ESD Superintendent Update
Some thoughts for the starting school year
February 2024
Greetings,
This month marks the end of the second trimester and the beginning of the last trimester of the school year. As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we want to thank our families for their partnership as we work together to support student success. Our mid-year i-Ready diagnostic assessment results indicate we are on track to meet our goal of improving student outcomes. We could only meet this goal with the engagement of our families and efforts to reinforce learning and literacy at home.
We’d like to recognize and thank our African American Parent & Educator Advisory Committee (AAPEAC) representatives for their outstanding efforts to support their schools during Black History Month with engaging activities to celebrate and recognize African American excellence.
Please add these dates to your calendar!
End of Trimester II and report cards will be available to families via Aeries portal by February 26.
February 16 and February 19
School Holidays (four-day weekend)
Saturday, March 9
Annual Battle of the Books Tournament
March 25-29
Spring Break
Together, let’s make the most of the opportunities ahead.
Charlayne Sprague
Superintendent
LCAP Thought Exchange Survey Results
Thank you to our families, students, and staff members who participated in our annual LCAP ThoughtExchange survey in December. We had 7,792 participants in our survey, 7,102 thoughts shared, and 186,350 ratings! We appreciate the feedback!
The survey highlighted the ideas shared by students, families and staff on the strengths and unique qualities of our school district that we should continue to prioritize. ThoughtExchange themes from our survey indicate that family engagement, school activities and climate, and student outcomes are our top priorities. Survey results are available on our LCAP Engagement webpage on the Etiwanda School District website.
Spelling Bee Winners
In January, our District Spelling Bee witnessed an impressive participation rate, showcasing the talents of twenty-six students from grades 3-8 who excelled in their respective school-level competitions to join us at the Etiwanda School District Spelling Bee. Principal Jeff Sipos hosted the event, guiding participants through twenty-four rounds of intense competition. The students faced a variety of challenging words, including yttriferous, plenipotentiary, insouciant, foudroyant, and icosahedron, and demonstrated remarkable spelling skills.
Congratulations to District Spelling Bee winners 1st Place Shrey Parikh (DCIS Grade 6), 2nd Place Srikanth Satheesh Kumar (HIS Grade 8) and 3rd Place Ruiee Shih (DCIS Grade 8). Etiwanda is proud of the talent and drive of spelling bee participants and wish them well in the next level San Bernardino county spelling bee competition!
English Learner Family Night
Our district's inaugural English Learner Family Night saw an impressive turnout, showcasing the rich diversity of our community. The event provided interpreters in Mandarin, Spanish, Punjabi, and Arabic, reflecting our major language groups, and focused on key information for families of multilingual students. Our English Learner/Multilingual department team shared information on the assessment process for English fluency at enrollment and the annual language proficiency assessments called ELPAC. Families learned more about the comprehensive support systems in our schools for multilingual students and navigated the technology resources, including translation options for our district's websites and apps.
This initiative highlights our dedication to supporting every student's educational journey. We appreciate our family and staff volunteers who served as interpreters and contributed to its success.
Black History Month
This February, we recognize Black History Month with a commitment to honoring the contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout our nation's history. Our focus is on celebrating the resilience, creativity, and cultural heritage that have shaped our society in invaluable ways. Through educational activities, we aim to inspire our students with stories of courage and perseverance that have led to significant progress in the pursuit of equality and justice. As we engage in this important celebration, we extend our gratitude to our African American Parent & Educator Advisory Committee for their support in making these events possible.
Grapeland Grizzlies Win Founders Day Award
Great news for our Grapeland Grizzly Choir! They earned the Founders Award from the City of Rancho Cucamonga for their fantastic performance in the Founders Day Parade. Grapeland Elementary choir students, led by Tina Gilfry, retired Etiwanda teacher, and Katie Thompson, 5th grade teacher, have made us proud. This achievement reflects the enthusiasm and passion of our students and educators alike. Congratulations to the students and staff involved in this remarkable accomplishment!
Battle of the Books is Looking for Volunteers!
Attention Etiwanda families, staff, and high school students! If you are interested in serving your community as a volunteer, we can use you on Saturday, March 9, 2024! This year’s Battle of the Books event has the largest number of qualifying students in years, and it takes a small army of volunteers to run this Saturday event. Volunteers can serve in a variety of ways on this day, including set-up crew, tear-down crew, registration table host, student group escort, quiz item reader, or score keeper.
Family Workshop - Youth Resiliency
Please join us this month for a family workshop on building youth resiliency. The workshop, hosted by our district CARES counseling team, will be held on February 27, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at Etiwanda Intermediate School at 6925 Etiwanda Ave., Etiwanda. Please use the QR code to register.
Family Workshop - Parent Project
Parenting strong-willed children can be challenging. If you would like some assistance, please consider joining the Parent Project to develop tools and techniques for effective parenting of children ages 3-13. Families will learn ways to promote positive behaviors and how to respond to challenging ones. This six-week workshop is provide online on Tuesdays from April 2 - May 7.
Art & Writing Showcase for Students with a Disability
This WestEnd SELPA Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Arts & Writing Showcase is open to students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in the Etiwanda School District. Students may submit one entry that explores the theme "Reach for the Stars." Please see your child's teacher or case carrier for entry forms and eligibility requirements.
We're Hiring!
Join the Etiwanda School District team, where every day offers a chance to make a difference in the lives of students and contribute positively to our community. We're seeking passionate individuals who are eager to work in a supportive and dynamic environment, fostering educational excellence and ensuring a safe, nurturing space for our learners. By joining us, you become part of a dedicated team committed to empowering the next generation. Apply today and start your journey in making a lasting impact!