Superintendent's Weekly Newsletter

Dear Cold Spring Families,

It has been a fun-filled and meaningful week of learning at Cold Spring School, and I want to begin by sharing my gratitude for your continued partnership, trust, and support. We truly could not do this work without you, and I am so thankful for the strong community we share.

📅 Important Reminders & Upcoming Highlights

No School on Monday, January 19 as we honor and remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
UCSB vs. Hawaii Basketball Game - Cold Spring Elementary students are invited to attend this Saturday, January 17, with free tickets for all Cold Spring students. What a fun community opportunity!
Santa Barbara Chamber Players Concert - A community member shared that the Santa Barbara Chamber Players will present their next concert on Saturday, January 31, and there is a discount available for parents.
Read-A-Thon (Date Correction) - Please note the updated dates: January 26 through February 6. We’re excited for another great Read-A-Thon and appreciate your support of this beloved event.
Variety Show Auditions - Auditions are coming up soon. We know many students are practicing and preparing, and we can’t wait to see their talents shine.
New Family Tours for 2026–27 - If you know families who may be new to Cold Spring School for the 2026–27 school year, I will be hosting a school tour on Tuesday, February 3.

🛡️ School Safety & Preparedness

As you are aware, we had a shelter-in-place on Wednesday out of an abundance of caution. I am grateful for our staff and for how well our students continue to do during these situations.

We also held a fire drill this morning, and our students did an excellent job practicing our procedures, earning themselves an extra eight minutes of recess as a celebration of their efforts!

🎥 Learning Highlight: Fourth Grade Project-Based Learning

I’ve attached a short highlight video (just under two minutes) featuring an incredible fourth-grade project that truly captures the heart of learning at Cold Spring.

This project reflects how we integrate across social studies, science, math, English language arts, and technology to help students amplify their voice, deepen understanding, and solidify their learning progression.

This integrated, project-based approach has become part of our “secret sauce” at Cold Spring. It’s what brings learning to life, and it’s something I am incredibly proud of.

A special thank you to Mr. Francisco, who led this project, and to Mrs. O’Neil, our art teacher, and Mrs. Gomez, the classroom teacher, for their close collaboration and commitment to bringing this work to life for students.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support and partnership. I am so grateful for our students, our staff, and our Cold Spring families.

Warmly,

Dr. Alzina