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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Senior Triumphs Over Challenges, Receives District Award of Merit

    Isabella "Izzy" Nunez, a California High School senior, overcame incredible odds to excel in sports despite being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis during her freshman year. Her journey began with severe joint pain, but with the support of coach Brian Bordier, she fought back, ultimately playing four years of varsity soccer, three years of varsity lacrosse, and serving as kicker for the Cal High football team, all while maintaining a 4.6 GPA – becoming one of Cal High’s top scholar-athletes, as well as a health and wellness advocate. Nunez was recognized for her resiliency and inspirational story by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees, who honored her with an Award of Merit during an April 9 Board meeting.

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  • Santa Fe High School Honored with 24th Student Leadership Award

    Santa Fe High School's Student Leadership Class has earned the school its 24th Outstanding Leadership Program Award (OLPA) from the California Association of Student Leaders (CASL), which recognized the class for continuing to spearhead engaging activities and events, and fostering inclusivity and school spirit among students. OLPA is a distinguished award that is presented to schools in California that display strong student leadership programs that allow students to grow as ethical, responsible, and servant-minded individuals. Through Santa Fe’s Student Leadership Class, students are empowered to explore leadership roles and gain invaluable hands-on experience.

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  • Whittier Union Senior with Gift for Designing Receives $50,000 Edison Scholarship

    Whittier High School senior Erik Villa rarely stops to catch his breath. Between his schoolwork, mentoring classmates in the school’s Cardinal Academy of Technology (CAT), volunteer work for the Whittier Chamber of Commerce, and managing a Whittier juice bar, Villa goes nonstop from sunup to sundown with a goal of helping anybody who needs his assistance. An unsuspecting Villa was sitting with his CAT classmates when a representative from Edison International came into the class with a surprise announcement – Villa had been named a 2024 Edison Scholarship winner, an honor that comes with $50,000 in tuition support for students pursuing a major in a STEM field. Following the announcement, Villa’s classmates erupted in applause. Villa is one of just 30 Southern California high school students to receive the award.

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Whittier Union Develops Flexible Back-to-School Learning Plan for Fall 2020

Whittier Union High School District is exploring adopting a quarter system for the fall semester of the 2020-21 school year, which begins Aug. 12. The instructional model is part of a four-stage teaching and learning plan that is adaptable to the continuously changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the recommended instructional model and one of the four stages in which schools will reopen, which range from 100% online to 100% in-person, during a special meeting Tuesday, July 28, when health conditions will be clearer.

Whittier Union to Host Socially Distanced Drive-thru Graduations

Over 2,800 members of Whittier Union’s Class of 2020 will have the opportunity to walk across a stage set up on the campuses they’ve called home for the last four years while being cheered on by families who will have a front-stage view during socially distanced drive-thru graduation ceremonies. California High will hold its ceremony from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 20; La Serna will hold its ceremony from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 21; Santa Fe High will hold its ceremony from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22; Whittier High will hold its ceremony from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 23; and Pioneer High will hold its event from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 24. On Wednesday, July 22, the Transition program will honor students from 4 to 5 p.m.; Sierra Vista will celebrate students from 5 to 7 p.m.; Frontier will honor grads from 7 to 8:30 p.m.; and Whittier Union Adult School will celebrate graduates from 8:30 to 9 p.m. at the Sierra Education Center campus.

Whittier Union Develops 4-Stage Back-to-School Learning Plan that Ensures Flexibility Amid Uncertainty

Whittier Union High School District is exploring adopting a quarter system for the fall semester of the 2020-21 school year, which begins Wednesday, Aug. 12. The instructional model is part of a four-stage teaching and learning plan that is adaptable to the continuously changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the surge of positive coronavirus cases across the state and Los Angeles County, school districts are developing flexible back-to-school learning plans that ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff and provide robust instruction to students – whether delivered online or in-person.

Socially Distanced Drive-thru Ceremonies to Commemorate Whittier Union Class of 2020 Graduates

Over 2,800 members of Whittier Union’s Class of 2020 will have the opportunity to walk across a stage set up on the campuses they’ve called home for the last four years while being cheered on by families who will have a front-stage view during socially distanced drive-thru graduation ceremonies taking place the week of July 20. Due to strict public health restrictions related to COVID-19, the District postponed in-person graduation ceremonies that were originally scheduled in June. Drive-thru ceremonies are now permitted in Los Angeles County under recently updated public health guidelines.

Whittier Union Graduate Creates COVID-19 Awareness Campaign

Harvard-bound Whittier High School Class of 2020 co-valedictorian Julia Casas will partner with PIH Whittier to establish more effective communication networks in the Whittier area in an effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The effort is part of Harvard’s SPARK program, an immersive six-week public service program offered exclusively to incoming freshmen. Casas will work with PIH Whittier administrators to organize a social network of volunteers, create an online newsletter, coordinate donations of PPE and raise funds for the hospital.

Whittier Union Partners with LA County to Distribute Free Food to Community Families

Donning protective face coverings, gloves and yellow and orange safety vests, volunteers from Los Angeles County organized thousands of food boxes and loaded them into hundreds of vehicles that began lining up at 8:30 a.m. as part of a free drive-thru food giveaway at Pioneer High School. The Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, in partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Whittier Union, sponsored the July 1 event, giving enough food away to feed 2,426 families. Each car that drove through received four 20-pound boxes of groceries, including protein, dairy, non-perishables and fresh produce.

Whittier Union Class of 2020 Graduates Named UC Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholars

California High School Class of 2020 graduates Britney Galvez and Mark Gonzalez have been recognized as UC Berkeley Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholars, an honor that includes full-tuition scholarships that are offered only to the top 1% of incoming freshmen. Galvez and Gonzalez, first-generation college-goers, will receive additional benefits that include priority class enrollment, guaranteed housing, faculty mentors and automatic placement in the UC Berkeley Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholars Association, with the opportunity to network with a select group of 800 scholars and 100 supporting faculty.

Whittier Union Adult School Launches Online Summer Program

While campuses remain physically closed, Whittier Union Adult School will offer short, intensive summer courses online, providing students the flexibility and ability to continue their professional and academic development from home. Some online certificates and courses that will be offered include business communication, data science, human resources, leadership, management, training and education. Classes begin Monday, July 6.

Whittier Union to Place $183.5 Million Facilities Bond on November Ballot

The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees unanimously voted on June 9 to place a $183.5 million facilities bond on the Nov. 3, 2020 ballot to address necessary repairs and renovations, improve school safety and technology, and upgrade career education and science/computer classrooms across District facilities. Whittier Union voters previously supported Measure C in 1999 and Measure W in 2008, authorizing $173 million to transform schools into modern, state-of-the-art facilities. The District concluded its construction program in 2019.

Whittier Union Continuation School Program and Teacher Earn State Accolades for Success

Frontier High School is the recipient of the 2020 Exemplary Program Award from the California Continuation Education Association Plus (CCEA+), which is also honoring Frontier science teacher William Martin as its 2020 Teacher of the Year. CCEA+, a state organization that promotes the development of quality continuation education and schools, is honoring the Model Continuation School for its Orientation program, launched in 2014 to provide new enrollees with the skills for a successful transition into Frontier. Martin is being honored for his leadership and dedication to student achievement.