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Yucaipa‑Calimesa students showcase IB projects; district honors teachers and STEAM winners
Summary
Students from the district’s IB Primary Years Programme demonstrated inquiry projects on ecosystems, hydroponic gardening and ocean pollution; the board recognized teacher grant recipients, STEAM and science‑fair winners and named Wildwood Elementary a 2025 California Distinguished School.
The Yucaipa‑Calimesa Joint Unified School District Board meeting featured student presentations from the IB Primary Years Programme and a series of recognitions for classroom grants, STEM competitions and campus awards.
Students from TK through fifth grade presented short reports and demonstrations tied to the unit 'Sharing the Planet,' IB coordinator Jennifer Stahl told the board. Third‑ and fourth‑grade classes described life cycles, plant structures and local ecosystems; a fourth‑grade class described maintaining a hydroponic lettuce garden that the students said will be harvested and shared with the cafeteria. Several students summarized community action projects including trash pickups and outreach intended to reduce plastic pollution and raise awareness about coral bleaching.
The board also recognized the Galla Mesa Educators Enrichment Foundation for funding 15 of 18 grant applications this year, awarding materials and experiences for classrooms across the district. Foundation leadership and grant recipients discussed projects ranging from hands‑on phonics manipulatives and sensory‑room supplies to robotics competition registration fees and DC power supplies for science classrooms.
District staff highlighted competitive wins by students in regional STEM contests: a high‑school team placed first in the SoCal STEAM solar boat challenge (winning sprint and endurance events and recording top technical‑report scores), and multiple elementary and middle‑school students were honored at the San Bernardino/Inyo/Mono County Science and Engineering Fair. Board members invited students and coaches to the dais to accept awards and take photos.
Wildwood Elementary was recognized as a 2025 California Distinguished School; district staff described the award categories (closing achievement gaps and outstanding student performance) and praised campus leadership, teachers, classified staff and families.
The board’s focus on student work and local partnerships closed with applause for the year’s accomplishments and a reminder of upcoming summer activities.
The meeting adjourned after the recognitions and scheduled business concluded.
