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San Antonio High School, Claremont's continuation high school, marked a major milestone this month with a celebration of its 60th anniversary. Alumni, teachers, administrators, and families came together for a carnival-style open house featuring games, a dunk tank, a photo booth, face painting, and plenty of food. The celebration came on the heels of yet another remarkable achievement for the school. On March 11, San Antonio was named a 2026 Model Continuation High School by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, marking the fifth time the state has honored the school with this distinction. The award recognizes exemplary instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, and strong guidance and counseling services that support students who are at risk of not completing their education. San Antonio has also been named an Apple Distinguished School twice, and is the only continuation school in the world to have received that honor.

Beyond the awards, what truly sets San Antonio apart is its people. Principal Andrea Deligio, long-time English teacher Melissa Gaw, social studies teacher Tyler Baugh, and the entire staff have built a culture rooted in one simple belief: every student has somebody. Whether it is a teacher, a counselor, or an office manager, every student has a trusted adult who believes in them and is committed to helping them succeed. As Ms. Gaw shared, the staff works to remove barriers and obstacles so students can bring out the best version of themselves. That philosophy has led to life-changing results. Graduate John Ramirez, class of 2024, shared that after struggling during his freshman and sophomore years, he earned straight As in his first year at San Antonio, crediting the teachers who saw him as more than just a student.

For 60 years, San Antonio High School has provided students with a supportive, alternative path to earning their high school diploma, and the stories of transformation continue to grow. As Principal Deligio has shared, every person who comes through the school, whether a current student or an alumnus from decades past, says the same thing: San Antonio saved them. With its 60th graduating class set to walk the stage on June 11, CUSD could not be more proud of the incredible legacy San Antonio High School continues to build. Congratulations to the students, staff, and families of San Antonio High School, and here is to the next 60 years!

On March 26, Claremont High School made history by hosting its first-ever Unified Sports Track Meet on the CHS track. Students with disabilities and general education students teamed up to compete in two exciting events: the 100-yard dash and the shot put. Unified Sports is a program in which people with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together on sports teams, built on the simple principle that playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. A lot of students and staff came out to show their support, making the event an incredible display of school spirit, inclusion, and community. A special thank you goes to Terrance Lynch, David Pimentel, and Tara Moxley for helping coordinate this inaugural event. CUSD is so proud of every student who participated and every student who showed up to support their peers. This is what it means to be a Wolfpack!

Vista del Valle Elementary School's newly formed K-Kids club made a big impact with their very first service project on Saturday, March 21. K-Kids is the Kiwanis Service Leadership Program for grade school students, and for their inaugural project, the club set out to build up and beautify the garden areas around their school. Members of the Claremont Kiwanis Club came out in full force to support the effort, working alongside the young K-Kids members to shape the garden that the students themselves helped design. The day began bright and early with check-in, donuts, and coffee at 8:00 a.m., followed by a full morning of garden work. At 11:00 a.m., the group paused for lunch and a special moment as the K-Kids charter was officially presented to Vista del Valle Principal Charles Boulden and faculty advisor Mo Garcia. Garden work continued into the afternoon before wrapping up with a clean-up at 2:00 p.m.

The event was part of the annual Kiwanis One Day project, where Kiwanis clubs around the world contribute to their local communities. The support extended well beyond the Claremont Kiwanis Club, as members of other Kiwanis student service leadership programs also helped build the garden, including the El Roble Builder's Club and Claremont High School's Key Club. Claremont Mayor Jennifer Stark presented a certificate to Principal Boulden honoring the formation of the K-Kids club at Vista, and City Councilmember Sal Medina also stopped by with snacks and helped with various projects. A huge thank you goes to Brian Moraga, the Kiwanis Service Leadership Program Liaison, for orchestrating the entire event and coordinating student volunteers from Vista, El Roble, and CHS. This project is a wonderful example of what happens when a community comes together to support its schools, and CUSD is so grateful for the partnership with Kiwanis. We cannot wait to see what the Vista del Valle K-Kids do next!

At Condit Elementary, something truly special is happening in Music class. Over the past several months, Music Teacher Mr. Mikel Loera, known lovingly as Mr. M, has been inspiring students with an original song he wrote and composed just for them, one that captures the heart and spirit of what it means to be a Condit Condor and what it truly looks like to "Soar." The pride in every student's voice is unmistakable each time they sing it, and when asked which classes really brought the song to life, Mr. M didn't hesitate. Mrs. Murphy's 2nd Grade Class and Ms. Robbin's 5th Grade Class rose to the occasion in a remarkable way. We are so proud of Mr. M for pouring his talent and passion into our students, and even prouder of our young Condors for singing their hearts out. Please enjoy this wonderful performance, and join us in celebrating the incredible work happening in music education at Condit!

El Roble Intermediate School has a published author walking its halls, and she's only 14 years old. Eighth grader Abigail Haughton recently held a signing event for her second novel, "Treacherous Waters: The Rouge Voyage, April 13-16, 1912," surrounded by supportive peers, staff, and community members, including El Roble Assistant Principal Heather Lyn and Principal Missy Samson. The novel continues the story of the Titanic tragedy through the eyes of a young passenger and is the follow-up to her debut, "Treacherous Waters: The Rouge Voyage, April 10-12, 1912." Both books were self-published through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing, and Abigail is already hard at work on the third volume in the series.

What makes Abigail's accomplishment even more remarkable is everything else she balances along the way. She maintains a 4.0 GPA, plays violin in the El Roble orchestra, is active in her church, and still finds time to just be a kid. As her proud mother and agent Bobrea Haughton shared, Abigail sees that if you want something, you go for it, and there is no room for laziness. Abigail herself keeps it simple, saying she takes life one step at a time and sets aside a little time each day for writing alongside homework and everything else. With an audiobook on the way and a third novel in progress as she prepares for her freshman year at Claremont High School, Abigail is a shining example of what is possible when talent meets determination. Copies of her first book are available to check out at CUSD and LA County libraries. Congratulations, Abigail, and go Panthers!

For four years now, Chaparral Elementary has opened its doors to a beautiful tradition that brings the school community together in a truly meaningful way. World Cultures Day is an event that creates a space for students and families to share their culture, heritage, and lived experiences with one another. During the school day, parent volunteers and Claremont High School club members from the German, Spanish, French, and Italian clubs host stations and deliver presentations to classrooms, giving students a firsthand look at the traditions and stories that make our community so wonderfully diverse. Teachers sign up for these presentations, with classes attending one, two, or three sessions throughout the day.

The celebration continues into the evening, when an even larger group of volunteers comes together to host tables and stations filled with facts, artifacts, customs, and even snacks from cultures around the world. This year, Chaparral welcomed an incredible 21 stations during the evening event, making it the largest World Cultures Day yet! Events like these remind us that our differences are something to celebrate and that there is so much we can learn from one another. Thank you to all of the families, volunteers, and CHS club members who helped make this year's World Cultures Day such a special and memorable experience. Go Roadrunners!

On March 19, 2026, the Claremont High School community gathered in the outdoor garden to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the Wolfpack Zen Den Wellness Center, a student-designed, student-driven space that has already welcomed over 1,000 students since opening last spring. The celebration brought together CUSD leadership, elected officials, community partners, and families to honor a space born from a simple but powerful idea: that every student deserves a place to pause, breathe, and feel supported. Representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Norma Torres and Assemblymember John Harabedian attended to present certificates of recognition, joined by Mayor Jennifer Stark of the City of Claremont, a testament to how far the vision of a small group of students has reached. "What you created here is more than a room," said CUSD Coordinator of Mental Health Services Dr. Erica Robledo. "It is more than a project. It is already a living legacy."

At the heart of the celebration were the students who made it happen. Members of the Student Wellness Advisory Group, known as SWAG, shared personal reflections on the journey that transformed a cold, isolated book storage room into a vibrant wellness center complete with a stunning mural by CHS alumnus Xiocoatl Mejia and a community planted Zen Garden. "Everything we have worked on these past two years, the Zen Den, the mural, and the garden, has turned out way better than I could have ever imagined," said SWAG Ambassador Gabrielle Mussey, who added that the space has already become a beloved part of campus life. "Every time we meet here, other students are already waiting to get in." Superintendent Dr. Jim Elsasser reminded the crowd that the Zen Den is just the beginning, calling it a model for what student wellness can look like across every school in Claremont Unified.

At the March 19 Board Meeting, Jessica Jackman Uy, Teacher on Special Assignment for Arts Education, and Denise Klinovsky, kindergarten teacher at Sumner Danbury, took a moment to recognize an extraordinary young leader in our district. Nina Wu, a Senior at Claremont High School, is the founder and president of Project Keynote, a completely student-run club with a mission to bring the love of music to young students in Claremont. What began with a determined sophomore on a Zoom call with a big plan has since transformed the way CUSD approaches family arts nights across the district. What were once staff-led events are now entirely student-presented, thanks to the energy and vision Nina brought to the table. To date, Project Keynote has hosted 12 events, performing music and leading rhythm lessons at every Family Arts Night. Nina and her growing team have also expanded their reach by offering after-school workshops at Sumner Danbury, Oakmont, Mountain View, and Vista, and they play a vital role in supporting the elementary instrumental music program by helping measure students for instruments, cleaning and preparing them, and volunteering in music classes. All of this while still keeping up with their own studies. As Jessica and Denise shared, the admiration for Nina is immeasurable. Nina Wu is a shining example of student leadership, and CUSD is so proud to have her making such a meaningful impact across our schools. Thank you, Nina, and thank you to the entire Project Keynote team!

Third graders from all seven Claremont Unified elementary schools experienced the magic of live orchestral music on March 10 when 180 students, chaperones, and staff traveled to Walt Disney Concert Hall for the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Symphonies for Youth concert. The trip was made possible through the generous support of the Foothill Philharmonic Committee, one of twelve affiliate committees that supports the LA Philharmonic and music education, which provided tickets and bus transportation. The district provided lunches, and three Sumner Danbury students joined the group with transportation provided by SELPA. Before the performance, students explored hands-on Art and Sound Activations, crafting mini instruments and participating in interactive activities designed to bring music to life. Inside the concert hall, students watched wide-eyed as world-class musicians performed, with some pretending to play along from their seats. Foothill Committee Board members Linda Arndt and Linda Juriwitz worked with Sycamore Principal Amy Stanger, who coordinated the event across all seven schools. The annual tradition is perfectly timed, arriving just before CUSD's instrumental music program begins in fourth grade, helping spark the musical curiosity that the district's music program nurtures year after year. CUSD extends its sincere gratitude to the Foothill Philharmonic Committee for making this enriching experience possible for our students.

Claremont High School's Theatre Department and Thespian Troupe 2129 made an incredible showing at this year's California State Thespian Festival, joining 1,700 fellow thespians from across the state for a weekend of learning, competition, and celebration. Under the direction of Theatre Director Mohammed Mangrio, CHS students learned new skills from industry professionals, participated in a wide range of events, and brought home some seriously impressive results. In the Thespian Excellence Awards, which recognize the highest level of achievement in school theatre, multiple CHS students earned Superior ratings out of nearly 1,000 entries statewide, qualifying them for the final round at the International Thespian Festival. The troupe also placed in the top three in five different categories, including first place finishes by Elijah Sanchez and Skye Varanont in Solo Musical and a first place win by the Musical Ensemble group.

The achievements did not stop there. Vivienne Mezones earned a scholarship to attend the International Thespian Festival 2026, while Michael Jones was cast in the prestigious Playworks Program and Moira Cleaves served as an assistant director in the same program. Several students were also selected to serve as student tech crew for the festival. To top it all off, Anna Sawhill and Silver Lazar were inducted to the 2026-2027 California Thespians State Board as State Thespian Officers. From the stage to behind the scenes, CHS Theatre continues to demonstrate excellence at every level, and CUSD could not be more proud. Please join us in congratulating these amazing thespians and the entire CHS Theatre program on an outstanding festival season!

Claremont Unified School District invited families to a community screening of the documentary "Counted Out," sparking an important conversation about how math education shapes student confidence, access, and opportunity. Following the film, attendees heard from a panel featuring CUSD teachers Leslie Wallace and Breanna Amegin alongside Dr. Talithia Williams, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and one of the stars of the documentary. Panelists discussed the importance of using consistent mathematical language across grade levels, encouraged families to look for "hidden math moments" in everyday life like cooking, budgeting, and tracking gas prices, and emphasized the shared belief that every person, whether they are four or 84, is capable of meaningful mathematics. CUSD educators also shared how the district is unpacking the new California Math Framework through professional development in grades TK through 12. The evening reflected CUSD's commitment to equitable math instruction and the power of bringing educators, families, and community partners together around the issues that matter most for student success.