Testimonials

MISSION OAK JOURNALISM PROGRAM

In 2020, the Mission Oak High School journalism program — also known as The Talon — was awarded a generous grant from The TJUHSD Foundation. We utilized this grant toward a brand new Nikon D7500 camera package. With photography and video capabilities, the professional-grade device also came with multiple lenses and accessories.

The Talon stays busy promoting the good news happening within the Mission Oak community. This includes photos and videos for: the school website, the Mission Oak ASB social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram), MO’s seasonal newsletters, the Talon Youtube newscasts, and more. Our student staff also handles photo and video requests for photos from our principal, administrators, counselors, teacher, clubs and more.

With the foundation’s support, we were able to purchase a high-quality, durable camera that captures the essence of Mission Oak’s “We Will” spirit. It is truly a blessing to give journalism students the opportunity to experience a piece of pro-grade photography equipment. As a veteran professional journalist myself, I truly know that there is no lesson as valuable as an authentic hands-on experience. 

Thank you, Foundation members, for your commitment to our students — and affording us the art of photography way beyond the selfie. Your gift to us is a crucial element of our media education, and it allows us to showcase the beauty within Mission Oak for all of our stakeholders and community to enjoy. Below are some examples, all captured by The Talon student photographers with our Nikon D7500.

MISSION OAK GIRLS BASKETBALL

We are deeply appreciative of the TJUHSD Foundation for the grant which was provided to our program. It allowed us to purchase some much needed equipment that we would not have been able to purchase without the foundation's support. The equipment includes; ball lockers, which has provided us a way to protect our equipment, a rolling ball cart and basketballs. The equipment is still used today and has benefited our program tremendously. On behalf of the entire Mission Oak Girls Basketball Program, thank you for your generosity.

MISSION OAK BOYS BASKETBALL

Thank you for the $1,000 grant given to boys basketball last season.  We were able to purchase 2 sets of reversible practice jerseys for our Varsity and JV programs. We were also afforded the opportunity to order more basketballs for our entire program.

MISSION OAK SWIM PROGRAM

The Mission Oak Swim program was in need of a lot of equipment, and thanks to the generous donation from the foundation, the swim program was able to purchase 2-Pace Clocks, 30-Paddles, 30-Buoys, 30-Kickboards, Colorado Timing System, Swim Caps, Hytek Swim license. The Mission Oak Boys successfully made Valley for the first time in history and through continued support can hopefully be successful for many years to come.

MISSION OAK WRESTLING PROGRAM

We would like to thank the THSF for your donations to MO Wrestling. With that money we were able to purchase uniforms, barricades, and scales. It was greatly appreciated.

MISSION OAK SPEECH & DEBATE PROGRAM

The TJUHSD Foundation's generous grant of $1,000.00 to our Speech & Debate program helped tremendously.  We used the money to purchase a video camera and professional tripod. This has allowed us to film quality video of students who are submitting to speech contests that are out of the state of California. We have also been able to film our Poetry Out Loud contestants each year in prep for the national recitation contest.  Thank you so much for supporting MO's Speech & Debate program!

MISSION OAK DRAMA DEPARTMENT

Mission Oak High School Drama has been supported by The Foundation for several years on our journey to make ourselves a success. We have received a total of $3,000 over the years, beginning in 2017. I cannot make an official list of the items in which we have used the money for, but I can give a general idea as to how the money was allocated.

The Drama Department has used those funds to help in purchasing makeup kits for the advanced students that have participated in our performances. We have used the funds to help pay for set pieces, including paint, wood, metal pieces, paint supplies, and the like. We have also used the money to pay for various properties being used by actors onstage, colored gels for lighting design and effects, as well as costume pieces or rentals. We have also used the money to help pay for the rights to perform a musical. 



The Foundation has been very beneficial to our program, and we are grateful to have received such incredible support.

DISTRICT Library SERVICES

The Foundation Grant four years ago allowed the library to purchase new tables that would serve several different purposes. We have used the multifunction tables for book tasting events, station activities for English classes, Makerspace crafts and activities for free period students, seasonal book displays, author visits. We have found many more uses for the tables than we had even initially expected. 

The three comprehensive high schools also received a grant two years ago to help fund an author visit to each of the sites. The grant helped our students listen to and ask questions of an award-winning author. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the students who attending and those who are underclassmen still talk about it. It is rare that students in small towns such as Tulare have an opportunity to see and hear published authors speak. 


Thank you for your generous donations. They have and are still making a difference in the lives of the students on our campus.

TULARE WESTERN ATHLETICS

Tulare Western Athletics would like to thank the Foundation for their support of athletics. Over the past couple of years we have had some teams apply for and be granted foundation grants. These grants went directly into the programs and have helped them for years after the grant was given. The list below is a list of the amount given, to what program that amount went to and what that program used the money for.

Aquatics- Purchased 2 custom 10 x 10 foot canopies and one custom 10x 20 foot canopy used to keep athletes and table help cool and out of the direct sun. They were granted $1,000. 

Girls basketball- Purchased a ball cart to keep the program's basketballs safe and a full set of varsity team warm ups. Girls basketball was granted $1,000 

Baseball- Purchased 6 ball carts with wheels, these are used daily at practice and prior to games and also used in the batting cages. These carts hold up to 80 baseballs and can be rolled all over the fields for drills. Baseball was granted $1,000

Athletics- The foundation granted the athletic program $2,500 this money was matched with athletic funds to purchase new competition soccer goals. Our old goals were still in decent shape but required a tractor to move. They were very heavy. The new goals roll and the coaches and athletes can move them when not in use 


Thank you again to the foundation for helping the five programs at Tulare Western in the last couple of years and the programs that you will help in the future.