Two Carpinteria teachers to be honored at April Community Awards Gala

[Editor’s Note: A copy of the Superintendent’s Report is run in print as a service for parents, students and community members who cannot attend Carpinteria Unified School District’s Board of Trustees meetings. This report was read aloud during the school board’s March 12 meeting.]

On April 6, the Carpinteria Community Awards Gala will honor two Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) teachers: Arturo Monarres, a Carpinteria High School (CHS) physical education teacher; and Luis Quintero, a fifth grade, dual language immersion (DLI) teacher from Canalino Elementary School. Congratulations! 

Appreciation 

I would like to recognize the district’s leadership team – Maureen Fitzgerald, Diana Zapata, Monica Thomas, Mari Hornback, Aaron LaPlante, Gerardo Cornejo, Lisa O’Shea, Jamie Persoon, Brett Weiberg, Carolyn Haines, Ricardo Cota, Kirsten Neumann and Jeremiah Sobenes – for their outstanding leadership and tireless work in supporting teachers, staff, students and their families this year. 

CHS MESA winners

This year CHS MESA competed in the Math Escape Challenge and the Crime Scene Science competitions at the UC Santa Barbara College Destination Day. CHS Crime Scene Science team – Natalie Martinez and Brenda Martinez – placed third, and the Math Escape Challenge team – Athziry Rojas, Ashley Vences and Julie Maya – won first place and will be moving forward to regionals at USC on Saturday, April 13. Lastly, a huge thank you to Mr. Muralles, CHS Spanish teacher, for chaperoning our students. 

CHS Mock Trial winners

Congratulations to the CHS Mock Trial team for winning third place in the rigorous county-wide competition at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse this past weekend. We appreciate the faculty advisors, Peter Cotte and Trevor Orlando, and attorney coach Mary Anne Weiss. 

March 2024 National Social Work Month 

Every March, National Social Work Month recognizes the dedication and empathy social workers across the country deliver while providing services to children and adults in need. Social workers are advocates, advisors, counselors and facilitators in schools, clinics, businesses and government offices. CUSD partners with the Family Service Agency to provide school social workers at Canalino Elementary and Carpinteria Family School (CFS), Aliso Elementary School and CHS, who support students and families, and we are grateful for Nicol De La Rosa, Vanessa Jimenez and Cristal Camberos. 

Parent conferences 

Elementary parent conferences will be held during March 18–22 minimum days. Working with our families to support student learning is a professional expectation and standard for all CUSD teachers. Effective teachers develop strong partnerships with families to ensure student engagement and support. These spring parent conferences provide the opportunity for parents to learn more about their student’s progress in achieving grade-level standards by June in preparation for the next grade level. Teachers provide many strategies for parents to help their students at home. Good nutrition, sleeping habits, limited screen time and nightly reading for 30 minutes are also reinforced. 

Spring Bridge the Break program: March 25-29 

CUSD is partnering with United Way of Santa Barbara County to offer the Spring 2024 Bridge the Break program (formerly Expanded Learning Break) for elementary students. 

This program is a free, week-long initiative designed to provide a unique blend of academic enrichment and recreational activities during the upcoming spring break. Bridge the Break will take place March 25–29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Canalino Elementary School, with breakfast, lunch and snacks provided. Students in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade will participate in literacy, math, STEAM, recreation and more in an engaging learning environment.