Dear Students, Families, and Staff, 

We are excited to share the first publication of April with you!
We hope you enjoy seeing all the amazing things happening across our schools and celebrating our incredibly talented students. We are so proud of our students, teachers, and staff who represent ROWUSD and our mountain community with excellence every day.

Wishing you all a wonderful and well-deserved Spring Break!



Page: Rim’s Edge of Excellence Newsletter: April 3rd, 2026. Next Board Meeting. Date of Public Hearing 
School Board Meeting: Thursday, April 16th, 2026 Time: 5:30 p.m. Place: Rim of the World Unified School District Office.24740 San Moritz WayCrestline, CA 92325 If you are unable to attend in Person, watch the meeting live on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@rowusdschools/streams
Page: From ROWUSD Superintendent, Dr. Paul Sevillano, A Message from the Superintendent: Dear ROWUSD Students, Families, Staff, and Community Members,
I hope this message finds you well. I am pleased to share several exciting updates that reflect the continued growth, opportunity, and strong community connections within our school district. The District remains committed to providing safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments for all students.  We understand that every school in our district has facility needs, and we are dedicated to addressing the highest-priority needs at each site in a thoughtful and strategic manner. The Board approved moving forward with construction at all schools to enhance the electrical systems, HVAC, and roofing, pending CA State approval of the design plans, which may take several months. As we begin this work, Lake Arrowhead Elementary was selected based on its eligibility for state modernization funding. We will continue to focus on schools with the highest-priority needs for improvement, based on eligibility for state modernization funds. For additional information on the District’s school modernization plan, please see our “Facility Master Plan” on the Rim of the World District website. 
Additionally, we are partnering with the University of California Cooperative Extension Education (CCEE) and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) to implement a grant-funded middle school CTE program for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.  This initiative will focus on Career Technical Education, providing our students with early exposure to career pathways and helping them build skills that support future academic and professional success. 
We are fortunate to have community partners who enrich our students' educational experiences. The Arrowhead Arts Association (AAA) is one of those valued partners that, under the leadership of one woman, Chyrl Russell, started arts and music programs across our school district over twenty-five years ago. We are proud to share that the District recently nominated Chyrl Russell, the Music Program Director at Arrowhead Arts Association, for the San Bernardino County Annual Distinguished Award in recognition of the many years Chyrl has dedicated to advancing the arts and music throughout the school district and our mountain community. Chyrl will be honored with this prestigious award on April 7th, 2026, at the San Bernardino County School Boards Spring Awards Assembly Ceremony.  Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved recognition. Congratulations, Chyrl! Thank you for your continued support and partnerships. Together, we are building a strong, bright future for all of our students!
Page: Striking for Student Success: Community Comes Together at Bowling for Education 2026. Saturday’s superheroes showed up in a big way to support ROWUSD student success at the Rim of the World Educational Foundation’s 2026 Annual Bowling for Education! From left to right: ROWUSD  Superintendent, Dr. Paul Sevillano, along with Board Members: Jordana Ridland, Member-Trustee, Cindy Gardner, Board President, Trustee, and Jordan Zarate, Member-Trustee, joined in the fun and showed their support for our district! This incredible event brought together local mountain businesses and community members, all working side by side to invest in our students' future. A big shoutout to Jared Cobb, RHS's talented CTE teacher, for creating the amazing 1st-, 2nd-, & 3rd-place prizes! His work not only showcased incredible craftsmanship but also supported the important fundraising efforts for the Rim Education Foundation. We’re grateful for educators like Jared who go above & beyond to support student programs & our school community. Pictured alongside Jared are Carol Kinzel & Anna, celebrating this great collaboration and support!
Page: ELOP team had an incredible day at the Inland Empire Expanded Learning Symposium! With State Superintendent Tony Thurmond as a featured speaker and two inspiring keynote presentations, the day was filled with powerful insights and meaningful learning. Staff engaged in dynamic breakout sessions and hands-on activities that closely align with ELOP goals, all while connecting with fellow expanded learning professionals. It was an energizing opportunity to network, share ideas, and bring back fresh strategies to strengthen our ELOP  program. The symposium highlighted leadership approaches that support high-quality expanded learning, with a strong focus on balancing compliance, operations, and staff support. Most importantly, the experience reinforced practical ways to build sustainable systems that improve program quality and drive positive student outcomes. An inspiring day of growth, collaboration, and innovation! 
Page: RHS Theatre. Rim High Theatre students recently had an exciting & enriching experience attending the CSUSB High School Theatre Festival. The event brought together talented students from across Southern California for a day filled with creativity, learning, and performance. We are especially proud of Alex Cortez, who competed in the monologue competition against nearly 200 students & earned an impressive spot in the top seven. This is an outstanding accomplishment! Throughout the day, students participated in engaging workshops, watched live performances from other high schools, & gained valuable insight into the world of theatre. They also had the opportunity to tour CSUSB’s brand-new theatre, giving them a glimpse of professional-level performance spaces. Congratulations to our Rim High Theatre students for representing our school with excellence and enthusiasm!
Page: RHS Music: This past performance at Santiago High School was nothing short of magical, &  a bit legendary. From the very first note of Aventura by James Swearingen to the vibrant, colorful sounds of Encanto by Robert Smith, our RHS students stepped onto that stage with heart, courage, & a whole lot of Rim pride. Now here’s the thing,  our RHS band may be small in size, but as the adjudicators quickly pointed out… that just means every musician shines like a soloist. No hiding. No blending into the background. Just pure talent, hard work, & skill on full display. And WOW, did they deliver. In fact… they delivered so powerfully that the audience literally couldn’t contain themselves. Yes—you read that right. Mid-performance, the crowd went so wild with cheering that the music had to pause. PAUSE! That kind of moment can’t be planned. That’s the kind of moment that happens when something truly special is happening on stage. And seeing our students light up in that moment? Absolutely unforgettable. But they weren’t done yet.
Page: RHS Music: Next came sight reading, the musical equivalent of being handed a test you didn’t study for, & still acing it like a star!  With just 5 minutes to prepare a piece they had never seen before, our students earned the highest possible rating: Superior. Then, because apparently excellence wasn’t good enough, they took on an even more difficult piece, & impressed the judge again, proving they could go even higher. And the final result? UNANIMOUS SUPERIOR RATING!!!! Every single judge. Every single score. The highest honor possible. And now… they’re headed to REGIONALS! To our incredible musicians: Families expressed strong support and appreciation for our dedicated staff and the wide range of programs that help our students succeed. Not only are we excited to welcome our incoming freshmen, but we are also proud to introduce RHS’s new head coach, Coach Stewart!  With new energy and leadership, the 2026–2027 school year is shaping up to be an exciting one. We invite all students to get involved and be part of something bigger...RHS athletics!  Participating in sports is a great way to build friendships, grow your skills, and show your school spirit. You didn’t just represent Rim—you elevated it. You inspired a room full of people, made judges take notice, and showed everyone exactly what RHS is capable of. We are so proud of you. Keep shining, keep playing, and get ready… because Regionals won’t know what hit them. 
Page: Rim High School. Rim High School was buzzing with energy during our Spring Open House and Freshman Orientation Night! A huge shoutout to RHS's incredible teachers & staff who brought warmth, pride, and excitement to every corner of the school. It was a night that reflected the spirit of Rim High School! RHS teachers & staff were excited to welcome about 150 incoming 8th graders and their families, & their enthusiasm was contagious! We invite all students to get involved and be part of something bigger...RHS athletics!  Participating in sports is a great way to build friendships, grow your skills, and show your school spirit.
Page: VOE Preschool! Our youngest VOE learners were all smiles as they enjoyed a fun and lively puppet show! With wide eyes and lots of giggles, our preschoolers were fully entertained as the puppets brought stories to life right before them. VOE, preschoolers got their hands  (& maybe a little more) dirty at the mud table, & they loved every second of it! From “mud pies” to “nature soup,” our youngest learners explored textures, creativity, and outdoor play in the most joyful way. Turns out, a little dirt goes a long way in making big memories! VOE preschoolers rolled up their sleeves & got to work! They washed outdoor equipment together like true teamwork pros! With buckets, water, & lots of splashes, our youngest learners practiced responsibility & cooperation, and had a squeaky-clean good time. Who knew cleaning could be this fun? 
Page: At CHE, learning is adding up to something special! Thank you for helping  CHE ELOP students “make cents” of the world around them in such a fun & meaningful way! ELOP teacher Susie Py is turning everyday lessons into magical moments as students step into the world of buying & selling. With pretend coins in hand & big imaginations at work, students practiced real-life money skills! They learned to count, trade, and make thoughtful choices... entrepreneurs in the making!
Page: Math Madness at VOE ELOP! Who says learning can’t be a slam dunk? VOE’s awesome ELOP teachers, Devin Phillips, Jordan Muwwakkil, & Ali Berry, designed an action-packed Math Madness lesson for the 3rd–6th-grade students that brought learning to life! Students explored some history, tackled probability, created & simplified fractions, & then...drumroll please…They took their skills to the court for a hands-on basketball game! From fractions to free throws, this was the ultimate combo of brainpower & fun! What better way to learn than to study hard & then hit the court? Now that’s what we call a full-court press on learning!
Page: Jumping Into Color at VOE! ELOP students at VOE have been busy creating their very own Jumping Rainbows... & the results are as joyful as they sound! With creativity in full swing, students explored colors, movement, and a little bit of magic as their rainbows seemed to leap right off the page. It’s amazing what happens when imagination takes the lead...bright smiles, bold colors, and a whole lot of fun! Who knew rainbows could jump this high? Wobble, Wiggle, Float at VOE! Our ELOP students at VOE set sail on a fun learning adventure as they created their very own wobble boats while exploring different forms of transportation! Led by the amazing teachers Tiffanie Messina and Jessie Noah, students combined creativity, curiosity, and a little engineering to design boats that rocked and rolled...but didn’t sink!
Page: CHE Creativity + Reading=Bookmark Magic. Miss Jess turned the CHE library into a hub of creativity with a “Design Your Own Book
mark” contest! The challenge was simple: make it fun, bright, & inspiring for fellow readers...& their students delivered in a big way! Mr. Tony was the official judge, the competition was fierce, & the winning designs truly stood out. The champions were celebrated with fun, goodie bags! Great creativity deserves great rewards! Proof that small creations can inspire huge ideas! VIP Visitor in Kinder! Kindergarten had a special guest this week as Mr. Knepper stopped by to lend a hand and celebrate Lev as Student of the Week! From extra smiles to extra support, it’s always a win when amazing parents jump in to be part of the classroom fun! 
Let’s be honest… kindergarten runs just a little smoother with superhero helpers like Mr. Knepper around! Thank you to all of our incredible parent volunteers! 
We couldn’t do it without you! 
Page: From Tiny Eggs to Lake Legends! Something fishy (in the best way!) is happening in our TK/Kindergarten classrooms at CHE! Under the expert guidance of Mrs. D’Avingnon, our youngest scientists are raising 250 trout eggs, & yes, 250! Talk about a full house… or should we say, a full tank! These little learners are diving into the life cycle of trout, watching as their tiny eggs wiggle, grow, & transform day by day. It’s like having a front-row seat to nature’s very own magic show! And the grand finale? Once these fin-tastic friends are ready, students will release them into Green Valley Lake—sending them off on their big “fishy” adventure into the wild. Who knew kindergarteners would be raising future lake legends? Stay tuned… these small eggs are making some BIG waves!
Page: CHE Students Learning from the Source: Watershed Wonders. CHE mountain students dove into a one-of-a-kind learning experience as Dr. Alfred  &  her team of fellows brought the Watershed Project to life! With hands-on activities & real-world connections, students explored how our local mountains, snowfall, & water systems all work together to shape the environment we call home. Partnering with CSUSB, this exciting program turns our own backyard into a living classroom, sparking curiosity, building knowledge, & inspiring our students to see the magic in the mountains around them. And judging by their excitement… we may have some future scientists right here in our community!
Page: From Fifth Grade to Center Stage! Fifth graders got a front-row seat to the excitement of middle school when the MPH band rolled in with energy, talent, & a whole lot of sound! These future 6th graders didn’t just listen...they got a sneak peek at what’s waiting for them next year, from awesome music programs to new goals & opportunities at MPH. We are proud of our MPH students for serving as positive role models and inspiring our future middle schoolers!
Page: LAE is Buzzing with Learning at Saturday Academy! LAE students were hard at work, having lots of fun! At Saturday Academy, they explored the wonderful world of pollination! From bees to blooms, LAE’s young learners discovered how pollinators help plants grow & keep our environment thriving. It was a day full of curiosity, hands-on learning, and a little bit of “buzz-worthy” excitement! Who knew learning could create such a sweet buzz?
Page: LAE 3rd graders engineering bridges. Step aside, engineers...From popsicle sticks to determination, these students proved that ‘BIG IDEAS’ can come from small hands! LAE’s 3rd graders are raising the bar & building bridges that impress! There were moments of “uh-oh,” lots of problem-solving, and plenty of “WE DID IT!” Celebrations as bridges stood tall, & a few dramatic collapses along the way.  But that’s what real engineering is all about: testing, tweaking, & trying again! Who knew the future of infrastructure was sitting right in LAE’s 3rd-grade classrooms? Watch out, world, LAE engineers are just getting started!
Page: Middle School Preview… with a Beat at LAE! LAE 5th graders got a front-row preview of middle school when MPH rolled in for a lively assembly full of music and excitement! The MPH students didn’t just play some awesome tunes; they also shared all the fun opportunities waiting for them next year, from band to other exciting middle school offerings. Let’s just say… the music wasn’t the only thing making noise...there was a lot of buzz about 6th grade! By the end of the assembly, LAE’s 5th graders were tapping their feet, asking questions, & maybe even imagining themselves on stage. Middle school, here they come!
Page: What’s Awesome at VOE!!! Students in Ms. Cairns’ class have been busy walking the Peace Path—a special activity where voices are heard, feelings are shared, and understanding takes center stage. Shoutout to Ms. Cairns for growing future leaders one student at a time! With each step on the Peace Path, they’re building strong communication skills, practicing empathy, & showing what it means to be kind and respectful leaders. It’s amazing to see such young students already developing the tools to make a positive difference in their classroom and beyond!
Page: Play, Lead, Laugh: VOE Students Team Up for Fun! Fun went into overdrive at VOE when their 1st graders teamed up with VOE’s superstar 4th & 5th grade Peace Keepers! From mastering new games to bursting into laughter at every turn, VOE’s older students took the lead...cheering, guiding, & making sure no one missed out on the fun. It was a joyful mix of teamwork, kindness, & nonstop smiles… because everything is more fun when we play together! Peace Keepers + First Graders = Fun Times Squared!
Page: Readers in Action: VOE 2nd Grade READ Time! 2nd graders at VOE had an amazing time celebrating Read Across America with DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time! From the moment the books opened, imaginations took off! Students were fully immersed in their stories, demonstrating a true love for reading. It was inspiring to see such focus, excitement, and joy as these young readers explored new adventures, characters, and ideas. Moments like these help build lifelong readers and a strong foundation for future success. A big shoutout to Melinda Turner’s 2nd-grade class for showing us what a passion for reading looks like! Keep turning those pages!
Page: The Great Peep Housing Project. Saturday Academy at VOE Day School, creativity was under construction& the results were sweet success! Students rolled up their sleeves & became master architects, designing & building the most adorable graham cracker homes you’ve ever seen. Armed with generous amounts of frosting (some may say too generous… but we support artistic freedom!), & a rainbow of colorful candy, each house quickly transformed into a sugary masterpiece!. And the true VIPs of the day? The bunny Peeps, of course. These lucky little residents hopped right into their cozy new homes, fitting in so perfectly you’d think they had custom blueprints drawn up in advance. Some lounged in candy gardens, others peeked out of frosting-framed windows—clearly living their best marshmallow lives. Most importantly, it was a day filled with creativity, teamwork, & friendships as sweet as the decorations themselves!!.
Page: A Night of Discovery: MPH Science Night 2026. MPH’s Science Night was an absolute hit! The campus was buzzing with excitement as students and families explored a wide range of hands-on science experiences...from biology and zoology to paleontology, fire science, geology, astronomy, engineering, &  more! Every Booth was filled with curiosity, discovery, & fun as students engaged with interactive activities & learned from passionate organizations who brought each field to life.
Page: A Night of Discovery: MPH Science Night 2026. It was incredible to see our future scientists, engineers, and innovators asking questions, making connections, and imagining the possibilities ahead. What a fantastic way to spend a Thursday evening surrounded by family, friends, and community partners, all coming together to celebrate learning & inspire future career pathways. Nights like this remind us how powerful it is when education, curiosity, & community unite. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this unforgettable night possible!
Page: Mountain High School. The energy was high & the message was powerful at MHS as Mountain Sunshine Rotary spoke about one of life’s biggest game-changers...CHOICES!! With a mix of humor, real talk, and a few “uh-oh, I’ve definitely done that before” moments, Rotary members had students laughing one minute and deep in thought the next. With a mix of humor, real talk, and a few “uh-oh, I’ve definitely done that before” moments, Rotary members had students laughing one minute and deep in thought the next. They reminded everyone that life is basically a giant series of choices... like choosing homework over video games, or deciding whom you surround yourself with and what kind of future you want to build.
Page: Mountain High School. The smallest decisions today can lead to big-time outcomes tomorrow. Whether it’s choosing kindness, staying focused, or taking the high road, every choice adds up...and guess what? They’re in the driver’s seat. Here’s the takeaway: Choose Courage! Choose Kindness! Choose Your Future! And maybe…Choose to do your homework tonight!
Page: Rim Virtual Academy: RVA e-Sports continues to be one of the most exciting  & connected spaces in our school community! Students & families come together to sharpen their Mario Kart & Super Smash Bros. skills while building friendships and lasting connections. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing families for keeping the energy high with pizza, snacks, deinks, and generous donations-your support truly makes a difference! And a very special shoutout to Mrs. Marinaro for her dedication, passion, ​& leadership. RVA e-SPorts wouldn't be the same without her!