August 14th, 2026: RIM's Edge of Excellence Newsletter
Dear ROWUSD Students, Families, and Staff,
As we geared up for the new school year, ROWUSD staff and leadership participated in a variety of trainings and professional development opportunities to ensure everyone was prepared to welcome and support our students.
These trainings help keep our team informed and aligned with District goals while strengthening practices in key areas, including student support, instructional practices, operational and safety preparedness, legal and compliance requirements, and meeting the needs of our diverse student population.
Ongoing professional development is an important part of our commitment to continuous growth and ensures our staff has the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to create safe, supportive, and engaging learning environments.
We are proud of the time and dedication our staff and leadership put into preparing for a successful school year and look forward to working together as partners with our families to help every student learn, grow, and succeed.
Page: RIM’s Edge of Excellence Newsletter August 14th, 20ROWUSD School Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 20th, 2026 at 5:30 pm
Located at the District Office. 24740 San Moritz Way, Crestline. If you cannot attend in person, you can watch the meeting live on YouTube or scan the QR Code to view it on your phone. We hope to see you there or online! Public Participation
This meeting will be held at the Rim of the World Unified School District and via YouTube.
If you wish to view the meeting, log in to: https://www.youtube.com/@rowusdschools/streams
Congratulations & Welcome Back! Here’s to a Successful Start to the 2026-2027 School Year!
Page: Clerical In-Service: Connecting, Learning & Preparing for a Great Year! On August 3, 2026, clerical staff from across the district came together for our annual Clerical In-Service, kicking off preparations for the 2026–2027 school year. Dr. Paul Sevillano welcomed everyone and shared the district’s vision, priorities, and important updates for the year ahead. Throughout the day, staff participated in informative sessions presented by Maintenance & Transportation, Nutrition Services, Community Outreach, Special Services, Business Services, Educational Services, Personnel Services, and Risk Management. The day concluded with time for questions, discussion, and closing remarks. It was a valuable day filled with information, collaboration, and connection, helping ensure our clerical teams are prepared and ready to support our students, families, staff, and schools throughout the new year. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the day a success.
Here’s to a great 2026–2027 school year!
Page: District Leadership Retreat. During the week before school starts, ROWUSD leaders came together for a day of learning, collaboration, and planning centered on what matters most...our students. District leadership received training on the new School Safety Radio System, reviewed the District’s Strategic Action Plans, and reflected on our District Core Beliefs. By strengthening communication, safety practices, and our shared vision, our leadership team continues working together to ensure we are prepared to meet the needs of every student.”
Page: New teacher training! During the week before school started, ROWUSD welcomed our newest teachers for New Teacher Orientation. This dedicated time gave new teachers an opportunity to learn about our district, connect with colleagues, become familiar with key resources and expectations, and prepare for a successful start to the school year. The day also gave us a chance to build relationships and introduce our new educators to the values and commitment that guide our work at ROWUSD. As they begin their journey with our district, we are excited to see the talents, experiences, and enthusiasm they will bring to their classrooms and school communities. Welcome to the ROWUSD family!
Page: ROWUSD is excited to welcome Dr. Lori Slaven, Assistant Superintendent, to our district leadership team! Dr. Slaven brings more than 29 years of education experience, having served as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. After leading a K–8 district as superintendent, she is excited to begin this new chapter serving a K–12 community as Assistant Superintendent. Dr. Slaven has shared how much she appreciates ROWUSD’s friendly, welcoming, and family-oriented culture. She is currently living on the mountain and hopes to make it her permanent home. We are fortunate to have Dr. Slaven’s extensive experience and leadership on our ROWUSD team. Welcome to ROWUSD, Dr. Slaven!
Page: ROWUSD welcomes Principal Hailey Corse, who brings 18 years of education experience to her role. She spent 15 years teaching English and has also served as a department chair, program specialist, and middle school administrator.
Education runs deep in Principal Corse’s family, with generations of educators inspiring her career and commitment to students. Her grandfather dedicated 61 years to education and helped lay the groundwork for Proposition 28, expanding access to arts and music education for California students.
A Running Springs resident, Principal Corse is proud to serve her local community and is excited to lead and support the students, staff, and families of Rim of the World High School.
Dr. Kurt McLachlan is the new principal at Mountain High School, Rim Virtual Academy, and Adult Education. Dr. McLachlan has worked with students in education for the past twenty-seven years. Dr. McLachlan joins Rim from the Santa Clara County Office of Education in San Jose, where he worked with Foster, Homeless, and Justice-Engaged youth.
He has a background in classroom teaching and administration, and he is dedicated to ensuring all students work toward their goals beyond high school; he looks forward to Rim students' many successes.
Jon Keller brings a vast amount of experience as our new AD at Rim of the World HS.
He has coached basketball at the high school and college level for over 25 years. He has worked behind the scenes at the NBA,
G-League, College D1 and D2 levels.
He has also been a middle school and high school AD before.
He and his wife Joann have six adult children and three dogs.
Page: Welcome Back Breakfast Celebrates Our District Staff. On August 11th, all District staff came together for our annual Welcome Back Breakfast, marking the beginning of another exciting school year.
Page: The PTA graciously served a light breakfast as colleagues reconnected and prepared for the year ahead. Friends and colleagues filled the gym with smiles, laughter, and lively conversation as they reconnected after summer break. The warm greetings and excitement made it seem as though they had been apart for much longer than just a few short months.
Page: Teachers & Staff shared their enthusiasm for the new school year, exchanging ideas, discussing plans, & reflecting on the opportunities
ahead to support, inspire, & help students learn and grow.
Page: To open the Staff Welcome Back meeting, Superintendent Dr. Sevillano welcomed staff and shared the District’s vision and priorities for the year ahead. He highlighted the District’s core beliefs and reinforced the importance of moving forward with purpose, strengthening collaboration, and remaining focused on what matters most: our students. His message reminded all staff that every decision, initiative, and effort should be centered on creating opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed. Every student matters, and every student remains at the heart of our work.
ROWUSD Core Beliefs:
Impactful Actions: Our shared actions and connections unlock student potential.
Aligned Actions: We intentionally align actions to prioritize students’ needs.
Future-Focused: We build proactive systems that anticipate and address student needs.
Page: During the event, new staff members were warmly welcomed and introduced, while employees celebrating milestone years of service were recognized for their continued dedication to the District. Their commitment, professionalism, and unwavering support of our students contribute greatly to creating an environment where every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. The President of the Rim of the World Educational Foundation, Jo Bonito Rains, also addressed staff and shared the Foundation’s continued commitment to and support of our District. The Foundation is excited to remain actively involved in creating opportunities that help our students learn, grow, and succeed.
Over the past 16 years, the Rim of the World Educational Foundation has generously donated $840,000 to support the District’s AVID and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Their generosity and ongoing partnership have made a meaningful difference for our students and the educational opportunities available to them.
We are incredibly grateful for the Foundation’s continued dedication to our schools, staff, and, most importantly, our students.
Thank you for believing in our students and investing in their future!
Page: Staff also had the privilege of hearing from guest speaker Garner Holt, who delivered an inspiring message about the importance of nurturing a child’s dreams and recognizing the potential within every student. He reminded us that a blank piece of paper can become a masterpiece and that what begins as a simple squiggly line may ultimately develop into something extraordinary. His message encouraged educators to look beyond what they see today, inspire creativity and curiosity, and recognize the possibilities within each child.
Page: As we begin this new school year, may we always remember to look beyond what is immediately in front of us and recognize the potential within every child. Every dream deserves encouragement, every idea deserves an opportunity, and every student deserves someone who believes in what they can become...!
Page: VOE Back-to-School Night Brings Families Together. Valley of Enchantment Elementary (VOE) welcomed students & families to its Back-to-School Night
on Tuesday, August 11, from 4:30–6:00 p.m. The campus was filled with excitement & energy as students visited their classrooms, reconnected with teachers, & prepared for the start of a new school year. Music added to the festive atmosphere while children enjoyed time on the playground and families connected with one another, school staff, and community partners.
Page: Music added to the festive atmosphere while children enjoyed time on the playground and families connected with one another, school staff, and community partners. It was a wonderful evening filled with smiles, laughter, community connections, & excitement for the year ahead.
Thank you to everyone who helped make VOE’s Back-to-School Night such a welcoming and memorable event for our students and families!
Page: MPH Readiness Days Prepare Students for a Great Year Ahead. Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate School (MPH) welcomed students and families to Readiness Days, providing an opportunity to prepare for a smooth and successful start to the new school year. Students received their class schedules, reviewed elective selections, became acquainted with the campus, & had the opportunity to ask questions before their first day of school. Families also reviewed bus routes & gathered important information to help students feel prepared & confident as they begin the year.
Throughout the campus, there was a wonderful sense of enthusiasm & anticipation. Students met with friends, met staff, & got a glimpse of what the year ahead will bring. The excitement is building,& MPH is ready for another great school year filled with learning, growth, new opportunities, & student success!
Page: RHS Welcomes the Class of 2030 at Freshman Orientation. Rim of the World High School (RHS) welcomed incoming freshmen to campus for Freshman Orientation, giving students a chance to become familiar with their new school and prepare for the transition to high school. Students had the opportunity to explore the campus, learn about what to expect as they begin their high school journey, connect with staff & fellow classmates, & ask questions. The orientation provided a welcoming environment for students to become more comfortable with their new surroundings & begin building connections before their first day of school. The campus was filled with high energy & anticipation as students prepared to take this exciting next step in their education. Freshman Orientation was a wonderful way to welcome the Class of 2030 & a reminder to RHS's newest Fighting Scots that they are now an important part of the RHS community. Welcome to Rim High School, Class of 2030! We look forward to seeing all that you will learn, accomplish, & contribute during your next four years!
Page: A Summer of Learning, Discovery, and FUN with ELOP! This summer, ELOP students and staff enjoyed an incredible season filled with hands-on learning, creativity, exploration, and plenty of fun! What a fantastic summer! Thank you to our ELOP staff for creating such meaningful and memorable experiences for our students. We are already looking forward to the adventures next summer will bring!
Page: elop- Students became young scientists as they built volcanoes and watched them erupt, explored their creativity with building blocks, experimented with robots, and spent time gardening and discovering worms in the soil. Art and drawing provided even more opportunities for students to express their creativity and imagination.
Page: From science and nature to art, exploration, and outdoor adventures, there were too many memorable activities to count. ELOP provided students with opportunities to learn through play, try something new, make memories, and simply enjoy being kids.
Page: The Traveling Tide Pools brought an exciting ocean experience directly to students @ ELOP!
They had the opportunity to learn about marine life, touch sea urchins and other sea creatures, & even try on diving fins & a wetsuit
Page: ELOP-And what would summer be without some outdoor fun? On those hot summer days, students cooled off by running through the sprinklers, playing in the mud, & enjoying time together. They even used their bodies to spell out the word “FUN”
A perfect description of their summer!
Page: ELOP's Bug Exploration! And what would summer be without some outdoor fun? On those hot summer days, students cooled off by running through the sprinklers, playing in the mud, & enjoying time together. They even used their bodies to spell out the word “FUN”
A perfect description of their summer!