Yucca Valley Elementary School has won The Golden Bell Award for the Family/Student/Community Engagement category, a prestigious honor that promotes excellence in education.
Last week, representatives from MUSD traveled to San Francisco to accept the award on behalf of Yucca Valley Elementary for their groundbreaking Outdoor Classroom Project. Launched in 2019, the Outdoor Classroom Project was part of a comprehensive plan to increase student engagement, aiming to provide physical spaces for learning outdoors and a platform for project-based learning and environmental education with opportunities for community and family partnerships.
Three different campus gardens were developed as part of the project, where outdoor seating was designated for different classrooms. high-quality outdoor equipment was provided for creative play, as well as a reading area for kindergarten and t-k students.
The Outdoor Classroom Project has provided a collaborative space for local community partners to teach programs to VYES students. The school recently partnered with educators from Mojave Desert Land Trust for an in-depth environmental studies program and Joshua Tree National Park for a fourth-grade outdoor education program.
“We are immensely proud of Yucca Valley Elementary,” said MUSD Superintendent Dr. Patricio Vargas. “Programs like this are a shining example of what can be accomplished through collaboration, dedication, and a shared commitment to excellence.”
