The 2026 Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee was hosted at Rio Rico High School for the first time by the Santa Cruz County Superintendent’s Office, and we were proud to help make it a success.
We are especially proud of our SCV35 student participants who represented our district so well:
📚 Calabasas School Elementary Champion: Diego Padilla
📚 Calabasas School Middle School Champion: Santiago Limas
📚 Coatimundi Middle School Champion, District Champion, and County Runner-Up: Shulamithy Battu
📚 Mountain View Elementary School Champion: Alexis Downie
📚 San Cayetano Elementary School Champion: Paul Fontes
A special thank you to the RRHS Culinary Class and Ms. Mavis for preparing and providing dinner and dessert for participants. Your support helped make the evening even more special.
Congratulations to all of our outstanding spellers for representing SCV35 with excellence. Your hard work and dedication truly shine. 📚🐝✨
Kindergarten, here we come! 🎒✨
SCV35’s Kinder Smart Start is a fun, three-session experience designed to help our youngest learners feel confident, connected, and ready for their very first day of school!
Students will meet teachers, build friendships, and learn classroom routines, while families receive helpful workshops, school tours, and registration support.
Let’s start kindergarten the smart way! 💛📚
Join us at Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No.35 and get ready for an amazing school year.
Enroll today! 🚌🎉
SCV35’s Kinder Smart Start is a fun, three-session experience designed to help our youngest learners feel confident, connected, and ready for their very first day of school!
Students will meet teachers, build friendships, and learn classroom routines, while families receive helpful workshops, school tours, and registration support.
Let’s start kindergarten the smart way! 💛📚
Join us at Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No.35 and get ready for an amazing school year.
Enroll today! 🚌🎉
Our district office and school sites will be closed on Monday, February 16th in observance of Presidents' Day. We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, February 17th.
Thank you to SFE Food Services for hosting the Roving Chef event for our elementary students! 🍕🍣
This hands-on experience focused on proper food handling and the importance of handwashing, while giving students the opportunity to see the kitchen in full operation. Students created their own pizza and sushi rolls, prepared food to share with their front office teams as a way to show appreciation, and completed a survey to provide feedback on menu items.
Students also received copies of the recipes they created and an SFE certificate of completion. We appreciate SFE Food Services for providing such an engaging and educational experience for our students!
This hands-on experience focused on proper food handling and the importance of handwashing, while giving students the opportunity to see the kitchen in full operation. Students created their own pizza and sushi rolls, prepared food to share with their front office teams as a way to show appreciation, and completed a survey to provide feedback on menu items.
Students also received copies of the recipes they created and an SFE certificate of completion. We appreciate SFE Food Services for providing such an engaging and educational experience for our students!
We are so proud to share that several SCV35 students will be representing our district at the Santa Cruz County Spelling Bee today! 🐝✨
Your dedication and hard work have truly paid off. Best of luck as you compete and represent SCV35. We are cheering you on every step of the way! 👏📚
Your dedication and hard work have truly paid off. Best of luck as you compete and represent SCV35. We are cheering you on every step of the way! 👏📚
We are proud to recognize the following individuals for being named Rio Rico Rotary’s Student and Staff of the Month last month:
Student: Emely J. Ramirez
Support Staff: Randall Johnson
Teacher: Taylor Nordgren
Thank you all for representing Rio Rico High School with excellence and Hawk pride! ❤️
Student: Emely J. Ramirez
Support Staff: Randall Johnson
Teacher: Taylor Nordgren
Thank you all for representing Rio Rico High School with excellence and Hawk pride! ❤️
Our schools are open and district operations are continuing as normal today. Thank you for your continued support.
🚨 Job Fair Alert! 🚨
SCV35 is growing, and we want YOU to be part of our team! Join us on Saturday, March 28 to explore career opportunities across our district.
📚 🚌 🏀 🎓
More details coming soon—stay tuned!
SCV35 is growing, and we want YOU to be part of our team! Join us on Saturday, March 28 to explore career opportunities across our district.
📚 🚌 🏀 🎓
More details coming soon—stay tuned!
Our amazing counselors are representing our district at the annual Arizona School Counselors Association Conference! We’re so proud of the incredible work they do for our students every day
💜🐾 Calabasas Kind Club is making kindness contagious! Led by Ami Kemp, this incredible student group is dedicated to creating a welcoming and positive campus where students and staff feel valued and supported. What started with just six students has grown into a thriving club of over 40 members spreading kindness through murals, Grateful Grams, campus beautification projects, and meaningful acts of recognition.
Their impact is reaching beyond campus, as the Calabasas Kind Club is proudly featured on the Ben’s Bells website for their commitment to cultivating kindness in schools. We are so proud of these students for leading with heart and making Calabasas a kinder place for all 💜✨
https://bensbells.org/appeal
Their impact is reaching beyond campus, as the Calabasas Kind Club is proudly featured on the Ben’s Bells website for their commitment to cultivating kindness in schools. We are so proud of these students for leading with heart and making Calabasas a kinder place for all 💜✨
https://bensbells.org/appeal
Happy National School Counselor Appreciation Week! 💜 We are so grateful for our amazing SCV35 counselors and the support, guidance, and care they provide our students every day:
Rio Rico High School: Monique Quiroz, Kayli Munoz, Stephanie Tapia, Denise Valenzuela
Calabasas School: Ami Kemp, Lillian Bernal
Mountain View Elementary School: Edith Fajardo
Coatimundi Middle School: Ruth Amarillas
San Cayetano Elementary School: Danika Teyechea
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our students and school community! 💜
Rio Rico High School: Monique Quiroz, Kayli Munoz, Stephanie Tapia, Denise Valenzuela
Calabasas School: Ami Kemp, Lillian Bernal
Mountain View Elementary School: Edith Fajardo
Coatimundi Middle School: Ruth Amarillas
San Cayetano Elementary School: Danika Teyechea
Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our students and school community! 💜
Make a splash this summer! 🌊
We’re hiring lifeguards at the SCV35 Aquatic Center.
Passionate about water safety? Apply using the link below.
https://santacruz.schoolspring.com/
We’re hiring lifeguards at the SCV35 Aquatic Center.
Passionate about water safety? Apply using the link below.
https://santacruz.schoolspring.com/
✨ Staff of the Year Spotlight ✨
Our 2024–2025 Staff of the Year honorees were recently recognized by the Tubac Rotary for their outstanding dedication and service to our school community. Congratulations to Teacher of the Year Ms. Mary Taft (Coatimundi Middle School), Professional Staff of the Year Ms. Marcia Aguirre-Fontes (Calabasas School) , and Support Staff of the Year Mr. Ben Norzagaray (Transportation).
A special thank you to the Tubac Rotary for their continued support of our staff and students. We also appreciate Coatimundi Middle School Principal Mrs. Rebekah Cabrera, a Tubac Rotary member, and Calabasas School Principal Mr. Jonathan Chavez for being present to support and celebrate our honorees.
Our 2024–2025 Staff of the Year honorees were recently recognized by the Tubac Rotary for their outstanding dedication and service to our school community. Congratulations to Teacher of the Year Ms. Mary Taft (Coatimundi Middle School), Professional Staff of the Year Ms. Marcia Aguirre-Fontes (Calabasas School) , and Support Staff of the Year Mr. Ben Norzagaray (Transportation).
A special thank you to the Tubac Rotary for their continued support of our staff and students. We also appreciate Coatimundi Middle School Principal Mrs. Rebekah Cabrera, a Tubac Rotary member, and Calabasas School Principal Mr. Jonathan Chavez for being present to support and celebrate our honorees.
Our district office and schools will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Normal hours resume Tuesday, January 20.
We are proud to share that all five of our school sites were named among America’s Healthiest Schools by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for the 2025–2026 school year. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff members who ensure our students learn and thrive in healthy school environments.
Congratulations to all of our students who participated in yesterday’s SCV35 District Spelling Bee! 🐝
A special congratulations to our champion 🏆 Shulamithy Battu 🏆 and our runner up Emmeline Demarest! We are amazed by your hard work and achievement. We are proud of every student who represented their school. All participants are listed below.
Diego Padilla – Calabasas School
Elian Sanchez – Calabasas School
Alexis Downie – Mountain View Elementary
Sarah Garcia Guzman – Mountain View Elementary
Paul Fontes – San Cayetano Elementary
Raymundo Lopez – San Cayetano Elementary
Santiago Limas – Calabasas School
Dante Nunez-Campos – Calabasas School
Shulamithy Battu – Coatimundi Middle School
Emmeline Demarest – Coatimundi Middle School
Thank you to our pronouncers John Fanning and Superintendent David Verdugo, our judges Mr. Dagoberto Lopez, Mr. Stephen Schadler, and Ms. Yemille Peiro, and Spelling Bee coordinator Ms. Judy Kennedy for her time, dedication, and leadership in organizing this event.
A special congratulations to our champion 🏆 Shulamithy Battu 🏆 and our runner up Emmeline Demarest! We are amazed by your hard work and achievement. We are proud of every student who represented their school. All participants are listed below.
Diego Padilla – Calabasas School
Elian Sanchez – Calabasas School
Alexis Downie – Mountain View Elementary
Sarah Garcia Guzman – Mountain View Elementary
Paul Fontes – San Cayetano Elementary
Raymundo Lopez – San Cayetano Elementary
Santiago Limas – Calabasas School
Dante Nunez-Campos – Calabasas School
Shulamithy Battu – Coatimundi Middle School
Emmeline Demarest – Coatimundi Middle School
Thank you to our pronouncers John Fanning and Superintendent David Verdugo, our judges Mr. Dagoberto Lopez, Mr. Stephen Schadler, and Ms. Yemille Peiro, and Spelling Bee coordinator Ms. Judy Kennedy for her time, dedication, and leadership in organizing this event.
Calling All RRHS Alumni & Hawk Nation! ❤️💛
The Rio Rico High School Athletic Department is creating a “Next Level Commitment” Recognition Board to honor RRHS alumni who signed to play a sport at the collegiate level — and we want to make sure no Hawk is missed!
Fill out the form below or send to another alum athlete who signed to play at the next level after graduating high school.
🔗 https://forms.gle/mEkofAcfuQWGAM5J9
The board will be installed in May, so let’s come together and celebrate our Hawks' achievements! 🏆
The Rio Rico High School Athletic Department is creating a “Next Level Commitment” Recognition Board to honor RRHS alumni who signed to play a sport at the collegiate level — and we want to make sure no Hawk is missed!
Fill out the form below or send to another alum athlete who signed to play at the next level after graduating high school.
🔗 https://forms.gle/mEkofAcfuQWGAM5J9
The board will be installed in May, so let’s come together and celebrate our Hawks' achievements! 🏆
Staff of the Year nominations for the 2025–2026 school year are now open! 🎉 Parents, staff, students, and community members are encouraged to nominate an outstanding SCV35 employee.
🗓 Nominations close February 6, 2026
🔗 Nominate here: https://forms.gle/vFjuYM6BPb5EA2H16
Let’s recognize those who go #ABOVETHEBAR!
🗓 Nominations close February 6, 2026
🔗 Nominate here: https://forms.gle/vFjuYM6BPb5EA2H16
Let’s recognize those who go #ABOVETHEBAR!
Last month, the Rio Rico Rotary Club gifted 60 bicycles to students across the SCV35 district during their annual Bikes for Tykes event 🚲.
The excitement and joy, just in time for the holiday season, made the day extra special for our students and families.
Thank you to the Rio Rico Fire District for providing helmets and helping students learn how to wear them safely, and to the Santa Cruz County Superintendent’s Office for bringing their mobile library for students and families to enjoy 📚.
The excitement and joy, just in time for the holiday season, made the day extra special for our students and families.
Thank you to the Rio Rico Fire District for providing helmets and helping students learn how to wear them safely, and to the Santa Cruz County Superintendent’s Office for bringing their mobile library for students and families to enjoy 📚.
Superintendent Verdugo and Governing Board President Ms. Lourdes Vasquez were proudly recognized at the Arizona School Boards Association’s Annual Conference in December.
Mr. Verdugo was named Arizona’s AASA National Superintendent of the Year for 2025–2026, and Ms. Vasquez received Cognia’s Excellence in Education Award for 2025-2026 . Several SCV35 employees attended the gala to celebrate these well-deserved honors with our district leaders.
Congratulations, Mr. Verdugo and Ms. Vasquez! 🎉
Photo credits: ASBA
