At El Monte Union High School District, learning doesn’t end when the last school bell rings. The District highlighted the impact of free after-school enrichment programs on Oct. 22, bringing students, families, and community partners together at Rosemead High School for a nationwide Lights On Afterschool celebration featuring hands-on activities, student-led initiatives, and resources available through the District’s partnership with Learning Enrichment & Academic Resources Network (LEARN).
Nearly 1,500 students and families explored pathways to higher education and future careers as Fontana Unified School District hosted its annual College & Career Fair at Jurupa Hills High School on Oct. 14, connecting attendees with approximately 90 colleges, universities, employers, and industry organizations. This year’s event featured expanded career offerings, with nearly 45 industry exhibitors giving students a broader look at their options after graduation. Through a new partnership with nonprofit organization SoCal Trades, the District connected attendees with industry professionals and opportunities to explore a variety of workforce pathways.
South Hills High School sophomore Nathan Kha is bringing his passion for civic engagement and student advocacy to the county level as a member of the 2026-27 Los Angeles County Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. Kha is one of only 86 students representing 47 school districts on the council, which gives students an opportunity to share their perspectives with education leaders and help inform countywide conversations about issues affecting schools and students.
Nearly 500 Fontana Unified School District seniors eligible to attend California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) in the fall will visit the college for a direct admission celebration that will include campus tours, financial aid information, and a student panel featuring District alumni currently attending CSUSB.
The Upland High School (UHS) Highland Regiment is marching to the beat of success, sweeping all captions at a recent Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) competition while celebrating a remarkable resurgence that has seen the program grow by more than 80% since 2022. Competing against other Division 6A high school bands at Colony High School on Oct. 3, the Regiment earned Sweepstakes honors in every caption, marking a significant achievement for a program that has steadily rebuilt its membership following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shull Elementary School students explored sensory activities and danced alongside classmates during the school’s inaugural Inclusion Fair on Oct. 9, introducing students to resources that support different learning needs and encouraged them to help every peer feel welcome. Students visited stations led by school staff, discovering tools that help students with disabilities participate and succeed socially and academically. The fair culminated a week of classroom lessons about recognizing differences, avoiding assumptions, and identifying barriers that can keep others from joining in.
Community colleges and universities in Texas are coming together to form Caring Campus Regions, which will aim to ensure that every student experiences consistent care and support, help eliminate transfer barriers, and allow institutions to share data and better understand student progress and needs. Laredo College, Del Mar College, Coastal Bend College, and Texas A&M University – Kingsville will make up one Caring Campus Region, while Texas A&M University – Central Texas, Austin Community College, and Temple College form another. Both regions are supported by a grant from the Greater Texas Foundation.
When Whittier High School senior Marle Shafer first began her high school journey as a freshman, she felt isolated and overwhelmed, questioning whether Whittier High was the right school for her and even considering transferring. With encouragement from her dad, a Whittier High graduate, Shafer poured her experiences into founding and leading the Future Cardinal Middle School Program, helping ensure middle school students feel a sense of belonging on campus. Over the past three years, the program has introduced 900 eighth-graders from Edwards Middle School, Shafer’s alma mater, to campus life through visits showcasing the school’s programs, opportunities, and people.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will host its annual State of the District event, highlighting the District’s progress, future strategic goals, and innovative programs that make C-VUSD a destination District that inspires every student’s unlimited potential.
The story of the O’Day Short family, whose legacy continues to shape how Fontana remembers its history, will reach new audiences with the PBS debut of “O’Day Short: An Act of Justice” at 6:30 p.m. PDT, Friday, Oct. 23, on PBS KCVR. The documentary highlights the family’s history and the community’s efforts to honor their lives and preserve their legacy for future generations. Produced by award-winning filmmakers E’Ian West and George Sharperson, the film will be distributed through a five-year public media partnership with PBS, NPR, and FNX. Fontana Unified School District Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Clarissa Trejo contributed research to the documentary.
