Claremont School News
Bridges Auditorium, 450 N College Way, Claremont, will host a 90-minute California gubernatorial debate at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28.
President Trump’s immigration crackdowns in Democratically-controlled states have not only resulted in death and injury, they have propagated fear in the Hispanic and other targeted communities that previously safe havens such as schools are no longer secure. “We’re hearing a lot of fear out of our families that either have undocumented members or are in communities where they’re friends and family members with undocumented folk, definitely,” said CUSD Assistant Superintendent, Student Services Kevin Ward.
In 2011, the Department of Homeland Security issued the DHS Sensitive Locations Memo, which designated schools from pre-school to college, as well as vocational and trade schools, places of worship, and hospitals, among other sites, as “sensitive locations” where Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities were curtailed. In 2021, DHS issued an expanded memo, this time including Customs and Border Protection and adding additional sites. Photo/by Katrin Bolovtsova
Pomona College’s December 10, 2025 settlement agreement resolving a U.S. Department of Civil Rights Title VI investigation indicated students should expect numerous policy changes beginning in spring 2026 designed to prevent further claims of antisemitism. Now three weeks into the spring semester, Molly Chakery, Associated Students of Pomona College representative and sophomore class president, said ASPC has had limited communication with the school regarding any changes. Photo/by Lisa Chakery
Claremont High School Theatre Department’s production of “SIX The Musical: Teen Edition” runs at 7 p.m. February 5-7 and 1 p.m. February 7 at the Don F. Fruechte Theatre for the Performing Arts, 1601 N. Indian Hill Blvd. Tickets are $10-$15 at chstheatre2129.ludus.com.
The Claremont Unified School District Board of Education and its President, Alex McDonald, pictured here, took final steps to reopen Vista del Valle Elementary’s preschool at its January 15 meeting. Vista’s preschool, closed three years ago due to low enrollment, will reopen February 17. “The changing landscape of early childhood programs has now stabilized and parents in the community are again expressing need for additional preschool enrollment,” according to CUSD. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo
Claremont High School recently earned bronze in the Advanced Placement School Honor Roll, which offers schools with AP programs bronze, silver, gold, and platinum distinctions, “recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening participation,” according to a news release at apcentral.collegeboard.org.
Over the past two decades, educational technology has fundamentally reshaped teaching and learning.
The start of 2026 also marks the beginning of youth soccer season in Claremont. June Vail Park is one of the city’s most popular venues for AYSO, hosting two to three games a day, five days a week.
Cal Poly Pomona assistant political science professor Jarred Cuellar was recently named a 2026 emerging scholar by higher education news outlet The EDU Ledger.
Claremont resident Laura Bollinger was recently named president of Citrus Community College’s Board of Trustees.
Parents and caregivers looking for information about Claremont Unified School District transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classes are invited to elementary school open houses January 28 to 30. The events will include opportunities to meet teachers, explore classrooms, and learn about programs. Wednesday, January 28 • 8:30 a.m., Chaparral Elementary, 451 Chaparral Dr. • 10:30 a.m., Sycamore Elementary, […]
Steven Anthony Cowles pleaded guilty last week to felony wire fraud related to his embezzlement of more than $1 million from The Claremont Colleges Services. Court documents indicate Cowles, 45, defrauded TCCS from June 2018 to July 2024. As electric shop supervisor, he was tasked with ordering and maintaining electrical components. Photo of Bixby Ramp/courtesy of Pomona College
Hamza El Lahib’s decision to join student government at Citrus College was spontaneous. After graduating early from Claremont High School — while simultaneously finishing his first year of college, thanks to dual enrollment — he overheard a classmate talking about the Associated Students of Citrus College. “I’ve always had a desire to be active in local government,” Hamza said. “Once I heard more about ASCC, I knew attending college meetings and representing student interests was the type of civic engagement I had always been interested in.” Photo/courtesy of Citrus College
The Claremont High School varsity cheer team is pictured here in December after claiming first in the “show cheer” and “game day” categories and overall grand champion at the World Class Championship California Crown competition in Pomona.
The Claremont Colleges’ women’s rugby team, the Claremont Foxes, begin their spring 2026 Division I Pacific Desert Rugby Conference season at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 17 against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at Claremont McKenna College’s Parents Field, 690 N. Mills Ave., Claremont.
Jared Sedlis spends his lunch breaks doing jumps — axels, salchows, lutzes, flips and loops — at an ice rink 15 minutes from Pomona College. As a competitive figure skater and full-time student, the Birmingham, Alabama, native can’t afford to waste a minute. Photo/by Jeff Hing