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During the week of March 17, more than 800 upper-grade students from Claremont elementary schools experienced art in a unique way through Claremont Lewis Museum of Art (CLMA), Project ARTstART, an innovative arts education initiative now in its 14th year. Directed by Rich Deely, the program leverages 150 Claremont High School students as mentors who work with college collaborators to design and lead engaging art lessons at the CLMA. By transforming traditional museum visits into interactive learning experiences, the program not only provides elementary students with an enriching art appreciation opportunity but also develops leadership and communication skills in the high school student mentors. The carefully crafted tours and lessons, spanning schools including Vista del Valle, Mountain View, Oakmont Outdoor, Sumner Danbury, and Sycamore Elementary, showcase a collaborative approach to arts education that brings creativity and learning together in a meaningful way.

Project ARTstART's model goes beyond traditional museum visits by creating a collaborative learning environment where high school students become art educators. By training these young mentors to design and lead exhibit-based art lessons, the program not only enriches the artistic understanding of elementary students but also develops leadership and communication skills in the high school participants. This innovative approach ensures that art education becomes an engaging, hands-on experience that sparks creativity and curiosity in young minds.

At CLMA, Vista students explored two powerful exhibitions: Home in Aztlán: The García Collection of Chicano Art and One of Your Girls or Homies: Tan 'Jazz' Mont. After reflecting on how art captures fleeting yet meaningful moments, students participated in an art-response activity, sculpting personal memories into tangible creations. Vista del Valle teacher Cristina Marroquin shared the importance of this collaborative experience: "With the experience of Artstart, my students can see themselves as future mentors of art appreciation and learn the values of their own art abilities. Students also gain a great deal of respect and understanding of how art can express an idea or a feeling that can sometimes be overlooked." CUSD celebrates this enriching partnership with The Claremont Lewis Museum of Art, which continues to inspire young artists across the district!

CUSD Families gathered for an exciting evening of creativity and learning at the recent LEGO Family Night, where students, parents, and caregivers worked together using LEGO Education kits. The event encouraged hands-on problem-solving and collaboration, reinforcing the joy of learning through play.

Students had the opportunity to build a tree and a rollercoaster, exploring concepts of engineering, design, and creativity. With guidance from their families, they experimented with different structures and solutions, enhancing their critical thinking and teamwork skills.

The event highlighted the importance of family engagement in education, showing how interactive learning experiences can strengthen both academic skills and family connections. Parents and caregivers played an active role in the learning process, supporting and encouraging their children’s creativity.

LEGO Family Night was a memorable experience, proving that learning together can be fun and meaningful. Families left inspired, with new ways to continue exploring and building at home.

The Claremont High School Counseling Team recently returned to El Roble Intermediate School, continuing a valuable annual tradition to prepare rising freshmen—the future class of 2029—for a seamless transition to high school. On March 6, CHS counselors delivered engaging classroom lessons in 8th-grade history classes, providing students with an insightful overview of high school expectations, class selection processes, and academic planning. This dedicated team also hosted an informative parent webinar that evening, ensuring families were fully equipped to support their students.

The efforts didn’t stop there. On March 27 and 28, counselors returned to El Roble for one-on-one meetings, meticulously reviewing students’ course selections and addressing any lingering questions or concerns. This thoughtful and comprehensive approach underscores the district’s commitment to student success, ensuring incoming freshmen feel informed, confident, and supported. Special thanks to our hardworking CHS counselors for making this essential transition both smooth and reassuring for our future Wolfpack members!

Mountain View Elementary teachers Nancy Bird and Vanessa Martinez-Rios were recently awarded literacy grants by Claremont’s Noon Rotary Club, providing support for student literacy programs. Bird, an intervention teacher, used the grant to enhance her Mustang Book Bag program, a unique initiative designed to strengthen reading skills and family connections for about 25 students participating in Mountain View’s Response to Intervention (RTI) program. The bags contain books, writing supplies, alphabet letters, mini-whiteboards, and sight-word cards, helping students develop essential reading skills and fostering meaningful learning experiences at home. Bird expressed gratitude for the community’s investment, noting, “Because of the Rotary Club’s generous support, I can reach beyond my classroom into their homes by supplying parents and guardians with the tools they need to ensure success in their children.”

Martinez-Rios, who teaches second grade dual immersion, dedicated her grant funds to purchase the Heggerty Spanish Primary Phonics Complete Set. These instructional materials provide structured phonics lessons to support students’ biliteracy skills in Spanish and English, benefiting both current and future students across multiple classrooms. Martinez-Rios emphasized the long-term impact of this support, stating, “This kind of community support allows us to invest in materials that directly impact student learning and success. It also reinforces the message that our community values biliteracy and is invested in helping students develop the skills they need to thrive.” CUSD celebrates the dedication of both teachers and thanks the Noon Rotary Club for investing in student literacy and academic success.

Claremont High School hosted the SoCal Trades Tour Wednesday, bringing together juniors and seniors from CHS and San Antonio High School to explore exciting career opportunities and network with potential employers. With over 35 organizations present—including representatives from healthcare, higher education institutions like Mt. San Antonio College, and the U.S. Marines—students gained valuable insights into a wide range of professional pathways.

Beyond exploring potential job opportunities, students had the chance to practice crucial interviewing skills by interacting directly with recruiters in professional, conversational settings. Participants found the event inspiring and motivating, helping them envision future career paths and build confidence as they approach graduation. Participation in the Trades Tour reflects the ongoing commitment of Claremont Unified School District to prepare students for success beyond the classroom.

This past Saturday, the El Roble Interact Club joined forces with community members, Rotarians, and families from AbilityFirst to make a lasting impact. Students cleared a recycling holding area—sorting through 22 bags of recyclables—and prepared the space for future use. They also removed ice plants and shrubbery, creating a new garden area and built raised planters tailored for wheelchair accessibility. These planters will teach children about the origins of their food and provide healthy produce for those receiving services at AbilityFirst, which is dedicated to helping people with disabilities achieve their personal best. This collaborative workday showcased how community engagement, combined with dedication and teamwork, can cultivate meaningful change.

Claremont High School’s track and field team delivered an outstanding performance at the Cal Relays this past weekend, claiming multiple medals and two first-place finishes. The Boys Frosh/Soph 4x800 relay teams earned second and third place, while the Girls Varsity 4x800 took second. Additional podium finishes included the Boys Varsity 4x200 (third), Boys Frosh/Soph DMR (third), and Lyle Mideiros in the Boys Varsity 1600 (third), with the Boys Varsity 4x800 placing fourth. Notably, the Girls Frosh/Soph Distance Medley Relay team (Angie Vargas-Aldaco, Kat Willett, Olivia Quezada, and Camila Trevino-Davila) secured first place in their event. Even more impressive, the Girls 800 Sprint Medley Relay team of Annika Graham-Scanlon, Zenani Guannu, Zylah Araujo, and Yaroslava Willard not only won first place at 1:50.05, but they also shattered a 23-year-old Claremont High School record set in 2002. Congratulations to all the Wolfpack athletes on this remarkable accomplishment!

Claremont High School junior Nina Wu recently soared to success by winning the ACSA Region 15 Original Oratory competition, where she was chosen as one of three winners out of 19 accomplished competitors. Along with a $1,000 prize, she will present her award-winning oratory at the ACSA Spring Banquet in April, proudly representing Claremont High School and the entire district.

On March 20th, Nina performed her speech, titled “Your Story, Your Journey,” at the school board meeting and received a warm round of applause from everyone in attendance. Her thought-provoking commentary on identity and self-discovery captivated the room. Audiences connected with her humor and honesty as she quipped, “Hey, where’s my invitation?” while describing how watching the Oscars reminded her of “the number of characters I had to play growing up.” She also struck a chord when she admitted, “I realized I had no name,” before boldly proclaiming, “I refuse to audition for pre-existing roles…or follow director’s orders.”

CUSD extends its congratulations to Nina for her remarkable achievement. Her determination, creativity, and genuine voice remind us all that the path to self-discovery is a personal journey. We look forward to witnessing Nina’s continued growth and success as a speaker and an inspiration to her peers.

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