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In a heartwarming act of community support and generosity, the Claremont Police Foundation has partnered with Claremont Toyota to spread springtime joy among Claremont Unified School District students. With a donation of 30 Spring baskets from Claremont Toyota, the foundation wanted to ensure these gifts found their way into the hands of students just in time for spring break. To achieve this, they collaborated with Rosa Leong, CUSD's Senior Liaison of Youth and Family Services, who coordinated with families. Students received these thoughtful baskets, adding a touch of warmth and community spirit to their spring break festivities.

Mountain View Elementary School recently showcased its students' creativity in a memorable Imagination Assembly. In collaboration with the Imagination Machine, student-written stories were brought to life on stage, offering a platform for young authors to see their imaginative work transformed into engaging performances.

The assembly featured stories from students across various grade levels, including Aiden Bustillos (Kindergarten, "I Got a Turtle"), Sophia Moran (1st Grade, "Princess's Bar"), Axel Alvarez-Crandall (2nd Grade, "Shark and Turtle"), Richard Minogue along with Alex Davidov, Elliott Granquist, Diego Saavedra-Smyth (3rd Grade, "Super Bananas"), Alexa Reyes (4th Grade, "Snow and Snake"), Daniel Cardona (5th Grade, "The Lost Potato"), and Ryan Dietzen (6th Grade, "The Ghost Hunt"). These young authors had the unique opportunity to watch as professional actors brought their narratives to life, creating a rich and interactive experience for the entire school community.

"It just gave me joy. I feel like I could accomplish something," said Daniel Cardona, reflecting on the excitement of having his story, "The Lost Potato," selected for performance. Similarly, Alexa Reyes enjoyed how the actors added humor to her story "Snow and Snake," making it even more entertaining for her peers. The presence of parents in the audience added to the celebratory atmosphere, allowing families to share in the pride and joy of their children's creative achievements.

This assembly celebrated the individual creativity of Mountain View's students and highlighted the school's dedication to nurturing imagination and expression in education. "It was cool because my classmates got to see what I wrote," one student remarked, underscoring the personal significance of the event. Through the Imagination Assembly, Mountain View Elementary School has inspired its students to continue exploring the depths of their creativity, affirming that everyone's story deserves a stage.

The Claremont High School Debate Team has set a new benchmark, with a historic 36 students qualifying for the state tournament and six emerging as league champions in their respective speech or debate categories. The team has demonstrated extraordinary talent, dedication, and the spirit of excellence that defines CUSD.

Freshman Reyhan Garcia, who qualified for the state tournament in impromptu speaking, reflects on her journey into speech and debate, sparked by a unique aspiration during the pandemic. "I had this sort of bizarre urge to become a lawyer, so I decided that joining speech and debate would be a good way to do that," Garcia shared, emphasizing the confidence and skills gained through the program. Her experience highlights the transformative power of debate, preparing students for future challenges and instilling a profound sense of accomplishment and gratitude. "I just want to say thank you to all the people, like my family, who have supported me," Garcia added, acknowledging the community behind her success.

Sophomore Nina Wu, preparing for the Lincoln Douglas debate at the state tournament, shared the extensive research and preparation that goes into each competition. "You'd have to look through the hundreds of pages of like evidence files that I compile," Wu said, illustrating the dedication required to excel in debate. She also noted the real-world relevance of the topics discussed and the positive impact on her civic engagement and critical thinking skills. Wu's experience underscores the debate team's role in fostering a well-informed, articulate, and engaged student body ready to tackle societal issues.

Junior Lincoln Roston, a competitor in International Extemporaneous, expressed his passion for spontaneous speaking and global politics. "I like extemporaneous just because I took to spontaneous speaking very quickly...and it's my favorite event," Roston remarked. His involvement has provided him with a global perspective and a commitment to active citizenship, qualities that are invaluable in today's world.

Senior Utsav Gupta, who will represent CHS in the Parliamentary Debate at the state level, highlighted this debate format's unique challenges and joys. "It's flexible. It can truly be about anything," Gupta said, reflecting on the comprehensive skill set developed through parliamentary debate. As he looks towards graduation and beyond, Gupta aims to continue engaging in public speaking and discussions, underscoring the lasting impact of the debate program on his personal and academic growth.

This year, the Claremont High School Debate Team's achievements are not just a series of individual successes but a collective triumph. The team's culture of mentorship, where knowledge and strategies are shared across grade levels, has been instrumental in building a robust and supportive community. "We are a family on the debate team," Roston affirmed, capturing the essence of the program's success.

As CUSD celebrates the Claremont High School Debate Team, it's clear that the program offers much more than competitive accolades; it prepares students for a lifetime of critical thinking, effective communication, and active engagement with the world around them. The team's historic success is a testament to the power of collaboration, hard work, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Claremont High School recently hosted a trades show for juniors and seniors in the district. The event provided an invaluable platform for students to explore many career paths beyond the conventional four-year college degree.

Melissa Gaw, an English teacher at San Antonio High School, brought 30 students to the event, emphasizing the importance of such opportunities, especially for those inclined towards trades and direct entry into the workforce. "A lot of our kids are interested in trades...And they were definitely interested in the apprenticeships because they can essentially have an internship and make money at the same time," Gaw highlighted. The event offered insights into various careers and allowed students to see tangible pathways to supporting themselves and their families through apprenticeships and trade programs.

Saul Juarez, a San Antonio High School senior, shared his excitement about construction trades that offer learning while earning. "It's something I'm looking forward to...I like moving around. I like working," Juarez expressed, underscoring the appeal of hands-on trades over traditional classroom settings.

Another San Antonio student, Nicholas Elias, shared his ambition to become an elevator operator engineer. He is also interested in the dual benefit of earning while learning. "To be able to go to school and make money at the same time...it'd be awesome," Elias said, highlighting the trade show's role in uncovering such unique opportunities.

The idea for the event was created by Vanessa Tilford, a CTE Coordinator at Bonita Unified School District, who recognized the need to bridge the gap between students and the trades industry. "Our goal is to focus on these livable wage jobs in the trades...careers that will give them specialized and certified training," Tilford noted. Her initiative brought together 52 programs, including training and certification opportunities, making it a comprehensive exploration platform for students.

Noah Smelser, a junior at Claremont High School, shared the curiosity and aspiration among attendees, aiming to become a firefighter. "I want to see all the new opportunities I have," Smelser said, pointing out the range of information and inspiration the trade show provided.

The event at Claremont High School offers a glimpse into the practical and rewarding avenues available in trades and apprenticeships. It stands as a testament to the district's commitment to equipping its students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate their futures successfully, whether that path leads to college, the trades, or directly into the workforce.

Sumner Danbury Elementary School recently brought an adaptive rock wall to its campus for two days. Led by the Parent Faculty Association (PFA), this event offers students a unique physical challenge tailored to accommodate all abilities. Katie Wheatley, PFA Board First Chair, emphasized the rarity of such an opportunity, noting it as a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" that is especially meaningful for students with different abilities. The enthusiasm for the event was widespread, with Wheatley sharing the joy of seeing her own child participate and thrive in this unique setting.

PFA President Zozi Alvarez aimed to make the rock climbing experience inclusive for every student. The event was funded through a "Penny Wars" fundraiser, emphasizing community involvement and the collective effort to go big for the students. This year's success in fundraising efforts underscored the community's support and commitment to providing enriching experiences that foster a sense of achievement and belonging among the students.

The Rockwall event at Sumner Danbury Elementary provided students with an enjoyable and challenging activity and conveyed a powerful message of inclusivity and inspiration. Alvarez highlighted the event's impact, stating, "I think it just makes them think, I can do this, I can do anything," reflecting on the positive influence such experiences have on the students' self-esteem and sense of community.

The Claremont Unified School District (CUSD) celebrates its collaboration with The Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College through “Explorations: Inspiring Arts Integration,” a professional development for teachers from TK-12 grades held on March 14, 2024. The team, consisting of CUSD’s Arts Teacher on Special Assignment Jessica Jackman Uy, Site Arts Lead Teachers Danielle Flowers from Vista del Valle, Denise Klinovsky from Sumner Danbury, Jacqueline McElvy from El Roble, and The Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College staff including Justine Bae Bias, Communications and Engagement Manager, Steve Comba Associate Director/Registrar, and Richard Deely K-12 Education Specialist. They carefully planned a day at The Benton designed to promote staff and student wellness, critical thinking, collaboration, social and emotional learning through arts integration.

CUSD educators were guided through the museum's Spring Exhibitions with each strategy and activity presented connecting to an exhibit and applicable to TK-12 common core standards. Danielle Flowers opened the day with mindfulness practices, the art of noticing, and a sculptural response to the “Stitch Field” installation. Jacque McElvy then enticed participants into a deep exploration of cultural storytelling and contour drawing with "Continuity: Cahuilla Basket Makers and their Legacies.” Denise Klinovsky and Jessica Jackman Uy led mindfulness of the body, partnered close looking, and collaborative theatre warm-ups to ignite voice, body, and imagination based on "500 Years of Italian Drawings from the Princeton University Art Museum." Richard Deely provided insights into the exhibitions and led an engaging activity centered around the "Infinity on Paper" exhibition, showcasing the The Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College collection drawings combined with the Jack Sheer collection and introducing participants to the curation process, encouraging them to discover and share thematic connections between various works of art. 

Nicole McCabe, a teacher at El Roble Intermediate School, shared her enthusiasm for integrating these experiences into their teaching, highlighting the importance of art in developing critical thinking, and creative expression among students. Steve Comba emphasized its role as a community resource and its commitment to making art accessible to all. He hopes that the teachers left feeling both challenged and supported, understanding that the museum is a partner in education, ready to assist in bringing the richness of art into their classrooms.

This event is part of the continual development of the partnership with CUSD and The Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College. Through such collaborations, CUSD reaffirms its commitment to fostering a vibrant arts education that enriches our students' learning experiences and connects them with the broader cultural community.

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