Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) held their annual district-wide Staff Appreciation Night on Oct. 3. The festivities started off in the Rally Court of Arcadia High School (AHS), and then moved onto the football field to watch the Varsity Football team play one of its last home games of the season.
“The staff and teachers have completely changed my perspective on education. They encouraged me to take harder classes and to challenge myself, stepping out of my comfort zone,” said sophomore Miranda Yao, revisiting her experiences in AUSD so far. “From kindergarten all the way to my sophomore year, the staff have been consistently kind and welcoming. In the beginning, being away from home for so long was tough, but their enthusiasm and optimism made all the difference. Even now, as I tackle AP classes for the first time, my teachers are always there, supporting me through every challenge with their encouragement and positivity.”
To express their gratitude, the district organized a tailgate event in the Rally Court, kicking off at 4:15 p.m. and running until 7 p.m. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as attendees enjoyed delicious food, face painting, photo opportunities, and raffle prizes. As an added bonus, the raffle included prizes like tickets to a Lakers game and a $100 Costco gift card.
Ms. Lillian Diaz, an English teacher at AHS, reflected on the event and on some things she particularly enjoyed.
“One of the highlights was having my family join me and meet some of the people I work with,” said Ms. Diaz. “It’s nice to be able to spend time with coworkers in a more casual setting and take a break from cooking dinner. Overall, I’m very grateful to work in a district that values its staff and creates these fun events for us.”
To conclude the night, staff members were given sideline passes to the game, allowing them to get a close up view of the Varsity Football team as they faced off against John Muir High School.
Ms. Kristen Tedei, a math teacher at Dana Middle School, looked back at all Staff Appreciation Nights throughout the years.
“My family and I had such a great time at the Staff Appreciation event. I feel so honored to work in Arcadia Unified, and it is so evident that the district really cares about its staff,” said Ms. Tedei. “We have been attending for 5 years now, and my kids, especially, look forward to it. Great food, fun games, raffle prizes, seeing teachers from other sites, what more can you ask for? I love the community spirit that Arcadia has and am grateful for a night where we can come together and appreciate what an amazing district we are.”
As another element of the night, the Teacher of the Year, Ms. Courtney Franz of Holly Avenue Elementary School, was honored for her comprehensive training programs for instructional assistants.
As the night concluded, the celebration served not only as a tribute to the staff, but also to recognize their hard work as faculty of education.
Photo courtesy of AUSD DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERNS AVANI ATHAVALE, SEBASTIAN CHEN, AND HAZEL WONG
