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Capistrano Chapter 224
Capistrano Chapter 224 members support Moulton Elementary during Coastal Fire
Capistrano Chapter 224 members support Moulton Elementary during Coastal Fire
Ronda Walen, Capistrano Chapter 224 president, poses with Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Thurmond visited Wood Canyon Elementary on May 13 to recognize classified staff for their hard work to ensure no public instruction was interrupted for students in the area, despite the Coastal Fire that was burning.
As the Coastal Fire burned along the canyon area between Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo in Orange County in May, CSEA members from Capistrano Chapter 224 didn’t hesitate to support students and staff who were displaced from their school of Moulton Elementary.
“Imagine what our classified employees do every day to run a school and then add a second school overnight,” said Chapter President Ronda Walen. “They knew it was an emergency and wanted to help the students who were affected by the fire.”
Six additional classrooms were set up at Wood Canyon Elementary School thanks, to a group of custodians who moved furniture and delivered instructional supplies to be ready the morning of May 12.
“They were so efficient and within 30 minutes of Wood Canyon opening at 7:45 a.m., we had every Wood Canyon and Moulton student in a classroom and in a seat,” recalled Wood Canyon Principal Chris Dembiec. “I was so impressed.”
Adolfo Murillo, a custodian who was part of the crew, said providing this level of support came naturally.
"We're working for the kids and we're here to help each other,” he said. “It was an emergency and we worked so hard and all of us were very happy to do it."
When Walen arrived at school that morning, she recalled that the office was busy, but under control considering the circumstances.
The Food and Nutrition Services staff brought over freshly baked cookies. Custodians from both schools ensured the school was clean and safe. The technology specialists delivered Chromebooks for Moulton students.
Moulton Elementary Principal Jose Luis Pedraza gave “a big shout out to our amazing classified staff who continued to provide the same quality service to our Moulton students and staff when we had to relocate to Wood Canyon Elementary,” he said. “Our classified staff rallied together to make our student’s experience at Wood Canyon an easy transition. Thank you!”
“Imagine what our classified employees do every day to run a school and then add a second school overnight.”
- Ronda Walen, Chapter President
As Walen walked around that day, she heard classified employees on numerous occasions asking each other how they could help.
"It was a team effort working side-by-side with administrators and staff from both schools,” said Wood Canyon Office Manager Julie Uy. “When I heard the news that we were housing our Moulton students and staff members, we went to work right away and planned accordingly with the goal of making sure it was like an ordinary school day for everyone. It's about teamwork."
When the evacuated area was safe to re-enter, Maintenance and Operations staff went to Moulton Elementary and installed new air filters so the Moulton students and staff could breathe clean air when they returned.
On May 13, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond visited Walen at Wood Canyon Elementary to commend the efforts of classified staff and check on the well-being of students.
“When I heard the news that we were housing our Moulton students and staff members, we went to work right away and planned accordingly with the goal of making sure it was like an ordinary school day for everyone. It's about teamwork."
- Julie Uy, Wood Canyon office manager
In a Press Release distributed by the California Department of Education, it noted no instructional time was lost despite the evacuation orders and commended staff for making this happen.
“This was a direct result of the educators in the area and their commitment to ensuring students do not fall behind,” it stated. “Capistrano Unified personnel were able to act quickly and efficiently to move students and staff without any disruption.”
Superintendent Kirsten Vital Brulte also sang the praises of those classified employees who allowed school continue normally for their students, just in a different location.
"Our value is for students to be in classrooms as much as possible and our classified employees always work so hard to make this a reality! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
- Kirsten Vital Bruite, Superintendent
“While the Moulton campus was closed and plans were made to move students to Wood Canyon, the proactive work and dedication of our classified team meant that our students and their families did not experience any disruption to their instructional time,” she said. “Families were so grateful, and I am so appreciative of their efforts. Our value is for students to be in classrooms as much as possible and our classified employees always work so hard to make this a reality! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Ronda Walen, Capistrano Chapter 224 president, poses with Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Thurmond visited Wood Canyon Elementary on May 13 to recognize classified staff for their hard work to ensure no public instruction was interrupted for students in the area, despite the Coastal Fire that was burning.
As the Coastal Fire burned along the canyon area between Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo in Orange County in May, CSEA members from Capistrano Chapter 224 didn’t hesitate to support students and staff who were displaced from their school of Moulton Elementary.
“Imagine what our classified employees do every day to run a school and then add a second school overnight,” said Chapter President Ronda Walen. “They knew it was an emergency and wanted to help the students who were affected by the fire.”
Six additional classrooms were set up at Wood Canyon Elementary School thanks, to a group of custodians who moved furniture and delivered instructional supplies to be ready the morning of May 12.
“They were so efficient and within 30 minutes of Wood Canyon opening at 7:45 a.m., we had every Wood Canyon and Moulton student in a classroom and in a seat,” recalled Wood Canyon Principal Chris Dembiec. “I was so impressed.”
Adolfo Murillo, a custodian who was part of the crew, said providing this level of support came naturally.
"We're working for the kids and we're here to help each other,” he said. “It was an emergency and we worked so hard and all of us were very happy to do it."
When Walen arrived at school that morning, she recalled that the office was busy, but under control considering the circumstances.
The Food and Nutrition Services staff brought over freshly baked cookies. Custodians from both schools ensured the school was clean and safe. The technology specialists delivered Chromebooks for Moulton students.
Moulton Elementary Principal Jose Luis Pedraza gave “a big shout out to our amazing classified staff who continued to provide the same quality service to our Moulton students and staff when we had to relocate to Wood Canyon Elementary,” he said. “Our classified staff rallied together to make our student’s experience at Wood Canyon an easy transition. Thank you!”
“Imagine what our classified employees do every day to run a school and then add a second school overnight.”
- Ronda Walen, Chapter President
As Walen walked around that day, she heard classified employees on numerous occasions asking each other how they could help.
"It was a team effort working side-by-side with administrators and staff from both schools,” said Wood Canyon Office Manager Julie Uy. “When I heard the news that we were housing our Moulton students and staff members, we went to work right away and planned accordingly with the goal of making sure it was like an ordinary school day for everyone. It's about teamwork."
When the evacuated area was safe to re-enter, Maintenance and Operations staff went to Moulton Elementary and installed new air filters so the Moulton students and staff could breathe clean air when they returned.
On May 13, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond visited Walen at Wood Canyon Elementary to commend the efforts of classified staff and check on the well-being of students.
“When I heard the news that we were housing our Moulton students and staff members, we went to work right away and planned accordingly with the goal of making sure it was like an ordinary school day for everyone. It's about teamwork."
- Julie Uy, Wood Canyon office manager
In a Press Release distributed by the California Department of Education, it noted no instructional time was lost despite the evacuation orders and commended staff for making this happen.
“This was a direct result of the educators in the area and their commitment to ensuring students do not fall behind,” it stated. “Capistrano Unified personnel were able to act quickly and efficiently to move students and staff without any disruption.”
Superintendent Kirsten Vital Brulte also sang the praises of those classified employees who allowed school continue normally for their students, just in a different location.
"Our value is for students to be in classrooms as much as possible and our classified employees always work so hard to make this a reality! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
- Kirsten Vital Bruite, Superintendent
“While the Moulton campus was closed and plans were made to move students to Wood Canyon, the proactive work and dedication of our classified team meant that our students and their families did not experience any disruption to their instructional time,” she said. “Families were so grateful, and I am so appreciative of their efforts. Our value is for students to be in classrooms as much as possible and our classified employees always work so hard to make this a reality! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
