Education Archives

Valley high schools and parents try to give graduates memorable commencement ceremonies amid coronavirus pandemic

April 20, 2020 10:27 AM Tom Tucker

During an online educational summit Wednesday hosted on Zoom, superintendents from the valley school districts talked about their approaches to this year’s graduation ceremonies. “The big graduation ceremonies, the proms that our seniors were looking forward to those have been interrupted at this moment in time,” said CVUSD Superintendent Dr. Maria Gandera. Still in the

Coachella Valley school districts discussing possible plans for coronavirus response

March 9, 2020 10:46 AM Tom Tucker

Students walked between classes and others played outside Monday while their district leaders talked about coronavirus. Parents expressed their concerns, including a mother with two students in Palm Springs Unified School District. “As a parent I’m really concerned. As a parent of two kids it’s kind of very concerning,” said Alejandra Hernandez. PSUSD sent a

A light in the darkness: Local high schools light facilities to support seniors, community

April 10, 2020 10:59 PM Blake Arthur

Shadow Hills and Palm Desert high schools both lit up their athletic facilities on Friday night as a way to show their support for the Class of 2020. The lights were on for 20 minutes. In turn, this was also was done for our local senior student-athletes who lost their final season due to the

Andrew Jackson elementary teachers visit students in drive-by parade

April 3, 2020 11:50 AM Madison Weil

Teachers at Andrew Jackson elementary held their own drive-by parade Friday morning. “This is a great way for us to kind of reconnect with them,” said Jose Montano, principal, Jackson Elementary. Jackson Elementary is the latest valley school to get creative in showing support for their students quarantining at home. “We want to let the

Mecca elementary school teachers visit students in ‘drive-by parade’

April 1, 2020 11:59 AM Madison Weil

Staff members at Mecca elementary school organized a drive-by parade on Wednesday morning to visit their homebound students. “I sent a message and the response from our teachers was just amazing,” said Armando Rivera, Principal, Mecca Elementary. The principal, teachers and other school members formed a line with their cars — the parade began promptly

Coronavirus pandemic sparks homeschooling interest in Coachella Valley

March 25, 2020 5:27 PM Tom Tucker

An Indio mother of three, who is also a credentialed teacher tells News Channel 3 the homeschooling community in the valley is “booming”. Since schools closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Heather Siani says she has seen a spike in inquiries from local families wanting to learn more about homeschooling. Siani home schools her

PSUSD Superintendent answers school-related coronavirus questions

March 25, 2020 8:33 PM Jesus Reyes

Dr. Sandra Lyon, Palm Springs Unified School District Superintendent, joined News Channel 3’s Peter Daut to answer coronavirus questions related to our local schools. Watch KESQ at 6:30 p.m. on Fox and CBS every weekday as we bring in health experts and local officials to answer your coronavirus questions live in-studio. Send your questions typed

Indio High School students honored with President’s Volunteer Service Award

February 26, 2020 11:34 AM Sam Benson Smith

Two Indio High School students have been honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. 18-year-old Samantha Ramirez and 17-year-old Aaron Delgado received the award because they “volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country,” according to a release issued by Desert Sands Unified School District public information officer Mary Perry.

Pipe bursts, affects some classes at Saul Martinez Elementary in Mecca

February 25, 2020 10:03 AM Sam Benson Smith

An irrigation pipe broke on the campus at Saul Martinez Elementary School in Mecca Tuesday morning, forcing several classes to move to other rooms in the building, according to Coachella Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Maria Gandera. “The main water line to the school is not damaged,” Dr. Gandera wrote in an email to

Proposition 13 would provide billions for public schools but could also bring property tax increases

February 24, 2020 10:44 AM Tom Tucker

Proposition 13, put on the ballot by the California Assembly, would authorize the state to borrow $15 billion to spend on the state’s public schools. According to the Voter Information Guide, the interest on the bond measure would total $11 billion, for a total taxpayer-funded spending package of $26 billion. The money raised would go

PSUSD Students honored with “Every Student Succeeding” awards

February 11, 2020 8:33 PM Jeff Stahl

Bermuda Dunes Learning Center students enjoy snow day

January 23, 2020 3:56 PM Sam Benson Smith

Some local youngsters had the opportunity to experience something unthinkable in the Coachella Valley Thursday morning – a snow day! Continuing its yearly tradition, the Bermuda Dunes Learning Center trucked in about a ton of snow for the preschool students to play in. For many students, this is the first time they’ve had a chance

COD President announces plan for automotive training center in Cathedral City

January 22, 2020 10:00 AM Tom Tucker

Those who gathered for the annual “state of the college” luncheon Wednesday were the first to learn about plans for a lot just off East Palm Canyon Drive and Margot Murphy Way in Cathedral City. College of the Desert President Dr. Joel Kinnamon discussed the plans for building a training center and classroom space for

Spelling Bee of Champions competition coming to Desert Hot Springs High School

January 22, 2020 11:42 AM City News Service

The Palm Springs Unified School District’s top student spellers will compete Friday for a spot in the county spelling bee. Forty-two students in grades 4 through 8 are slated to compete in the 43rd annual Spelling Bee of Champions, according to PSUSD spokeswoman Joan Boiko. The winner will advance to represent the district at the

Ecology professor hosting megafauna event in Palm Desert Wednesday night

January 22, 2020 11:25 AM City News Service

A professor of ecology and evolutionary biology will be in town Wednesday to discuss large animals and why they matter. James Estes, who teaches at the University of California, Santa Cruz, is known for his research into the “ecosystem-level influences of large predators,” according to the university. He is also known for his studies of

California senate committee votes down sex ed bill aimed at “giving more control to parents”

January 15, 2020 5:41 PM Tom Tucker

Demonstrators rallied outside the state capitol in Sacramento Wednesday morning in support of Senate Bill 673, before the state senate’s education committee voted down the measure. Backers say the bill would have allowed parents to thoroughly review what their children are being taught about sex education in the state’s public elementary schools. “I’d like to

3 local elementary schools among statewide ‘2020 Distinguished Schools’ list

December 18, 2019 3:50 PM City News Service

Nine elementary schools in Riverside County (three of those schools in the Coachella Valley) are among 323 learning institutions statewide that earned a spot on the “2020 Distinguished Schools” list drawn up by the California Department of Education, it was announced today. “These outstanding schools don’t just educate students; they also provide the young people

PSHS student arrested for nonspecific violent threat

December 3, 2019 6:34 AM Jeff Stahl

Palm Springs Police confirmed Tuesday morning that they were investigating a student who posted a non-specific threat against schools on social media Monday, but that the student stated he never intended to shoot anyone. In an update sent out at 9:30 a.m., PSPD announced that they, in conjunction with CCPD, arrested the juvenile connected to

Dangerous apps and phone features parents should know about

October 25, 2019 3:38 AM KESQ News Team

There are several smartphone apps authorities say parents should know about. Some, even being used by suspected predators recently arrested. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and in News Channel 3’s Madison Weil’s special report “Dangerous Apps” she speaks with students and local PSUSD security experts on what to look out for when it comes

Rotary Club of Rancho Mirage distributes dictionaries, thesauruses to students

October 15, 2019 7:00 PM KESQ News Team

The Rancho Mirage Rotary Club is distributing dictionaries and thesauruses to Rancho Mirage Elementary School students Tuesday as part of a regional Rotary project. The club’s annual project, which has run for more than 20 years, provides third-grade students with dictionaries and teaches them about the work of a Rotary Club, said Betty Teoman, a