This content was shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. We have such talented students! This past June 2021, Cold Spring School District 6th graders put on a production of Annie Jr. , a student version of the Broadway musical inspired by the Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie . Students put together their ideas to bring Annie Jr. to life with props, costumes, singing, and dancing, and rehearsed diligently. The Music and Drama teachers at Cold Spring provided direction, inspiring students to be creative and make Annie Jr. their own. The students and teachers’ creativity exceeded expectations! Cold Spring’s production of Annie Jr. is unique in its set design. Students rehearsed together at school and inventively produced scenes both onstage and virtually for a new visual experience of live student theater. Here is the full production. As part of the district’s approach to educating the “whole child,” providing Visual and Performing Arts opportunities for students to t...

This content is shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. As schools everywhere experience an influx of students, teachers, and families returning to the normalcy of educational routines, Cold Spring School District is celebrating the success their students have accomplished during the 2020-2021 academic year, following the results of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). This past spring, 102 Cold Spring students took the CAASPP in grades three through six, resulting in a 95% participation rate (five students opted out). This participation was critical considering the 2019-2020 CAASPP was canceled nationally in the wake of COVID-19 closing schools and interrupting learning patterns. But in preparation for the 2020-2021 CAASPP, Cold Spring students and teachers persevered, studied, and proved their incredible creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Cold Spring School District is proud to announce that 97% of students Met/Exceeded the E...

This content was shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. Cold Spring School District anticipates back-to-school festivities and excitement and will be an active partner in promoting walking and bicycling to school. Through the implementation of the Safe Routes to School Program, the district aims to improve traffic safety around school areas. “We are excited to continue working with the community to further develop the Safe Routes Program and ensure our students have safe travel accommodations to school each day,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. The Safe Routes to School Committee promotes a safer neighborhood for the students and their families to walk and ride bikes to school and schedules numerous safety programs (bike rodeo, assemblies) for the students. Four goals are outlined for the Safe Routes Program: Goal 1: Reduce car traffic Goal 2: Create a safer environment Goal 3: Promote walking and biking among students Goal 4: Educate parents and stu...

This content was shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. Parents play an integral role at Cold Spring School. So crucial, that there is a club devoted to their involvement, called Parent Club! Its mission is to create opportunities for the students, families, and the larger community to connect with each other in order to engage and empower all the students at Cold Spring School.  “Our district has a variety of extracurricular activities to support students’ learning environments, and we also provide parents and guardians with the opportunity to be more involved with the school district to support their students’ experience as well,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. The Parent Club actively helps the school community by sponsoring social events, welcoming new families, and raising funds to acquire playground equipment and classroom learning materials. In addition, the Parent Club coordinates after-school enrichment programs and many other programs that ...

This content was shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. Time flies. During the 2016-2017 school year, second graders at Cold Spring School District worked together to plant a Native Garden. Four years later, 6 th graders had the opportunity to garden one last time before leaving for middle school. Students were able to see the plant growth and know they had contributed to the local ecosystem, while being part of the district, and feel proud of their accomplishments. The Native Garden marked an important passage of time and remains a gift for the current students at Cold Spring School District. Santa Barbara is known for its diverse ecosystem due to its shared coastal and mountainous geography. Cold Spring’s approach to the Native Garden is to use local resources as a supplement to education standards while teaching students important lessons.  “The Native Garden at Cold Spring is an opportunity for students to develop environmental literacy skills and support their creativity,” s...

This content is shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. We support mental wellness during Mental Health Awareness Month  Santa Barbara, Calif. – In recognition of the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, Cold Spring School District announces their partnership with Care Solace, a concierge service linking families and school staff to free mental health support resources.  “In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and as we approach the end of the school year, I want to remind our community that mental health wellness is critical. Access to adequate mental health services is a necessity and available to our families and staff,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “The year behind us has been so difficult with the COVID-19 pandemic that it has been critical for all of us to maintain our mental health by practicing wellness as best we can. Care Solace is a great resource for all ages. I encourage our community to take advantage of these resour...

This article was shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. The new school year brings opportunities to enhance campus spaces. Cold Spring School District has unveiled unique additions for students to enjoy. Recently, a greenhouse was built, and the garden and outdoor space was renovated for the new academic year. These outdoor facilities were provided and constructed by parents and local organizations who volunteered their time to ensure structures were properly built. Cold Spring is proud of the student learning spaces. The children know how to make their day efficient across campus as they reach their daily learning goals. This year, the school is excited for students to also enjoy new renovations and a variety of special classroom enhancements that will supplement their academic routine. A second-grade classroom has been redesigned with new flooring and new classroom furniture such as desks and chairs. The increased enrollment at Cold Spring has allowed for the growth of the facilitie...

This article is shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. The hills of Cold Spring School District are alive with the sound of music. Practicing diligently with the guidance of music teacher Sara DiSalvo, our students are embarking on a successful year of visual and performing arts curriculum. This year, Cold Spring is delighted to have a new recording studio for students to use! This is one of the many new additions to the campus. The studio is located inside the music classroom in the auditorium. Children will be able to record their music in high quality for practice and sharing! “Under the direction of teacher Sara DiSalvo, we are excited to have a new resource for our students’ music education,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “Our district believes in providing supplemental resources to support our students’ learning and interests. The recording studio will benefit our music education program’s growth.” Cold Spring is proud to provide a diverse curric...

This content has been shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent, Cold Spring School: It’s never too late to get involved with your school! Cold Spring School District encourages our community to take an active role in the education of the students. Parents, guardians, and community members are welcome to participate in the Cold Spring School Site Council. The composition of the Council includes 3 classroom teachers, 1 other school staff member, the school principal, and 5 parents or community members. Council members serve a term of two years. “School Site Council is a great way to get involved with our district,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “New voices and perspectives are always welcome, and when you participate in our school events such as School Site Council, community meetings such as Principal’s Coffee, or a variety of other community events, you support the learning environment of our students. We are all working together to ensure they thrive.” T...

This content is shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. As schools everywhere experience an influx of students, teachers, and families returning to the normalcy of academic routines, Cold Spring School District is celebrating the academic success their students have achieved during the 2020-2021 academic year, following the results of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). This past spring, 102 Cold Spring students took the CAASPP in grades three through six, resulting in a 95% participation rate (five students opted out). This participation was critical considering the 2019-2020 CAASPP was canceled nationally in the wake of COVID-19 closing schools and interrupting learning patterns. But in preparation for the 2020-2021 CAASPP, Cold Spring students and teachers persevered, studied, and proved their incredible creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Cold Spring School District is proud to announce that 97% of students Met/Exceeded the...

This post is shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. More than 130 years ago, the Cold Spring Elementary School District was born. It all began with a small plot of ground, to be exact, a portion of Lot 162 of Old Pueblo Land of Santa Barbara. It was set aside for a school on the south side of Sycamore Canyon Road. That is how April 5th, 1889, marked the date when our school district started developing roots, growing steadily to become a trusted partner in our community and a solid pillar in the education of numerous generations. Cold Spring School began its operations in 1889, but it was not until 1894, five years later, that the district built its first school building. The first school property was deeded to the School District on October 18, 1889, and the second section was deeded on December 4th, 1889. Since that year, Cold Spring School District has provided a space where children can enhance their knowledge. The school supports the unique potential of each individual student and...

This content was shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent. The Cold Spring School District is committed to creating learning environments that focus on the “whole child” and count on the parent’s engagement to advance objectives. In the development of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), the district highlighted efforts to create bridges of communication across the school community. The Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a tool for local educational agencies to set goals, plan actions, and leverage resources to meet those goals to improve student outcomes. Cold Spring School District received a total grant award of $11,215 in Supplemental Grant funding from the State of California as part of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). Cold Spring’s LCAP describes how teachers, staff, students, advisory committee, parents, and the community were involved in the development and update of the plan. As part of the LCAP policy, parents took an Annual Parent LCAP Survey...

This article is shared by Amy Alzina, Superintendent. Santa Barbara, Calif. – The availability of extracurricular activities during the COVID-19 pandemic supported Cold Spring’s mission of nurturing creativity and innovative thinking. To promote students’ development, the district maintained a variety of activities and clubs throughout the year. During a regular school day, students have the opportunity to participate in activities such as Writer Recess, the Cold Spring Virtual Talent Show, CARE 4 Paws, the Pet Food and Supply Drive, and more. “Students can choose which extracurricular activity interests them the most,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “Our wonderful programs encourage students to explore their interests at a young age. Pursuing these academic and extracurricular interests will support their critical thinking skills as they grow.” Adapting to the virtual demands of the pandemic-affected academic year, Cold Spring School District student...

This article is shared by Amy Alzina, Superintendent. Santa Barbara, Calif. – This year provided Cold Spring School District with an opportunity to enhance communication opportunities with families of the school district. The partnership between Cold Spring and the community was essential to optimizing student success during the pandemic. For the last year, Cold Spring School District continued to host Superintendent/Principal’s Coffee weekly with Superintendent Amy Alzina, as well as various Community Meetings, located at the school’s Gazebo. The meetings encourage open communication between the school district, parents, and community members. “Superintendent/Principal’s Coffee was a great way for our community members to contribute to the collaborative efforts required to make the past year effective for students’ learning,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “I thank our parents and community members for being responsive and willing to communicate with...

This article is shared by Amy Alzina, Superintendent. The end of the academic year brings a celebration of summer break, fun activities, and even anticipation of back-to-school festivities. It is also a time to reflect on students’ educational achievements by tracking progress and reviewing the recorded state standardized testing results. At Cold Spring School District, students are excelling across English and Math at a high rate. End-of-year Renaissance Learning STAR Reading and STAR Math Assessment results indicated 93% of students met or exceeded the English Language Arts (ELA) standards and 87% of the students met or exceeded the Math standards during the 2020-2021 school year. “The academic accomplishments of our students are linked to the superior leadership and dedication of our teachers and staff,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District . “They start every school day with a mission to help students grow in their knowledge, and each day they succeed.” ...

This press release is shared by Amy Alzina Superintendent: Santa Barbara, Calif., (DATE) – Cold Spring School District honors the month of May as Teacher Appreciation Month. Recognized as a California Distinguished School and recipient of the Exemplary Arts in Education Award, Cold Spring School District attributes student achievement to the dedicated educators and staff members who go above and beyond to ensure all students receive a well-rounded and high-quality education. “We recognize the hard work of the wonderful teachers and staff members of Cold Spring School District and their partnerships with students and families,” says Amy Alzina, Superintendent, Cold Spring School District. “We thank our educators and staff members for being committed to academic excellence and leading our students through their academic achievements.” The recognition of teachers comes at an important time as the school year ends and Cold Spring School District reflects on another great year of studen...

Amy Alzina Superintendent of the Cold Spring School District shared this article. Amy Alzina serves as the Superintendent and Principal of the Cold Spring Elementary School District in Montecito, California. Dr. Amy Alzina stands out due to her leadership skills in public school education.  One of her main accomplishments is creating a collaborative student-centered team that works tirelessly to have every child achieve both academically and socially-emotionally.  Dr. Amy Alzina has dedicated her work to improving student learning outcomes, which embraces a whole-child approach to teaching and learning.  Dr. Amy Alzina is a graduate of Concordia University, where she earned an Educational Leadership Degree Ed.D. She also has a School Administration M.A. and Teaching M.A. degree from Pacific University. Amy Alzina also graduated from Westmont College with a B. A. (Bachelor of Arts) degree majoring in Liberal Studies and minoring in Kinesiology. “Every Great Leader wa...

  Dr. Amy Alzina is currently the Superintendent/Principal of the Cold Spring School District in Montecito, CA, a position she has held for the past three years. Creating a collaborative student-centered team focused on ensuring the academic and social emotional support of every child is what drives Dr. Amy Alzina’s approach to leadership.