August 28th, 2026: RIM's Edge of Excellence Newsletter

Dear RIM Students, Families & Staff,
The first 13 days of the 2026–2027 school year have already been filled with learning, laughter, creativity, teamwork, school spirit, and plenty of memorable moments!
In this edition of Rim’s Edge of Excellence, we invite you to take a look at some of the wonderful happenings taking place across our schools. From our youngest learners discovering new things to our high school students taking the field, performing, creating, and preparing for the year ahead, there is so much to celebrate throughout RIM!
We hope you enjoy seeing the smiles, activities, accomplishments, and everyday moments that make our schools such special places to learn and grow.
We’re only 13 days in, and there is so much more to come!
 Here’s to a fantastic 2026–2027 school year! 
PAGE: RIM’s Edge of Excellence Newsletter, August 28th, 2026. ROWUSD School Board Meeting
 is scheduled for Thursday, September 17th, 2026, 5:30 pm, at the District Office.24740 San Moritz Way, Crestline. If you cannot attend in person, you can watch the meeting live on YouTube or scan the QR Code to view it on your phone. 
We hope to see you there or online! Public Participation
This meeting will be held at the Rim of the World Unified School District and via YouTube.If you wish to view the meeting, log in to:
https://www.youtube.com/@rowusdschools/streams
Page: Honoring a Legacy of Leadership, Athletics & Service. ROWUSD is proud to recognize School Board Member Scott Craft, who was honored at the California Chapter Honors Banquet celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Scott’s connection to Rim of the World began on the wrestling mat in 1979, when he wrestled for Rim of the World High School. Within 3 years, he made school history as Rim’s 1st State placer, finishing 5th in 1982, followed by a 6th-place finish at the Southern State Finals in 1983. He was also a two-time CIF Division placer, including a championship title, and a two-time CIF Southern Section Masters Meet place winner. His accomplishments earned him a college wrestling scholarship. After college, in 1987, Scott returned to education & began coaching, sharing his passion for wrestling and mentoring generations of student-athletes. He also became a Physical Education teacher & went on to serve as a longtime head wrestling coach. His commitment to Rim athletics continued when he became Athletic Director, serving for 5 years & working to strengthen athletic funding & administrative support for all sports at Rim. Scott’s dedication extended throughout the region. He served on the CIF Advisory Board from 2014–2021 & continues to assist with the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet. In 2022, Scott began another chapter of service to our students & community as a member of the ROWUSD Board of Education. Congratulations, Scott, on this well-deserved honor!  Thank you for the many years you have dedicated to ROWUSD as a student-athlete, educator, coach, athletic leader, mentor, & School Board member.
PAGE: Lifelong Learning. Learning at Every Stage: From Preschool to Adult Education at ROWUSD! What a wonderful way to begin the 2026–2027 school year. From our youngest learners transitioning from preschool to kindergarten, to adults returning to the classroom to earn their high school diploma or prepare for the GED, we are proud to support education at every stage. We are excited to see our students of all ages learning, growing, and taking the next step toward achieving their goals. Lifelong learning starts here at ROWUSD
Page: Little Learners, BIG Imaginations at VOE! VOE preschoolers are some of the youngest learners in our district & are already busy exploring, creating, & discovering! One little artist got her hands-on with finger painting, creating a colorful masterpiece, while another young chef used her imagination to prepare a pretend meal. And in front of the mirror, one of VOE’s youngest learners took a moment to discover their reflection, building self-awareness & confidence while learning that the smiling face looking back is pretty special! VOE’s preschoolers are building confidence, creativity, & important early learning skills. Big learning begins with our littlest learners.
Page: Students are bugging out over learning at VOE! Students are exploring the fascinating world of bugs, discovering more about these tiny creatures & the important role they play in our environment. Who knew something so small could inspire BIG curiosity? Creativity in Action at VOE ELOP! Students are putting their imaginations to work with paint pens & LEGOs, creating colorful artwork & building one-of-a-kind creations. Whether they’re drawing, designing, or building, these students are showing that there’s no limit to where their creativity can take them!
Page: Learning Takes Flight at CHE! Students had the exciting opportunity to take to the skies by flying drones! Through hands-on learning, technology, and plenty of excitement, students practiced new skills and discovered just how much fun STEM learning can be. Up, up, & away, CHE!
Page: LAE Rolls Out the Red Carpet on the 1st Day of School!
Page: The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools visited Lake Arrowhead Elementary to help celebrate the first day of school and capture photos of the festivities! SBCSS later shared highlights from the special morning on social media.
We are so proud to see our LAE students featured!
Page: Everyone’s favorite... Cubby was there to greet families, dance to the music, and pose for photos! One student even brought a baby Cubby to share a special hug with LAE’s Cubby. What a precious moment that made the morning even more memorable! LAE literally rolled out the red carpet to welcome students on their first day!
Page: Before the school day began, families enjoyed a little extra time together with donuts & juice, first-day photos, & special family moments. One sweet scene captured a father sitting on the grass, enjoying breakfast with his little ones. This is a wonderful reminder of the family spirit that makes LAE so special!
Page: Off to class they go...LAE students headed to their classrooms, ready for an exciting first day filled with new adventures, new friendships, & new opportunities to learn & grow.
Page: At LAE & every school across ROWUSD, every student is special, valued, & an important part of our school community! A special thank you to our School Board President, Cindy Gardner,  for helping Cubby come to life and for bringing so many smiles, hugs, & memorable moments to LAE’s students & families!
Page: Lake Arrowhead Elementary: 1st day of school! Building Castles & Connections! LAE 4th graders kicked off the 1st day of school by building Card Castles of Commonality! Students discovered what they had in common on the cards and worked together to build their castles. What a creative way to make new connections & discover that. We all have more in common than we might think! Say Cheese, 3rd Grade! Nothing captures the excitement of a new school year quite like a first-day class photo! LAE's 3rd graders gathered for a picture filled with smiles, new friendships, & learning adventures ahead!
Page: Teachers Just Wanna Have Fun! Who says the students get to have all the fun? LAE's 1st, 2nd, & 3rd grade teachers came together for a fun photo & plenty of smiles! These amazing teachers are ready for another year of learning, laughter, & making wonderful memories with their students! Little Artists, BIG Feelings
LAE's TK students are learning how to express their emotions through art! Their colorful creations are proudly displayed for everyone to enjoy, showing that even LAE’s youngest artists can use creativity to communicate some pretty BIG feelings!
Page: LAE's 1st graders are discovering that feelings come in all kinds of colors!  During this art activity, students explored different emotions while expressing themselves creatively. Art is a great way for students to see & share how they feel! Rock… Paper… Scissors… GO!
 5th graders started the year with an EPIC Rock, Paper, Scissors showdown! Friendly competition, cheering, & laughter filled the air as students battled their way through the game. What a fun way to reconnect with classmates! 2nd graders are diving into The Rainbow Fish & discovering an important lesson about kindness, friendship, & sharing. Just like the Rainbow Fish's sparkling scales, every act of kindness can brighten someone's day.  What a wonderful way to begin the school year, learning how they can help make their classroom & school a kinder place!
Page: A Rockin’ First Day at CHE! CHE kicked off the first day of school with smiles, excitement, & plenty of school spirit! CHE’s amazing staff gathered for a full team photo, ready for another great year of learning & growing together. CHE’s youngest learners & their families joined for TK Orientation, getting acquainted with their new school & preparing for an exciting adventure ahead.
Page: A Busy & Exciting First Day at CHE!
Rocky the Raccoon was there to greet students & families, making the morning extra special & welcoming everyone back with plenty of CHE spirit! It was also Chromebook Checkout Day, adding to the excitement of a very busy first day.CHE was thrilled to welcome students back & is ready to make 2026–2027 a fantastic year of learning, growth, & lots of fun! Old-School Fun at CHE! CHE students stayed cool in the shade while having some old-school fun with games many of us remember playing when we were younger! From giant KerPlunk & Connect 4 to other oversized favorites, students enjoyed plenty of laughter, friendly competition, & outdoor fun. Some games never go out of style!
Page: Running Springs Mountain Top Days Parade. CHE staff & Rocky took their school spirit on the road for the Mountain Top Days Parade! 
Rocky may have left his trash cans at home, but he definitely brought plenty of smiles, waves, & raccoon-sized enthusiasm! CHE staff had a great time joining the community, greeting families, & showing off their CHE school pride along the parade route. With Rocky leading the fun, there was no shortage of laughter & school spirit. Way to represent CHE, Rocky & crew...you were paws-itively parade perfect! CHE students brought the energy during the Step It Up! Fundraiser Assembly! With lots of school spirit, students learned how they can help support their school while having  FUN along the way. Mrs. Guzman’s students were busy putting those little fingers to work with their fine motor skills! Students practiced important skills like grasping, pinching, & hand-eye coordination, while having FUN! At CHE, learning happens in so many creative ways, & sometimes the smallest movements lead to the biggest accomplishments!
Page: Mrs Waki’s 4th Grade Class STEM Building Activity at CHE. At CHE, learning happens in so many creative ways, & sometimes the smallest movements lead to BIG accomplishments! Learning happens in so many ways; sometimes the smallest pieces can lead to BIG ideas & amazing results! 
Students put their STEM skills to the test with a fun challenge: build a structure using only squares of paper! A special thank you to Mrs. Waki for creating this fun, hands-on STEM lesson that encouraged students to work together & turn their ideas into something awesome! With creativity, teamwork, & plenty of problem-solving, these 4th-grade students worked together to turn simple pieces of paper into some impressive structures. It’s amazing what can happen when young minds put their ideas together & bring a project to life!
Page: Playtime Learning  Adventures at VOE! Young VOE students know how to make playtime an adventure! From enjoying the playground equipment to learning the alphabet while wearing some cool shades, to building a super-tall tower with giant LEGO blocks, there was lots of creativity & fun happening inside & outside! There was one little adventurer who was ready to save the day, pretending to be a firefighter!  Whether they were building, climbing, exploring, or pretending, these young learners showed us that playtime is learning time, too! What a fun day to play, imagine, build, & explore at VOE!
Page: Getting to Know You with Play-Doh! VOE’s 2nd graders kicked off the school year with a colorful welcome activity! Using Play-Doh, students chose “1” special way to tell something about themselves: they could spell their name, create a model of themselves or their family, or show something fun they did over the summer. What a great way to welcome students back, spark their imaginations, and help classmates learn a little more about one another! At VOE, even Play-Doh can turn into a fun learning adventure!
Page: Buddies Are Blooming! Buddies kicked off this week, and new friendships are already beginning to grow! Students from Burkitt and Hawley’s classes met in the garden for a special time together, reading about making friends at school and getting to know their new buddies. With books, conversation, fresh air, & a beautiful garden setting, students discovered that just like plants, friendships grow when we give them a little time, kindness, and care!
Page: MPH Is Back & Ready to Shine! Students jumped right in, soaking up knowledge, reconnecting with friends, & getting to know their teachers through classroom introductions. From the first bell to the end of a very full first week, MPH students were learning, connecting,  & getting back into the groove! The energy is high, the classrooms are buzzing, & one thing is for sure: it’s going to be a GREAT year at MPH! A school assembly brought everyone together & helped set the stage for an exciting year ahead.
Page: Lights, Curtain, WOW! MPH’s Stage Makeover. MPH’s stage received a beautiful new makeover, & the results are fantastic!
 Thanks to Proposition 28 funding, this much-needed update has transformed the stage into a refreshed space where MPH’s students can perform, create, & shine! MPH is incredibly proud of its newly updated stage & can’t wait to see all the talent, creativity, & memorable performances that will take place there!
Page: A Great Back-to-School Night for RVA & MHS! RVA & MHS welcomed families for a successful Back-to-School Night filled with connection, resources, & plenty of smiles!  Students, families, staff, Director of Education,  Superintendent, & School Board members came together to kick off the new year. ROWUSD Community partners, including Mountain Counseling & Training, RIM Education Foundation, Rim Family Services, & Hearts & Lives, were on hand to share valuable resources with families. Thank you to our valued community partners for your continued dedication, service, & commitment to our schools, students, & community. We truly appreciate all that you do! Students & families completed important paperwork, received Chromebooks, & enjoyed pizza & sweet treats along the way!  It was a wonderful evening!
Page: Sunrise, Smiles & Senior Year! RVA’s Class of 2027 seniors welcomed their graduating year with a beautiful sunrise taken on our local mountain (background picture), delicious donuts, and warm coffee! It was the perfect way to celebrate the beginning of a year filled with senior traditions, special moments, lasting memories, and exciting milestones. Here’s to an unforgettable year for the Class of 2027!
Page:  RHS Band Is Bringing the Beat! Before the first school bell even rang, the RHS Band was already making some noise! Band Camp took place the week before school started, giving RHS talented musicians time to practice, work together, & get ready for an exciting year ahead! And from what we’re hearing… the band sounds AWESOME this year!
Page:  Great New Look, Big Sound & RHS Pride! The RHS Band is stepping into the new school year in style!  At Friday’s first season-opener football game, RHS talented musicians proudly debuted their brand-new uniforms, & they looked fantastic! A huge thank you to our amazing community, whose generous support made these new uniforms possible. Leading the band this year is RHS's newly decorated Drum Major, Colin Hobson!  With sharp new uniforms, an awesome sound, & Colin leading the way, the RHS Band is ready to bring the music, energy, & RIM pride all season long!
Looking good & sounding even better...—way to go, RHS Band!
Page: RHS Girls’ Flag Football Team are Ready to Fly! Fast, Fierce & Ready to Play! RHS Girls Flag Football is taking the field with teamwork, determination, & plenty of Rim pride!  From racing down the field to making the next big play, these athletes are showing what it means to work together as a team. And of course, they had to capture the whole crew together for a team photo!........ Go, Scots!  RHS Girls Volleyball is serving up an exciting season! One moment they're all smiles for the team photo, & the next they're in action, sending the ball flying over the net! With every serve, set, hit, and point, our Lady Scots are bringing their energy, teamwork, & school spirit to the court.
Page: Huddle Up… It’s Game Time! The RHS football team is huddled, focused, and ready for the next play! From preparing to launch the ball downfield to battling it out together on the field, our Scots are bringing the energy this season. There’s nothing quite like Friday night football, cheering fans, and Rim pride!
Page: Friday Night Lights, RIM Pride & a WIN! What a night for RHS Football! 
Our mountain community came out in full force to cheer on the Fighting Scots as they took on Xavier Prep High School, earning an exciting 14–7 victory! Making the night even more special, RHS alumni sports athletes returned to join in the excitement & support the football team. From RHS players on the field to alumni & families in the stands, the night was filled with school spirit, community pride, & RIM tradition! Congratulations, RHS...Way to bring home the WIN!
Page: Healthy Smiles Are Happy Smiles! Here’s something to smile about! 
 A BIG thank you to the HAFDRA team for helping keep our ROWUSD elementary students’ smiles bright & healthy by providing dental screenings & sealants throughout the school year. Healthy teeth are an important part of keeping our students feeling their best & ready to learn, laugh, & smile with confidence! 
We are grateful for HAFDRA’s continued partnership & commitment to the health & well-being of our students. Thank you, HAFDRA, for giving our students another reason to SMILE!