Special thanks to our crocheting angel at Jojoba Hills we had more Cougars able to select stylish beanies to keep them warm during the holiday season. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
All of their hard work and preparations paid off as our PLUS Leaders set up and hosted the annual middle school Reindeer Games. The middle school students were divided into 8 teams to play 9 different games. After each game the winning team went to the prize table to select a reward for their victory. A great time was had by all! Great job PLUS Leaders for making our Cougars' spirits a little brighter. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
To prepare for the annual Reindeer Games, Cottonwood's PLUS Leaders learned how to play the games so that they could teach their teams how to play during the middle school competition. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
🎉 We did it again! Hemet Unified has won its 4th straight Golden Bell Award, this year for our Daily Huddle Program — celebrating collaboration, innovation, and improved outcomes for students! 🏆✨
Read more: https://www.hemetusd.org/article/2607399
Read more: https://www.hemetusd.org/article/2607399
Cottonwood's PLUS Leadership students did partner reading with Ms. McGowan's kindergarters. It was a magical time on the kindergarten playground. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
Our Cougars wrapped up the first semester in their comfy, cozy jammies on Pajama Spirit Day! What a great way to launch Winter Break! #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
Cottonwood's Transitional Kindergarteners read the story Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree and learned how one person's surplus can supply joy to many others. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
Cottonwood's Kindergarteners read the story Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree and learned how one person's surplus can supply joy to many others. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
Once our Polar Express Travelers had their tickets punched, they headed to meet Santa and his elves to deliver their wishlists. Santa was pleased to report that all of our Cougars are on the Nice List! Now everyone is just counting down the days until Christmas! #TheHUSDWay #Cottonwood Cougars
Cottonwood's Polar Express Saturday School was filled with fun. The students wrote letters to Santa, made wreaths, played Bingo, did tear art, decorated cookies, made hot chocolate and completed a directed drawing, among other things. Every time they completed an activity their Polar Express Train tickets were punched. What a wonderful way to spend a morning with friends and earn back a day of attendance credit. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
Over 300 Students Participate in 4th Annual District Choir Festival
On October 21, 2025, West Valley High School hosted the fourth annual District Choir Festival, welcoming more than 300 participants from nine secondary schools. Choir students and directors presented performances across ten ensembles representing a full range of ages and experiences. The festival featured two distinguished university clinicians, Dr. Nicholle Andrews (University of Redlands) and Dr. Ariel Quintana (La Sierra University), who provided written evaluations and on-stage workshops with each ensemble.
Cottonwood K-8 participated in the Festival for the first time and director Sally McCampbell brought a combined choir of elementary and middle school students who performed with confidence, enthusiasm, and poise throughout the day. The following example captures Dr. Andrews working collaboratively with both the teacher and students during their post-performance clinic.
Ms. McCampbell reflected, “It was eye-opening for me to connect movements to phrases and hear the difference it made to the students’ voices. I am excited to work more movement into our warm-ups and performances. I found the clinicians to be really supportive and constructive with their criticisms and advice and I picked up some really useful skills to implement.”
Meaningful feedback is essential for both teachers and students. Hattie (2009) emphasizes that timely, specific feedback has a significant impact on student learning, with an effect size of 0.73. Clinicians play a vital role by providing interactive, immediate assessments of performances, along with actionable strategies to improve outcomes. This process benefits both students and teachers and often occurs in tandem, similar to an ensemble, which is a group that learns and performs together.
Live performances offer particularly valuable opportunities for feedback. Performing in front of an audience allows students to receive immediate responses, which can be instrumental in their development. This real-time feedback enables students to evaluate their performance, make adjustments, and deepen their understanding of musical expression.
Click the link to see the video performances from that night.
https://bit.ly/3L4v6XI
On October 21, 2025, West Valley High School hosted the fourth annual District Choir Festival, welcoming more than 300 participants from nine secondary schools. Choir students and directors presented performances across ten ensembles representing a full range of ages and experiences. The festival featured two distinguished university clinicians, Dr. Nicholle Andrews (University of Redlands) and Dr. Ariel Quintana (La Sierra University), who provided written evaluations and on-stage workshops with each ensemble.
Cottonwood K-8 participated in the Festival for the first time and director Sally McCampbell brought a combined choir of elementary and middle school students who performed with confidence, enthusiasm, and poise throughout the day. The following example captures Dr. Andrews working collaboratively with both the teacher and students during their post-performance clinic.
Ms. McCampbell reflected, “It was eye-opening for me to connect movements to phrases and hear the difference it made to the students’ voices. I am excited to work more movement into our warm-ups and performances. I found the clinicians to be really supportive and constructive with their criticisms and advice and I picked up some really useful skills to implement.”
Meaningful feedback is essential for both teachers and students. Hattie (2009) emphasizes that timely, specific feedback has a significant impact on student learning, with an effect size of 0.73. Clinicians play a vital role by providing interactive, immediate assessments of performances, along with actionable strategies to improve outcomes. This process benefits both students and teachers and often occurs in tandem, similar to an ensemble, which is a group that learns and performs together.
Live performances offer particularly valuable opportunities for feedback. Performing in front of an audience allows students to receive immediate responses, which can be instrumental in their development. This real-time feedback enables students to evaluate their performance, make adjustments, and deepen their understanding of musical expression.
Click the link to see the video performances from that night.
https://bit.ly/3L4v6XI
📣 We’re Hiring Instructional Aides!
Join us for our Instructional Aide Job Fair on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.
✔️ On-site interviews
✔️ Bring your resume
Scan the QR code to apply now and take the first step toward a rewarding career with Hemet Unified.
Join us for our Instructional Aide Job Fair on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.
✔️ On-site interviews
✔️ Bring your resume
Scan the QR code to apply now and take the first step toward a rewarding career with Hemet Unified.
Mrs. McCampbell conducted the Middle School Choir and the Combined Elementary and Middle School Choirs who performed beautiful holiday carols. Shoutout to Ryker for his amazing solo. This was the perfect way to end the evening! #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
At the Winter Concert, our elementary band students did a terrifc job sharing holiday carols. Wonderful job musicians! #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
Cottonwood's Winter Concert was a special treat and festive way to kick off the holiday season. Here are a few shots from our 5th Grade Performers. Special thanks to Mrs. McCampbell for preparing our students and coordinating the concert. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
Cottonwood's Winter Concert was a special treat and festive way to kick off the holiday season. Here are a few shots from our 4th Grade Performers sing the 12 Days of Christmas. Shoutout to Eliora who represented 2 of the days of Christmas which kept her running across the stage. Special thanks to Mrs. McCampbell for preparing our students and coordinating the concert. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
Cottonwood's Winter Concert was a special treat and festive way to kick off the holiday season. Here are a few shots from our TK-3rd Grade Performers. Special thanks to Mrs. McCampbell for preparing our students and coordinating the concert. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
Miss Heather's ELOP group worked in groups to examine clues and solve problems so that they could open their team's Break-Out Box. Great job working together. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
On Thursday, December 18th, there will be an ELAC Meeting in the Library from 5:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. The ELAC is a committee specifically designed to advise school officials on English Learner Program Services. Dinner and Daycare will be provided. Hope to see you there. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
Attention Cougar Sports Fans! We have been informed that DP Christian is unable to come to Cottonwood today for the scheduled basketball games. We are hoping to reschedule the game after the holiday break. Students will instead have practice today from 3:15-4:30 to prepare for Wednesdays's game at the Soboba Sports Complex. #TheHUSDWay #CottonwoodCougars
