Claremont School News
Pitzer College’s summer academic enrichment program, Project Think, with programs for transitional kindergarteners through second graders on language arts, math, science, and social studies, and classes in computers, art, science, creative writing, and theater for children in grades three through eight, run from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. Additional afternoon courses and child […]
If you have a little bit of talent and a lot of dedication, greatness is within your grasp. This was the message delivered by Lincoln Peirce, author of the popular Big Nate book series, when he stopped by Foothill Country Day School on February 8 to talk about his journey from doodling kid to comic […]
One evening each week, dozens of boys in cuffed jeans and white T-shirts and girls in poodle skirts and ponytails gathered in the El Roble gym to dance the Jitterbug, the Cha-Cha, the Twist and the Drake, set to a soundtrack of 1950s hits. Contrary to appearances, there was no time machine involved in this […]
After a long day serving as director of the Claremont United Methodist Preschool and then traveling to Chaffey or Citrus College to teach classes in child development, you might think Jeri Bollman would be eager to get away from the subject of kids. Instead, the bulk of her reading centers on how best to nurture […]
In June, a fresh face joined Claremont Unified School District, that of new Superintendent of Schools Jim Elsasser. Though only 6 months into his post helming Claremont schools, Mr. Elsasser (who most recently served as assistant superintendent of human resources for the Anaheim City School District) has made a good impression with school board members […]
It wasn’t a signal of the start of the holiday season but instead a hallmark of excellence as Claremont After-School Programs (CLASP) joined 58 recipients in winning the state’s leading educational honor, the Golden Bell Award. The California School Boards Association presented the recognition—which takes the form of an actual ringing bell—to Teddie Warner, president […]
Paul Buch, cantor at Temple Beth Israel in Pomona, is “a very satisfied Amazon customer.” He regularly visits the online retailer to buy digital books, which he downloads onto his Kindle tablet. Recent purchases are evidence of his eclectic interests. Not surprisingly for a cantor—whose job is to oversee the musical aspects of temple services, […]
When the Claremont High School Marching Band lost its winning ways, band director Melanie Riley-Gonzalez knew she had to act. The band had grown just enough to edge the Wolfpack last year from the small-band group in its past competition circuit into the category for larger bands. Faced off against much larger schools—many with funding […]
There was cause for jubilation on Friday, November 9 at Oakmont Elementary School during a morning Celebration of Success. Not only did the school make a startling 86-point gain in its 2011 Academic Performance Index score (API), one of the largest leaps in the state of California. After a lot of hard work, Oakmont students […]
Sumner librarian Marleene Bazela is keenly aware of the magic of books, and she runs her library accordingly. Her reading nook is a wonderland of literary love, where kids stop by for the books and stay for the ambience. There are posters singing the praises of the written word, tables and stools where kids can […]
El Roble students got the holiday season, and their hearts, started this Wednesday with their annual Turkey Trot run. It is the fourth year the local middle-schoolers hit the track to raise money for the physical education department. The event was created by physical education teacher Deborah Foster, who was looking for a way around […]
Leo Cervantes felt apprehensive Thursday as he stood in front of 31 Sycamore Elementary School peers, expounding on the Day of the Dead. The sugar skulls and remembrances of the dead, gracing the commemorative altars set up in his great-aunt’s Eleventh Street home, didn’t unnerve him. What worried him was speaking in public. “This is […]
El Roble Intermediate School students looking for an after-school hangout have found refuge in the play yard of the Claremont Presbyterian Children’s Center. For the past few years, the local church has offered a venue for the students, regardless of congregational membership. “It’s mostly about community building,” said Reverend Rocky Supinger. “It’s a place where […]
Claremont High School English teacher Dave Chamberlain just received his 25th request from a junior in need of a recommendation for college applications. Somehow Mr. Chamberlain, who devotes 25 weekends a year to leading the CHS debate team in a vigorous competition schedule, will find a way to squeeze in the paperwork for his college-bound […]
Sixth graders at Sumner Elementary School caught election fever last Friday when state Assembly candidate Chris Holden stopped by for a morning chat. Mr. Holden, a Pasadena city councilman, is vying for a seat in the 41st Assembly District in the November election against Republican Donna Lowe, who spoke to Sumner students several weeks ago. […]
Don’t give her fantasy. Don’t give her sci-fi. When it comes to reading, Barbara Cheatley, owner of Barbara Cheatley Antiques in Claremont, wants a slice of life. Most often, this reality check comes in the form of biography, her favorite literary genre. Recently, she read Frank and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage, a book by Hazel […]
Local fifth and sixth graders recently got a lesson in how to turn creative ideas into concrete accomplishments when the authors of 2 popular sci-fi/fantasy series, Lisa McMann and Margaret Peterson Haddix, visited Vista Elementary School. Vista librarian Cindy Dewey coordinated the visit with the help of Mrs. Nelson’s Toy and Bookshop, which the authors […]