Teachers Ready for First Day of School

Long before Castro Valley public school students arrived for their first day of school this August 7 morning, teachers, staff, and administrators prepared the classrooms and themselves for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

A mere 24 hours ago, many teachers were putting the final touches on their fun and inspirational decorations, quiet reading nooks, and activity spaces, where they will spend 180 instructional days shaping young minds and instilling a love of learning.  

Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) has more than 9,200 students, 4,200 of whom are enrolled in its nine elementary schools, 2,000 attending the two middle schools, and 3,000 registered at Castro Valley High School or Redwood High School for alternative education. 

“We look forward to a wonderful school year and the opportunity to serve our students,” CVUSD Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi wrote in her letter to parents and staff on July 22. “Our deep commitment to ensuring all students receive equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities is the reason we do what we do with intentionality and careful attention paid to the unique needs of every child that we are entrusted to serve and care for.” 

Ahmadi also thanked all the professionals who worked around the clock over the summer to prepare schools and classrooms for their arrival.  

Some of those preparing extra hard are the 73 new certificated staff, including teachers, psychologists, speech therapists, and nurses, who all attended a two-day training session last week to onboard them and help their transition into CVUSD enjoyable.

“Some of these new teachers and staff members were coming from other school districts and told us how excited they were to come to Castro Valley,” Ahmadi told the Forum. “It’s very encouraging to have a school district become a destination point for professionals.”

Superintendent Ahmadi said Castro Valley takes its teacher training very seriously and provides many opportunities for teacher development and enrichment programs.

The average number of years of teaching among Castro Valley staff is 27, making the district very competitive among its neighboring school districts. 

The next three-day break is Labor Day on September 3 for those planning their school year. Winter Break begins on December 23 and runs until January 3, 2025. Spring Break is scheduled for March 31 through April 4, and the last day of school instruction is May 30.