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We are thrilled to invite you to the Claremont High School Music Building ribbon cutting! Join us on Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. for a special ceremony at the Music Building Outdoor Stage on the Claremont High School campus. Celebrate this new space that will foster creativity, collaboration, and musical excellence for our students.

Mark your calendar and spread the word—this is a community celebration you won’t want to miss! We look forward to seeing you there and making this day truly memorable!

Condit Elementary is proud to be the first elementary school in Claremont to host a community blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross, showcasing Condit's commitment to fostering empathy and service among students. On Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 1:00–7:00 PM in the Condit MPR, staff, families, and community members are invited to donate blood and help save lives. Although our 6th-grade students aren't old enough to donate, they learn the importance of blood donation through the Future Blood Donor Program and serve as ambassadors for this life-saving cause. Your participation will support those in need and inspire the next generation to embrace community service.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Claremont Unified School District proudly honored Claremont Police Chief Aaron Fate with the 2025 "You Are The Commitment" award at a recent Board of Education meeting. This prestigious recognition is reserved for individuals who embody CUSD's core values of Excellence, Equity, Innovation, and Integrity. Chief Fate has consistently demonstrated these qualities, building upon the longstanding relationship between our district and the Claremont Police Department—a partnership nurtured by previous chiefs and elevated further through his compassionate leadership, strategic community engagement, and unwavering dedication to our students' safety and well-being.

As Chief Fate approaches his retirement on April 1, 2025, we celebrate his lasting legacy of fostering trust, collaboration, and unity within our schools and community. From his early days as a School Resource Officer and beloved D.A.R.E. instructor to his current role as Chief, Aaron Fate has positively shaped countless lives, prioritizing mentorship and compassion in every interaction. On behalf of the Claremont Unified School District, we thank Chief Fate for his decades of dedicated service and wish him a joyful and fulfilling retirement.

The Claremont High School Speech & Debate team has done it again! After weeks of intense qualifying tournaments in Student Congress, Debate, and Speech events, CHS has emerged as the CBSR League Champion for the 10th year—continuing an incredible legacy of excellence. With a commanding 267 points, CHS outperformed Redlands High School (202 points) and Los Osos High School (153 points), securing 19 championships in the last 20 years.

CHS competitors displayed incredible dedication and skill throughout the season, with many excelling in multiple events and bringing home six League Champion titles. Their outstanding performances have qualified 31 students for the California High School Speech Association (CHSSA) State Championship, which will take place the first weekend of May. 

To celebrate this milestone and kick off the journey to the state championship, the Speech & Debate Boosters generously provided pizza, nachos, cake, and soda for the team’s celebration on Tuesday. Their support helped make the event a special moment for students to reflect on their hard work and success. We thank our dedicated boosters for ensuring our students felt appreciated and celebrated as they continue their journey to the State Championship!

El Roble Intermediate School opened its doors to a lively crowd of future Panthers and their families at this year’s inspiring New Panther Showcase. Sixth-grade students across the district were invited to explore an array of campus clubs, courses, and programs that make El Roble a wonderful place to learn and grow. Current students proudly hosted booths highlighting extracurriculars such as the MYP (Middle Years Programme), German Club, AVID, Band, Choir, and countless others—enthusiastically answering questions as parents and prospective Panthers roamed the displays. This interactive first portion of the event perfectly demonstrated El Roble’s warm spirit and collaborative environment, showing off the many opportunities that await incoming seventh graders.

Following the bustling showcase, everyone gathered in the gym for the evening’s second segment. Principal McAlindin led the presentation by sharing vital information on El Roble’s approach to education, its supportive teachers, and the positive campus culture. Teachers then shared a detailed glimpse into the school’s academic expectations, highlighting the ways in which El Roble fosters both intellectual growth and personal development. The energy in the packed gym soared as the current choir and color guard put on captivating performances, offering future students an exciting preview of the vibrant arts and activities scene they can look forward to.

From the moment guests set foot on campus, it was evident that El Roble is more than just a school—it is a thriving community committed to cultivating creativity, curiosity, and excellence. Attendees left with a clear picture of what makes El Roble remarkable: engaging teachers, enthusiastic student leaders, and enriching programs designed to spark a love of learning. For families seeking a supportive, inspiring environment for their children’s intermediate years, El Roble stands ready to welcome new Panthers with open arms next school year.

E-sports is an officially recognized sport by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and you can feel the electric energy in Claremont High School’s gaming lab as controllers click, screens flash, and students work together in pursuit of victory. Now in its third year, the CHS E-Sports program features two teams—Super Smash Bros. and League of Legends—under the guidance of Coach Jaimie Oberbeck. Senior Robert Henderson, a first-year Smash competitor, loves how this team takes his passion for gaming to the next level: “I was never into physical sports, but this gave me an opportunity to compete in something I truly care about. Working alongside my teammates to choose the right characters and fine-tune our strategies is both intense and rewarding.”

Senior Jonathan Lam, who plays League of Legends, agrees that the program offers more than just screen time. “We’re not just issuing commands over voice chat; we’re sitting next to each other, working on real-time strategies,” he said. E-sports at CHS goes beyond leveling up skills—it fuels lasting friendships, fosters communication, and can even open doors to college scholarships. “I’m playing a game I love, but it’s all about teamwork and communication,” Lam added. Parents and community supporters can share in this excitement, knowing that CHS students are honing 21st-century skills in an innovative and fast-growing competitive environment.

Claremont High School (CHS) and El Roble Intermediate School’s cheer teams brought home top honors from the NRG Cheer and Dance Championship at Knott’s Berry Farm, each securing first place in their respective divisions. Both teams delivered flawless performances, achieving “zero deductions”—a testament to their precision and discipline. El Roble’s team dominated the Jr. High Show Cheer Novice division, earning the Overall Grand Champion title and the Best Choreography award. At the same time, CHS clinched first place in the High School Show Cheer division and was named Overall Grand Champion in the Senior High division.

The road to success was paved with rigorous training and a strong sense of camaraderie between the two teams. “It took time for CHS to develop the habit of executing a routine with zero deductions, but once they got into the rhythm, it became second nature,” said CHS Head Coach Nosa Odiase. “Every competition, our goal is to hit zero, so seeing both teams accomplish that was incredible.” El Roble Head Coach Sydney Crigler echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the impact of preparation and support: “We practiced the way we wanted to perform—focusing on resilience even when mistakes happened. The bond between our teams has made a huge difference; my girls feel inspired and comforted knowing they have CHS cheering them on.”

Beyond their technical skills, the teams’ connection and shared passion fueled their standout performances. “Our programs thrive because we support each other,” Odiase added. “When El Roble cheerleaders transition to CHS, they’re already prepared and confident. Seeing both teams win together was a full-circle moment.” With this championship victory, the Claremont cheer program continues to set a high standard for excellence, proving that teamwork, dedication, and unwavering support make all the difference on and off the mat.

On Wednesday, March 5, every student at Sumner Danbury Elementary received a brand-new book during Read Across America Week. Spearheaded by parent Robert Torres, this effort was made possible through a grant from the City of Pomona. Teachers had the opportunity to choose titles best suited for their students.

Robert Torres, a former Pomona City Council Member who attended Sumner Danbury himself and is now the father of a student at the school, presented the books during the school’s Morning Meeting PBIS Assembly. “When I look at my academic career, I always think about Sumner,” Torres said. “Sumner really opened my eyes to academics, and when the opportunity came to help the students, I knew the best impact you can make is when the kids are young.”

Highlighting the importance of parent involvement, Torres praised the school’s supportive community. Thanks to this collaboration, Sumner Danbury students now have fresh reading materials to help spark their curiosity, enrich their learning, and keep their love of reading growing.

Claremont Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Jim Elsasser visited Condit Elementary School to kick off Read Across America Week, sharing the classic story Green Eggs and Ham with first grade students. This beloved annual tradition dates back to when Dr. Elsasser first joined the district and continues to encourage a love of reading and storytelling among young learners. The students were captivated by Dr. Elsasser's engaging storytelling, marking a joyful beginning to a week dedicated to celebrating literacy across our schools.

Vista del Valle Elementary students recently enjoyed a special visit from authors René Spencer and Rodolfo Montalvo, who read their book Bye Land, Bye Sea as part of the school's annual literacy celebration. Organized in partnership with the Children's Bookstore in Pasadena, this event invites children's authors and illustrators each year to share their work and experiences directly with students, sparking excitement and creativity around reading and writing. Throughout the day, students eagerly shared their own stories and projects with classmates, discovering how their efforts mirror those of professional authors and illustrators. This meaningful interaction encouraged students to envision themselves as authors, helping foster a lifelong love of reading and writing at Vista.

At the end of February, El Roble Intermediate School's gym came alive with music, applause, and community pride during the Elementary Instrumental Music Program's Winter Concerts. On February 26, elementary orchestra students showcased their talents, followed by the elementary band students on February 27, delighting parents, community members, and supporters who packed the gym to celebrate these young musicians. Claremont Unified is proud to offer instrumental music opportunities to all elementary students in grades 4-6, aligning with our commitment to inspiring excellence and nurturing student talent. Don't miss their next performances—Orchestra on May 21 and Band on May 22—as our talented young musicians continue to grow and impress.

Several times a month, students across the district can enjoy fresh, flavor-packed meals courtesy of the CUSD Nutrition Services Department. These special menu days bring excitement to the cafeteria with bold, scratch-made recipes. 

Imagine the enticing aroma of scratch-made roasted chile verde sauce wafting through CUSD’s central kitchen as it roasts to perfection. This vibrant sauce, featuring tomatillos, onions, poblano peppers, garlic, jalapeños, and cilantro, is the heart of our new chile verde carnitas.The sauce not only delivers incredible flavor but also boosts the meal’s overall nutrition. Another scratch-made recipe that our dedicated employees have added to the menu is vegetarian lasagna. After enjoying their lasagna, an eager kindergarten student at Vista said it best: “This was the best lunch ever!”

Other recent new menu highlights have included flavorful chicken tikka masala and a delicious black bean veggie burger for our vegan students. These dishes are prepared from quality ingredients and have proven popular among students—many enjoying every bite! These special menu days are part of the district's commitment to providing nutritious, tasty meal options that students genuinely look forward to.

Oakmont Outdoor School students showed enthusiasm for reading by dressing up as their favorite literary characters for Character Day! All grades participated, filling the school library with creativity and imagination as students dove into their books. The lively event celebrated Read Across America Week, encouraging a lifelong love of reading and storytelling.

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