Dear Cold Spring Families,
Last night, it was a joy and privilege to honor our kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Gonzales, at the Santa Barbara County Salute to Teachers event, where she was recognized as Santa Barbara County Mentor Teacher of the Year! Congratulations, Mrs. Gonzales! We are so grateful for the care, dedication, and leadership you share with our students, fellow educators, and community.
Last Thursday and Friday, I spent time in San Diego at the Association of California School Administrators Leadership Summit. I had the privilege of presenting alongside my friends Margarita Cuizon-Armelino, ACSA Deputy Executive Director, and Karima Fuentes Induction Specialist of Los Angeles Unified. Our conversation centered on something close to my heart: positive school culture begins with people and what each of us chooses to bring to our community every day. As I reflect on our work at Cold Spring, I am grateful for the ways our families and staff come together to support and lift one another up. Each of you helps make our school a place where children feel known, valued, and supported.
A few opportunities and reminders for the weeks ahead:
Learning Together begins November 10: Please join me in the Cold Spring Auditorium as we begin our Learning Together series with a conversation about education, technology, creativity, and student well-being.
Veterans Day—November 11: There will be no school on Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. If you are a veteran, we would love to recognize your service. Please email me a photo from your time in the military, your title or rank, your branch of service, and a brief description of how you served our country. We are grateful for the opportunity to honor the veterans in our Cold Spring community.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Conferences are right around the corner! Classroom teachers will soon share sign-up information. Please take advantage of this important time to connect with your child’s teacher, celebrate growth, and discuss how we can work together to support your child.
Unity Shoppe Collection: Our Student Council is collecting goods for Unity Shoppe to support local families. Thank you for helping our students put kindness into action! I look forward to seeing which class has the highest participation.
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day—November 18: We encourage families to walk together in honor of Ruby Bridges and her courage. While our country has made progress toward racial equality, there is still work to do. This is a meaningful opportunity to talk with our children about kindness, fairness, and making sure everyone feels welcome and respected, regardless of race or skin color.
Thank you for all the ways you care for our children and one another. I look forward to a wonderful week together!
With gratitude,
Dr. Alzina
Learning Together with Dr. Alzina - This Tuesday!
Give Thanks this November with the Unity Shoppe!
Cold Spring Student Council is proud to support the Unity Shoppe this Thanksgiving! Help us give back to our community by donating items from their Thanksgiving Donation Wishlist. Each grade will have its own donation box located outside the office starting November 3rd!
Our goal is to collect more than 1,000 items! If we beat last year’s total of 1,013 donations, we’ll celebrate with an all-school surprise!
Every little bit makes a big difference, so clean out those pantries and help us give back! 🧡
Westmont Morning Spirit - Next Friday!
Next Friday, Novemeber 13th, Westmont Athletics will be joining us at Cold Spring during morning drop-off to greet students and kick off the day with some extra excitement! Students are encouraged to wear their favorite college gear to show their support for higher education and celebrate the many opportunities that lie ahead. Let’s fill the campus with school pride and Dolphin spirit!
No School Next Wednesday - Veterans Day!
Conference Week & Minimum Days: November 16th-20th
During the week of Monday, November 16 – Friday, November 20, all students will be dismissed early at 12:15 PM following lunch due to parent-teacher conferences.
The Dolphin Center will be open immediately after dismissal, from 12:15 PM – 5:30 PM.
(Please note: TK students must still be picked up by 4:00 PM.)
Important reminders for Dolphin Center families:
*Snack time will take place at it's usual time. Please send an extra snack for your child(ren) if they tend to get hungry.
*If you plan to bring your child(ren) to your conference, they must either be signed into the Dolphin Center or remain with you during the meeting. Children may not be left unsupervised on campus.
Parent Guidance Health Series
November: World Kindness Month! ParentGuidance.org is sharing helpful resources this month focused on parenting with purpose, helping children build friendships, and strengthening family connections. Explore practical tips and tools to nurture positive relationships and support your child’s emotional well-being!
Congratulations Cold Spring!
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day - November 18th!
This November 18, 2026, we are encouraging Cold Spring families to walk to school to honor Ruby Bridges' bravery and to celebrate public school racial integration.
If you would like to participate please wear the color purple on Wednesday, November 18th, and please walk to school. Hand held signs will be provided on Monday and Tuesday that week that you can pick up at the front office, to hold on your walk.
