Hello and Welcome to Orange Grove School and the 2021-2022 school year!

My name is Lisa El Sabbagh and I am very proud to be the principal at Orange Grove.  This will be my eighth year as a member of the OG family.  I look forward to working with all of our families to make this a successful school year, both academically and socially. As we will begin our year with full time, in-person learning, we may face many challenges. We will work together as a school community and know we are committed to providing a safe environment and high quality education for all students. Even though visitors and volunteers are not allowed on campus at this time, we invite parents and community members to be active participants in our school.

We are excited to welcome back our faculty, staff, students, and parents for the new school year. When you step onto campus, or help engage your child virtually in class, you will become part of the Stallion Culture of Excellence. Orange Grove students and staff continually represent our school with pride and excellence across the board in the areas of academics, arts, and activities. Our commitment at Orange Grove Elementary School is to provide a challenging educational program for all students within a safe, nurturing environment, which will enable students to function as productive, ethical and responsible global citizens. Here are our Mission and Vision:

Mission

The mission of Orange Grove Elementary School is to cultivate a positive learning environment by collaboratively teaching a rigorous, enriched curriculum that educates and prepares all students to become life-long learners who are critical thinkers, problem solvers and socially responsible citizens.

Vision

Orange Grove’s vision is that every student will achieve proficient or advanced levels in Language Arts, mathematics and Science.  Our expertly trained staff will utilize best practices in order to provide an innovative, differentiated, and enriched curriculum, which will incorporate state-of-the-art technology, the arts, and innovative STEM curriculum.  We will continue to foster an effective partnership among our staff, students and parents through collaboration, timely communication, and parent workshops so that all students will become life-long learners, critical thinkers, and socially responsible citizens.

This year, we have embarked on a new journey to provide our students with an AVID environment, school-wide. AVID stands for, Advancement Via Individual Determination. Historically an approach to assist students at the middle school and high school setting, Orange Grove is beginning to implement a college bound culture to empower students to be an advocate for their own learning. You will hear students come home talking about the "Growth Mindset" and AVID strategies that will lead them to success. This year, our focus is on Organization and Collaboration. We will have parent information meetings to discuss our new journey and to help students embrace this new approach with effective strategies to help them succeed in their learning!

Together, we will accomplish great things by setting high standards and expectations, developing a positive school culture, and engaging parents and the surrounding community. I look forward to a great school year and hope to see you online or on campus. We all want the best for your children, but we are not enough. You, the parents, must play a key role in the education of your children. Your words of encouragement, your interest in your children’s work, and your presence are vital!

Parents count! Come meet us, talk to us, join the PTA, ELAC, SSC or Dad's Club and volunteer your time and energy. Your involvement will show your children that you value their education. Let’s work together!

I wish you all a wonderful school year.  If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me and know that my door is always open.  I can be reached at lelsabbagh@whittiercity.net.  I am honored to serve as your principal.

Educationally Yours,

Lisa El Sabbagh