On Thursday, January 16, the Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) board meeting celebrated the Lunar New Year with Ayala High School’s Chinese and Japanese clubs’ cultural showcase while engaging with students, parents, and staff on current issues.
“I’m really proud to introduce our Chinese Club this year,” Ayala’s Chinese teacher and club advisor Ms. Lin Guo said. “We have lion dance and traditional performances. Over the past six years, excluding the pandemic period, we’ve hosted more than ten multicultural events.”
The evening began with four lion dance performances, a tradition dating back 5,000 years. Performers mimicked the lifelike movements of lions to garner good luck and fortune. This was followed by elegant Chinese folk dancers moving in sync to rhythmic traditional Chinese music. The event concluded with the mesmerizing performance with a traditional Chinese instrument that produced flowing and melodic notes.
The success of the showcase was attributed to the hard work of students, the dedication of Guo, and the support of Ayala High School Principal Diana Yarboi. Guo was especially recognized for her accomplishments, including a near 100% pass rate for AP Chinese exams over the past decade, expanding the Chinese program from five to ten classes, and mentoring student teachers from local colleges and universities.
Guo has also served as a mentor teacher in CVUSD’s induction program, advises both the Chinese and Japanese clubs, and leads student participation in cultural events ten times a year. Her contributions earned her a nomination for the Region 10 League of Educators’ Educator of the Year award, scheduled for January 24.
“In the decade I have known Ms. Guo I have consistently admired her continuous dedication of approaches every endeavor both inside and outside of the classroom with precision and perseverance— all traits that have positively impacted our school and our community,” Yarboi said.
Following the performances, Ayala’s cross-country team presented a framed photograph signed by team members to show their gratitude for the opportunity to compete in Alabama this season.
The evening also included a presentation by the Director of Elementary Curriculum, Mr. Luke Hackney, who provided a mid-year update on the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). The discussion focused on two of the plan’s four goals. The first goal aims to ensure a high-quality teaching and learning environment. Progress includes a technology refresh initiative set to be completed by April 2025, teachers with clear credentials exceeding the county average, facilities rated as “good” or higher, and appropriate course enrollment for K-12 students. The second goal emphasizes fostering connections among students, parents, families, and staff to support student success. Metrics like chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, year-end attendance, and dropout rates showed improvement, with some measures still in progress.
The board also addressed concerns about potential power outages caused by strong winds and fire risks in Los Angeles County. An estimated 10 to 11 schools, including Cal Aero Legacy, Butterfield Ranch, Chino Hills High School, and Oakridge, are most at risk for the power outage.
“Over the years, outages have been short-lived, it’s anywhere from ten minutes to two hours at the longest,” CVUSD superintendent Norm Enfield Ed.D said. “We are looking at what we can do to have stuff at the school sites to continue if this is going to become the new normal.”
