EUSD middle school students from Bear Valley, Del Dios, and Mission Middle Schools showed off their creativity in the 52nd Annual Rotary Halloween Window Painting Contest! Students shared their creativity and school spirit by transforming local storefronts into vibrant Halloween displays. Their artwork brought color and excitement to the community, showcasing the talent and imagination of our young artists. Take a stroll down Grand Avenue to see the students’ artwork in person and celebrate their creativity in our community! Congratulations to our winners!
Most Original: Penny W. – Bear Valley Middle School ($100 prize)
Best Theme: Yanitza T. & Stephanie M. – Bear Valley Middle School ($50 each)
Most Artistic: Camryn T. – Bear Valley Middle School ($50 prize)
Here are this week’s updates and reminders.
Wellness Committee Meeting:
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Wellness Committee Meeting on Monday, October 27, from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. This meeting is a valuable opportunity for parents, teachers, administrators, and community partners to come together and collaborate on initiatives that support the health and well-being of our students and school community. During this session, we will be addressing the WellSAT Assessment Tool in preparation for the 2026–27 school year. Your input and participation are essential as we plan programs and activities that promote wellness across our schools. You can join the Wellness Committee meeting using this Google Meet link. We look forward to your contributions and to working together to strengthen wellness in our community.
Fire Safety:
American Red Cross volunteers recently went door-to-door, visiting over 560 homes in five nearby mobile home parks, installing free 10-year smoke alarms (Englsh PDF) and sharing important home fire safety information. Thanks to the generous support of our partners, Escondido families are receiving this valuable service at no cost. The American Red Cross also offers free smoke alarm installations (PDF) throughout San Diego County year-round, including bed shaker and strobe alarms for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. For more information or to schedule a free installation, visit SoundTheAlarm.org/SanDiego or call 619-354-9609.
Free 10-year smoke alarms (English PDF)
Free 10-year smoke alarms (Spanish PDF)
Free smoke alarm installation (English PDF)
Free smoke alarm installation (Spanish PDF)
Halloween safety:
We know that many children look forward to Halloween – dressing up, trick-or-treating, and more. Halloween activities are best enjoyed with safety in mind. Halloween 2025 is on Friday, October 31. Be sure to check any communication from your school site regarding parades or other holiday activities. To ensure a positive experience for all students and staff members, costumes featuring gore, weapons, or full face masks are not permitted. For safety, please refrain from bringing candy to school. We recommend inspecting your child’s treats to ensure that there are no tricks. Check to ensure that all candy is commercially wrapped and that it is, in fact, candy. A significant number of food products infused with THC – the controlled ingredient found in marijuana – are packaged to look like popular candies that, when mistakenly eaten by children, can result in severe illness.
Honor a Caring Heart:
The nomination window is now open for the annual Caring Hearts Awards (PDF), presented by the dedicated group of volunteers behind the Escondido Education Foundation. Directions and forms are now available in all school offices, at the front desk of the Carilyn Gilbert Education Center, 2310 Aldergrove Avenue, and online at this link: Printable Caring Hearts Nomination form (PDF). These awards recognize members of the education community who work under the radar while doing extraordinary work on behalf of students – directly supporting EUSD children in helping them find success and acceptance. These “caring hearts” do not seek recognition for themselves, and the foundation is in need of your nominations for the Caring Hearts Awards. The nominee can be any school staff member, parent volunteer, community member, or community organization. Anyone may submit a nomination. I encourage you to take a minute to think of all the individuals and organizations who go above and beyond in their support of students. Nominations are due by 4 p.m. December 15 at the district office. The awards will be presented at the annual foundation dinner on February 6, 2026. Check the foundation website for future updates.
City library programs:
Join the Escondido Public Library in celebrating Día de los Muertos on Saturday, November 1, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the North County Mall (1st floor). Enjoy a beautiful live performance by Tradición Folklórico Mexicana USA and take part in honoring loved ones through a community ofrenda that will be on display for two weeks. This free, family-friendly event is a wonderful way to experience the beauty, tradition, and culture of Día de los Muertos.
Dia De Los Muertos (English PDF)
Dia De Los Muertos (Spanish PDF)
Celebrate Día de Los Muertos in Escondido!
The YMCA Expanded Learning Program invites families to a vibrant open-air festival honoring loved ones who have passed away and celebrating the beautiful traditions of Mexico. This free community event will take place on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Escondido YMCA (1050 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025). The evening will bring together music, dance, and art in the heart of Escondido, featuring colorful altars, face painting, arts and crafts, and performances by Escondido Union School District students and Orange Glen High School dancers, along with Aztec dancers, Mariachi music, and much more.
Flag Rugby Saturdays are Back!
This weekend kicked off the 4th season of EUSD Flag Rugby Saturdays at Rincon Middle School! A total of 22 teams from across the district competed in the first games of the Fall 2025 season, showing incredible teamwork, energy, and school pride as part of the Expanded Learning EXPLORE Program. This exciting opportunity is made possible through our partnership with the San Diego Legion and the Legion Community, bringing the fun and spirit of rugby to EUSD students and families. Big thanks to all our players, coaches, EUSD supporting staff, and families for an amazing start to another great season!
Breakfast and Lunch Menus:
All EUSD students have access to no-cost breakfast and lunch. Families can view our new online menus. Select your school and menu to see what is being served every day.
– Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Superintendent of Schools