Sweetwater Union High School District

Chula Vista High School recently welcomed the San Diego County Master Gardeners Association for a visit to the school’s garden!

Built and cared for by teacher Ms. Galleher and her students, the garden gives students a chance to take what they’re learning in the classroom and put it into practice. Students grow everything from sweet potatoes and tomatoes to native plants and heirloom varieties while learning about sustainable farming, water chemistry and ethnic studies through food.

Inside the classroom, students use a hydroponic system to grow lettuce that is donated to the school cafeteria, while a biogas digester turns food scraps into cooking energy.

The garden has also become an important gathering space on campus. It’s used for peer mediation and conflict resolution and is home to the Spartan Buddies program, which brings students together with nonverbal peers from the Mod/Severe program to spend time outdoors and build connections.

During their visit, Master Gardeners from across San Diego County shared how impressed they were with the program, calling it one of the nicest school gardens they’ve seen in the county.

Thank you to Ms. Galleher, her students and the San Diego County Master Gardeners for a great visit!

Great things are growing at Southwest High School!
The Southwest High School Farm Revitalization Project is now in its second year, and students are seeing the results of their hard work. The farm is producing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, corn and flowers, with fresh produce going directly to the school cafeteria.

Students are also growing ancient and heirloom crops, including Oaxacan blue corn and Guatemalan black beans, as well as a traditional Three Sisters garden. Along the way, they’re learning about agriculture, sustainability and the cultural history of the foods they grow.

For student Jose, the farm also offers something different from the typical school day: “It feels very nice because it separates me from technology. I feel more connected with nature.”

And there’s more to come! Stay tuned for a video series that takes a closer look at the farm, the students behind it and how this special project continues to grow.

We’re cheering on our Sweetwater District students who are representing Sweetwater Valley Little League at the Little League World Series!

What an incredible accomplishment! We’re so proud to see our students representing the South Bay in Williamsport and wish the entire team the best of luck.
Your Sweetwater community is behind you!

Last week, the Sweetwater District proudly joined students, staff, families, and community partners at Castle Park High School for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of exciting campus improvements! These new and enhanced spaces represent an investment in our students and in the future of the Castle Park community.

Learning came to life for Mar Vista High School's Poseidon Academy students in a big way.

After a semester of studying marine biology, water chemistry, and environmental stewardship, students released the white sea bass they raised in their classroom into the waters of San Diego Bay at Crown Point.

The Sea Bass in the Classroom pilot program is the result of a partnership between the Sweetwater District, Ocean Connectors, and the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute. Thanks to a generous grant from Las Patronas, students were able to raise the fish in a recirculating aquaculture system before releasing them into their natural habitat.

This is the first time the program has been brought to the South Bay, giving our students a unique opportunity to contribute to local marine conservation while gaining hands-on experience in environmental science. We're proud of our Poseidon Academy students for being part of this exciting milestone!

Board Highlights | June — August 2026

Over the past few months, the Sweetwater Board of Trustees has had plenty to celebrate!

June 22, 2026
The Board introduced the 2026-2027 Student Board Representative - Elena Martinez from San Ysidro High School! A cross country and track athlete who volunteers at her local hospital, Elena brings a passion for community and dedication to service that will serve Sweetwater students well. Welcome, Elena!

July 20, 2026
The Board recognized Elizabeth Flores for her dedicated service as the 2025-2026 Student Board Representative. Thank you, Elizabeth, for your leadership and commitment to representing the students of Sweetwater this past year!

August 10, 2026
The Board recognized the Eastlake High School Boys Volleyball Team for winning the CIF Division 1 Championship, the Girls Beach Volleyball Team for winning the CIF Division 2 Championship, the Otay Ranch High School Boys Tennis Team for winning the CIF Division 3 Championship, and Eastlake High students Ronald Wyatt, Giles Del Pryor, and Ian Sung for competing at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair for the first time in 28 years — alongside Science Fair Advisor Amanda Williams and San Diego County Science and Engineering Fair Teacher of the Year, Martina Tom from Chula Vista Middle School.

Congratulations to all of our honorees – you make Sweetwater proud!

Olympian High School teacher Allison Saiki is helping students build real-world financial skills before California's new financial literacy graduation requirement takes effect. From budgeting and saving to understanding credit and taxes, her class is preparing students for life beyond the classroom. Thank you, ABC 10News, for highlighting the great work happening in Sweetwater! Read the story:

Chula Vista teacher gets head start on California’s financial literacy requirement Allison Saiki teaches a financial literacy class at Olympian High School in Chula Vista, where students learn real-world skills including budgeting, saving, and managing money.

Bonita Vista High School celebrated the ribbon cutting of a $30 million investment in next-generation learning spaces! The new facilities include sports medicine classrooms and a treatment room, an auto shop, digital photography and multimedia studios, a broadcast and communication engineering classroom, a full dance studio, and a reimagined quad with sand volleyball courts. As Trustee Dr. Adrian Arancibia shared, "Today isn't just about opening another building — it's about celebrating what these new spaces will mean for the students and educators who will use them every day." Thank you to everyone who made this vision a reality. Once a Baron, always a Baron!