WVHS students create online social events as Covid-19 pandemic continues
HEMET, Calif. — With online learning officially underway throughout the Hemet Unified School District and students, families, and staff becoming more familiar with it due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and public health crisis, Hemet Valley High School students have been getting their online education schedules down and are learning to navigate through “synchronous and asynchronous learning,” says HUSD spokesperson Alexandrea Sponheim.
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“However, it is at this point in the school year, especially for high school students, in which students would experience different social events,” said Sponheim.
Even though the State’s pandemic-related restrictions have made in-person social events a thing of the past, “West Valley High School’s Associated Student Body (ASB) won’t let that stop them,” explained Sponheim.
“Students began thinking outside of the box and created multiple events in which students can participate and remain active in their school community,” described Sponheim; adding, “Activities include a Spooky-School themed Coloring Book Contest, a Virtual Talent Show, and a Voter Registration Drive for seniors.”
ASB made presentations for ideas and the team as a whole voted to prioritize ideas that would work best from a distance. Working groups were then created to iron out details and create revisions before the team gave the green light.
These “distance activities” were created to “support each other even when we can’t meet physically on campus,” said Junior Class President Chad Walch.
The Coloring Book Contest is open during September, and entries will be compiled in a book and distributed in October.
The Virtual Talent Show allows students to showcase their talents, according to Sponheim; who said, “Since the event is taking place virtually, students will send a video of them performing their talent to the judges.”
“By sending in a video, students will be able to showcase talents that wouldn’t be able to be performed on a stage such as baking, painting, athletics, and more,” Sponheim continued.
Seniors will also be able to participate in the voter registration drive on social media and have the opportunity to purchase West Valley Merchandise Boxes, which will feature water bottles, decals, shirts, and a school logo branded face mask.
“When the pandemic first hit, a lot of activities were canceled. But, we are learning how to do new things so our students don’t miss out during the fall,” said ASB Advisor Billy Valenzuela.
“Great job to the West Valley High School ASB team for creating these events,” Sponheim enthused. “We hope you enjoy these activities as much as the ASB team had in creating them!”
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Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.