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A group of El Roble Intermediate School eighth graders recently took an exciting trip to the Cisco Learning Facility in San Francisco to explore career paths in technology and innovation. The visit, made possible through Claremont Unified School District’s partnership with Cisco, gave students a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s leading tech companies. They toured the facility, learned about internet safety, and experienced the company’s collaborative and modern workspace before enjoying lunch and a group photo.

For eighth grader Cade Kusleika, the highlight of the day was seeing how Cisco fosters creativity and balance in the workplace. “They had an arcade, a ping pong room, and even gave employees a free day every few months,” he said. “The workspace was really open and free.”

Classmate Mason Barbosa said the trip changed how he viewed what a career in tech could look like. “Their job isn’t like coming in every day to work,” he said. “You get a task for the next 12 months, and as long as you get it done, you’re fine. I’d really enjoy that kind of job.” The students also took home raffle prizes, and one even won a drone, making the trip an inspiring and memorable glimpse into the world of technology.

Two Claremont Unified School District educators were selected as recipients of the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) Division 13 Teacher Grant, an award that supports creative and impactful classroom projects. This year, Jessica Marchant from Sycamore Elementary School and Jocelyn Rodriguez Castro from Mountain View Elementary School were recognized for their efforts to enhance student learning through hands-on, engaging instruction.

Marchant used her grant to purchase nine interactive math games designed to strengthen students’ fluency with multiples and improve their understanding of multiplication and division. “Building this number sense is essential for developing automaticity and accuracy,” Marchant said. “Unlike traditional drills that test recall, these activities help students discover patterns, apply mental math strategies, and reason flexibly about numbers.” Her 34 multi-age students are already using the games daily in class, a resource she plans to use for years to come.

At Mountain View, Rodriguez Castro’s grant funded a class set of Yo, Naomi León, a Spanish dual-immersion novel study. The project engages her fifth-grade students in close reading, literature circles, and response journals to build literary analysis and critical thinking skills. “Novel studies are important because they give students an opportunity to see themselves and their stories in literature,” Rodriguez Castro said. “When students feel represented and learn to value experiences different from their own, their empathy, confidence, and engagement soar.” Both teachers exemplify CUSD’s commitment to excellence, equity, innovation, and integrity in education.

Four outstanding Claremont High School seniors, Aabhisaar Shrivastav, Benafsha Akhgar, Ile Cheng, and Nika Cait Crisostomo, have been recognized as QuestBridge National College Match finalists, a prestigious honor that connects high-achieving students from underrepresented and financially disadvantaged communities with full four-year scholarships to top colleges across the nation. The competitive program, co-founded at Stanford University, has supported more than 100,000 students since its inception by providing access to transformative educational and career opportunities.

For Aabhisaar Shrivastav, also a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, the recognition was both exciting and meaningful. “If I get a college match, it would be a really nice thing for me and my family because we wouldn’t have to worry about tuition,” he said. His top choice is Caltech, where he hopes to study engineering. Benafsha Akhgar learned she was a finalist during band class and shared that the process was rewarding. “It was really fun because I got to bond with my sister while working on my essays,” she said. Akhgar’s top choice is Stanford, where her sister is currently a student.

Nika Cait Crisostomo said she was surprised and grateful when she received the news. “I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m eternally grateful because it’s opening so many doors for me,” she said. Crisostomo’s top choice is USC, and she, along with her peers, will find out her match results on Dec. 1. Ile Cheng also earned recognition as a QuestBridge finalist, joining her classmates in representing Claremont High School with pride. Together, these four seniors exemplify the perseverance, academic excellence, and hope that QuestBridge celebrates and that Claremont Unified School District strives to nurture in every student.

Sumner Danbury Elementary School kicked off its first Family Lunch Day this week, inviting parents and guardians to join their students on campus for a special lunchtime picnic. The event, which encourages families to share a meal and connect during the school day, marks the beginning of an ongoing series designed to strengthen the home-school connection and celebrate community.

Parents joined their children for lunch outdoors, bringing blankets and chairs for a picnic-style experience, or sat together at tables or in the MPR. Families were welcome to bring their own lunches or enjoy time together while students got their meals from the cafeteria. Smiles and laughter filled the campus as students proudly introduced their families to classmates and teachers.

Additional Family Lunch Days will continue this month, offering opportunities for every grade level to participate:

• Thursday, Nov. 20: 4th Grade (12:05–12:30 p.m.) and 5th/6th Grade (12:30–12:55 p.m.)

• Friday, Nov. 21: 2nd/3rd Grade (11:40 a.m.–12:05 p.m.)

Sumner Danbury looks forward to hosting many more of these gatherings in the months ahead, celebrating the meaningful connections between families, students, and staff.

Students at El Roble Intermediate School had an out-of-this-world experience when Joey Jefferson, a former NASA Flight Systems Engineer and current Boeing Civilian Space Systems engineer, visited campus to speak about his career in space exploration. Jefferson, who spent 11 years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), shared stories from his work on major missions, including Cassini, Voyager, and Mars 2020: Perseverance Rover. His talk encouraged students to dream big and to see science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as fields full of opportunity.

“I hope students gain confidence and realize that things that seem unattainable are possible if you have the initiative and fearlessness to go after them,” Jefferson said. He emphasized that success in STEM is not defined by where you begin, but by hard work, curiosity, and perseverance. He shared that his own NASA internship began through a chance connection at his sister’s church and eventually led to his writing flight code for the Artemis spacecraft.

Jefferson’s visit was filled with energy and inspiration as students eagerly asked questions about space, aliens, and what it takes to become an engineer. He praised El Roble’s students for their curiosity and engagement, noting how bright and enthusiastic they were throughout the presentation. His message of resilience, curiosity, and self-belief left a lasting impression, reminding students that with determination and passion, even the sky is not the limit.

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