News and Announcements

Welcome To Bolsa Grande High School! OUR OFFICE IS OPEN DURING THE SUMMER. Incoming 8th graders coming from a GGUSD school should already be pre-enrolled. Check the Parent Portal to see next school for your student. Please find attached a list of items you need to bring to register your new student. If you have any questions, please contact the front office (714) 663-6424. You can also email Lori Piper @ lpiper@ggusd.us for more information.

Please see attached calendar for scheduling your vacations for next school year.

Complete Online Registration for 2021-2022, on your Parent Portal, and hit submit. You will NOT have to turn them in to the Bolsa Office. If you do not submit your new Emergency Card and Ticket to Registration ONLINE, you will NOT receive a letter in August. Incoming 9th Grades also need Student Health Inventory which can be turned in when students pick up their schedules and books in August. Directions Attached. Student Health Inventory Attached.

New Lunch Applications MUST BE submitted each year. You can apply JULY 1st. You may submit online through Titan at https://family.titank12, or you may pick up a paper application at the Food Service Office at 10331 Stanford Avenue, Building B, Garden Grove, CA 92840, and coming soon at the Bolsa Office. You may contact Food Services at (714) 663-6155.

Watch the video here!

We're proudly awarding $120,000 in 2021 to high school seniors in our local communities! Apply by Feb. 2, 2021: https://coxcharitiesca.org/cox-scholars #CoxScholars #CoxCommunications #CoxCalifornia

Click here to watch, “A Day in the Life of a GGUSD Student” for a preview of what to expect when campuses reopen.

Please click this link to watch videos on handwashing, face masks, face shields,
physical distancing, and school bus safety

Please see attached for the 2020-2021 Calendar. We hope this helps with scheduling vacations.

Moving forward, we are interested in finding other ways to support our Bolsa community.
Are you interested in being part of that change? 
Take the survey.  https://bit.ly/2Xvpjzb
Attend the summer meeting.  Join the No Place For Hate Action Committee.

Our very own Mr. Phinizy was nominated and awarded with a Certificate of Achievement at the Orange County Department of Education's 7th Annual Language Learner Celebration. He was honored by the county for his efforts and contributions towards supporting and advocating for language learners.

Much respect and accolades to the 2019 Stem Club, who just placed 1st overall and 2nd in Prosthetic Arm creation at MESA, a well-renowned engineering competition - way to go, Matadors!!!

It is with great pride that we announce the Matadors who have qualified for the 2018 preliminary National Merit Scholarship  - a program which recognizes top PSAT scores. Lillian M. Dang, Annie Q. Nguyen, Dillon V. Taing, and Steven H. Tran are among the 50,000 high scorers nationwide, rising to the top from an original pool of 1.6 million program entrants. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, “with a selection Index score of 212 or above, these high performers have shown outstanding academic potential.”  Way to go, Matadors!

Check out all the fun and learning that was to be had from the APES field trip to the Newport Beach Back Bay Science Center last Friday! Click the link to see all the fun pics.

Matadors shine at the 41st Annual GGUSD First Impressions Art Exhibit and Awards Ceremony - click the link to view all the fun!

Trieu looks to his parents as the most influential people in his life for their steadfast support of all he does. He believes that Matador Pride is about letting your actions be guided by your morals and always trying to do the right thing. Mrs. Kemp sees Trieu as a very deserving selection as a Model Matador. She says, “the first thing one notices about Trieu is his welcoming and engaging smile. Not only is he an excellent student, but he is always respectful, sociable and an example of kindness to those around him.” Trieu is glad to represent PBIS as a Model Matador because he believes that it demonstrates that he is doing something positive for his school community and society.

We have seen it, heard it, and experienced it. Bullying is something that many have gone through and may still be going through. Bullying is, according to stopbullying.gov, “unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.” Bullies are those that seek to harm or intimidate others that seem weaker or more passive. Unfortunately, bullying is common, especially in the schoolplace; however, if we can understand the reasons behind bullying, then we can surely prevent future situations involving bullies.

Our VSA members continue to bring joy to all! According to the GGUSD February eNewsletter, "GGUSD is celebrating the Lunar New Year across the district, with the celebration kicking off during our Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, February 5. Lion dancers from Bolsa Grande High School performed for the Board of Trustees, district staff, and guests. Cook Elementary School also celebrated the Lunar New Year earlier this week. Students, guests, district staff, and GGUSD Board of Education Vice President Teri Rocco enjoyed performances from Bolsa Grande High School students. #GGUSDPride #ChooseGGUSD" - CLICK TO READ THE GGUSD NEWSLETTER AND VIEW THE PHOTO ALBUMS!----------------------------->

Check out all of the photos here!!!

Congratulations to Coach Nikole Terflinger and Selena Guerrero, who were recently honored at the GGUSD Board Meeting as Bolsa Grande High School's Coach and Athlete of Character. Athletic Director Scott Snyder was honored to give the award to Terflinger, saying in part: “Coach Terflinger has demonstrated the individual character traits of trustworthiness, fairness, and caring which have set her apart from her peers and led to her being honored tonight. Nikole has shown to be consistent in her words and in her actions when dealing with athletes and other coaches. She has demonstrated, time and time again, the honesty and sincerity with which she handles herself as both a teacher and a coach, and her level of loyalty to her school, her sport, and her players are off the charts.”

Additionally, Coach Terflinger had high praise for senior varsity player Guerrero:
“Selena will leave great big shoes to fill on my field as well as on the campus of Bolsa Grande. She not only is a great softball player and leader, but she exudes the characteristics of a leader, acts with integrity, is selfless, and is hardworking. Any person that comes in contact with her will be a better person for it.” Congratulations to both deserving Matadors!

Last Saturday evening in a beautiful ceremony, Tim Martinez was named Supervisor of the Year for the entire GGUSD! This is truly a big honor and one that is well deserved by Tim! It is not easy being a Plant Supervisor for a Stadium School, let alone during years of modernization. Tim has worked diligently across our campus to ensure we can all do our jobs and have the facility to make that possible! Congratulations, Tim! Thank you for all that you do!

Many thanks to Mr. Johnson’s wonderful AP Environmental Science students, who recently spent a winter beach day learning and working to protect the tide pools at a local State Marine Conservation Area.

On December 20th, our hardworking and dedicated Matadors headed south for an educational field trip to Laguna Beach’s famed Heisler Park and tide pools. Here, students participated in the Coastkeeper’s educational program and dedicated a day to learn about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the ecology of our coastline. Students also provide marine protection and conservationism during a beach and tide pool clean-up. These pools, which are vital and delicate ecosystems, benefit greatly from the conservation work, and as always, our kids are ready and willing to jump in and do their part to keep our waterways beautiful

Please help congratulate Varsity Cheer on their first ever Regional win. Awesome job, Matadors!

The Bolsa Grande High School Drama Department presented Night of the Living Dead. Congratulations to the amazing Drama Cast and Crew for a thrilling and terrifying production! The audience had up close and personal encounters with our student and teacher Matador Zombies!

Thanks a million to the Key Club for the support at our Brunch with Santa event Saturday! The entire group was incredibly helpful. We are grateful for your enthusiasm and support.

The Concert Choir brought holiday joy to over a thousand people with their performance on Saturday, December 1st, for the Garden Grove Christmas Tree Lighting Event. Great job, Matadors!

Friday Night Live students have been making a difference in the community by participating in the Traffic Safety Project funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Have questions about filling out your college and financial aid applications? Counselors will be available to help you through the process after school in the Library Media Center.

Don’t Be Snug with Drugs

68%—according to a study done by The Recovery Village, 68% of seniors in high school have tried alcohol. 35.1% have tried marijuana, and even 2.5% have been caught doing cocaine. These numbers are astounding and show how common drug usage in today’s society is. With a generation that thinks drugs are “cool,” it is becoming ever so clear that teenagers are becoming more susceptible to drug addiction every day. Nearly a quarter of high school students try illicit drugs, causing them to develop abnormalities, become depressed, and become academically unsuccessful. In fact, Just Think Twice states that high schoolers who use drugs even “have lower grades, a higher rate of absence from school and other activities, and an increased potential for dropping out of school.” This mainly occurs due to the brain interference that drug use causes, leading to a lack in focus and a drop in academic performance. Specifically in teenagers, drugs can ruin the brain while it is in its development stage. All in all, drugs can be detrimental to the success of a teenager, and they should not be taken lightly. Even doing drugs once can cause permanent damage to the brain and often leads to addiction, demonstrating that a high schooler’s “first time” may not be so harmless after all. Click on the link for more information.

Would you like to learn more about a certain college? If so, review our College Representative Calendar and make a request to attend a presentation.

Congratulations to Angel Huynh, Ly N. Nguyen, and Jamie L. Vu for being recognized by The National Merit Scholarship Corporation as Commended Students in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program! READ MORE ----

In 2016, the State of California provided a grant to Garden Grove Unified School District for the benefit of installing stormwater management features on three high school campuses (Bolsa Grande, Los Amigos, and Santiago), including low impact development (LID) landscape areas to capture, treat, and infiltrate stormwater, and for developing and implementing an educational program that raises awareness of water resource sustainability. READ FULL STORY/ SEE PICTURES HERE----->

In today’s society it has become widely known that teenagers like to partake in social activities. It would also be plausible to say that many teens go to parties, and often they are dragged into the consumption of alcohol. Some may drink alcohol for the fleeting sensations, and others may drink it due to peer pressure. Whatever the reason may be, we as a community cannot disregard the hazards of drinking – especially underage drinking.

This past summer, Bolsa Grande High School’s ASB once again attended the annual Orange County Leadership (OCL) Camp held at UC Santa Barbara on August 7th-10th. With their skit inspired by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Bolsa put their own modern twist by incorporating a public service announcement style PSA about how cell phones and technology negatively affect our daily lives. After weeks of hard work and dedication, Bolsa pulled together to execute an astounding skit. Out of the 48 schools in attendance, Bolsa performed in front of over 2,000 students and placed first overall at the Talent Show on August 9th. Congratulations Bolsa Grande ASB!

Congratulations yet again to the amazing BGHS Stem team who have won an astounding second place overall in the nation at the MESA National Engineering Design Challenge!
Led by Mr. Ryan Tonthat, club advisor, Bolsa Grande High School upcoming senior David Chuong and “just graduated” alumni Duy Pham and Danny Vo took home the award after spending the better part of the 2017-2018 school year designing, developing and building an electronic device created to solve authentic real-world problems. After winning preliminary competitions earlier in the year at UCI, the team went on to take 2nd overall this summer in Philadelphia. Way to go, STEM!

Earlier this summer, the Board of Education welcomed our new Student Board Representative for the 2018-19 school year: Silayan Camson from Bolsa Grande High School! Silayan has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and is very active on the campus at Bolsa. She has been a team member on varsity swim for the past three years, volunteered with the American Cancer Society and UNICEF Clubs, and served on Bolsa’s Yearbook Club and in leadership roles as a Sister City Student Ambassador, American Cancer Society Publicity Chair, ASB cabinet member and Youth Leadership of America associate. Silayan will also be the upcoming Editor-in-Chief for Bolsa’s school newspaper and hopes to help grow the school’s journalism program. Welcome Silayan!

On Friday, August 17th, Bolsa Grande's very own high-energy, crowd-pleasing Drumline set the tone for returning GGUSD staff at the Superintendent's annual Keynote. With much more to come from Drumlime in the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, we are proud and excited for our talented Matadors!

On May 29th, Janel Nguyen, graduating senior, was honored for her athletic talents at the 2018 Orange County Athletes of the Year Dinner. Presented by the OC Athletic Directors Association and held at the Anaheim Convention Center, male and female Student-Athletes of the Year from leagues spanning Orange County gathered to accept their awards. Nguyen was in elite athletic company as she proudly represented Bolsa Grande High School and the Garden Grove League. Congratulations, Janel, on a job well done!

U.S. News & World Report, widely acknowledged as an expert in education rankings, has announced the 2018 Best High Schools and BGHS is again among the elite schools that qualify for the “Best High Schools” Silver. Less than 30% of our nation's schools qualify to become a “Best High School,” and this recognition honors the very best in education. The U.S. News rankings showcase public schools at the state and national level that best serve the entire student body, including disadvantaged populations. Specifically, rankings focus on graduation rates and state proficiency tests, and it has been determined that students at the approximately 6,000 Best High Schools (out of more than 20,00 schools analyzed) graduate at an average 15 percent higher than students at schools nationwide that do not qualify READ FULL TEXT---->

Last weekend, BGHS faculty held their annual BGHS/Scott Ross Faculty Golf Tournament for a little friendly competition and some fun and relaxation under the sun. Held at David L. Baker Golf Course in Fountain Valley, golfers played for pride and prizes. Proceeds were donated to the Ronald McDonald House, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to "create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children" in the name of former student Scott Ross.

Recently, we were extremely proud to celebrate Bolsa Grande High School’s Class of 2018 Valedictorian at the GGUSD District School Board Meeting. Principal Louise Milner had these glowing words to say:

“Good evening President Harden, Members of the Board, Dr. Mafi, staff and community members. It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce Long Ho, Bolsa Grande High School’s Class of 2018 Valedictorian. Long is an exceptional individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities, academics and community service. READ FULL TEXT----->

Last month, the Wilderness Adventure Club, (WAC) paired with ASB and the CA State Water Resources Control Board to bring our student body an inspirational and powerful assembly. After watching compelling videos - both professional and student made (videos are attached below!) - the assembly encouraged our student body to take action to protect our earth for generations to come. READ FULL TEXT -->

Congratulations, Andrew Vu Nguyen! BGHS sophomore Andrew is the only representative from GGUSD to be accepted into the Philharmonic Society’s Orange County Youth Symphony. He is currently serving as the symphony’s Bb soprano clarinet, A soprano clarinet, Bb bass clarinet, and Eb baritone saxophone player.
READ FULL STORY --->

The Bolsa Grande STEM club continues to steamroll the competition, securing a 1ST Place win at UCI this weekend at the MESA Engineering California Championship. Next stop? Philadephia! Temple University College of Engineering hosts this high-level competition, showcasing the best of the MESA National Engineering Design Competition (NEDC) teams. The BGHS team will be flown out to compete at this next level in June.

This semester, the BGHS STEM team designed and created an original “Document Organizing System” that was made to fit as part of the Human-Centered Design approach of engineering. READ FULL STORY -->

At the 2018 UCI Performance Engineering Project Competition, Bolsa Grande High School received a 2nd place award, outperforming twelve other schools including two colleges. Student attendees on April 28th included: Omar Alegria, Edgar Gurrola, Gregory Mateo and Michael Sieve. Students that were involved with the build were the following: Obed Garcia, Steve Luna, Justin Nguyen, Josue Ontiveros, Jonathan Perez, Vincent Perez, and Christian Shellum.
READ FULL STORY/VIEW VIDEO AND PICS-->

Congratulations to Bolsa Grande Drum Line who competed in the American Drum Line Association Championships at Azusa Pacific University. We placed eighth out of forty-two schools in Southern California. The win marks a continuation of Drum line's storied excellence and history here at Bolsa. Over the past four years, Drum Line has qualified for multiple championships placing in the top 12% of Southern California. Congratulations again, Matadors!

Janel Nguyen, a graduating Senior at Bolsa Grande High School, has been honored at the highest level for her exceptional athletic abilities. After receiving Bolsa Grande’s “Female Athlete of the Year,” the Orange County Athletic Directors Association (OCADA) awarded Nguyen the "Garden Grove League Female Athlete of the Year," establishing her as the most accomplished female athlete in the entire Garden Grove league READ FULL STORY ----->

Recently, some of our very own Matadors helped bring Native American culture and tradition alive at the "21st Annual Rancho Days Fiesta" in Heritage Hill Historical Park. The powerful performance of authentic dance and dress was broadcast on the local KTLA Morning News and included, among others, Bolsa Grande students Ba’ac Garcia, Nanabah Kadenehii, and mother Lupe Lopez.

The eight-person troupe performs not only throughout our community but also at California Indian reservations and Native American reservations nationwide. SEE FULL STORY W PICS AND VIDEO---->