October 9th, 2026: RIM's Edge of Excellence Newsletter Edition

Dear ROWUSD Students, Families, Staff, and Community,
This edition of Rim's Edge of Excellence has a little fall magic. Leaves are swirling, pumpkins are popping up, and our mountain schools are bursting with lots of 
RIM-tastic excitement! October has arrived, bringing a colorful mix of learning, laughter, school spirit, and unforgettable moments across the district!
From cheering on our amazing students or dreaming big about college to creative classroom adventures, crafts, and celebrations, our students are making this fall a season to remember!
This edition of Rim’s Edge of Excellence is packed with wonderful photos and a sprinkle of autumn magic, showcasing all the incredible things happening throughout our district.
So grab your favorite fall beverage, get cozy, and enjoy a little glimpse into the magic happening across our mountain schools!
Thank you for being part of our ROWUSD family! Together, we're making every season a season of excellence! 

Page: RIM's Edge of Excellence Newsletter: October 9th, 2026. ROWUSD School Board Meeting
 is scheduled for Thursday, October 15th, 20265:30 p.m., located at the District Office.24740 San Moritz Way, Crestline. If you cannot attend in person, you can watch the meeting live on YouTube or scan the QR Code to view it on your phone. We hope to see you there or online! Public Participation
This meeting will be held at the Rim of the World Unified School District 
and via YouTube.If you wish to view the meeting, log in to: https://www.youtube.com/@rowusdschools/streams
Page: Marching Scots Make Their Mark in Duarte. Rim High Marching Scots were FANTASTIC at the Duarte Band Review & Parade on 9/26/26.  From the moment they stepped onto the parade route, RHS Scots showed pride, energy, & plenty of mountain spirit. Not only did they look sharp in those new uniforms; they sounded incredible, too! Marching Scots earned their highest score since 2013!
Page: One thing keeps catching the judges' attention:  How does such a small band make such a BIG sound?! Small Band... BIG Sound! RIM Scots continue to prove that the size of the band doesn’t determine the size of its sound, or its spirit!
Page: A  shout-out to Kaydin Lowery & Francis Hahn Rivera for helping bring that big brass sound to the streets of Duarte! The judges commented on the impressive sound our students produced. They especially enjoyed the sound coming from the trombone & baritone sections.
 Page: Leading the Way: Head Drum Major Colin Hobson. This year, Head Drum Major Colin Hobson, a junior at Rim High School, leads the Marching Scots. Colin has already brought strong commitment, leadership, and family to the band. He encourages his fellow musicians to play with confidence, push themselves, & keep going even when they reach those challenging moments that are an important part of learning & improving. We look forward to watching Colin and the entire band continue to grow together. Behind Every Great Band Is an  Amazing Band Family! Behind the scenes, WE FIND dedicated families helping make sure our students have everything they need to succeed. A BIG THANK YOU goes to the wonderful parent volunteers who gave their time, energy, and support to our students:
The Gonzales Family • The Horvath Family • The Hobson Family • The Lowery Family • The Porter Family • The Miller Family • The McNeil/Spencer Family • The Peterson Family. Your support provided incredible service to our students and helped make the day possible.
Page: The Marching Scots aren't finished yet! Their next competition will be the Loara Band Review on October 24. We are incredibly proud of our Rim High Marching Scots & can't wait to  SEE & HEAR what they do next! Congratulations, Marching Scots! Keep marching, keep playing, & keep making Rim proud! Photos featured throughout these pages were taken by Michael Gonzales. Thank you, Michael, for capturing the excitement, pride, musicianship, and special moments of the day so our entire ROWUSD community can celebrate right alongside the band!
Page: Hear Ye, Hear Ye… Camelot Is Coming to Life! Theatre magic is happening at RHS! Rim High Theatre is busy preparing for its Fall production of “Camelot and Camelittle,”  & this year, the cast has some extra-special performers joining the adventure: 13 talented MPH students! Each Thursday, MPH performers make their way to RHS to rehearse alongside the high school cast, learning lines, developing characters, building confidence, & discovering just how exciting it is to be part of a live theatre production. We love seeing MPH & RHS students connect through the arts, cheer one another on, share their talents, & become one big theatrical team. The costumes, characters, laughter, &  Camelot magic are beginning to come together!  We can hardly wait for the curtain to rise!
Page: MPH & RHS Join Forces for a Royal Production! Keep rehearsing, get ready to take us away to Camelot!
Page: A splash of color, a story to share, and a little imagination floating through the air! At VOE Preschool, the smallest hands create the biggest Wonders! With tiny hands & a sparkle of pride, this little artist pieced together a picture of themselves, capturing what makes them special inside! Another preschooler dipped into a rainbow of paint, exploring colors, textures, & the magic of creating something unique! A Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!  Up the coconut tree the letters flew, as one little storyteller recited the words she knew! With each letter placed & spoken, a love for reading & learning continued to blossom!
Page: Picking Up Some Apple Knowledge! VOE ELOP students had an apple-solutely amazing week filled with all things apples! From fun activities & hands-on learning to exploring this favorite fall fruit, students had plenty to keep them busy. The week ended on an extra-sweet note with a tasty treat...Apple Pie in a Cup! What a delicious way to wrap up a week of learning, laughter, & fall fun! Learning never tasted so good!
Page: Fizz, Stamp, & Apple Fun! VOE ELOP students were having a 
core-tastic time!  Students put on their scientist hats for a fizzy apple experiment, combining vinegar & baking soda & watching the bubbly reaction come to life! It was time to trade science for art! Students dipped apples into paint & created apple stamps; they turned fall fruit into creative masterpieces! CHE ELOP students turned ordinary water bottles into their very own lava lamps!  With a little science, a splash of creativity, & lots of curious minds, students watched colorful bubbles float, fizz, & dance inside their bottles. Who knew science could be so groovy? Lava Lamp Magic
Page: Great Minds Think, Share, and Shine at CHE! CHE elementary scholars are putting Professional Learning Community (PLC) concepts into action through the 
power of student discourse! With ideas flowing, minds buzzing, & conversations blooming, students actively shared their thoughts, explored new perspectives, & worked together to solve problems.
Page: Bright Minds, Big Ideas, & Learning Together at CHE! Laughter, collaboration, & a little friendly brainstorming made learning both meaningful & fun! A dash of curiosity, a sprinkle of teamwork, & a whole lot of brainpower! At CHE, students are discovering that when great minds come together, amazing learning happens! At CHE, great minds grow together!
Page: A Snowy Fairytale in the Making! CHE Paints the Plows! Once upon a time, in the charming mountain town of Running Springs, a little winter magic came to life at CHE!  Their talented young artists grabbed their paintbrushes & sprinkled a little creativity onto something BIG during CHE's annual Paint the Plow tradition!
With colorful handprints, dancing snowflakes, & messages, students transformed hardworking snowplows into rolling masterpieces filled with school spirit & mountain-town magic!  And guess who joined in the fun? Even CHE's very own Principal, Mrs. Marshall, left her handprint on the plow! After all, a little school spirit is even sweeter when everyone lends a hand!
Page: When Old Man Winter arrives and blankets our mountain roads with sparkling snow, keep your eyes peeled! You just might spot one of CHE's colorful creations rolling through Running Springs as our dedicated road crews work their magic to keep our roads clear and safe! A little paint, a sprinkle of snowflakes, & a lot of heart! Thanks to our CHE artists, even the snowplows are dressed for a winter wonderland! And to all our CHE families, let the winter treasure hunt begin!  When the snowflakes start to fall, bundle up, stay cozy, & keep an eye out for these colorful plows as you travel safely through town.  See if your little artist can spot their handprint, snowflake, or special message! And don't forget to look for Mrs. Marshall's handprint, too! What a wonderful reminder that even on the snowiest days, a little piece of CHE's heart is traveling through our mountain community!
Page: Falling leaves, autumn breezes, and friendships as sweet as pumpkin pie! Little Pumpkins, BIG Buddies, & a Harvest of Smiles at CHE! CHE kicked off its first Big Buddy Day of the school year as Ms. Miller's  5th graders teamed up with their adorable TK students for a little fall friendship magic! With big hearts & helping hands, CHE’s 5th graders stepped into their roles as big buddies, spreading kindness, laughter, & smiles brighter than a glowing jack-o'-lantern! At CHE, the students are falling in love with learning, kindness,  & the joy of having a buddy by their side!
Page: Purr-fectly Wonderful Storytime at CHE! One cat, two cats, three cats... oh my, that's a lot of cats!   CHE's adorable TK students got a purr-fectly delightful treat when our District Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Lori Slaven, stopped by for a special storytime! With the book ‘Too Many Cats’ in hand, Dr. Slaven whisked CHE’s little learners into a world of furry friends, playful paws, & kitty-cat adventures! A little meow, a lot of smiles, and a whole lot of reading magic!  At CHE, every story is a new adventure, and this one was simply claw-some!
Page: Yeehaw! A Boot-Scootin’ Good Time at LAE! Saddle up, partners! LAE's Hoedown Dance was a rootin'-tootin' good time! A little country charm, & a night filled with good ol' family fun! Yeehaw! From cowboy boots & country tunes to dancing feet & smiling faces, LAE families kicked up their heels & made some wonderful memories!
Page: Touchdowns, Team Spirit, & Cheers at LAE! Ready, set, HUT! Excitement was flying at LAE as their young athletes hit the field for flag football fun while their spirited cheerleaders brought the energy & cheers!  From speedy runs & flying flags to enthusiastic cheers, it was a great day for school teamwork, school spirit, and fun! Three cheers for LAE’s superstars! Sparkle, shine, and Create...A sparkle goes a long way! Students enjoyed a dazzling diamond art activity sprinkled with creativity; their artists turned little diamonds into sparkling masterpieces. What a gem ooooooooof a way to celebrate our students' art! Cocoa, Cheers, and Attendance Smiles at LAE! Hip, hip, hooray for showing up each day!  LAE students enjoyed a sweet cocoa treat as part of their attendance incentive! Warm, chocolatey goodness made for happy hearts, big smiles, & a little something yummy for the tummy!
Page: Boo-tiful things are happening at LAE! Halloween magic has taken over the hallways, & everywhere you turn, a frightfully fun surprise awaits! From spooky spiders & grinning pumpkins to ghostly giggles & creepy-crawly creations, LAE's doors are dressed to impress! A little hocus-pocus, a dash of creativity, & a whole lot of Halloween spirit!  At LAE, every door is a treat, and the hallways are simply spook-tacular!
Page: Up, Up, and Away! LAE's GATE Students Take Learning to New Heights! The sky's the limit for our brilliant LAE students!
 These young innovators are taking learning to new heights as they explore the exciting world of drones! With curiosity soaring & imaginations flying, students are discovering the wonders of technology, engineering, and the science behind flight. Big dreams, bright minds, & drones taking flight! 
Who knows? Our next generation of engineers, inventors, & pilots may be getting their start right here at LAE!
Page: VOE’s Chomp, Chomp… Fall Fun Is Here! Mrs. Burkitt & Mrs. Hawley’s classes teamed up for some hands-on Fall creativity! Buddy groups put their imaginations to work designing templates, transferring their patterns to cardboard, & then letting the “Chomp Shop” saws do some chomping to cut out their creations!
Page: A VOE Chomp-tastic Fall Creation! This week, the fun continued as students added a pop of autumn color with colorful pasta, turning their fall shapes into festive works of art. From designing & cutting to decorating & collaborating!  These students showed that learning is more fun with a buddy! Thank you, Mrs. Burkitt & Mrs. Hawley!
Page: Sometimes the most powerful lessons happen beyond the classroom. In September, MPH’s 8th-grade students had the meaningful opportunity to visit the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall. As the American & POW flags flew overhead, students walked along the wall & read the names etched on it, taking time to reflect on the lives & sacrifices each name represents. It was a moving experience that brought history to life & gave students a meaningful lesson in remembrance, respect, & gratitude.
Page: Kurt’s Friday Kup of Koffee! Coffee was poured, conversations were flowing, & Friday morning was off to a great start!  Families & teachers gathered for Coffee with the MHS/RVA Principal, enjoying a relaxed morning filled with friendly conversation & connection. Putting in the Work & Earning Those Credits! MHS students focus on working in class to earn their credits! Every completed assignment & every lesson learned brings them one step closer to their goals & graduation.
Page: Growing Minds, One Masterpiece at a Time! A brand new class, “Growth Mindset Through Art,” kicked off at MHS!  Students are discovering that creativity is all about trying, exploring, & growing, because sometimes the best masterpieces begin with a little “oops!” With paintbrushes, imagination, & a can-do attitude, MHS artists are learning that mistakes aren’t setbacks; they’re just part of creating something wonderful! Keep it up...you’ve got this!
Page: MHS: Learning Today, Graduating Tomorrow! Every lesson learned & every credit earned brings MHS students one step closer to their exciting walk across the graduation stage! Keep learning, keep growing, and keep your eyes on that cap and gown! Learning About Dollars & Sense! Students put their money skills to the test while playing “Pay Day!” From learning how to pay bills, purchase a business, & sell their business (making a profit), yard sales, etc. They make decisions while having fun and learning valuable real-world financial skills!
Page: RHS Athletes of the Month, September 2026. A big round of applause for two outstanding RHS student-athletes!  Lillie, representing Girls Tennis, & Sal, representing Cross Country, have been named Athletes of the Month! From powerful serves on the tennis court to racing toward the finish line, these Scots are showing what dedication, determination, & true RIM spirit are all about! Congratulations, Lillie and Sal! Keep shining, keep striving, & keep making Rim High proud! Sports News: Girls Tennis added victories of its own, earning a road win against Indian Springs and another win the following week. Our athletes continue to compete, improve, and show their Scots spirit on the court! Cross Country traveled to Chaffey High School to compete and prepare for the season ahead—and that hard work paid off! At their next league meet, the boys raced to a first-place finish, while the girls put together a strong performance and finished 6th. Way to run, Scots!
Page: Serving Up Cheers for Our Senior Scots! A night of pride, cheers, and unforgettable memories! 
On Monday, October 5th, RHS senior student-athletes took center stage for a special recognition ceremony ahead of the volleyball game! These incredible athletes have shown dedication, determination, & school spirit both on & off the court. As they prepare for their next chapter, we celebrate their hard work, accomplishments, & the lasting mark they've made on Rim High athletics. congratulations seniors!
Page: Scots University: Dream Big, Plan Ahead! THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR OUR SCOTS! On September 29th, Scots University was a big hit, bringing together families & students for an exciting evening of college exploration & future planning for what’s next after high school! From discovering college opportunities to learning how to prepare for the road ahead, families took steps toward turning BIG DREAMS into bright futures! Once a Scot, always a Scot...your possibilities are endless! Financial Aid Night Workshop: Monday, October 19th @ 6 pm in RHS Library
Refreshments will be served