The MPUSD Insider is the weekly internal newsletter for MPUSD all staff.
Of Interest to Staff
Drone Pilot Training and Remote Pilot Certification Course- Our Monterey Adult School has partnered with DART to provide a certification course for students to obtain a FAA Part 104 drone piloting license. It is a 6 - 8 week program, two days a week in the evening, starting in April. 10 spots are available. The class costs $150, but scholarships will be available. Program details are still being confirmed. If you are interested and would like to be placed on the contact list once class info is finalized, email transition specialist, Renée Mondragon at rmondragon@mpusd.k12.ca.us.
FREE Composting Workshop - Turn your kitchen scraps and yard trimmings into nutrient-rich soil amendment. This FREE garden workshop covers bayard and worm composting. This workshop is this Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 10 - 11:30 am in the Monterey Adult School garden.
Spring Break | March 23 - April 3, 2026 - Just a friendly reminder to mark your calendars as Spring Break will be coming up in two weeks.
MPUSD Way
Don't be shy! Share about a colleague and we will highlight them in this section. Just send their name and a brief bullet or two of what they've done and we'll do the rest!
Every Person Matters - A big thank you to Yessica Burk, Attendance Intervention Specialist at Crumpton and Olson Elementary Schools, for the incredible impact she is making with students and families. Yessica has been leading monthly attendance campaigns at both schools while building strong relationships with Marina families. One family recently shared how much her presence means to them, so much so that they requested Yessica’s name be added to their nonverbal student’s communication board. Her care, dedication, and connection with families truly reflect the MPUSD Way. Thank you, Yessica, for the difference you make every day.
Districtwide News
LAMS Students Advance to State History Day- Los Arboles Middle School students had an outstanding showing at the Monterey County History Day competition, with two 8th-grade teams winning in the Junior Group Exhibit category and advancing to the California State History Day competition in May at Sacramento State University. Aria Beye, Juniper Gustafson, and Gwenyth Tackett earned top honors for their project “Contagious Ideas: Pasteur’s Germ Theory - Revolution and the Chain Reaction of Reform,” also receiving the Turning Points in History Prize. Aryana Choe and Vivian Nguyen were recognized for “Blue Revolution: The Global Reaction and Cinematic Reform of Avatar,” earning the Pop Culture Prize. Two 7th-grade students also received special awards: Aanaskshi Ram (Family History Prize) and Liana Nguyen (Primary Source Prize). Congratulations to all the LAMS students who participated and represented their school so well. A special thank you to Los Arboles Middle School teachers Astrid Rodriguez and Teri Flanders for their leadership and support in guiding students through the History Day program.
Seaside Middle Students Shine at Monterey County History Day - Seaside Middle School students earned impressive recognition at the Monterey County History Day competition, with several projects named county winners and advancing to the California State History Day competition in May at Sacramento State University. Award-winning projects explored topics ranging from the Townshend Acts and taxation without representation to the Mexican Revolution, women’s fashion reform in the 1860s, and the 86th Blackhawk Infantry Division. Students also received special awards including the National Society for Colonial Dames Award, Women in History Award, Turning Point in History Award, and Military in History Award. Congratulations to all Seaside Middle students who participated and showcased their creativity, research, and historical insight. A special thank you to teachers Caitlin Aleru and Natalie Constable, along with Chance Coates, for their guidance and support in helping students bring their History Day projects to life. Read about our winners and their projects on Seaside Middle School's website.
Monterey High Students Earn Top Honors at County Science Fair- Monterey High School student scientists had an outstanding showing at the 2026 Monterey County Office of Education Science & Engineering Fair, earning multiple awards across several categories. Highlights included a clean sweep of the Biomedical & Health Sciences category, with students earning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Several projects also qualified for the California Science & Engineering Fair, including work by Eunyul (Anne) Kim, Sarah Bae, Anthony Cabrera Hernandez, Katherine Nodora, Giovanni Garcia Zabeche, and Melissa Sariles. Additional recognitions included second-place finishes in engineering, technology, and biomedical sciences, along with an honorable mention for research in yeast respiration. Congratulations to all of the talented Monterey High student researchers, and a special thank you to Monterey High teacher Jason Nicholson for his leadership in supporting and guiding these impressive student projects. Story and photos on MHS' website.
Spring Open House Season Coming Soon - Each spring, MPUSD schools welcome families and community members to campus for Spring Open House, a special opportunity to step into classrooms and celebrate student learning. These events allow students to proudly share their projects, accomplishments, and the progress they’ve made throughout the year. Open House is also a valuable time for families to connect with teachers, explore campus programs, and experience the vibrant learning environments across our schools. We invite you to join us in celebrating the creativity, hard work, and achievements of our MPUSD students. Visit our website to view the full list of Spring Open House dates, times, and locations across the district.
MPUSD Community Updates - Take a moment to read the information shared with families in this past Saturday’s weekly MPUSD Community Updates. If information is pertinent to all staff we pull it into The MPUSD Insider, but in case you would like to see the actual community/family publication we share it each week in this communication with staff.
Information to Share with Families
Community Resource and Wellness Fair @ Central Coast High School- Our Central Coast High School is hosting a community resource and wellness fair for our entire community. This is a great opportunity to provide resources, including health care, jobs and career training, and housing and other. More than 25 community resources will be there. Please share this event on March 13, 2026, from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm at Central Coast High with our families. We will also be sharing in our Peachjar flyer system and MPUSD Community Updates, but we know that families prefer receiving information from their teachers and schools more than the district.
Earn Saturday Academy Credit at Hartnell College Foundation's Annual STEAM Family Science Day - Families are invited to join us for a day of creativity, curiosity, and discovery at Hartnell College'sSTEM Showcase on Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hartnell College in Salinas. The event will highlight hands-on exhibits, student presentations, and interactive activities for the whole family. MPUSD students who attend can also earn Saturday Academy creditby signing in at the front check-in table.
📍 Hartnell College 411 Central Avenue, Salinas 🕙 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Parent University - All MPUSD families are invited to Parent University at the Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, from 5:30 - 8 p.m. In addition to free food, child care and raffle prizes, parents will learn about how they can support their student, about youth mental health, and the safe use of technology, social media, and so much more. Register HERE so we can plan for attendance.
Elementary, TK-8, and Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences | March 16 - 20, 2026 - Just a friendly reminder of the upcoming parent/teacher conferences the week of March 16 - 220, 2026, for elementary, TK-8, and middle school families. Reminder: Early release is at 12:50 p.m. for elementary and TK-8 schools and 1:30 p.m. for middle schools.
Welcoming Families Learning Series - We invite all families in MPUSD to attend this monthly series - the next session is April 6, 2026. Our first session (anti-bullying) will be facilitated by Harmony at Home. Come and learn the community approach to bullying prevention. There will be pizza dinner, childcare and a small raffle. We hope to see you there!
Board of Education
Board of Education Meeting - The Board of Education met on March 3, 2026, at 540 Canyon Del Rey in Del Rey Oaks. If you missed the meeting and want to learn what actions the Board took, you can check out our Board Highlights. The Board meets again this Tuesday, March 10, 2026, and the agenda may be found HERE. You can attend in person or access the meeting via AMP-TV live or Zoom.
Los Arboles Middle School's Matilda - After 19 years directing musicals with Marina Youth Arts and Los Arboles Middle School, Kelly Pelton is headed to a new opportunity dancing with the Golden State Warriors Hardwood Classics. She’s ending on a high note with Matilda Jr. at Los Arboles with free shows on March 12 (5 PM), March 13 (6 PM), and March 14 (3 PM).
Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula Reading is Key - At the Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula, a beloved tradition continues. Every student reads the same book, creating shared experiences, meaningful conversations, and powerful connections between the story and their own cultures. Let’s go Lobos.
Reminders: Info in Previous Editions Worthy of Repeat
Staff Appreciation Night at Monterey Bay FC - MPUSD staff are invited to enjoy a fun evening of soccer and appreciation thanks to community partner Monterey Bay FC! Monterey Bay FC is hosting Teacher (Staff) Appreciation Night on Saturday, April 25, when Monterey Bay FC takes on the Oakland Roots. The first 500 teachers (staff) receive free admission, and all fans in attendance will receive a Central Coast YMCA free day pass. Staff interested in attending must complete the online form to claim ticket. For questions or additional information, staff may contact Ricardo Rodriguez at 831-750-4740 or Ricardo@montereybayfc.com
Discovery Day @ the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) - Discovery Day is an immersive, hands-on STEM experience for students in grades 6 - 12 to be held May 1, 2026, at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey. Students will explore cutting-edge research through interactive activities such as coding robots, flying drones, launching weather balloons, building speakers and telescopes, 3D printing with special pens, analyzing sediment samples, and even exercising with a U.S. Marine. Guided by experts at the forefront of Naval STEM research, Discovery Day brings science and technology to life and inspires the next generation of innovators.
Register by March 29, 2026 Open to: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students
Enrollment for the 2026 - 2027 School Year - MPUSD online registration is now open for NEW students and select 2026–2027 enrollments. Full details are on MPUSD's website.
Currently Open:
2026–2027 New TK and New Kindergarten students (and those coming from MPUSD Preschool)
2026–2027 New TK–12 students (including students not enrolled in MPUSD during 2025–2026 or students returning to MPUSD after attending elsewhere)
2025–2026 (current year) new registrations
2025–2026 (current year) confirmations
Not Yet Open:
2026–2027 confirmations for students currently enrolled in MPUSD
Register by March 29, 2026
Open to: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students
Learn more and register on the 
