Lynwood Unified Celebrates Summer Graduates with Ceremony
Lynwood Unified School District recognized 24 graduating seniors from Firebaugh, Lynwood, and Vista high schools for their hard work and perseverance during a milestone summer commencement ceremony on July 17. Denzel Enciso and Rebecca Sanchez from Vista High represented their school with grace as they thanked their families, Lynwood Unified support staff, teachers and principals, and praised the graduates for their determination to succeed.
Victor Valley College’s Caring Campus Experience Drives Transformation
Victor Valley College (VVC) has experienced a transformation by weaving Caring Campus principles and strategies across its campus, impacting the college’s culture, enrollment, and community engagement, and making VVC a model for other institutions of higher education. The results of VVC’s cultural shift are especially evident in the college’s enrollment growth. Despite a 20% drop in enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic, VVC has rebounded with a 50% increase over the past two years. VVC President Dr. Dan Walden cites Caring Campus as a contributing factor to this increase.
Bonita Unified Student Surprised with $40,000 Scholarship
When Bonita High School rising junior Abigail Park was summoned to the BUSD District Office with her father, she thought she was being nominated for an extracurricular award. Instead, Park was greeted by College Board representatives, who surprised her with a $40,000 scholarship on July 25, as part of its BigFuture college and career planning campaign. High school students across the country are encouraged to go online and complete a series of quizzes and lists, with each student entry qualifying them to earn a scholarship. Two students are selected each month at random to receive a $40,000 scholarship. Park is active in Bonita’s hip-hop club, plays clarinet in the BHS band, and is president and co-founder of Bonita High’s Eco Club.
Sequoia Middle School’s commitment to equity, excellence, and innovation led to it being designated as a National School to Watch by the National Forum Advancing Excellence in the Middle Grades. The recognition serves as a redesignation for Sequoia, which first received the honor in 2017, for the school’s dedication to helping all students belong, learn, and grow. Fontana Unified School District and Sequoia Middle School staff were presented with the accolade at the National Schools to Watch Conference in Washington, D.C. on June 20-22. As a National School to Watch, Sequoia will serve as a mentor and model for fellow middle schools. The National Forum, a nonprofit educators’ association, selects Schools to Watch each year based on key factors including strong leadership, teachers who work together to improve curriculum and instruction, and a commitment to continuous improvement that is based on supporting the whole child through social, emotional, and academic growth.
Fifteen graduates from Lynwood High School achieved a historic milestone by graduating from college while simultaneously receiving their high school diplomas as part of Lynwood Unified’s tuition-free dual enrollment program in partnership with Compton College. Proudly wearing their Compton College caps and gowns, the first cohort of students in the District’s dual enrollment program participated in the June 7 commencement ceremony, earning their associate degrees alongside their college peers while garnering praise from Lynwood Unified administrators and college professors.
Río Hondo College Names Quad in Congresswoman Napolitano’s Honor
The Río Hondo College Board of Trustees unanimously approved renaming the College’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Quad as the Grace F. Napolitano Quad at its July 10 meeting, honoring Congresswoman Napolitano’s extensive contributions and advocacy for RHC, particularly its CTE programs, over her 24-plus years in Congress. RHC will host a dedication ceremony of the Grace F. Napolitano Quad for local elected officials and other distinguished guests at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14.
Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) and the Fontana Water Company will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a recycled water project and dedication to making conservation a way of life. The conversion of six FUSD schools to recycled water estimates to save enough drinking water to supply more than 200 residences with water for one year.
For students, staff or visitors at Río Hondo College (RHC) who may have spotted a herd of goats on campus recently, there was no reason for alarm – they were on official business. The goats were intentionally released on campus on July 18 as part of RHC’s ongoing vegetation management and wildfire prevention efforts. Over the course of two weeks, the goats will visit several designated grazing areas on campus under the supervision of a professional herder and a border collie to ensure they remain within their specified zone. RHC will host a meet-and-greet with the working goat herd to provide students, the college community and visitors the opportunity to learn more about the goat grazing as a wildfire risk reduction, feed and take pictures with the goat herd team
Covina High School Future Farmers of America students showed off their knowledge, skills, and animals at the Chino Livestock Show from July 10 to 12, with many students earning recognition, winning prizes, and receiving a vital hands-on learning experience. Eighteen Covina High students participated in the livestock show, showcasing 30 animals over two days. The event marked the first time that three Covina High students advanced to the master showmanship level, highlighting their exceptional skills in handling their animals and their comprehensive knowledge of their lifestyle, nutrition, and habits.
All 46 Fontana Unified School District schools are gearing up for the start of the 2024-25 school year, with an especially historic day for Sierra Lakes Elementary School, which will celebrate the completion of a school renovation. Sierra Lakes Elementary or District representatives will be available for pre-arranged, on-camera interviews during the first day of school from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday, August 5. The three-phase project included the construction of a two-story building holding 15 new fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms, a second-level outdoor classroom area overlooking the San Bernardino Mountains, and a new playground area for students. Sierra Lakes Elementary is located at 5740 Avenal Place, Fontana.
