Huntington Middle outlines 2025–26 plan: safety backpacks, wellness expansion, restorative practices and enrollment at capacity
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Summary
Huntington Middle School principal presented the site's 2025–26 plan, highlighting upgraded classroom safety supplies, expanded wellness services, restorative practices, parental communications via ParentSquare, enrollment reported at about 760 and grant-funded classroom supports.
The principal of Huntington Middle School presented the site’s 2025–26 goals to the San Marino Unified School District Board of Education on Sept. 23, 2025, emphasizing student safety, wellness supports, community engagement and instructional strategies.
School leaders said classroom safety supplies were inventoried and upgraded this year, with each classroom issued an emergency “red backpack” and updated materials to support lockdown and other emergency protocols. The principal noted ongoing monthly drills, expanded camera coverage and a request for three additional cameras in targeted areas; the board asked that the camera requests be returned with cost and placement details.
Huntington’s wellness center and counseling supports were highlighted as expanded services. The principal said counselors, interns and routines have enabled the wellness center to serve more students; the school increased “puppy therapy” and other wellness events because of strong student interest. The school reported increased restorative-practice work and ongoing professional development for staff to expand restorative conversations and disciplinary systems.
On communications, the site said it has expanded use of ParentSquare and weekly newsletters (Fox Facts) to improve family communication and offers translation options for preferred languages. The principal reported that the site’s enrollment is at capacity, citing a current count of about 760 students, and thanked community partners — PTA, San Marino Schools Foundation, PFA, Chinese Club and Rotary — for financial and volunteer support.
Instructional priorities include continued data-informed practices (CAST and NWEA assessments), use of supplemental materials aligned to core curriculum, needs assessments, and expansion of curricula and staffing supported by grants including Prop. 28 and arts/music instructional materials block grants. The principal said three new classrooms opened this year and staff were provided additional furniture and technology with grant and site support.
Board members asked several clarifying questions about Universal Design for Learning (UDL), student collaboration and the district’s cell-phone policy. School leaders described UDL as offering multiple ways for students to demonstrate learning (for example, papers, presentations, creative projects) while also asking teachers to remove barriers to learning through differentiated instruction and small-group supports. The board confirmed that California’s Assembly Bill 3216 requires districts to limit student cell-phone use during the school day; Huntington’s policy prohibits cell phones during the school day, and high school policies differ by break and instructional use.
The presentation closed with reminders of upcoming community events — new-family mixers and student fundraisers — and a request that the board continue to consider site-level facility needs during Measure M planning. No formal board action was requested on the site report.
