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Monta Elementary spotlights quirky "duck" tradition, students recognized for perfect CASP scores
Summary
Monta Elementary Principal Robert Dominguez presented a video about a growing campus tradition of hiding small toy ducks to boost school spirit and attendance, and staff recognized four students who scored perfect on CASP tests and a second-grade Socratic seminar demonstrating AVID/WICOR instruction.
Monta Elementary Principal Robert Dominguez told the Barstow Unified School District board that a simple idea — hiding tiny yellow rubber ducks around campus — has grown into an unofficial mascot and a tool to build community and encourage attendance.
Dominguez showed a short video and said the ducks began as a staff scavenger hunt and evolved into incentives linked to attendance and staff recognition. "So once one day a month, the students receive a present, they receive a duck," he said, describing attendance awards and a "most valuable duck" staff recognition program.
The principal tied the tradition to classroom practices, saying the school uses AVID/WICOR strategies (writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, reading) to promote deeper learning and student agency. "We want our students to achieve deeper understanding and academic success when instruction is grounded on WICOR," Dominguez said.
Teachers from Monta then presented a second-grade Socratic seminar. A student speaker said, "We are the second grade reading group from Monta Elementary. We've been learning about heroes," and described class projects that inspired a local charity effort: "So here what we're doing… second graders are collecting change for kids… to bring in your spare change and help us make a big change for local kids this holiday season."
Board members and staff took photos with students and parents. The presentation emphasized that the ducks are meant to make school welcoming and fun while reinforcing routines tied to attendance and positive behavior.
Dominguez and teachers also described professional learning community work, data monitoring and a commitment to scaffolded, grade-appropriate AVID practices so students — starting in TK — develop the skills they need to advance.
The district publicly recognized the second-grade group's collection effort and encouraged community members to contact the school about visiting classrooms or supporting the students' local campaign.
