CARLSBAD UNIFIED CONNECTIONS
NEWSLETTER - November / December 2021
Superintendent's Message
Dr. Ben Churchill, Superintendent
In the midst of the holiday season I want to wish you all a peaceful and joyous time with your families and friends. Enjoy your holiday celebrations -- but please remain cautious so we all can return to school in January healthy, rested, and ready for an exciting 2022.
Supporting Students in Challenging Times
I continue to be proud of Carlsbad Unified’s many successes, particularly in light of the obstacles that our resilient staff, students, and families have confronted over the last many months.
I am especially proud of the actions that our district has taken to address social and emotional stress that students have faced as a result of the pandemic.
Spotlight on Schools:
Rebuilding Community
The Hope Hawks are enjoying their new nest.
After a year and a half of COVID and construction disruptions, students were welcomed back to a beautifully modernized school in August and, in November, to the first Hope Hawks family gathering in nearly two years -- Turkey Bingo -- signaling a new beginning for the school community.
Hope Elementary School has been undergoing its Measure HH Modernization Project. Last year was a time of COVID uncertainties, quarantines, online and hybrid learning -- and construction noise and dust. The playgrounds and field were construction zones, and, for a few months, the front office operated out of a kindergarten building.
But when students arrived on campus in August they found four newly-constructed buildings. Two of the buildings each housed four state-of-the-art classrooms; one contained two classrooms and a new STEAM Lab; and one building accommodated two kindergarten classrooms. The remaining classrooms on campus were refreshed with new carpet, lighting, tac walls, and technology. The front office was redesigned. The Multipurpose Room, library and kitchen was expanded and remodeled into pleasing and efficient spaces. The playgrounds were redone and refitted with new play structures. And the front of the school was given a modern facelift.
When the permanent lunch structure and a final part of the upper playground are finished, the Hope Elementary School Modernization Project will be completed.
“Our students, teachers, staff, and families love it. It’s so beautiful, clean, and modern,” said Hope Principal Ashley Rossiter. “It feels like a new school.”
Turkey Bingo
On November 18 the Hope community celebrated the reopening of its modernized school with the first in-person parent and student event in nearly two years. Turkey Bingo, the school’s annual tradition, was held in the evening, outside in the courtyard with new lights -- courtesy of their reconstruction project. The event, hosted by the Oleksy/Boe families, raised over $1,000 in support of the Friends of Hope Foundation to fund interventions, art and PE programs, and part of the STEAM Lab expenses. The event attracted the highest attendance ever.
Participants played bingo, laughed, and had fun, while munching on popcorn and hot dogs. To top it all, there was a Dance-off and a Turkey Gobbling contest.
The Hope Hawks are happy to nest in their new home, rebuilding school pride and community spirit -- and, yes, Hope for the Future!
Kindness Links at Pacific Rim
Messages of kindness, support, and peace -- 18 miles of them -- festooned the field at Pacific Rim Elementary, as the school hosted Kids for Peace’s attempt to build the world’s longest recycled-paper chain.
The students were excited as they worked together in small teams to connect links sent in from 702 schools located on six of the seven continents around the world. In just one day, the Pac Rim Waveriders added an astounding five miles of links to the chain. Volunteers then used the paper chain of positive messages to form a giant heart on the field.
The links contained messages such as “Kindness Matters,” “You can make the world a better place,” “Believe in yourself,” and “Stay strong.” The messages, in several languages, were all hand-written and decorated by students. Sections of the chain will be sent to senior centers, libraries, and the White House.
Kids for Peace, the sponsor of the Great Kindness Challenge, started in Carlsbad Unified in 2006 and now boasts 450 chapters on six continents.
The Pacific Rim community continues to promote kindness and respect for all, and was excited to contribute to this wonderful event. One Waverider summed it up by saying, "I loved coloring links with kindness messages, and it was super cool to make the links with my friends."
Number 10 in Best Elementary Schools ranking
Waveriders have a lot to be proud of these days. In the magazine’s recent inaugural Elementary Schools ranking, U.S. News and World Reports listed Pacific Rim Elementary School as the 10th best public elementary school in all of California, out of a total of 6,569 schools. When this honor was announced at a school assembly, students and staff celebrated and cheered.
“This notable achievement is the collective work of our awesome students, supportive parents, and dedicated staff," said Principal Richard Tubbs.
E-bike Safety
Board Meeting Wrap Up - November 17, 2021
- Career Pathways and Career Technical (CTE) Three Year Strategic Plan - Approved
- Bond Program Monthly Update - Information/Discussion
- FMP Phase 2 Modernization Project Final Design: Aviara Oaks Elementary - Approved
- Resolution No. 18-2122 Supporting School Solar and NEM 3.0 - Approved
More information, including slide decks and copies of approved resolutions, can be found here or by clicking the button below.
Board Meeting Wrap Up - December 15, 2021
- Annual Reorganization of the Board for 2022: Elisa Williamson, President; Ray Pearson, Vice President; Kathy Rallings, Clerk - Approved
- First Interim Financial Report - Approved
- Updated Procedures for Public Participation at Board Meetings - Approved (with modifications)
- Resolution No. 22-2122: Authorizing the Sale and Delivery of 2022 School Financing Projects (Certificates of Participation) - Approved
- Resolution No. 24-2122: Continuing to Hold Virtual Meetings for the Next 30 Days - Approved
More information, including slide decks and copies of approved resolutions, can be found here or by clicking the button below.
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Keeping Our Kids Safe, Online and On Campus
The safety of students and staff is one of Carlsbad Unified School District’s top priorities. All of us—students, parents, and school employees—have an important role to play in keeping our campuses and communities safe.
Recent national events serve as a good example of why it is important to talk with your children — including elementary-age children, as appropriate — about how to use social media responsibly.
It’s especially important to talk about not reposting online trends that refer to or could be understood as school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff. We ask our families to monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with them about proper behavior online.
If you or your child become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify a school staff member or trusted adult right away. Administration and law enforcement will investigate each concern of this nature to determine if there is a credible threat. If so, appropriate action is then taken.
This is also a good time to remind our community about California laws regarding the safe storage of firearms. Earlier this year our Board of Trustees approved a resolution supporting safe gun storage, supporting the work of the California Department of Education to inform parents and guardians of the laws in California. Safe storage can keep our students, staff, and community safer. Our memo with more info can be found here.
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A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
Credit: Melissa Barry (@barryeducated) on Instagram
Credit: Marina Hall (@aoms.orchestra) on Instagram
Credit: Valley Middle School Choral Department (@vmschoir) on Instagram
Credit: Calavera Hills Middle School (@chmscoyotes) on Instagram
Credit: Emma Cobb - Principal (@kelly_cougars) on Instagram
Credit: Calavera Hills Middle School (@chmscoyotes) on Instagram
Credit: Viking Surf Team (@vikingsurfer) on Instagram
Credit: Buena Vista PTA (@bvdolphinspta) on Instagram
Credit: Poinsettia PTA (@poinsettia_elementary) on Instagram
Credit: Carlsbad High School TV (@chstvworldwide) on Instagram
Credit: Carlsbad Police Department (@carlsbadpolicedebt) on Instagram
Credit: Mrs. Lowery (@checoyoteslibrary) on Instagram
Credit: Jorge Espinoza (@cbad_village_and_seaside) on Instagram
Credit: Mrs. MacBeth (@mrsmacbethatmag) on Instagram
Credit: Kids For Peace (@kidsforpeace) on Instagram
Credit: Carlsbad High School CTE (@carlsbadhighcte) on Instagram
Credit: CUSD Career Pathways (@cusdcareerpathways) on Instagram
Credit: Aviara Oaks Middle School (@aomsfalcons) on Instagram
Credit: Sage Creek High School (@scbobcats) on Instagram
Credit: The Lancer Link (@thelancerlink) on Instagram
Credit: Tara Anderson (@anderssonchem) on Instagram
Credit: Carlsbad Educational Foundation (@cbadedu) on Instagram
Credit: Aviara Oaks Cafeteria (@aocafeteria) on Instagram
Credit: CHS Speech and Debate Boosters (@chs.speechdebate.boosters) on Instagram
Carlsbad Unified School District
Email: cusd@carlsbadusd.net
Website: https://www.carlsbadusd.k12.ca.us
Location: 6225 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA, USA
Phone: 760-331-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/CarlsbadUnifiedSchools
Twitter: @CarlsbadUSD