Education

CUSD Makes Riding Bikes To School Difficult

by The Editors on June 10, 2023

The Carlsbad Unified School District is making it more difficult for students to get to school in 2023-24, as well as creating more costly bureaucratic headaches for itself thanks to a new bike and e-bike parking permit program. Next year, only bicycles or e-bikes that have been properly permitted and stickered will be allowed to park on CUSD school campuses.

Students riding a Bike or Ebike must complete an application and attend a Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD) approved Bike & Ebike Safety Presentation. After completion of this application process, students will then receive a district-issued parking permit sticker (sticker) to be affixed to their Bike or Ebike. Stickers will be issued through each school office. Students who do not have a sticker visibly affixed to their Bike or Ebike will not be permitted to bring their Bike or Ebike onto any CUSD campus.

Bicycle safety education should be a part of Carlsbad school curriculum at every level, however, requiring permits and stickers for bicycles does nothing but make it more difficult for kids to ride a bike to school. 

Yes, kids need to follow the rules and be safe on their way to school, but discouraging bicycling to school by adding unnecessary permitting is a huge step backwards for a community of students that is leading the nation in the adoption of alternative forms of transportation. For all the official details, please follow the jump.

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CEF Awards $50,000 In College Scholarships

by The Editors on June 3, 2022

The Carlsbad Educational Foundation awarded 11 scholarships totaling $50,000 to seniors from the Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD) who best demonstrated how an education in the public schools paved the way for them to further their education at a leading university or college. Carlsbad High School’s Josephine Dominguez (pictured above with Jeff Campbell and Laura Pitts) took top honors with the $15,000 Judith Campbell Educational & Community Foundation scholarship. 

“These outstanding students have not only found their passion but have also embraced the opportunities presented to them. We are thrilled to help them pursue the next steps in their education,” said Chief Executive Officer Laura Pitts. . . $50,000 is the highest amount ever awarded in senior scholarships from Carlsbad Educational Foundation in a single year since the awards were established in 2016. Half of the scholarship funding was provided in partnership with the Judith Campbell Educational & Community Foundation, a new nonprofit that helps high school students and grants to charitable organizations in San Diego County. Two scholarships were sponsored by Viasat and awarded to Science Olympiad participants.

Congrats to everyone involved. For the full list of scholarship recipients, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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CEF’s 5th Annual Pedal for a Purpose

by The Editors on March 15, 2019

Join the Carlsbad Education Foundation at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa Plaza on Saturday, March 23, 2019 as they spin stationary bikes to raise money for the continually underfunded Carlsbad Unified School District in their 5th Annual Pedal for a Purpose presented by Gelson’s Markets.

This stationary bike-a-thon raises funds for music, science, and innovational education programs for the 11,000 students in the Carlsbad Unified School District. There will be music by DJ Extreme, high-energy spin instructors, activities for children, and a health and wellness expo. Riders receive VIP treatment in the form of massages, swag, drinks and nutritional snacks, contests, prizes and more!

You’d think the Carlsbad Unified School District could afford to teach science, music, and innovational education programs on its own, but that’s not how our district works. And because of this, the students of Carlsbad need your help. For all the official details, and exactly how you can help please follow the jump.

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St. Pat’s Angels 6th Annual Food Drive

by The Editors on October 8, 2018

Students at Carlsbad’s St. Patrick Catholic School just rounded up more than 50,000 food items during their annual food drive to benefit Got Your Back and Interfaith Community Services.

“It wasn’t that long ago when St. Pat’s Angels was just an idea,” stated Denise Nelson, St. Patrick Catholic School Principal. “Each year the Angel’s program grows and our students collect more and more food. I couldn’t be more proud of the efforts of our entire school community.”

Nice work, Angels! Congrats to eighth grade class for winning the drive by bringing in 17,358 items. For the official word from St. Pat’s, please follow the jump.

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St. Patrick’s Grand Opening Celebration

by The Editors on January 25, 2017

St. Patrick Catholic School, a 51 year-old parochial school in Carlsbad, will be holding a Grand Opening Celebration and Open House this weekend, January 28-29, 2017. Both events are open to the public and will provide the local community with an inside look of the newly rebuilt and remodeled 17,000 sq-foot school.

On Saturday from 11 am until 3 pm, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony, facility tours and a celebration party where the public can meet and greet with members of the school community. Food and beverages will be provided.

On Sunday from 10 am until 12 pm, there will be an open house providing a closer look of the school. Each of the classrooms can be visited, providing an opportunity for parents to gain an in depth understanding of daily curriculum and meet teachers one on one.

“It is a very exciting time for our school community, as we have reached a major milestone in the completion of our rebuild and remodel project,” said Principal Denise Nelson. “The heart and core of our school community remains, but now has a beautiful facility to match it. We are very blessed to have a thriving school that not only excels academically, but also remains focused on ‘being the light’.”

For all the details, please follow the jump.
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Carlsbad Student Leader Academy Launches

by The Editors on June 1, 2016

teens

A new leadership development program for students was announced today as a joint collaboration by the City of Carlsbad, The YouSchool, the Servant Leadership Institute, Carlsbad Unified School District and local high school staff. The Carlsbad Student Leader Academy will provide program guides and curricula to address issues affecting youth in Carlsbad and further developing emerging youth leaders through civic education and community projects.

“Carlsbad Student Leader Academy is an exciting collaborative and challenge-based leadership development program,” said Debbie Fountain, the City of Carlsbad’s Housing & Neighborhood Services director. “The goal is to help emerging youth leaders consider their paths for the future and discover more about themselves and the gifts they have to offer the Carlsbad community. We hope to have high school students from throughout the city collaborate and grow together by learning about themselves, how to lead and how to best serve their community.”

For the official word from the City of Carlsbad, please follow the jump.

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Carlsbad Unified Names New Superintendent

by The Editors on May 9, 2016

5524466768794448646.jpg_wnp1000The Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that it has appointed Dr. Benjamin Churchill to the position of Superintendent, concluding a rigorous and competitive selection process that attracted candidates from throughout the country.

Dr. Churchill is a highly respected educator currently serving as Chief Academic Officer for Community Unit School District 300 in Alonquin, Illinois. He is passionate about all aspects of teaching and learning and is especially interested in classroom technology integration, early learning and kindergarten readiness, workforce development, and career pathways for all students.

Dr. Churchill will be officially introduced to the community at the CUSD’s regularly scheduled board meeting on May 18, 2016. For the official word from the CUSD, please follow the jump.
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Lancer Dancers Win World Hip Hop Title

by The Editors on February 3, 2016

The Carlsbad High School Lancer Dancers just attended the World School Cheer/Dance Competition in Orlando, Florida January 30 – 31, 2016. Did they bring it? Yes, they brought it and also came home with a world title in the varsity hip hop division. Yes, hip hop.

“Our girls are so proud to have earned the title of 2016 World Champs,” said
the team’s coach, Laura Nares. “All the hard work and practice they put into
preparing for these two competitions has paid off in a big way.”

For the official word, please follow the jump.

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Dentists Offer Halloween Candy Buy Back

by The Editors on October 26, 2015

halloween_candyThe pediatric dentists at Great Smiles (with locations in Carlsbad and Solana Beach, California) are working to keep your kids’ smiles great by offering to buy back their Halloween candy at $1 a pound. And the 10 school classes that bring in the most candy will each get a pizza party.

To prevent rampant cavities and ease the blow of forfeiting some Halloween treats, the folks at Great Smiles are hosting a Halloween candy buyback where they are paying North County kids $1 for each pound of candy they bring in. Continuing their commitment to the community and its children, when kids drop off their candy they can simply say what school and teacher they have to be entered into a North Country-wide competition. When it’s all said and done, the 10 classes that bring in the most candy win a pizza party while the school with the most candy donated on its behalf will win a $500 donation. Anyone under 18 can donate candy, with a maximum of 5lbs per person. They don’t have to be Great Smiles patients or even say what school/class they attend (unless they it to count towards the contest). That’s it. Less candy consumed equals less cavities and more healthy, great smiles in the community.

Sounds like a great way to get the kids into the office and much less painful than the usual way. For more info, please click above image to get a closer look.

[Link: Great Smiles]

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Carlsbad Sisters Win Mt. SAC Invitational

by The Editors on October 21, 2015

Wallace Sisters

Skyler and Stormy Wallace, two sisters representing Aviara Oaks Middle School, participated in the Mt. SAC Cross Country invitational, in Walnut, California, and both finished first in their divisions.

A record 25,000 participants competed over Mt. SAC’s famed three mile cross country course. Included in those 25,000 runners were two sisters representing Aviara Oaks Middle School – Skyler and Stormy Wallace. Both girls placed first in the two mile event – Skyler in the 8th grade division and Stormy in the 6th grade division!  Races start every 8 minutes or less, and all results are shared on a live webcast. The course has changed little over the years, making it one of the few courses where different generations can compare times.

Both girls train with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad at their school. For the official word, follow the jump.

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