CITY OF INDUSTRY – Hacienda La Puente Unified students were greeted by balloon arches and red carpets that led them toward teachers and staff during the first day of school on Aug. 3, which also included band performances, hand-painted banners across campus and dancing school mascots.

This year, students have access to expanded Computer, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (C-STEM) programs, transitional kindergarten (TK) offered at three additional sites and New Pedagogies for Deep Learning implemented Districtwide, all of which are designed to inspire excellence and boost student achievement.

“In support of this year’s theme, ‘Explore, Learn, Grow: Inspire Deep Learning’ we have initiated many innovative programs at Hacienda La Puente Unified,” Board President Jeffrey De La Torre said. “Thank you to all of our amazing educators, staff and administrators for their dedication and preparation this summer and we look forward to a successful school year.”

The District’s innovative programs include the launch of the William Workman High School Early College Academy Network for selected incoming ninth-grade students, implementing Korean Dual Language Immersion for middle school students at Cedarlane Academy and expanding the real-world learning program Project Lead the Way to five additional schools, including Cedarlane Academy, Mesa Robles School and Bixby, Del Valle and Grazide elementary schools.

The District is bringing the Conga Kids dance program to all TK through fifth-grade school sites and the Early Learning Opportunities Program will be offered to all TK and eligible kindergarten through sixth-grade students.

Hacienda La Puente Unified also appointed four new principals: Dr. Marci Chavez at Nelson Elementary School, Theresa Lei at Grandview Preparatory Academy, Yesenia De La Pena at California Elementary School and Tim Espinosa at William Workman High School.

“Thank you to our Board of Education for supporting our new and returning programs and to our outstanding and hard-working staff for creating individualized and fun-filled welcome back festivities for our students,” Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez said. “At Hacienda La Puente Unified, we are partners in your child’s future and we look forward to providing a rigorous curriculum and a wide range of enriching programs and extracurricular activities that will challenge, motivate and prepare our students for the future.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

HLPUSD_FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL1: California Elementary School teachers and staff eagerly gather outside the campus entryway to welcome students for the first day of the 2022-23 school year on Aug. 3.

HLPUSD_FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL2: Families walk their students down the red carpet to greet teachers and staff before the start of the first day of school at Mesa Robles on Aug. 3.

HLPUSD_FIRSTDAYOFSCHOOL3: Cheerleaders at Glen A. Wilson High School pump up new and returning Wildcat students during the pep rally on Aug. 3.