Etiwanda School District

Flags at all San Bernardino County facilities will fly at half-staff until further notice in honor of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Nunez, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty on October 27, 2025.

Some of our amazing Etiwanda teachers were awarded Innovation Grants from the E3 Foundation at last week’s board meeting. These grants help bring new and creative resources into classrooms, from STEAM activities to great books and everything in between. We love seeing new opportunities for students to learn and explore.

Today we’re celebrating World Occupational Therapy Day. Thank you to our incredible occupational therapists for helping our Etiwanda students grow stronger, gain confidence, and learn new skills every day. We appreciate all you do to support our learners.

Let's start this week with some school spirit! West Heritage Elementary came together in pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Students and staff proudly wore pink to honor moms, grandmas, and all the loved ones who have been affected. It was a simple way for the school community to show they care.

Attendance = Success. Being present means our Etiwanda students are ready to learn, connect, and grow.

Caryn Elementary hosted a pumpkin carving contest last night, and we couldn’t resist sharing one of the winning creations. It was just too good to keep to ourselves. Even without the name tag, I think we can all agree this pumpkin is Mr. Tavolazzi. He is always such a good sport and we know he got a kick out of it. Congrats to all the winners who showed off their creativity!

A High Five Friday goes to the Lightfoot PTO for their incredible work on last Friday’s Harvest Festival. They dedicated countless hours to planning and preparing this amazing family event, and it was a huge success. While no photo captured everyone who helped, this one shows most of the team during clean-up that evening—there are so many more to thank!

Falcon Ridge would like to give a huge shoutout to Assistant Principal Ms. Bowman — the heart working behind the scenes every day. She is a true champion for students, leading with patience, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to doing what’s best for kids. The school community appreciates her dedication to making Falcon Ridge a place where every student feels seen, supported, and valued.

Caryn and the Grapeland Elementary choir did an outstanding job performing the National Anthem to kick off the E3 Bubble Run! Kudos to choir teachers Tina Gilfry and Courtney Beatty for their excellent work!

Shoutout to Mr. and Mrs. Borbon for cheering on the Golden Stars both in the classroom and on the field!

The VAPA team wants to give a big shout-out to Justin Kooyman and Juleah Sumpter for being the most supportive, amazing, and fearless VAPA leaders. Their dedication, encouragement, and advocacy for the arts make a tremendous difference in Etiwanda schools. Because of their leadership, creativity continues to grow and students across the district have meaningful opportunities to explore, express, and learn through visual, performing, and media arts. The VAPA team is grateful for their commitment to championing the importance of art in education.

Windrows PTA is getting a shoutout for their hard work and dedication in putting together a fantastic Family Fun Night! Their time, creativity, and teamwork made it an evening full of fun, community, and lasting memories for families. The school community truly appreciates everything they do to make Windrows such a special place.

At last night’s board meeting, Golden Elementary highlighted how building relationships between students fosters success through their Buddy Program. We want to recognize the students who spoke about why they love the program and the positive impact it has on their school experience.

Shout out to the DCIS PE Crew for welcoming families today as the Pit Crew and getting everyone ready for the Halloween costume contest. They brought the school spirit and the fun.

Shoutout to Mrs. Lara for stopping by to read a Halloween story aloud to some Golden Stars. The students loved the spooky fun and her engaging storytelling!

We know there’s someone you’d like to give a high five to—a student, teacher, or administrator who went above and beyond this week! Email a photo and a brief description to dosocialmedia@etiwanda.org and we’ll share them tomorrow. Please send your submissions before 9 AM on Friday.

Captain Bob Abbruzzese and Firefighter Paramedic Ethan Abbruzzese from the Riverside City Fire Department, husband and son of Mrs. Abbruzzese, visited the second-grade students to talk about community helpers and fire safety during the month of October. The students were thrilled to learn from real firefighters and loved hearing how they help keep the community safe.

Screens can be great tools for learning, but nothing replaces the value of real conversations, shared meals, and time spent together. Let’s remember that the best lessons often happen off-screen—in moments of connection, play, and curiosity. #WellnessWednesday #HealthyEtiwandaKids

Yesterday, Mrs. Green’s class at Golden Elementary celebrated Diwali! With the help of volunteers, students made diyas—small clay lamps that are traditionally lit during the Diwali holiday. What a bright and joyful way to learn about this special celebration!