into a room, she makes things better. So, Miss Thompson wrote, "Leah is awesome. She goes above and beyond in student council. It's hard to believe she's only a freshman. She consistently checks in by asking, "Miss Thompson, do you need anything else?" or "Miss T, what can I help with?" Her initiative and willingness to serve truly sets her apart. Leah is always engaged and excited to bring spirit into our school, and her positive attitude makes a difference. I'm excited to see the many amazing accomplishments she will achieve throughout her high school career. All of it absolutely true. Leah is super deserving of this award.
And you can see there there's huge turkey out there that showed up for the second and the fifth grade field trip. And this one, Natalie and I were trying to get back to our cars and Mrs. Harris, she'd never been chased by a turkey and she said, "Nope, I said you can run and I don't want it to be today." So, they are very intimidating those turkeys that are out there. But, there's some more pictures and you can see the kids are swimming in the small pool that was there. They also were able to explore the creek, so it's just a great time for our kids. And Willy Wonka Junior Musical highlights. Do we have any students who were in the show here Okay. Yay, okay. We have a younger sister as well. musical production and just so proud of all of our students, Mrs.
And so what I liked about it was sometimes we think of STEM as you have to be a scientist or mathematician and you have to go into engineering, but no, helping the kids understand that that STEM principles are in every single field. You could be a hair stylist, you could be a cosmetologist, you could be whatever you want and there's STEM principles um that can be identified in every single industry. So I really liked that, especially teaching that message to the kids when they're young so they don't feel excluded, but they can be included in every STEM conversation, no matter what their choice of future looks like for them. So I loved it. It was really awesome. The CEO came down from San Diego and it was kind of cold here still. So it was kind of funny that she was here from San Diego experiencing some of our our weather.
I'm also an an enrolled tribal member of the Colorado River Indian Nation and I carry that identity with pride and with responsibility. Um because for me this work is not just a job, it is service to my people and to our future. My mission is to strengthen our nation through the children who are our future and my philosophy is simple, to encourage positivity and empower students to make good choices. When students feel seen, they feel valued. When they believe they matter, everything changes. I'm grateful to be here. I'm ready to serve and look forward to working alongside all of you to uplift every student we have the honor to support. Thank you. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Mr. Zavala, any other call to the audience? Okay, for the record, call to the audience is now closed. Letter E is our information items. Number one is the Barbecue Unified School District Employee Recognition.
Thank you. Congratulations, Leah. Next item on the agenda is the uh recognition of the April athlete of the month award. And Mr. Kluff, are you going to do that? I think looks like it. >> Yeah. Our our student of the month, athlete of the month, is not here today. He's currently playing baseball in Hullbrook, but I'm going to talk about him like he is here today. We selected, the coach has selected Hawk Harris as our athlete of the month. He's an incredible athlete. Does a really good job this year currently. He is going to letter in four sports this year. So, he's lettered in football, varsity basketball. He's also playing varsity baseball right now. And he's also being a a high jumper uh in track and field. So, one of the nice things about being a baseball player and a track athlete is if you're in the field events or a relay, you can, you know, practice at odd times.
Hatch and Mrs. Rojas for their hard work in putting it all together and parents for their hard work also in ensuring students learn their lines, they were prepared. So, I saw it four times and they performed for the whole entire school. They just did an amazing job. So, congratulations. There's just some more pictures of the kids, hula hoopers and And benefits of being the superintendent, I got to go to the green room and meet the students and give them a little pep talk. A few upcoming events, we have a busy week next week. On Tuesday, we're going to have our dual language enrichment showcase. So, students who are in dual language classes will be presenting, singing and work will be displayed. We're going to have a behind the wall candy bar. We're hoping to get a little mariachi group here. We will be raffling off some viatas.
Um but it was it was it was awesome. So thank you for that and I'm so glad I got a chance to go and represent the board. Mhm. Just to let you know, it snowed in California yesterday. Oh, wow. >> Take that. >> [laughter] >> Take that. Excellent excellent report out. Uh anyone else? Well, excellent and AI it is going to be with us. And I think the roles may flip. We become the AI and they become the humans. >> [laughter] >> I mean, that's how the one of the founders of AI, I heard him say a couple weeks ago that AI is we just have touched the surface that it can even replace him, the inventor, one of the inventors of AI. Just think about that. Think about that. And still I use STEM on a personal level in my household. Especially with my wife, I'm always analyzing [clears throat] how to keep him doing work for her.
Mr. Diaz. Good morning, Washington Diaz. Well, good evening, Superintendent. Good evening, members of the community, colleagues, students, and those who are joining us today. My name is Ruben Diaz and I am the proud Superintendent for Barbecue Unified School District. And at this point, it is a special and it's an honor that I I would like to bring to our attention not only the service, the impact, the love of one of our distinguished and precious members of the team. I would like to ask not only the family of our beloved Chris Moreira to please stand up and come forward. Please come to enjoy us join me in the front. And my operations team you joining here today as well. Could you please come forward as well? Members of the operations team, please join me. We have lost a great member of our team. Somebody has brought friendship, love, commitment, support, hard work, and I'm going to ask all of us here present for a short minute of silence to think for all of the commitment and years of service.
Um, one thing I can tell you about the Harris family that I think is amazing is that they're completely invested in our community and in our school. They're down here all the time. Uh, they they live on our campus. All three of their kids, Noel, Maverick, and Hawk, are all invested. They're all multisport athletes. Great academic honors kids. Um, they never sherk from a challenge. Their parents are always very loving and supportive and kind. Hawk is one of those kids that um I think it's easier to get water out of a rock than it is to have him actually speak. Very soft-spoken, very shy, but when it gets into a competitive environment, Hawk's there to compete. He's there to win. He loves sports. He loves his teammates. He respects and honors his coaches. Works really, really hard. So, we're just very grateful for kids like Hawk Harris.
So, I hope that you can come see what our dual language students have been up to. Also, on Wednesday is Earth Day and it's going to be our greenhouse grand reopening at 8:30. So, if you want to come help us out, we will be here. We have a bunch of projects going on for all grade levels and it really is a campus clean up day. And we will be ready for Friday, April 24th at 9:00 will be our A+ for Excellence celebration in the gym. We've invited invited a lot of community members to come and attend and we're going to celebrate our students and our teachers. So, please stop by if you can make it Friday at 9:00 a.m. in the gym. We have two special contest winners who um won the town of Santa Clarita Parks and Recreation Department Healthy Young Artist Contest for students to draw the town of Salado practice math by their favorite activities.