South Hills High School students, employees, families, and community members celebrated the grand unveiling of the school’s innovative new library, designed to inspire and support student success, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 23. The cutting-edge learning hub features updated technology, dynamic workspaces for both individual and collaborative use, and an imaginative atmosphere to fulfill the needs of South Hills students. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured addresses by Covina-Valley Unified Superintendent and event MC Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer, Board of Education Vice President Maria Caceres, and Board Member Maria Cruz, emphasizing the importance of providing students with modern resources to enhance their educational journey.
Chaparral Academy of Technology students erupted in cheers, waving glow sticks as balloons and lively music filled the air as the announcement was made that their school won the Jostens Epic School Revamp Contest, which comes with a prize package valued up to $150,000. A panel of judges named Chaparral Academy the grand-prize winner of the Jostens second annual Epic School Revamp contest, giving the school access to a team of identity and culture experts that will work with faculty and students on a rebranding. The school will soon be transformed with new murals, banners, and other vibrant visuals that refresh the campus while embodying the essence of the Roadrunner spirit.
With tax season in full swing, Bonita High School’s IRS-certified accountants-in-training once again are poised and ready to provide tax return filing assistance to local residents free of cost, as part of the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which has been a fixture at Bonita for more than 20 years. The VITA program will kick off with Tax Day on Thursday, Jan. 30, with a class session dedicated to tax preparation appointments for residents and students. Guided by accounting teacher Madhu Sekhri, who is a Certified Public Accountant, Bonita’s VITA program is available for all students and tax payers who earned $67,000 or less in 2024. Tax preparation services are available through April 11 during the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Families and neighbors shared hugs with teachers, children danced and played games, and the Pasadena Unified School District community, looking for stability and normalcy after a week of devastating fires and loss, took its first steps in rebuilding and reopening campuses during a Community Connector event held at Pasadena City College on Jan. 17. Embracing Pasadena Unified’s theme for the school year of “The Power of Us,” hundreds of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre families came together to commiserate over their grief and enjoy food and treats during the afternoon event. District administrators, faculty, and staff, led by Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, were on hand to provide crucial information on how to re-enroll children at school, provide care packages and resources, and let everyone in the community know that Pasadena Unified will come back stronger than ever.
Manzanita Elementary School kindergartener Noah P. showcased his creativity and talent by earning a finalist spot in the SC Johnson Happy Hands contest, a national competition that emphasizes the importance of handwashing in schools. The contest encourages students in grades K-12 to use their imagination by designing a custom soap dispenser to promote better handwashing. A committee of judges evaluated each submission based on visual appeal, overall design, creativity, and unique design elements and chose finalists from both K-5 and 6-12. The Grand Prize winner will be chosen through public voting, open from Saturday, Feb. 1 – Friday, Feb. 28.
Oak Park Elementary School has been recognized on a state level for its high academic performance and dedication to closing the achievement gap after earning a spot on the Educational Results Partnership’s (ERP) prestigious 2024 Honor Roll list of California schools. Like other ERP Honor Roll schools, Oaks Park Elementary has demonstrated consistently high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time, and a reduction in achievement gaps among student populations. Principal Gerald Mullins credits those positive results to a positive school culture, along with its dedicated staff and teachers, and a supportive community.
Salem Community College (SCC), a close-knit New Jersey institution with fewer than 2,000 students, has long been celebrated by staff and faculty for its caring, family-like atmosphere for both students and employees. Becoming a Caring Campus, however, has added a level of intentionality to the school’s mission, offering students a high-quality, empowering, and personalized experience. Caring Campus administered by the Institute for Evidence-Based Change, intentionally equips college and university staff and faculty with strategies to actively demonstrate care and guide students on their journey to success. Data shows that when students feel personally cared about, they persist and succeed in their studies at higher rates. The culture of compassion supported by Caring Campus resonates deeply with students at SCC, who can express their gratitude by nominating employees who have impacted their lives as “Champions of Caring.”
Three Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) high school theatre programs have once again been recognized with numerous top awards and accolades for stellar performances and craftsmanship at the 2024-25 California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) High School Festival. Fontana High School’s Theatre Production program, Henry J. Kaiser High’s Artistic and Theatrical Society (KATS), and Jurupa Hills High School’s Players of the Palace all wowed judges and earned top accolades at the CETA High School Festival of Scenes, which was held from Jan. 17 to 19 at Fullerton Union High School and featured performances from 17 schools. Performing scenes from their fall 2024 theatrical productions, all three FUSD schools placed in the top four of CETA’s Area 2, where first to fourth place was separated by just 0.12 of a point, while the entire cast and crew received certificates of merit at the prestigious event. All three productions placed in the top 10 of the 75 eligible schools in Southern California, with Jurupa Hills and Kaiser tying for third place and Fontana High taking fourth in Area 2.

When South Hills High School senior Sally Ortega came across an unconscious man in a parking lot, she did not hesitate to put her training into action. Joining a group of individuals taking turns giving the man chest compressions, Ortega helped keep the man stable until Emergency Medical Services arrived. As a student in South Hills High’s Patient Care career technical education (CTE) pathway, Ortega has gained various medical assisting skills, including learning how to take vital signs, recognizing signs of infection, assisting physicians with exams and minor surgical procedures, performing laboratory tests, and earning CPR certification.