Claremont School News

More than 500 students will grab a piece of the future in the form of a high school diploma during the Claremont High School graduation, set for Thursday, June 14 at 5 p.m.  It’s not easy to make a splash in the Class of 2012. Many grads have been involved in honors,  Advanced Placement and […]

After 29 years with the Claremont Unified School District, Chaparral Elementary School teacher Karen Corrette has been named Teacher of the Year. The only surprising thing about the honor, say her colleagues, is that it didn’t happen sooner. “She’s someone who should have gotten this years and years ago,” said fellow Chaparral teacher Leanna Prokop. […]

Former Sumner Elementary School Principal Frank D’Emilio will continue his employment with the Claremont Unified School District, returning to a Claremont school as a classroom teacher in the 2012-2013 school year. This announcement—made at a special school board meeting called on Wednesday, May 30—was a reversal of the CUSD board of education’s earlier decision at […]

When Oakmont Elementary School office manager Rosie Bister was told a colleague would be receiving the Classified Employee of the Year award, she brought flowers to the school board meeting. Ms. Bister was embarrassed to be already holding a bouquet when her own name was called at the Thursday, May 17 gathering, recognizing her contributions […]

Each month, the students of Mountain View Elementary School learn about a core value crucial to becoming well-rounded individuals. Throughout the month of May, the focus was on “confidence.” It has been emphasized largely in conjunction with state testing, but the word also applies to the generosity shown by 22 students who donated hair at […]

Claremont Unified School District faculty, staff, teachers, students and parents are all relieved that the 2012 California Standards Tests (CST) have come to a close after months of preparation and 6 days of testing over the last 2 weeks. At Oakmont Outdoor School, however, everyone involved gnashed their teeth and tore their hair out a […]

According to the terms of his contract, signed at last week’s school board meeting, incoming Claremont Unified School District Superintendent James Elsasser, EdD will be paid $218,000 per year. His paycheck is higher than that of his predecessor, Terry Nichols, notes CUSD board president Jeff Stark. However, because certain benefits were taken out of the […]

Heavy-hitting news like the presentation of the Classified Staff Member and Teacher of the Year awards, which went to Oakmont office manager Rosie Bister and Chapparal kindergarten and first grade teacher Karen Corrette, respectively, was overshadowed by the D’Emilio controversy. So was the instatement of Jim Elsasser, EdD as the new superintendent of the Claremont […]

Near the start of her address to Pitzer College graduates on Sunday, May 13, Angela Davis (world-famous political activist, author and educator) shared a quote that was surprisingly pessimistic for a commencement speech. Ms. Davis, who studied French during her undergraduate years at Brandeis University, recalled an observation by the French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. […]

Claremont McKenna President Pamela Gann will be stepping down from her post following completion of the 2012-2013 academic year, she announced in an email sent to members of the CMC community on Tuesday, May 15. Ms. Gann, the 4th president of the 66-year-old college, took her place at the helm of CMC in 1999. In […]

Shortly after coming to Claremont at age 10, Jill Zavidowsky started keeping a journal. Now, at 57, a suitcase in her Claremont home holds more than 50 journals in safekeeping, ready for moments when she feels like examining her former self.  “Sometimes I go back and see what was really going on in my life,” […]

Every day, the staff of Sumner Elementary School cultivates the potential of students on the diverse Sumner/Danbury campus. It’s little wonder that Sumner has been selected as a 2012 California Distinguished School. The award, which goes to only 3 percent of the state’s schools, recognizes those that demonstrate “educational excellence for all students and progress […]

Each day, the kids of Danbury Elementary School, many who live with multiple disabilities, face overwhelming obstacles. On Monday they enthusiastically took on another challenge, a 25-foot adaptive rock-climbing wall brought to the campus by Mark Wellman, an acclaimed author, filmmaker and motivational speaker. As 12-year-old Ivy Adalpe scaled the epoxy-and-concrete tower with the help […]

Foothill Country Day School students are embracing character-building through the school’s interfaith chapel program, which is teaching students to focus on global awareness rather than the particulars of any one religion. At the private K-8 school, a variety of interfaith topics and presentations are helping students and teachers alike to cultivate open-mindedness and a well-rounded […]

This week, a who’s who of writers and poetry lovers gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Kingsley and Kate Tufts poetry awards, given each year to a new writer of startling talent and a mid-career poet who has created work of significance. Tufts prize alumni, Claremont Graduate University president Debbie Freund and literary […]

All 52 sixth graders from Sycamore departed Monday for a stay at the Los Angeles County Outdoor Science School (OSS), a weeklong educational experience in Big Bear. The OSS curriculum focuses on the study of ecosystems utilizing the “outdoors as the classroom and the natural environment as the laboratory.” Sycamore School office manager Damaris Hankins […]