December 2025 - Student Experience
Grossmont’s staff is constantly looking for ways to educate, engage, and support its students. This year, two teachers, English teacher Yvonne Vujovich-Payne and Math teacher Emilie King have co-led a Student Experience team that celebrates our student body’s varied life experiences, ethnicities, and backgrounds. 15 educators are members of the team with this semester’s activities led by Yvonne.
2025 Day of the Dead (Photo by Yvonne Vujovich-Payne)
2025 Day of the Dead (Photo by Yvonne Vujovich-Payne)
The team began the year by sharing its 25-26 Celebration Calendar. The guiding principle of the team is a quote from author Suzy Kassem, “Through understanding, people will be able to see their similarities before differences.”
Native American History
In November, one way that Native American History was celebrated with information from the GHS Museum sharing that “Before El Capitan HS opened in 1959, 10 tribal members of the Barona Band of Mission Indians attended Grossmont High School from 1949-1956. Their photos are in a collage in the Museum; stop by at lunch on Friday to see them. At the entrance to the Old Gym, there is a Founder tile honoring them.”
Another bulletin announcement celebrated GHS Hall of Honoree John Colonghi, Class of 1965, whose Aleut/Inuit heritage instilled in him a lifetime commitment to Native American affairs. John led the fundraising which established the Smithsonian National Museum of the Native American in Washington, D.C.
After participating in a November field trip for the "Clean Oceans" Club to attend Indigenous Oceans Day at Scripps Birch Aquarium, 9th grade student Tahoora Alizada shared "We actually learned about Indigenous heritage and bird singing songs." While Freshman Hadia Babae reflected that “It was so fun. I could meet new friends.”
>Day of the Dead
On “November 6th, the GHS Band and Dance departments brought vibrant performances of Hispanic and Latino/a music to the Blue-Stage at lunch time in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. First, band performers showcased two pieces, “Con Slancio” by Earl Fox and “Malaguena” by Ernesto Lecuona. Dance department students captivated the audience by performing a compilation of Mexican and Puerto Rican artists, including “Los Tucanes de Tijuana” and “Elvis Cresto.”
The team has been playing student-recommended music on the loudspeakers in recognition of each cultural/heritage month. The music on Wednesdays and Fridays students recommend, and for December their theme was festive music. Freshman Hadia Babae shared that he “wanted to recommend a Reggae song for Hispanic Heritage Month, but I was waiting to recommend music based on Ramadan.”
December provides an opportunity to recognize several significant cultural and religious holidays: Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, which all share universal themes of light, community, reflection, and hope.
Yvonne believes that “Students are excited about the program and like that it offers recognition for different groups throughout the year.”
For more information about the program, contact Yvonne Vujovich-Payne (
Visit the GHS Museum
10-1 Saturday, January 17th
OR
Fridays by prior appointment when school is in session
Contact: