News & Announcements

Long before the morning bell rings and students stream into their classrooms, Fountain Valley School District educators are already hard at work in the classroom themselves. On Monday and Tuesday, teachers, support staff, and administrators gathered across district campuses for two full days of collaborative professional development focused on student achievement, innovative teaching tools, and classroom culture.

Just like our students, FVSD staff are lifelong learners. These annual prep days allow our educators to align learning goals, share best practices, and refine curriculum to ensure every elementary and middle school student receives a high-quality, engaging education from day one. [Read More...]

The energy across Fountain Valley School District was electric on Wednesday morning as we officially kicked off the 2026–2027 school year. From cheerful front office staff greeting families at drop-off to school mascots pumping up the crowd, our elementary and middle school campuses were full of excitement, warm reunions, and bright first-day smiles.

Once the morning bell rang, students settled into their new routines with icebreaker activities and classroom community circles. Out on the play yards, teachers guided students through campus expectations using our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system—ensuring everyone knows how to play safely and treat classmates with respect from day one.

On Tuesday morning, the entire Fountain Valley School District family gathered in person for our annual All Staff Breakfast and Kick-off Event. The day began outdoors with a light breakfast and lively conversation in the Gisler Elementary School Bowl before staff walked together to hear inspiring remarks from Superintendent Dr. Stopp. Addressing teachers, support staff, and administrators, Dr. Stopp invited everyone to stay curious, think creatively, and continue evolving educational practices to best serve our students.

Rooted in a legacy spanning 150 years, Dr. Stopp highlighted how FVSD’s mission, vision, and core values remain steadfast—focusing on academic excellence, strong home-community partnerships, and high expectations for all. The morning also featured a special ceremony recognizing longtime educators and staff members celebrating 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of dedicated service to our district family.

In middle school, finding common ground with classmates can make all the difference in building a supportive learning community. This week, English students at Samuel E. Talbert Middle School took a creative approach to icebreakers by building hand-drawn "Hexagonal Thinking Maps" to explore how their diverse interests, passions, and values intersect.

Each student started with blank paper hexagons, transforming them into personalized tiles featuring words to live by, favorite quotes, sports, out-of-school hobbies, and thoughts on what makes a great school. The real magic happened when students gathered in small groups to puzzle their hexagons together, discovering surprising shared interests and overlapping goals. [Read More...]

Building strong attendance habits early in the school year sets elementary and middle school students up for long-term academic success, fosters positive classroom routines, and strengthens social connections. This September, Fountain Valley School District is encouraging all families to help their students "Be an FVSD H.E.R.O."—Here Every day, Ready, On time!

Our district goal is for every student to maintain exemplary or on-track attendance by missing 8 days or less across the entire 2026–2027 academic year. To help families monitor progress at home, FVSD has provided a printable Attendance Tracker alongside quick options for reporting absences via ParentSquare or direct site office email.

As Fountain Valley School District prepares to welcome students back to campus on Wednesday, August 26, sunny skies and warm temperatures are expected to accompany the start of the 2026–27 school year.

Student safety and well-being are always a priority in FVSD, and our schools will be mindful of weather conditions as students return to classrooms, playgrounds, fields, and other outdoor spaces.

At the August 13 meeting, the FVSD Board of Trustees celebrated five new leadership appointments, approved a free pediatric eye care partnership with UCI, and authorized a smart software upgrade for the district's 11 school buses (including live GPS tracking for parents). The Board also conducted first readings for 16 updated Board Bylaws and Policies covering AI safety, weather protocols, and smartphone guidelines.

The Fountain Valley School District is delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs. Kimberly Dueñas as the new principal of Courreges Elementary School, pending Board approval at the Thursday, August 13th board meeting.

Mrs. Dueñas brings over two decades of diverse educational experience to Courreges. Most recently serving in the Long Beach Unified School District, her background spans roles as a classroom teacher across elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as an Intervention Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA), Cotsen Mentor, Leadership Development Coordinator, and Assistant Director in the Superintendent’s Office. Throughout her career, she has built a strong reputation for instructional excellence, peer coaching, and equitable teaching practices, including FVSD’s Signature Practices.

Families are encouraged to review the updated household income guidelines and submit an application when needed.
Fountain Valley School District participates in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. For the 2026–27 school year, children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income or participation in certain assistance programs.

FVSD is thrilled to welcome Desirae McGhie (Brucato) back to the district as the new Assistant Principal for the Masuda Monarchs. McGhie joins Masuda from Capistrano Unified School District, where she gained valuable administrative experience serving as an Assistant Principal across two middle school campuses. Before her tenure in Capistrano, McGhie spent seven years within FVSD (2018–2025) as an Elementary Education Specialist and Resource Specialist Program Teacher. Her profound impact on the community was recognized when she was named the 2024–2025 Elementary Special Education Teacher of the Year by the City of Fountain Valley Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities.