Chalk Talk
By: Brigid Cianfrani and Carol Crane
Corona del Mar Middle and High Schools recently hosted the annual Newport Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) State of the Schools Breakfast. It was a beautiful morning hosted by The Newport Mesa Schools Foundation -- a local nonprofit partner that raises funds for teacher grants. ASB (Associated Student Body) students from all of the district high schools were present. Guests were welcomed with great fanfare from the Corona del Mar Drum line and Pep Squad and entertained by the CDM Madrigals and Orchesis dancers. This sold-out event was attended by elected officials, community partners, parents, veterans, local dignitaries and school district staff. Superintendent Dr. Wesley Smith delivered the State of the Schools address and shared the latest progress and accomplishments of the district.
In other news, the Zone Pack committee is made up of PTA/PFO volunteers from the five local elementary schools along with the CdM Middle and High School PTA and all of the principals. The group met recently at Corona del Mar High School. Members shared their back to school kickoff stories. Highlights included student participation in Reflections, the National PTA Arts contest and National Walk to School Day. Elementary schools also shared recent events, including: the Passport to Andersen event showcasing the cultures and cuisines of the community; Newport Coast Elementary’s amazing Jog-A-Thon fundraiser; Harbor View’s Read-a-Thon with more than 103,000 minutes read; the Eastbluff Elementary STEAM Night where younger students were assisted by CdM student volunteers, and Lincoln’s brand new Leopard Mascot.
Superintendent Wes Smith, aka #WhereIsWes, made an appearance and inspired the group with his message about student success, parental involvement and high expectations. #WhereIsWes is a fun series of Instagram posts that follows his travels to various activities throughout the district
For the latest news, we encourage you to follow the schools and their PTA/PFO Instagram accounts. @ andersenelemschool @eastbluffelementaryotters @harborviewprincipal @abe_lincoln_elem @cdm.hs @cdmms.asb
District-wide, more than 1,200 attendees attended the DIstrict’s College and Career Fair. Students and families interacted with college representatives and learned about NMUSD’s career technical pathways, as well as military and other civic-minded post-secondary options. The district also hosted a parent education evening designed to help parents keep their children safe in an online environment. Recommendations for Digital Citizenship Week include setting screen time limits, using only appropriate apps, teaching children to be kind, report bullying and stand up for others as well as understanding their digital footprint and the long-lasting impact of what they may post.
We are thankful for our local schools and the impact they have on our community! Wishing you all Happy Holidays!
Brigid Cianfrani and Carol Crane are longtime volunteers in the Newport Mesa Unified School District, former PTA presidents at the elementary and high school levels and former Zone Pack chairs. Carol Crane currently serves as the President of the Newport Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) board; Trustee Area 3. Brigid Cianfrani works as a substitute teacher in the district and is the current chair of the CdM Zone Pack Committee.
For more info: NMUSD.us | IG @ newportmesausd
Email: Carol Crane: ccrane@nmusd.us | Brigid Cianfrani: brigidcianfrani@gmail.com
