School outreach focuses on available resources

On a recent spring evening, Granite Hills High School became a hub of learning, fun, and com­munity connection. Families, students, and local organizations gathered in March for the school’s inaugural community engagement event, explor­ing resources, meeting service providers, and dis­covering opportunities across East County.

“This is the first year we have had someone working on community outreach,” said Angela Scott, English teacher and family engagement coordinator. “The goal was to help families. We brought in several organizations from the city and county to show our families the amazing resources that are available to them.”

Participating organizations included mul­tiple branches of the city of El Cajon, Feeding San Diego, El Cajon Public Library, Grossmont Adult Education, TRIO EOC GCCCD, Grossmont Healthcare District’s Health & Wellness Library, Grossmont Middle College High School, Alliance True Care, CASA Neighborhoods, East County Schools Credit Union, Family Health Centers of San Diego, Wellness Together, SANDAG, and TEDxKidsElCajon.

Each organization offered handouts or give­aways, such as fidget spinners, bookmarks, bags, and toiletries, while Feeding San Diego provided bags of food for families to take home. Students also practiced CPR on a training dummy, gaining hands-on life skills.

One of the evening’s standout activities was East County Schools Credit Union’s Bite of Re­ality, a fun simulation designed to instruct stu­dents about budgeting and adult responsibilities. Families and students explored every booth with a blank “passport” that was stamped at each stop, encouraging engagement and ensuring no re­source was missed.

Scott said turnout was strong, noting that 220 sandwiches provided were nearly all claimed by the end of the night. Some families attended while registering incoming ninth graders, combining school orientation with community connection. “Families were able to ac­cess food, information, re­sources, job opportunities, and volunteer opportuni­ties,” Scott said.

Despite temperatures reaching 90 degrees, the event ran smoothly, and feedback from families was positive.

Granite Hills plans to con­tinue expanding community outreach.

“We absolutely want to make this an annual event or even something we do once each semester, with dif­ferent focuses each time,” Scott said.

Parent volunteers and student Key Club members helped direct visitors and support activities, reinforc­ing the collaborative nature of the program.

“Our goal is for our com­munity to feel connected to us as not just a school to educate students, but as a partner in what they need in life,” Scott said.

Future initiatives will ex­pand resources and partner­ships, ensuring families have ongoing support beyond the classroom.

Granite Hills High School’s first community resource night highlighted the value of local collaboration, access to services, and building strong connections between students, families, and the broader East County com­munity.