December 2017 Message from the Superintendent

The Difference Between Ordinary and Extraordinary

Last week Carlsbad Unified celebrated our State of the District event at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort, joined by legislators and policemen, principals and businessmen, and representatives from higher education, nonprofits, parent groups, and the City of Carlsbad. Guests enjoyed a jazz combo from Sage Creek High School, a video by CHSTV’s talented journalists, and a touching performance by Carlsbad High School’s Sound Express.

I can report to you that the state of our district is extraordinarily positive.

Our strong academics continue to make us proud.  Multiple measures, including state assessments, AP tests, and colleges acceptances, demonstrate that Carlsbad Unified is a leader in the state when it comes to positive student outcomes.  We are a district of award-winning teachers, innovative science and technology offerings, and multiple opportunities for excellence in the visual and performing arts at all levels.  Our students are accepted at the colleges of their choice and go on to amazing careers.  And we are a district that believes that Kindness Matters.

Our schools continue to garner impressive awards.  Pacific Rim Elementary School was recently honored as a U.S. Department of Education prestigious National Blue Ribbon school, with the Exemplary High-Performing School designation—one of only 16 elementary schools in the state, and fewer than 350 schools in the nation.  California’s Gold Ribbon Schools Award has honored Aviara Oaks, Hope, and Pacific Rim Elementary Schools, and Aviara Oaks and Calavera Hills Middle Schools.  The Niche website scores Carlsbad Unified in the top 10% of school districts in California.  Our dedicated community of teachers is on the cutting edge of training and research, experimenting with Project-Based Learning and Design Thinking in their classrooms.  And our award-winning CHSTV just won the coveted Pacemaker award—called the "Pulitzer Prize of Student Journalism”— the most prestigious award in the nation for high school scholastic broadcast journalism.

In addition, our high schools now offer students these career pathways that are aligned with the workforce needs of our dynamic region: Biomed, Film Academy, Broadcasting, Child Development, Engineering & Design, Fashion Design, Finance & Business, Information & Communication Technologies/Computer Science, and Photography.

We invite you to check out our new Work-based Learning website through the San Diego County College and Career Readiness Consortium (www.sdeportal.org) and become a part of this new undertaking.

Through the hard work of our Prop P Citizens Oversight Committee and our facilities department, we look forward to opening the SCHS Performing Arts Center this summer.  We have now completed major Prop P facilities upgrades at Carlsbad High School, Valley and Aviara Oaks Middle Schools —and opened Sage Creek High School — among other projects.  Also, we have just completed another  “refinance” of our bonds, taking advantage of historically low interest rates and saving taxpayers about $19.2 million through 2034.

But the true message of the State of the District is about our partnerships in the community. We thrive because of the elected officials who fight for us, the businesses who mentor and believe in us, and the community that supports us.  It is about the teachers, principals, support staff, and parents who are dedicated to teaching our students the skills they need to be successful and to make the world a better place.

As I interacted with our guests at the event, it struck me that, more than anything, it is our strong community in Carlsbad that makes this an extraordinary place.  Our district appreciates your participation in educating our youth, and we look forward to continuing and growing these vital relationships.

November 2017 Message from the Superintendent

Exemplary Music and Performing Arts at Carlsbad Unified

Every day at Aviara Oaks Middle School (AOMS), nearly half of its 1,100 students are practicing their craft in music and performing arts classes.  Students, 248 of them, are playing wind instruments and percussion in Band; and 128 are studying strings, winds, and percussion in Orchestra.  Another 120 Drama students are rehearsing for their next musical theater production.  These students present outstanding concerts and performances on campus and in the community throughout the year. If you include the students enrolled in art, dance, and photography classes, over 70% of all AOMS students are involved in the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) each day.

Last spring, when AOMS was named a California Gold Ribbon School, it also was recognized as a California Exemplary Arts Education School for its programs in Band, Orchestra, and Drama, as well as Dance, Art, Broadcasting, and Photography.

In the words of Principal Bryan Brockett, “The level of excellence that our students and teachers produce in the arts here at AOMS is remarkable.  These programs play a central role in connecting students to their school and the community.  It’s cool to be in the band at AOMS.  For many, their experience ignites a passion that carries them through high school and beyond.”

Music education begins early in Carlsbad Unified.  Through a unique partnership with the Carlsbad Educational Foundation (CEF), every elementary school student has a 45-minute weekly music class taught by a credentialed teacher.  Students are exposed to a variety of musical genres, learn to read music, and experience making music through hands-on activities.

So, when they arrive in middle school, these students have a foundation that prepares them for the transition into beginning band, orchestra, chorus, drama, and musical theater programs. In addition to the AOMS programs described above, both Calavera Hills and Valley Middle Schools have highly regarded music and performing arts programs.  Valley Middle School offers orchestra, band, choir and drama classes, including the Showstoppers show choir. Calavera Hills Middle School offers drama, choir, and band. CHMS has a long tradition of Coyote Cavern Productions involving both elementary and middle school students, supported by PTA and CEF, such as this year’s production of Oklahoma!

A host of exciting programs — often leading to Visual and Performing Arts career pathways — await students at Carlsbad and Sage Creek High Schools.  Here’s just a sampling:

Sound Express —Carlsbad High School’s award-winning Advanced Mixed Show Choir — was chosen to perform for the "Salute to Teachers: The San Diego County Teacher of the Year Awards" program on Cox.  They also met and sang for the band Cheap Trick, and were picked to sing on stage at a Foreigner concert.  Sound Express won many awards last year, including first place at both the "San Diego Sings" competition and the Burbank Blast Competition.  Choir director Jesse Bullock says, “The students in the Vocal Music Program at Carlsbad High School have a tradition of excellence in music.  They understand that hard work is the key to excellent performance.  Every year the students and the program continue to push themselves to the next step.”

The Marching Lancers, Carlsbad High School’s marching band, are consistent finalists in the SCSBOA championship circuit and regularly win Class Champions, Best Drumline, and Best Guard at regional competitions.  They started the 2017 season by winning their first competition on October 14.

The Wind Ensemble, Carlsbad High School’s flagship ensemble, traveled to Chicago last April and were named Grand Champions of the Festival of Music competition.  

Carlsbad High School’s outstanding drama and musical theater program earned eight awards at the 2016-17 National Youth Arts Awards, including Outstanding Production for The Drowsy Chaperone, Lead Actor in a Musical, and Lead Actress in a Musical.

The CHS Varsity Lancer Dancer team brings national attention to Carlsbad by excelling in the Universal Dance Association’s (UDA) National Dance Competition each year, holding eleven number one UDA National Titles in Jazz and Hip Hop, and receiving national television exposure on ESPN.

Sage Creek High School, now in its fifth year, boasts growing and thriving music and performing arts programs. There are three performance based classes: Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, and Concert Choir.  All three of these ensembles are featured performers in concerts throughout the year. 

A new lab-based music class at Sage Creek High School serves as an introduction to instrumental music.  Students learn to play guitar, piano, percussion, and wind instruments. 

Other musical opportunities are provided by the Bobcat Beat (the school's Pep Band), the musical pit orchestra, the Jazz Club, the Music Theory Club, and other chamber ensembles.  

The Jazz Club, new this year, was founded by Senior Band Member Tessa Witkofsky in conjunction with her Genius Project.  Students in this club are taught the basics in Jazz Theory and Improvisation and learn to play different forms of jazz, with the goal of becoming a full-fledged big band. 

Sage Creek High School’s Theater program was honored last year with several National Youth Arts Awards for its production of Bye Bye Birdie, including four wins in the Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress categories.  This year’s musical will be Footloose.

We at Carlsbad Unified take great pride in our traditional and innovative music and performing arts programs.  And we appreciate CEF, PTA, and their many partners who help create these opportunities for our students.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to attend Carlsbad Educational Foundation’s “Carols of Carlsbad” event at the Omni La Costa Resort on Saturday, December 2, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, where talented musical groups from all of our schools will be performing. I hope to see you there.