![Davis students pose with Love Costa Mesa sign, and a Whittier student works with a parent in the school garden]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1779219842/nmusdus/uyhsmk1frgwtaxqxr9kz/LoveCostaMesaDay.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1779219842/nmusdus/uyhsmk1frgwtaxqxr9kz/LoveCostaMesaDay.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1779219842/nmusdus/uyhsmk1frgwtaxqxr9kz/LoveCostaMesaDay.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1779219842/nmusdus/uyhsmk1frgwtaxqxr9kz/LoveCostaMesaDay.png","width":1200}])
Six Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) campuses received a community-powered refresh during this year’s Love Costa Mesa Day, as volunteers spent a day beautifying schools to support student learning and connection. Research consistently shows that well-maintained and visually inviting school environments can positively influence student engagement, school pride, and overall well-being.
Volunteers completed a variety of campus improvement projects, organized in partnership with Trellis. Ranging from garden bed construction and landscaping to mural touch-ups and campus clean-up efforts, the annual event brings together community volunteers, NMUSD families and students, and local organizations to enhance and strengthen the welcoming spaces where students learn and grow.
“Clean, welcoming, and engaging school environments help students feel connected, valued, and ready to learn,” said Director of Engagement, Partnership, and Expanded Learning Christy Flores. “We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers and community partners who gave their time and energy to support our schools and students through Love Costa Mesa Day.”
Among the projects completed were:
- Costa Mesa Middle/High School: weeding and cleaning garden beds
- Davis Magnet: building a shed to store garden supplies
- Killybrooke Elementary: painting and installing College Rocks in the walkway along the garden area
- Paularino Elementary: painting the cement base of the shade structure over the lunch tables, painting backstops on the basketball court, and creating thank you cards for staff
- Whittier Elementary: weeding and cleaning garden beds
- Wilson Elementary: building a new garden bed, painting playground lines, and touching up an existing mural
The partnership with Trellis complements the ongoing work of NMUSD’s Maintenance and Operations team, who care for school facilities across the district year-round.
Love Costa Mesa Day continues NMUSD’s longstanding partnership with Trellis, including the annual Love Our Schools Day in the fall, reinforcing a shared commitment to creating vibrant school environments where students feel supported, connected, and inspired to succeed.
See more photos from Love Costa Mesa Day on the district’s online gallery.