IMPORTANT DROP-OFF & PICK-UP RESTRICTIONS | | |
Duarte Unified School District (DUSD) has asked us to remind our families that the alley and DUSD staff parking lot between CSArts-SGV and Duarte High School (DHS) are not to be used for morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up. On multiple occasions this school year, emergency responders have been unable to access the DHS campus because vehicles were blocking the alley and driveway, creating a serious safety concern for both school communities. Additionally, the alley is a designated fire lane.
As community partners and stakeholders, our first responsibility is to keep everyone safe. We ask all CSArts-SGV families to respect this restriction and use designated drop-off and pick-up locations only. Please refer to our campus map for more information. Thank you for your cooperation, understanding, and continued partnership in keeping our students, staff, and neighboring school communities safe.
| | CSArts-SGV’s Leadership class would like to invite all students to participate in the spookiest spirit week of the year! Join in on each of the themes listed below, and be sure to tag your photos with @wearecsarts! | | UPCOMING BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING | | |
The CSArts-SGV Board of Trustees is a dedicated group of community leaders, professionals, and advocates responsible for the governance of the school. The Board sets policy, provides strategic guidance, and exercises fiscal oversight to ensure the continued excellence and sustainability of CSArts-SGV’s award-winning arts and academic programs. Board meetings are open to the public and are held monthly to support the operational needs of the school.
The next CSArts-SGV Board of Trustees meeting will take place Monday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 201. Agendas for regular Board meetings, study sessions, and workshops are posted to the CSArts-SGV website at least 72 hours in advance, while agendas for special meetings are posted at least 24 hours in advance. Please click here to view the agenda for the upcoming meeting once it becomes available.
| | ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) EXAM ORDERING | | |
Students wishing to take an AP exam this year should pay for the exam(s) through MySchoolBucks as soon as possible, as the deadline for purchasing an exam is quickly approaching on Friday, November 6 at 5 p.m.
In addition to purchasing exams on MySchoolBucks, students must also register with their teacher’s AP Classroom section on the College Board website. Students will then be prompted to indicate whether or not they intend to take the exam. Every student who indicates “yes” must also have purchased the exam through MySchoolBucks. The deadline to indicate through AP Classroom is also Friday, November 6 at 5 p.m. Teachers have been reminding students regularly to make sure to complete both actions if they intend to take an AP exam.
The exam fee established by the College Board for each test is $103, or $66 if your family qualifies for the Federal Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program (FRLP). When ordering exams, we highly encourage both the student and a parent/guardian to be present to ensure that the correct exams are ordered. Please print/save your emailed receipt of payment for your records as students may be asked for this for future reference or refunds.
| SEEKING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS | |
CSArts-SGV is grateful to have the continued support of the Maxwell H. Gluck Foundation through the Gluck Community Service Arts Fellowship Program. Over the past six years, this funding has provided our students with the opportunity to bring free arts activities to those who have little-to-no access and to become more active and engaged members of the San Gabriel Valley community.
As we begin another year of this influential program, we need your help in identifying community organizations that serve children, seniors, or other groups who could benefit from free arts enrichment programs brought to them by CSArts-SGV students and teachers. All referrals within the San Gabriel Valley are welcome and appreciated. Please send your recommendations and contacts to our Outreach Coordinator Simon Harrison at simon.harrison@sgv.csarts.net.
| | |
CSArts-SGV is celebrating Halloween next Friday, October 30, and students are welcome to wear Halloween costumes to school. We would like to share the following dos and don’ts, which can help students as they plan their costumes:
Do:
-
Make sure your costume follows CSArts-SGV dress code and is school appropriate.
- Make sure that you are identifiable to staff as a CSArts-SGV student. If your costume includes a headpiece or mask that obscures your face, you must remove it upon entry and exit from the school and whenever asked by a staff member.
Don’t:
-
Bring toy guns or weapons to school. If your costume includes a replica or foam sword or staff, that is acceptable; however, please be aware that staff or administration may ask to see it and may stow it in their office if it is determined to be potentially dangerous.
- Engage in cultural appropriation or wear a costume that makes fun of a specific religion, race, ethnicity, cultural group, or gender. True appreciation comes in the form of learning about other cultures, befriending different people, going to museums, researching, and listening to others’ stories. Dressing up for one day of the year is not an appropriate demonstration of appreciation. Please stick to make-believe costumes, such as superheroes, zombies, aliens, vampires, book characters, and all things imaginative or creative.
| Thank you to all who attended and participated in College Fair 2026! Today, Friday, October 23, is the last day to share what stood out to you, what could be improved, or what you would like to see at College Fair next year. Please fill out this Feedback Survey by 11:59 p.m. tonight. | | From Monday, November 16 – Thursday, November 19, CSArts-SGV will offer its first-ever Spark Week: Discover the Arts in the place of regular high school conservatory classes. Your art form may be what brought you to CSArts-SGV, but Spark Week is your chance to try something different! Please review our previous communication for more information. We ask that students please complete the selection form by next Friday, October 30 to express their interest in the various tracks and workshops. We can’t wait to see what spark you ignite! | | FEDERAL FREE & REDUCED-PRICE LUNCH PROGRAM | | Any CSArts-SGV family who qualifies (based on income level) for the Federal Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program (FRLP) is encouraged to apply! If approved, your family would be eligible for additional discounts on yearbooks, school dance tickets, and more, and the school may be eligible for additional funding. If you think your family may qualify, please apply by Friday, October 30 through www.schoolcafe.com. | | We hope you are getting excited to attend this year's Fall Festival, now rescheduled to Sunday, November 8! Join us for a FREE afternoon of unforgettable family fun, featuring student performances, games, hands-on arts activities, and more. Click here to RSVP and be sure to spread the word! | | MORE TIME TO MAKE AN IMPACT | | The Make an ImPACt campaign has been extended to Tuesday, December 1, giving you another opportunity to leave your mark on the Duarte Performing Arts Center (PAC) as we make much-needed improvements to this beloved space. By participating, your personalized, custom-engraved plaque will be permanently displayed on a seat. Help us close the remaining funding gap as we work to create the PAC of our dreams! To reserve your seat, click here. | | FALL SEMESTER SUCCESS STORIES | | |
Have you heard of State of the Art? It is CSArts-SGV’s way of celebrating the outstanding accomplishments of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff through a special webpage that features off-campus successes large and small: castings, certifications, awards, scholarships, jobs, special performances, and more. State of the Art is updated biannually at the end of the fall and spring semester; however, you can submit your accomplishments and successes year-round here.
To have your accomplishment featured in the Fall 2026 edition of State of the Art, submit the form by Monday, November 30. An email will also be sent out once accomplishments for the semester are available for viewing. We can’t wait to see all the exciting things you have been up to! Past State of the Art accomplishments are always available to view at sgv.csarts.net/Accomplishments.
| | CSARTS-SGV APPLICATIONS OPEN | | |
Do you know a student entering grades 6-12 next fall who may be interested in joining our welcoming, creative, and unique school culture? Let them know that the application for the 2027-2028 school year is now live! The deadline for both prospective students to apply and for current students to apply for a conservatory transfer is Friday, January 15. A limited number of openings are also available for mid-year admission in select conservatories and grade levels. Learn more and apply now on our website!
Prospective families are also invited to attend one of our upcoming Preview Days on Saturday, November 7 or Saturday, December 5 to learn about our rigorous high school academic program, exemplary arts program, and unique school culture.
| |
MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES & REMINDERS | |
Middle School Spark Week
This November, we are excited to bring our middle school conservatory programs together for four days of creativity, collaboration, and discovery! From Monday, November 16 – Thursday, November 19, CSArts-SGV will offer its first-ever Middle School Spark Week in the place of regular middle school conservatory classes. Please see below and refer to our previous communication for more information.
Maxwell IB Academy
School of Dance, School of Music & School of Theatre
Throughout Spark Week, Maxwell students will work in small groups with peers from different conservatories to create, produce, and perform original variety show acts celebrating CSArts-SGV's 10th Anniversary! On Friday, November 20 at 4 p.m., students will present their work for family and friends in the Maxwell Academy Auditorium.
Parents/guardians who typically pick up their students from the CSArts-SGV campus following conservatory should pick up their students from the Maxwell Academy campus at the conclusion of class at 4:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday. On Friday, parents/guardians are welcome to attend the Variety Show performance from 4-5:30 p.m.
Royal Oaks STEAM Academy
School of Fine & Media Arts
During Spark Week, Royal Oaks students will explore the intersection of creative writing and visual arts as they create their own personal zines – small, handmade publications that combine writing, artwork, and creative expression. The week will also provide opportunities for students to share their creations and celebrate one another's work.
|
| | | |
End of Second Grading Period: Friday, November 6
Fall Festival: Sunday, November 8
Veterans Day (No School): Wednesday, November 11
Progress Reports Available: Friday, November 13
Thanksgiving Break (No School): November 23-27
| | UPCOMING PERFORMANCES & EVENTS | | | | | |
