Hello Manzanita Parents, Students, and Families –

I am so excited to be the principal of the Marvelous Manzanita Mustangs! This is my 30th year as an educator and my 19th year as a principal. My passion is Dual Language Education and kids! I graduated from UC Davis and UCLA and then received my Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine! I see myself as I am a life-long learner and am always learning both English and Spanish! I love language and believe it is the very essence of our society. I am also very proud to teach in the Bilingual Authorization Program at Cal State, where I teach both Reading and Science. I teach both through the lens of reading, because I LOVE to READ and want every child to develop a love of reading.

Whether you are new to the Manzanita family or a returning family, welcome. We believe we are this hidden gem in the Covina-Valley Unified School district tucked away off of San Bernardino Road looking out onto the San Gabriel Mountains - A place where students matter and education and possibility come alive. Manzanita is a school where staff come every day to foster creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, cultural awareness and digital citizenship in every child who passes through our doors. We take great pride in the academics and special programs we offer at Manzanita. We are proud to be a Dual Immersion Academy Magnet School. We also foster the arts through our Great Artist Program and expand it through a cultural lens to bring in relevant connections to our students, families and community.  Our 4th & 5th grade Music Program is funded by the District and Mr. Holland's Opus. If you come visit us, you will see many things happening on site!

The students in the Dual Immersion Academy become bilingual and bi-literate multicultural ambassadors by the end of 5^th grade. The students learn the value of two languages in this strand and become globally competitive in our ever-changing society. 

Our Lego Program is being revamped and will include so much more. We want to ensure our students are prepared for high growth, high-demand jobs while simultaneously making critical content standards more engaging.

In our Great Artist Program, students learn about visual art and explore different techniques with paint and color, line and shape, form and depth. Students each year learn about some of the great artists throughout the centuries and study their works in order to gain a better understanding of the period of time and aspects in which the artwork became famous. We are proud of our expansion to this program through a cultural lens. Each trimester, our students study a Latin-based artist or country's tradition and showcase it to the community. Each year we showcase Día de los Muertos through a family lens. We also study artists like Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Picasso and more. Some of our other projects have included Guatemalan Worry Dolls, Mexican Folk Art Masks and more. We have a huge culminating event during the Open House each year where you can not only see our technology in action but stroll through our Art Gallery Walk.

In our music program, students in grades 4 and 5 have the opportunity to choose a class that interests them. From Beginning Band, Advanced Band to Glee Beats, students experience an entire music program from start to finish. Students in each program learn music, notes, tempo, rhythm and tone in addition to gaining a basic appreciation of music. Students in band get to pick an instrument and receive specialized instruction with that instrument. Students in Glee Beats learn to sing and use percussion instruments. Two times each year, students perform - Once at Manzanita and Once at Azusa Pacific University! It is quite a sight!

 As you prepare to bring your child to Manzanita for the 2024-25 school year, make sure you are familiar with the following important information:

1. The Daily Bell Schedule
2. Tuesday minimum day schedule - Every Tuesday is a Tiny Tuesday, which means all students leave at 12:10 pm
3. The parking lot drop off and pick up rules
4. The Covina-Valley Unified School District Uniform Policy
5. Safety procedures on campus

We want your child to be successful from day one, and this means we need your help. If you have any questions throughout the school year, please contact our office!

I cannot wait for this year to get started and to build connections with all of the Manzanita Families!

Sincerely,

Beth Mossman-Marroquin, Ed.D.

Communication

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