School has been in session for about a month now and fall athletics are in full swing. Students have been showing their school pride by sporting school shirts or colors, reminding each other of games via social media, and making their voices heard in the cheering section at each of the athletic events. However, staff members at West Valley High School used the first football game of the season to show a different kind of pride for their school.
Last school year, Southern California received more rainfall than the last couple of years combined. Due to the excess rainfall, West Valley students and staff were faced with a challenge. Their football field was so inundated with water that it was no longer draining properly. This challenge hit its peak when the West Valley Girls’ Soccer team was set to host its CIF game and the field was flooded. What can only be described as the epitome of teamwork, students and staff grabbed buckets and any other tools available to get the water off the field in time for the game.
Over the summer, the District’s Maintenance and Operations department set to work. Staff put in a new drainage system and replaced part of the football field with new turf all before the first game of the season. In order to thank them, West Valley Principal Dr. Janice Jones asked the Director of Maintenance and Operations Anthony Pipkins to perform the coin toss at the first game of the season to show the school’s appreciation.
Thank you to the Maintenance and Operations department for their attention to detail throughout the updating process and to the West Valley staff for creating a fun and memorable way of showing their appreciation. We look forward to the fall athletic season and encourage our community members to attend the games and show their support for their local high school’s athletic programs!