Coming This Week
September 22–30, 2017
Fontana Unified International Academy to Celebrate Hispanic Culture
Fontana Unified School District’s Dolores Huerta International Academy will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with “Fiesta Latinoamericana,” from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22. The event will feature live music, games, arts and crafts, and food representing the diversity of Latin America. The academy is at 17777 Merrill Ave., Fontana. Media Contact: Lauren Creiman, 909-833-9853 (office)
More than 200 students, parents, teachers and District staff members attended Canyon Crest Elementary School’s 25th anniversary open house on Sept. 14, celebrating the school’s impact on the community and the lasting friendships formed over the decades. Among the guests were Canyon Crest alumni, some of whom now have children of their own attending their alma mater. Media Contact: Juliette Funes, 909-447-2404 (office)Read More
Whittier Union High School District is holding Back-to-School nights across its comprehensive high schools so parents can meet teachers and administrators, learn about curriculum and discover how students participate in campus clubs. Whittier High's event is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13; Pioneer's night is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. Frontier High School will hold a recognition for students who earned awards based on summer and/or quarter four performance at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26. Santa Fe, La Serna and California high schools have concluded their events. Media Contact: Juliette Funes, 909-447-2404 (office)Read More
Fontana Unified Partners with County Library to Host Annual College Fair
Fontana Unified School District will host its annual college fair from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26 at the Lewis Library and Technology Center, 8437 Sierra Ave., Fontana. Students can learn about college and career options from more than 50 colleges, universities, trade schools and public safety agencies. Media Contact: Juliette Funes, 909-447-2404 (office)
Fontana Unified to Host Free Parent Engagement Workshop
Fontana Unified School District will hold the first in a series of free Parent University workshops from 9 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, highlighting ways parents can become involved in their child’s education. The 9 a.m. workshop will be at the John D. Piazza Educational Center, 9680 Citrus Ave., Fontana, and the 6 p.m. session will be at the Lewis Library and Technology Center, 8437 Sierra Ave., Fontana. Childcare for children ages 3 to 11 will be available, as will translation services. Call 909-357-7600, ext. 29409 to register or learn more. Media Contact: Lauren Creiman, 909-833-9853 (office)
Lynwood Unified Football Coach to be Honored by Los Angeles Chargers
Ernest Akina, football coach at Lynwood Unified’s Firebaugh High School, will be honored as the Los Angeles County Coach of the Week by the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, Sept. 29 during halftime of Firebaugh’s football game at Lynwood High School, 4050 E. Imperial Hwy, Lynwood. Chargers staff members and cheerleaders will recognize coach Akina and present Firebaugh with a check for $1,000. Media Contact: Jahmal Corner, 909-445-1001 (office)
Baldwin Park Unified will hold its 11th annual College Fair from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at Sierra Vista High School, 3600 N. Frazier St., Baldwin Park. The event will feature workshops for parents and students and booths staffed by colleges and universities, technical schools and the armed forces. Workshops will discuss applying to college, choosing a pathway, and financial aid and scholarships. Media Contact: William Diepenbrock, 909-206-5304 (office) or 909-214-6909 (cell)Read More
San Gabriel Unified Middle School Launches 10K Reads Challenge
Jefferson Middle School is celebrating the importance of literacy through its yearlong 10K Reads Challenge, which encourages staff, students, and families to read 10,000 books by May 2018. Participants are challenged to read books in various languages and genres and take part in #jms10kreads, a social media campaign of “shelfies,” or photos with their current reading material. Media Contact: Lauren Creiman, 909-833-9853 (office)
As the son of immigrants, Christian Israelian never had far to look for inspiration and strength; he learned early the virtues of hard work and giving back to his community. This month, his academic excellence and dedication as a student leader earned him an Award of Merit from the Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees. Israelian serves as a tutor and helps freshmen navigate their new campus. He is poised to graduate with 300 credits under his belt, well beyond the 220 required to earn a high school diploma. Media Contact: Juliette Funes, 909-447-2404 (office)Read More Photos
San Gabriel Unified Teacher Receives National Faculty Status
Jefferson Middle School teacher Heather Wolpert-Gawron has been granted National Faculty status from the Buck Institute of Education in recognition of her encouragement of academic excellence through project-based learning (PBL). PBL is a form of instruction that develops attitudes and lateral thinking in students by teaching them how to thoughtfully respond to engaging and complex challenges with hands-on work. The Buck Institute is one of the nation’s leading PBL research and training organizations. Media Contact: Lauren Creiman, 909-833-9853 (office)
Monrovia High Student Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist
Monrovia High senior Nathan Nakamura has been named a semifinalist in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship program, which honors top academic performance and potential for college success. Nakamura is among 16,000 semifinalists selected from 1.6 million students who applied by taking the PSAT. Nearly 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to be named finalists, who are announced in February. Media Contact: Nancy Yeang, 909-445-1001 (office) or 909-331-6646 (cell)
Lynwood High Student Completes Future Medical Leaders Program
Lynwood High School senior Aine Garnett was recognized by her school on Sept. 21 for completing the Congress of Future Medical Leaders program. Garnett, who wants to be a physical therapist, journeyed in June to the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus, where she was taught by medical professionals and surrounded by other aspiring physicians. Students in the program must be nominated by their schools and maintain a 3.5 GPA. Media Contact: Jahmal Corner, 909-445-1001 (office)
Rio Hondo College Gallery is hosting the 2017 SUR:biennial exhibit, which features works by Luis G. Hernández, Margaret Griffith, Maria Rendón, Albert Lopez Jr., Ruben Millares and Lino Martinez. The exhibit runs through Friday, Oct. 13 at the gallery, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. Media Contact: William Diepenbrock, 909-206-5304 (office) or 909-214-6909 (cell)Read More
Science Labs Inspire San Ysidro Middle Schoolers to Explore Biotechnology
San Ysidro Middle School eighth-graders studied, extracted and analyzed deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in mutant fruit flies and wheat germ this month as part of a program guided by scientists from the La Jolla-based Salk Institute for Biological Studies. This is the second year that the institute’s scientists have visited the school to lead a three-day program on genetics and biotechnology. Photos are available Media Contact: Katie Rucke, 858-371-4260(office)
Follow-up Stories
Fontana Unified Elementary Celebrates 25th Anniversary
More than 200 students, parents, teachers and District staff members attended Canyon Crest Elementary School’s 25th anniversary open house on Sept. 14, celebrating the school’s impact on the community and the lasting friendships formed over the decades. Among the guests were Canyon Crest alumni, some of whom now have children of their own attending their alma mater. Media Contact: Lauren Creiman, 909-833-9853 (office)
About 1,000 Lynwood Unified students and parents attended the District’s annual Alumni College Conference on Sept. 16, picking up tips for applications and meeting with representatives of more than 20 universities. In a keynote speech, Lynwood High alumna Patty Rodriguez encouraged students to set goals and advocate for their beliefs. Now a senior producer for KIIS FM’s ‘On Air with Ryan Seacrest,’ Rodriguez shared how she pursued her career goal by interning for the radio station in mornings before classes and by working as a store clerk in the evenings. Photos are available Media Contact: Jahmal Corner, 909-445-1001 (office)Read More
Monrovia High School on Sept. 12 hosted its annual college fair, featuring more than 60 colleges, military service branches and test prep organizations. Monrovia High junior Imani Martin’s track performances have already caught the attention of University of Oregon coaches, but her ambitions for a career in sports medicine or as a business entrepreneur inspired her to explore financial aid packages offered by the participating college fair universities. Photos are available Media Contact: Juliette Funes, 909-447-2404 (office)Read More
Fontana Unified Middle Schools Explore STEM at Student Conference
Fontana Unified middle school students discovered the practical uses of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at the annual STEMapalooza student conference on Sept. 15 at the Way World Outreach in San Bernardino. Students explored interactive exhibits from Air Quality Management District, Auto Club Speedway, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in San Bernardino and RoboKong. Photos are available Media Contact: Lauren Creiman, 909-833-9853 (office)
Showing their college-bound spirit, students at Bassett Unified’s Don Julian Elementary School waved flags, shook pompons and shouted out college chants during their annual College Colors Day Parade on Aug. 31. Students from 19 classes – from transitional kindergarten to grade five – marched on the Don Julian playground, dressed in the apparel of their homeroom college, representing universities from across the United States and one – Tecnológico de Monterrey – from Mexico. Media Contact: Nancy Yeang, 909-445-1001 (office) or 909-331-6646 (cell)Read More Photos
San Ysidro School District middle school principals Maria Rodriguez and Roberto Carrillo recently got the chance of a lifetime – learning to incorporate technology such as YouTube, Google Hangouts, Google Classroom and virtual reality into classrooms as part of a first-of-its-kind training course at Google’s Mountain View headquarters. Media Contact: Katie Rucke, 858-371-4260(office)Read More
Energetic rhythms fill the air at San Ysidro’s Willow Elementary on weekday mornings when more than 100 TK through sixth-graders, joined by their older siblings, moms, dads and even a few abuelitas, walk or run laps around the school’s soccer and kickball fields for 30 minutes. Members of Willow’s new Walking Club carry bright yellow cards for staff members to stamp for each lap. After each mile, students can pick prizes from the treasure chest, such as a pencil, bracelet or ball. Photos are available Media Contact: Katie Rucke, 858-371-4260(office)Read More Photos
Upcoming Events
20-plus Colleges to Visit Paramount Unified for District College Fair
Paramount Unified will hold a College Fair from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 with more than 20 colleges and university representatives, including UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Davis, UC Riverside, CSU Long Beach, CSU Fullerton, Azusa Pacific University, Chapman University and the U.S. Naval Academy. Counselors and administrators will conduct workshops on choosing a college and majors, admission requirements, financial aid and the benefits of community service and extracurricular activities. The fair will be in the Paramount High School gymnasium, 14429 S. Downey Ave., Paramount. Media Contact: Jahmal Corner, 909-445-1001 (office)
Bellflower Elementary School to Receive $5,000 Barona Education Grant
Bellflower Unified’s Washington Elementary School will receive a $5,000 grant from the Barona Band of Mission Indians during a ceremony 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4. The grant will be presented by state Sen. Tony Mendoza, who awarded the grant on behalf of the Barona Band. The band has provided grants for schools in each of California’s Assembly and Senate districts since 2006. The school plans to use the money to buy Chromebooks for use in its fledgling dual-language immersion program. Media Contact: William Diepenbrock, 909-206-5304 (office) or 909-214-6909 (cell)
Lynwood Unified to Welcome Mobile STEAM Trailer at Middle School
Lynwood Unified students will watch curriculum come to life when a mobile science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics (STEAM) trailer arrives Friday, Oct. 6 at Lynwood Middle School, 12124 Bullis Road, Lynwood. A ribbon-cutting event will include tours of the interactive trailer, which features laptops and other hands-on learning tools. The District will keep the trailer at LMS throughout the year. The trailer will cycle to a new school each year. Media Contact: Jahmal Corner, 909-445-1001 (office)
Paramount Foundation Event Will Raise Money for Scholarships
The Paramount Education Partnership (PEP), which works to make higher education accessible for Paramount students, will hold a dinner and auction to fund scholarships at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the Paramount High School Gymnasium, 14429 Downey Ave., Paramount. Tickets are $15 with an optional dinner ticket for $5. Last year, 32 graduating seniors from Paramount Unified received scholarships totaling $120,000. Media Contact: Jahmal Corner, 909-445-1001 (office)
Paramount Elementary to Boost College Awareness via Family Projects
Students at Paramount Unified’s Major Lynn Mokler Elementary School will gather with their families to present projects that explore a college of their choice on Thursday, Oct. 12. Close to 100 Mokler students worked together with their families to research colleges they would like to attend. The projects will be assembled into a gallery for parents, teachers and students to visit. Media Contact: Jahmal Corner, 909-445-1001 (office)
El Monte Union High School to Hold Final 2017-18 Back-to-school Night
El Monte Union High School District’s Fernando R. Ledesma Continuation High School will hold its back-to-school program at 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12. The event concludes a series of such events at each District high school. Media Contact: Juliette Funes, 909-447-2404 (office)
