Etiwanda School District

Mrs. Abbruzzese’s second grade class is learning about holiday traditions around the world. They learned about a tradition in Holland, Germany, and Hungary where children put their shoes out for Mikulás, or St. Nicholas. On the eve of December 5, children place their shoes or boots outside in hopes of receiving a treat and leave straw and carrots for St. Nicholas’ horse. When students arrived at school, they found a surprise waiting for them. St. Nicholas left each student a tangerine and gold chocolate coins.

Students in Mrs. Mares’ 7th grade DCIS math class tackled coordinate graphing activities alongside their i-Ready assessment. The lesson came with a fun holiday twist inspired by “How the Grinch Stole 6/7,” keeping students focused, engaged, and learning right up to the break.

Ms. Geiger’s CLOUDS students at Perdew Elementary had a fun week of learning mixed with holiday cheer. Students practiced patterning with candy canes and dreidels, matched letters using Christmas lights, and explored magnets through a STEAM project building gingerbread houses with Magnatiles, jingle bells, and pipe cleaners. A joyful week full of hands-on learning and holiday spirit.

Happy first day of break. Caryn Elementary 5th graders kicked off the holiday spirit by exchanging mugs with their first grade buddies, creating a fun and thoughtful moment for students across grade levels.

Mrs. Paul’s second grade class at Grapeland Elementary had a fun-filled Grinch Day. Students enjoyed a special visit from a parent volunteer dressed as the Grinch, created Grinch ornaments, and shared smiles at a waffle bar. The day wrapped up with a friendship stocking exchange that brought the class together. A big thank you to the parent volunteers who helped make the day such a success for the students.

Mrs. Hill’s TK class at East Heritage had fun using holiday bows to create patterns and 2D shapes—triangles, circles, and rectangles—to make reindeer. A perfect mix of holiday fun and learning!

Terra Vista Elementary staff were all smiles during their annual holiday breakfast. A great way to head into winter break with grateful hearts and appreciation for the work they do for students every day.

Here are some photos from Mrs. Chu’s 4th grade class at Golden Elementary celebrating Holiday Culture Day. Students enjoyed learning about their classmates’ cultures and traditions, making it a meaningful and fun experience for the whole class.

Today, Laura Rowland visited one of our Windrows teachers, Laura Barnett. After nearly 31 years of serving Etiwanda students, Mrs. Barnett is retiring. Her care and commitment have made a lasting difference for so many students. We wish her all the best as she begins this next chapter.

Wishing our students and families a relaxing and joyful winter break. We hope these days are filled with rest, time together, and moments that recharge everyone for the weeks ahead. We look forward to welcoming students back to class on Monday, January 5, 2026. Enjoy the break and we will see you soon.

A special shout-out to Mrs. Buchiarelli from the Valvaneda family. They shared how amazing she has been as a teacher and how much their daughter has learned this year. She is excited to come to school each day and loves being in Mrs. Buchiarelli’s class. Thank you for your patience, care, and support for both students and families.

A high five from Mrs. Henry to the Lightfoot PTO for making the holidays so special for students and teachers. From the annual holiday shop to a delicious holiday lunch for staff, their time and care were felt across campus. They spent countless hours at Lightfoot, all in support of our students and the people who serve them every day.

Shout out to West Heritage for partnering with Fontana PD to collect toys for families in our community. The WH Student Council helped load the FPD Hummer, making sure every donation made its way to those who need it most. Thank you to Officer Reed and the Fontana Police Department for their continued partnership and support of our students and families.

A shout out to Manny Amarasekara, 7th grade ELA Grade Level Chair at Heritage Intermediate. His leadership and commitment to growing leaders within his team continue to make a real difference for students. The care and intention he brings to his role are inspiring and felt across the grade level.

Mrs. Smith’s 2nd grade class at Grapeland had a blast celebrating Grinch Day. Students enjoyed the fun together and made the day full of smiles and holiday cheer.

Mrs. Fleming’s TK students enjoyed sharing their family holiday traditions with one another. It was a sweet way for students to learn about each other and celebrate what makes every family special.

Dr. Espinoza’s class at Golden Elementary had a great time making gingerbread houses. Students showed creativity and teamwork, and every house turned out fantastic. Even Principal McCormack joined in on the fun, making it an extra special moment for the class.

Perdew Elementary is celebrating its literacy programs and the creativity of its students. During last night’s school board meeting, student generated newspapers were highlighted, showcasing strong writing, critical thinking, and student voice in action.

Here are a few photos from last week’s championship games. It was a great season for our girls, filled with hard work and teamwork. Congratulations to the Summit girls on taking first place.

Justin Kooyman wants to give a big shout-out and heartfelt thank you to Josh Estes for running another smooth and well-organized basketball season. Josh’s organization and clear communication help everything run seamlessly from start to finish.
He also sends a huge thank you to all the coaches for their dedication and support of our athletes. Your willingness to coach makes a real difference every day. Thank you again for an amazing season!