GGUSD Shares Key Back-to-School Resources

Friday, August 8, 2025

Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) is delighted to welcome students, staff, and families back to school on August 11 for the 2025-26 school year. The district is celebrating its 60th anniversary and is collecting stories from the GGUSD community to help celebrate our shared history and accomplishments all year long. Click here to share your story.

Our staff does an exceptional job of equipping ALL students with the academic skills (Goal 1) and the personal skills (Goal 2) for lifelong success (Goal 3). GGUSD has award-winning schools known for academic excellence and for providing safe and welcoming schools for all students and families.

The district has compiled the following important information to help families prepare for a successful school year. Families should contact their school site or the district office with questions or for additional information.

District Calendar: As attendance is vital for the success of students, families should mark their calendars now for important 2025-26 school year dates, such as school breaks and holidays. Outside school commitments should be scheduled to occur during breaks and holidays to prevent students from missing crucial learning. The full calendar is available to view by clicking here.
Communication: GGUSD is committed to providing our families with accurate, timely information through our communication channels, including ParentSquare, the website, e-newsletter, and our social media channels on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to connect with us to stay up-to-date on all of the great things happening in GGUSD. Additionally, local non-profit organizations share information on our Peachjar e-flyer platform about their programs that serve our families. For any questions about how to connect with GGUSD, contact our Public Information Office at 714-663-6503 or pio_department@ggusd.us. Click here for our communication guidelines which provides helpful tips on who to contact with questions or concerns for school or district issues.
Safe and Welcoming Schools: In GGUSD, we are committed to upholding the constitutional right of ALL students to attend school safely, freely and without fear. In 2017, our Board of Education adopted Resolution 20 asserting our commitment to safe and welcoming schools for students and families of all immigration statuses. We understand and empathize with those experiencing fear and anxiety due to immigration enforcement and have a variety of webinars, resources and support designed to safeguard our families. Click here to explore those resources.
Safety: GGUSD’s highest priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. That’s why, year after year, we work alongside our law enforcement partners to review and continually improve our safety practices and protocols. Emergency and safety drills are conducted each year and GGUSD’s team of School Resource Officers work at our campuses providing support each and every day. GGUSD uses Standard Response Protocols (SRP) to streamline clearly-defined actions taken during emergency situations. We also have clear protocols in place to protect our schools from immigration enforcement. Click here to learn more. In recent years, we’ve invested more than $100 million to install increased panic hardware, safety alarms, security cameras and wrought-iron Ameristar fencing at all campuses. Students, families, and community members all share important roles in keeping our schools safe. GGUSD uses STOPit, an anonymous reporting system that helps us all work together to deter bullying, discrimination, and other inappropriate or unsafe behaviors. Click here to learn more about GGUSD safety procedures and click here to learn more about STOPit.
Nutrition Information: All GGUSD students receive free breakfast and lunch regardless of income. For information regarding school menus, click here to visit our Food Services webpage.
Health and Wellness: GGUSD also prioritizes the health and well-being of all students with protocols in place to prevent the spread of infections. It’s important that GGUSD families keep their child home from school if they have a temperature of 100 degrees or more, a contagious disease, diarrhea, vomiting, a rash or a persistent cough. We also recognize that a student’s mental health impacts their ability to succeed in school. In recent years, GGUSD has expanded mental health staff, providing our ASPIRE social worker program at every school so that students can receive the mental health support they need. The number of schools with Wellness centers continues to grow and our schools offer numerous extracurricular opportunities to provide all students with a sense of belonging at school.
Before and After School Programs: GGUSD, in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, is happy to offer free before and/or after-school programs at most elementary and intermediate schools, and three high schools. We also encourage all students to get involved in extracurricular activities including our award-winning athletics and visual and performing arts programs, as well as to take advantage of our after-school tutoring and enrichment opportunities.
Family Resources: GGUSD has five Family Resource Centers, one in each trustee area, that connect families with the help they need most. GGUSD’s five Family Resource Centers are staffed by our wonderful community liaisons who provide support in multiple languages and are skilled at connecting families with resources for emergency needs, food, health care, immigration and legal resources, mental health counseling and more. Click here for Family Resource Center locations, hours and phone numbers. Additionally, our Family Helpline can be reached at 714-663-6257 to connect families to resources as well, and is available Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 to 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, August 9, we are hosting a Community Aid Drive to collect essential items like non-perishable food, diapers, water, and backpacks to distribute to families in need. Click here for the flyer.

We are looking forward to a successful 2025-2026 school year and are committed to equipping ALL students with the academic and personal skills for lifelong success. For additional information about GGUSD policies and procedures, click here to view our Parent Student Handbook.