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Claremont Unified School District is proud to announce the return of Empowering CUSD Students: Women in Leadership, taking place on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Don F. Fruechte Theatre for the Performing Arts at Claremont High School. This annual event brings together inspiring female leaders from diverse fields to share their experiences and insights with CUSD students and families.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Senator Sasha Renee Perez, who will set the stage for an engaging evening of conversation and inspiration. The panelists include Dr. Stephanie Dingwall, Dean of Students at UC Riverside; Kathleen Fariss, CEO of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce; Judge Allison Westfahl Kong of the Superior Court of California; and Candace Yoder, Executive Director of The Matthew Silverman Memorial Foundation.

The event is open to all CUSD students and families and will feature an engaging panel discussion exploring the power of women in leadership, the importance of representation, and the future of leadership across industries.

Claremont Unified School District is proud to share that a Student and Family Resource Center will open during the 2025–2026 school year, thanks to funding from the Tri-City Mental Health Student Services Act Sub-Grant. The center, which will be located at Oakmont Outdoor School, will provide students and families from every CUSD campus with a welcoming space designed to support wellness, family engagement, and academic success. This initiative reflects The CUSD Commitment, specifically Focus Areas 4.6, 5.4, and 5.5.

The center will be overseen by the district’s Senior Liaison of Youth and Family Services and represents an expansion of CUSD’s ongoing efforts to nurture the whole child. Much like the “ZenDen” at Claremont High School and the planned Wellness Center at El Roble Intermediate School, the new hub at Oakmont will provide students and families with access to resources and services in a safe and confidential environment. It will not be open to the general public or run by an outside agency, ensuring that its focus remains on CUSD students and their families.

As we look ahead to the official opening, families can expect more information about programming, workshops, and opportunities to participate in the center’s offerings. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place in the coming months, and details will be shared once plans are finalized. We are excited to take this next step in strengthening the connection between school and home, and in continuing to prioritize the care, compassion, and support that define our CUSD community.

Claremont Unified School District is proud to recognize five exceptional students who have been named Semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program:

• Caleb J. Fong

• Arnav N. Merla

• Gabrielle Mussey

• Aabhisaar A. Shrivastav

• Luke I. Vinall

These distinguished seniors are among more than 16,000 students nationwide who qualified as Semifinalists by achieving top scores on the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, Semifinalists are recognized for their exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

As Semifinalists, Caleb, Arnav, Gabrielle, Aabhisaar, and Luke now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for nearly 7,000 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $26 million to be awarded next spring. To advance to Finalist standing, each student must submit a detailed application that highlights their academic achievements, leadership, and community involvement.

The National Merit Scholarship Program, established in 1955, has honored generations of students who demonstrate outstanding scholarship and leadership. About 95 percent of Semifinalists are expected to become Finalists, and approximately half of those will earn the title of National Merit Scholar.

We congratulate these outstanding Claremont High School seniors on this prestigious honor and wish them the very best as they continue in the competition.

Claremont Unified School District is excited to launch ParentSquare, a new two-way communication platform that integrates with Aeries, bringing school, district, and classroom updates into one secure place. To ensure a smooth transition, the rollout will start with the Claremont High School Speech & Debate Team and Choir classes, with plans to expand to additional programs and eventually include all students and families at Claremont High School, El Roble Intermediate School, and San Antonio High School. ParentSquare makes it easier for families to stay connected by providing timely updates, translation in preferred languages, and the ability to manage notifications from a computer or mobile device.

CUSD’s youngest learners kicked off the school year with smiles and excitement as our Transitional Kindergarten students enjoyed a fun-filled first day alongside their new classmates. From making friends to exploring their classrooms, our TK students began building the foundations of their educational journey in an environment filled with curiosity, joy, and support from their teachers and staff.

CUSD teachers kicked off the 2025-2026 school year with an inspiring professional development day, featuring keynote speaker Travis Allen, CEO of ProSolve, who brought high energy and fresh insights to the event. Speaking on Trust, Innovation, and Leadership in an AI-Driven World, Allen encouraged educators to embrace the possibilities of artificial intelligence and consider how today’s students will one day enter a workforce transformed by new technologies. His forward-looking perspective set the tone for an exciting year ahead, giving teachers motivation to think differently about their practice and the future of education.

Claremont Unified School District proudly welcomed its newest certificated staff members with a two-day orientation designed to celebrate, inform, and inspire as they began their careers with CUSD.

On the first day, district office staff and administrators rolled out the red carpet, greeting new educators with warm smiles and a true Claremont welcome. The day was filled with opportunities to connect, build relationships, and learn about the tools and resources available to help ensure a strong start to the school year. Presentations and sessions provided valuable information about the district’s programs, expectations, and supports, giving new staff the confidence they need to thrive.

Day two brought one of CUSD’s most beloved traditions, the New Certificated Staff Bus Tour. Led by Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Kevin Ward, the tour offered an engaging history of the district and each school site, with stops at campuses across Claremont. At every stop, current staff lined up outside to cheer on their new colleagues, creating a festive and encouraging atmosphere. Some schools sang, while others took the microphone to share what makes their school community so special. 

The day included a memorable full-circle moment when Sycamore Elementary School welcomed its new teacher, Ike Menefee-Libey. Ike was once a student in Kevin Ward’s 4/5/6 combo class in the 2000–2001 school year, and Sycamore staff surprised him with a copy of that class photo as he returned to his alma mater as a teacher.

The two days together set the tone for an exciting year ahead, reminding all involved that in CUSD, new staff are not only joining a workplace, they are joining a family dedicated to excellence, equity, innovation, and integrity.

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