Valencia High School

Before you panic, Ms. Bernier is NOT leaving Valencia High School. We know your hearts all skipped a beat when you saw her photo. What she is doing is being named as one of the ten finalists for the National Society of High School Scholars Claes Nobel Educator of the Year Award. She was nominated by one of her students and was then further lauded by colleagues who submitted letters of recommendation describing her passion and dedication to education, students, and the community. With this honor, she received a $1000 prize and will be honored in Washington, DC in August 2019. We are so proud of Ms. Bernier and are honored to have her in our Viking family.

This sad empty seat is usually filled by our amazingly friendly receptionist, Susie Johnson. She is the voice that greets you with, "It's a great day at Valencia High School." Now, she will greet people at the William S. Hart Union High School District Office as she joins their special education office staff. We will miss Susie's cheery face (we kept her a mystery to those of you who only hear her voice on the phone) in our office every day but we wish her luck in her promotion.

Our jazz choirs just keep shining. Check out Two N Four on Spectrum News 1 SoCal today.

Camera-shy ASB Clerk, Keith Gallion, did not even have enough time to stop working to take a photo for us to enjoy as we say goodbye to him. He's been the backbone of our ASB program for years and he's moving on to explore other ways to use all of the skills we've so appreciated at VHS. It's fitting that his departing image is our Viking logo since he's been such an integral part of the Viking Family and all we do to support our students and families. Good luck Keith!!

Mr. Figueroa! Why have you forsaken us?! JK, we are so excited for you as you take your awesome teaching skills over to Centurionville to give Saugus High School students the chance to work with such a fantastic teacher. You will be missed and we are grateful for the time we had you as a Viking!

Let's a take a moment for a humble brag. Viking alumna, Jaden Lewis, brought down the house at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday night as she closed the Spotlight Awards show with her rendition of "I'm Here" from The Color Purple. "America's Got Talent" producer, Nigel Lithgow, even pulled her back on stage to revel in the standing ovation she received. A recipient of the Spotlight Award, Jaden won a $5000 scholarship alongside 13 other young performers. Jaden is moving on to a full scholarship at Texas Christian University where she will study Musical Theatre and we expect to see her on the stage in a very short while. Remember, Jaden, ! Congratulations. You deserve these accolades and this success.

Ms. Colley! We donut want you to leave either! But we know that you are going to be so appreciated at West Ranch!! Ms. Colley has worked with both our general and special education students to help them reach their full potential. She will be missed and we wish her luck with her new Wildcat family!

Qué lástima! Ms. Villavalzo is moving to Saugus High School to continue her amazing teaching career with those lucky Centurions. Te extrañaremos, Sra. V!! y Buena suerte!!

Mr. Gill has been a part of many students' lives for many years at Valencia High School. He's worked with some of our most at-risk students over a number of years and now supports students through the relationships he builds and the advice his many years' experience afford him. He's going to take this supportive style to Saugus High School to help guide more Centurions down the right path.

Though Ms. deVera has only been a Viking for a year, she has become an important member of the team. We are losing her to Golden Valley High School where she will take over their video production and GVTV programs. We know that she will continue affecting students' lives on the other side of town...though she'll still look better in purple! Congratulations, Ms. deVera!!

Ms. Johnson has been working with our moderate to severe special education program at Valencia for years. She also connects our students in special education to their general education peers through her Circle of Friends club. We are going to miss Ms. Johnson as she leaves Valencia, but we are so thankful that she's headed to work with the PAR center for the William S. Hart Union High School District so that she can support all of the district's new teachers. She will still have an impact at Valencia High even after she is gone!

Valencia's Two 'n Four jazz choir sang on Fox News Live this morning to promote their appearance at the Pl***oy Jazz Festival this weekend. They sounded aMAZing!! You can watch the replay on www.foxla.com/live.