C-VUSD Middle School Students Learn to Thrive with Etiquette Training
Middle school students from across Covina-Valley Unified School District came together for an enriching session on etiquette principles and table manners on Nov. 4. The event culminated in a wonderful family brunch, where students showcased their new skills. The etiquette workshop provided students with essential skills for excelling in various social situations. Thirty-eight students from Traweek, Sierra Vista and Las Palmas middle schools participated, gaining a thorough understanding of key dining etiquette practices.
El Monte Union Empowers Young Leaders at CABALLEROS Event
El Monte Union High School District’s male students honed their leadership abilities through workshops during the District’s inaugural California Boys Acquiring Lifelong Learner Educational Resources On Success (CABALLEROS) event on Nov. 18 at El Monte High School, which included keynote speakers and activities geared toward personal growth and success. The engaging workshops covered essential topics such as image and etiquette, mental health, physical fitness and financial literacy. Attendees were also treated to a continental breakfast and nutritious lunch, where they took part in a rotating lunch activity, and received commemorative event T-shirts.
Whittier Union High School Hosts Poetry Reading, Honors Authors
Whittier High School senior Julia Rae Rodriguez will be the featured reader during a spoken word event that will honor Cardinal alumni who have gone on to become published writers, to be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday Dec. 6, in the campus library. Rodriguez will read from her recently released first collection of poems, Dried Lavender & Sage. After Rodriguez’s reading, the school will unveil a display case honoring authors who have graduated from Whittier High, including best-selling thriller writer John Saul. The display case will hold one book from nearly two dozen writers, including Rodriguez’s book of poems. Whittier High School is located at 12417 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier.
Hacienda La Puente Unified High School Hosts Annual Open House
La Puente High School will host its annual open house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, inviting current and future Warrior families to take a tour of the campus, meet teachers and administrators and learn about curriculum and programs offered at the school, including career technical education pathways, JROTC and the Golden Bell-award winning Project LEAD. La Puente High visual and performing arts students will provide entertainment. La Puente High is located at 15615 E. Nelson Ave., La Puente.
Students Summit High School’s Madrigal Choir will put on the performance of a lifetime, letting their voices shine at the prestigious California Music Educators Association’s (CMEA) All-State Honor Festival and drawing the curtain on a two-year-long dream turned reality. The All-State Honor Festival, which will be hosted at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center on April 26, 2024, is an exclusive opportunity, with the CMEA choosing only six or seven high school choirs to perform from the entire state. Only schools that received a superior rating from a festival the previous year were eligible to apply.
California High School’s Academic Commitment to Excellence (ACE) students took a journey through their unique high school experiences and stories while connecting with Hillview Middle School eighth graders during an event that aimed to encourage students to apply for ACE, a program that provides support, encouragement and resources to at-promise students. The ACE program provides students with additional help in making the transition from middle to high school, particularly in the subjects of math and English. In addition to the extra support students receive in these areas, the program coordinates guest speakers, college visits and enrichment activities to complement the curricula.
Southridge Tech Middle School has been redesignated as a Microsoft Showcase School, reaffirming the school’s commitment to providing its students with access to digital platforms and bridging the technology gap. Southridge Tech was first designated in 2018. Southridge Tech is one of just three schools in California and 30 schools across the United States to receive the designation in 2023, joining a global network of schools from Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, and Australia.
Río Hondo College secured high rankings in the Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine’s Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics list. Based on the latest data from the federal NCES Integrated Post-Secondary Education System, Río Hondo College ranked 25th among both two-year and four-year institutions with a total enrollment of 17,677 Hispanic/Latinx students, which was the ninth most among two-year schools in the 2021-22 school year. Río Hondo College also ranked 17th with 1,885 total associate degrees granted to Hispanic/Latinx students. Additionally, the College’s family and consumer sciences/human sciences degrees major ranked fifth among two-year and four-year institutions with 141 total degrees granted to Hispanic/Latinx students.
Before Frontier High School senior David Arias could pursue an academic journey of self-realization and dedication, he had to confront his biggest nemesis – procrastination. Failure to follow through on his class assignments at his home school put Arias a full year behind his peers, jeopardizing his chances to graduate. Transferring to Frontier as a sophomore, Arias found that the school’s smaller class sizes inspired him to work harder and more efficiently, and he earned more credits in his first semester at Frontier than he had in his first three semesters at his home school. Establishing a positive connection with teachers, Arias found a love for writing and storytelling. In his junior year, Arias submitted an essay to the statewide California Continuation Education Association (CCEA) conference, earning second place in the state. Reading his essay before family, Frontier staff and educators from across California at the conference, Arias received a standing ovation.

The Río Hondo College men’s and women’s soccer teams have qualified for the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Southern California Regional and will open the state tournament on the road with first-round matchups. The Roadrunner women’s team enter as the 12th seed in the SoCal Regional and will face fifth-seeded Santa Barbara City College, while the men’s team qualified as the No. 13 seed and will face fourth-seeded Santa Monica College.