Baldwin Park Unified School District Holds Annual Leadership Charge

Baldwin Park Unified School District administrators and school leaders gathered for the District’s annual Leadership Charge, with this year’s theme centering on “Gearing Up for Success.” Superintendent Dr. Froilan N. Mendoza welcomed more than 150 employees, including principals, program administrators, directors and supervisors. The first professional development day on July 18, featured a team building exercise that challenged attendees with building bicycles that will be donated to students in Early Childhood Education through middle school.

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Rio Hondo Police Academy Honors Late Gardena Police Officer

Rio Hondo Police Academy on July 10 added the name of Gardena Police Officer Toshio Hirai to its Memorial Plaque in a special ceremony that included members of the Gardena Police Department, Hirai’s family, honor guards from Los Angeles County law enforcement agencies and members of the Rio Hondo Police Academy Recruit Class No. 208. Hirai died in the line of duty on Nov. 15, 2018 as a result of a vehicle accident. He was a cadet in Rio Hondo Police Academy Class No. 178.

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Baldwin Park Unified Educator Retires After 38 Years in the District

Following a 38-year career as an educator and principal in Baldwin Park Unified School District, Kenmore Elementary Principal Jane Sattari retired at the end of June. Sattari, who became principal at Kenmore in 2010, led the school to notable milestones and earned titles that include: Best Urban School, California Honor Roll, California Distinguished School and Top Los Angeles School Award.

El Monte City School District Celebrates Parent Workshop Grads

El Monte City School District celebrated the graduation of 15 parents from its Opening Doors workshop with a June 15 ceremony filled with cheers from their children, instructors and administrators. The Opening Doors program, called Abriendo Puertas in Spanish, is an evidence-based program that focuses on early childhood development and teaches District parents to encourage their children to stay happy, healthy and interested in learning.

El Monte City School District Students Gain College Insight at CTE Camp

Twenty-one El Monte City School District students recently spent a week building hydrogen fuel cell engines, crafting crystal radios and learning how to perform CPR during Rio Hondo College’s 2019 Career and Technical Education Summer Camp. El Monte City School District, a first-time camp attendee, was one of four area districts invited to the event, alongside Basset Unified, Little Lake City and Mountain View school districts to learn the importance of higher education.

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Buena Park School District Teacher Hosts Summer Reading Program

Gilbert School kindergarten teacher Leslee Milch said her favorite aspect of summer is being able to read her favorite books, complete with silly voices and singing, for students and community members through her weekly Read with Me! program at Bellis Park. Milch, a National Board Certified teacher, created the program when she realized many of her students had few opportunities to practice reading skills during summer break.

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Rio Hondo College Welcomes 10th Superintendent/President

Rio Hondo College’s Board of Trustees on July 10 unanimously ratified the hiring of long-time educator Dr. Arturo Reyes as superintendent/president and welcomed him as the College’s 10th permanent leader to the applause of a packed board meeting room.

Fontana Unified Inspires Innovation During Annual Leadership Institute

Nearly 200 Fontana Unified District administrators envisioned ways to strengthen the District’s culture of innovation and build upon current educational opportunities during the second annual Leadership Institute held July 15-17. The team-building event, themed “The Amazing Space Race,” tasked District leaders with completing missions related to 15 of Fontana Unified’s career technical education pathways.

El Monte Union Alumnus to Lead South El Monte High as New Principal

Longtime El Monte Union educator, administrator and El Monte High School Class of 1989 graduate Dr. Jorge Morales has been selected to lead South El Monte High School as its new principal.

Inglewood Unified Introduces New Charter High School

Inglewood Unified hosted an informational meeting to introduce the community to the new City Honors International Preparatory Charter School on July 18. City Honors is transitioning to a charter school this fall and showcased the school and curriculum during the community gathering in the City Honors auditorium.

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Bassett Unified OKs 2019-20 Priorities

Bassett Unified School District’s Local Control and Accountability Plan in 2019-20 will seek to boost academic success through redesigned career technical education classes and partnerships with ESPN/Major League Baseball and No Bully/Shred Hate for social-emotional activities. In addition, the District will continue working with Mt. San Antonio College to offer dual-enrollment opportunities at Bassett High School. The plan also includes a family engagement program at Edgewood Academy and an effort to offer enrichment opportunities to reduce absenteeism.

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Baldwin Park Unified Junior Selected for World Leadership Conference

Baldwin Park High School incoming junior Kohle Jackson will represent Los Angeles County and join more than 450 seniors and juniors from 14 countries to harness and expand leadership skills during the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership’s 2019 World Leadership Congress (WLC).

Paramount High School Valedictorian to Pursue Dreams at Distinguished Engineering Program

Paramount High School’s Class of 2019 valedictorian Jasmine Gomez did not always see college as a possibility, but her hard work and long hours made it a thrilling reality when she was accepted into the prestigious engineering program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Rio Hondo College Veterans Success Center Assists Vets Achieve Higher Education Goals

Veterans who have earned degrees and certificates from Rio Hondo College praise the College for its support services, including the Rio Hondo College Veterans Service Center (VSC), as a critical element in their success.

Inglewood Unified Students Experience College Life at Overnight Event

Eight Inglewood Unified students joined a group of South Bay area peers during the 6th Annual “A Day in the Life of a College Student” field trip at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) July 9-10. Students stayed in dorms, enjoyed campus tours, attended workshops and experienced an overnight stay at the dorms. The event is part of the South Bay Promise, a partnership of the Hawthorne and Inglewood Teen Centers, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and CSUDH that provides opportunities for students.

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Paramount Helps Students Transition to College through Melt Program

Paramount Unified is helping students navigate college enrollment through its Melt program, which serves those who have failed to enroll in college or are finding challenges in completing the process. A team of counselors is helping students answer questions and overcome challenges that arise through the financial aid process. More than 120 Paramount Unified students have been assisted thus far.

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Lynwood Unified Families Receive Free Books at Literacy Event

More than 250 Lynwood Unified students received new books, engaged in reading activities and met with District administrators during the District’s annual Scholastic Literacy Event on July 11 – put on by the Equity, Access & Instructional Services Department. Clifford the Big Red Dog® joined parents and guardians in encouraging children to bolster their literacy skills while Lynwood librarians attended and signed up youngsters for library cards.

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Paramount Unified Staff Members attend Tech Conference in Florida

Paramount Unified Instructional Technology staff members Nancy Rivas and Joy Go-Ng represented the District as Schoology ambassadors during the Schoology NEXT conference on July 9-12 in Boca Raton, Florida. They met with other representatives from districts across the country and learned new practices to share with Paramount Unified. Schoology is a technology used by the District that allows educators to connect with parents and families through online assignments and progress reports.

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Whittier Union Welcomes 3 New Administrators for 2019-20 School Year

Three longtime Whittier Union High School District educators will transition into new administrative roles for the 2019-20 school year, bringing years of veteran leadership and knowledge to essential managerial positions. The three administrators – all hired by the District in 2004 – are Kristin Kooiman, Director of Personnel Services; Lilia Vasquez, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Santa Fe High School; and Diana Salazar Baez, Assistant Principal of Business Activities at Whittier High School.

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Calendar Items

Saturday, July 20

Baldwin Park Unified Junior Selected for World Leadership Conference: Baldwin Park High School incoming junior Kohle Jackson was selected out of 170 Los Angeles-area high school students to represent the county in Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership’s 2019 World Leadership Congress (WLC) from Saturday, July 20 through Saturday, July 27 at Loyola University in Chicago. More than 450 students from 14 countries will participate in WLC, a weeklong program that empowers high schoolers to become leaders and global citizens. HOBY Los Angeles provided Jackson with a $1,000 scholarship to put toward the $1,825 registration fee.

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Monday, July 22

Camp Rio Offers Summer Learning for Boys & Girls Club Members: Rio Hondo College will host 45 members of the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier at Camp Rio, a two-week exploration of College programs, science, career technical education and physical activities, that will run from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, July 15-17 and July 22-24; 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, July 18 and 25. Rio Hondo College is at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.

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Thursday, July 25

Rio Hondo College to Host First-year Student Families: Rio Hondo College will host the families of first-year students during its First Year Family Night 2019 from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 25 at the Rio Café, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. The event, which includes a light dinner, offers guidance on financial aid, student resources and services and ways in which families can support their children’s higher education journeys.

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Rio Hondo Police Academy to Celebrate Cadet Graduation: Rio Hondo Police Academy will celebrate the graduation of 47 cadets in Class No. 208 during a ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 25 at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, 320 S Mission Drive, San Gabriel. The class, which includes 10 women, is the largest since the academy was re-certified by the Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training in 2014. Thirty-five of the cadets were sponsored by area police agencies.

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Wednesday, July 31

West Covina Unified’s Edgewood High School to Welcome Class of 2023: Edgewood High School – part of West Covina Unified’s International World Schools of West Covina – will welcome freshmen to campus for orientation from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 31. Students will have the opportunity to tour the campus, build bonds with their peers and prepare for the 2019-20 school year. Edgewood High School is at 1625 W. Durness St., West Covina.

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Friday, August 2

Welcome Days Provides Orientation for Rio Hondo College Freshmen: Rio Hondo College will host its annual Freshman Welcome Days from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 and Friday, Aug. 9. The events offer students information on preparing for their first day of college, the transfer process, how to get involved on campus, academic programs and student support services. Lunch is provided. Rio Hondo College is at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.

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Monday, August 5

Monrovia Unified Hosts Summer Music and Theater Institute: Monrovia Unified will serve 100 students during the ninth annual Summer Music and Theater Institute from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Aug. 5 through Friday, Aug. 9 at Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School, 148 W. Duarte Road, Monrovia. Classes include vocal and instrumental music instruction, theater, theory, rhythm and sight singing. The institute is free. Classes are taught by District music teachers. All instruments will be provided.

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Tuesday, August 6

Bassett Unified’s Nueva Vista High to Host Orientation Day: Nueva Vista High School will host two rounds of student and parent orientation meetings. The first will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 and the second will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7 both in Room 1. Nueva Vista invites parents and students to connect with administration and teaching staff to ask questions concerning academic goals for the 2019-20 school year. Nueva Vista is at 904 Willow Ave., La Puente.

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Wednesday, August 7

Fontana Unified to Launch 2019-20 School Year on Aug. 7: Fontana Unified School District will commence the 2019-20 school year on Wednesday, Aug. 7. During the new academic year, Fontana Unified will begin rolling out its 1:1 device initiative, launch Spanish dual language instruction at a second school and introduce new career tech pathways at its high schools.

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Thursday, August 8

Bassett Unified’s Edgewood Academy to Host Welcome Back Event: Edgewood Academy will host a back to school ice cream social from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 for returning students and their families to enjoy a scoop of their favorite flavor while touring classrooms and connecting with teaching staff. Edgewood Academy is at 14135 Fairgrove Ave., La Puente.

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Friday, August 9

Lynwood Unified to Provide Summer Meals for All Children: Lynwood Unified is providing fee summer meals for children 18 and under at all middle and elementary schools through its Nutrition Services Department summer program. All children, whether they are enrolled in summer school or not, can receive breakfast from 10 to 10:30 a.m. and lunch from noon to 12:30 p.m. through Friday, Aug. 9.

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Tuesday, August 13

Bassett Unified to Host Back to School Nights: Bassett Unified will hold a series of Back to School Nights, inviting parents and community members to connect with teachers and staff on academic goals for the 2019-20 school year and ask questions during classroom tours. The events will take place at Don Julian Elementary School from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13; at Edgewood Academy from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14; at Bassett High School from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28; at Sunkist Elementary School from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29; and at Torch Middle School from 5 to 7 p.m. the same day.

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Thursday, August 15

West Covina Unified 2019-20 School Year to Begin Aug. 15: West Covina Unified School District will kick off the 2019-20 school year on Thursday, Aug. 15. WCUSD will launch new programs – including Mandarin dual language immersion – and provide a variety of academic offerings, such as a California’s only TK-12 International Baccalaureate continuum, Spanish dual language immersion, TK-12 visual and performing arts instruction, college-prep and career tech courses and STEM instruction.

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Tuesday, August 20

El Monte Union Goes 1:1 for 2019-20 School Year: El Monte Union is gearing up to launch its new Access for All digital learning initiative, which will put technology into the hands of every student and eliminate barriers to learning, ensuring their academic success at school and at home. This fall, El Monte Union students will receive their own dedicated Chromebook laptop, carrying case and charger to use at home and school under its 1:1 digital learning initiative. The program will allow students instant access to technology to do homework, research, communicate and collaborate with peers. The District will also provide students with limited or no at-home Internet access the opportunity to apply for a free MiFi wireless hotspot through a 1 Million Project Foundation grant. The first day of school is Tuesday, Aug. 20.

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