YUCCA VALLEY – Representatives from the Morongo Unified School District traveled to San Francisco this week to accept the Golden Bell Award, a prestigious honor that promotes excellence in education. The award was won by Yucca Valley Elementary School for their groundbreaking Outdoor Classroom Project.
The California School Boards Association Golden Bell Awards recognizes outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards of education in school districts throughout California. Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of education programs that address students’ changing needs.
This year, 230 entries in 21 categories were received. Experts from school districts and county offices of education comprised a 54-member judging panel, and a total of 52 delegates and board members across the state conducted in person or virtual validations.
The Outdoor Classroom Project at YVES was launched in 2019 as part of a comprehensive plan to increase student engagement and achievement. The project aimed to provide physical spaces for learning outdoors and a platform for project based learning and environmental education with opportunities for community and family partnerships.
“It was a collaborative effort amongst people at YVES,” said MUSD Director of Data and Assessment, Ed. Technology and Expanded Learning Celeste Wahlberg. “We have a committee that meets to identify research based best practices to increase student engagement and achievement, including outdoor classrooms.”
Three different garden areas were developed on campus as part of the project. Outdoor seating areas were designated for different classrooms, high-quality outdoor equipment was provided for creative play for kindergarten and t-k students and a garden reading area was established for students.
Teachers also launched specific projects to utilize the space. Recently, a sixth-grade class used one of the garden areas to learn about winter tolerant crops. Another class used the outdoor area to study the life-cycle of a butterfly. Another garden area is specifically designated as the first and fifth grade buddy garden encouraging collaborations amongst students.
“The project has been instrumental in engaging students and now acts as a natural extension to teachers' indoor learning environments,” Wahlberg said. “We’ve seen increased proficiency in reading and math. Students involved in the project have also been shown to have better attendance records.”
The Outdoor Classroom Project has provided a space for local community partners to come in and teach programs to YVES students. The school partnered with community educators from Mojave Desert Land Trust for a fifth-grade in-depth environmental studies program and Joshua Tree National Park for a fourth-grade outdoor education program.
“We’re really excited about outdoor learning going forward,” said YVES Principal Kristen Mery. “We’re always expanding the project and we even have a new community partnership starting with the Joshua Tree Foundation for Arts and Ecology.”
On Thursday, the Outdoor Classroom Project at YVES won the Golden Bell for the Family/Student/Community Engagement Category. The event brought together educators, community leaders and stakeholders to celebrate school achievements and share best practices in education.
“We are immensely proud of Yucca Valley Elementary School,” said MUSD Superintendent Dr. Patricio Vargas. “It’s great to see our educators being recognized for their efforts. Programs like this are a shining example of what can be accomplished through collaboration, dedication and a shared commitment to excellence.”
For more information on the Golden Bell Awards visit http://awards.csba.org/golden-bell/.