Happy Holidays from Long Beach Unified

By Christopher J. Steinhauser
Superintendent of Schools

The holiday season is one of the most rewarding times in our school communities. We pause to reflect on the tremendous work accomplished as we turn the calendar page to 2020. More than any other institution, our public schools are lifting the trajectory of thousands of young lives.  

We are proud of significant gains in student achievement and our continued efforts to improve. But beyond our recent celebrations of academic success, the holidays bring a wider appreciation of the human spirit.  

Our students and schools are actively engaged in making their communities better places, and their communities are returning the favor. The countless toy drives for the children’s hospital, the collection of canned food for the less fortunate, and donations of thousands of dollars in cash, goods and services by our many community partners help to restore one’s faith in humanity. One such example was the Harmony Project Gala held last week in the beautiful Pacific Room at the Long Beach Arena.  

The Harmony Gala raised nearly $14,000 to continue funding instrumental music education for children from lower income communities. We enjoyed musical performances by the children, while proud parents snapped lots of photos. Police Chief Robert Luna and other special guests rooted the students on. The staff at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center were generous and gracious hosts. We have included some event photos here as our holiday greeting card to you, and as a reminder of how fortunate we are to have a community that cares so deeply for our kids.

To everyone who supports our students and schools, we sincerely thank you, and we wish you a wonderful holiday season.