Almond Elementary School Principal Tim McCaffrey has been a legend in Fontana Unified ever since, as an assistant principal at Sequoia Middle School, he threw himself on the gym floor during a pep rally dance-off and performed the “worm.” McCaffrey’s spontaneous energy, which earned him an ovation from students and staff, continues to resonate throughout the District. McCaffrey, now in his fourth year as Almond Elementary’s principal, was honored for his commitment to student achievement and literacy by the Association of School Administrators (ACSA), which named him the Region 12 Elementary School Principal of the Year.
Fontana Unified School District provided the Class of 2023 with an emotional sendoff during a series of commencement ceremonies, held May 23 at the Ontario Convention Center and May 24-25 at the Toyota Arena, that featured passionate speeches, joyful cheers, proud renditions of alma maters, colorful streamer cannons and loud applause from loved ones. The Class of 2023 includes high-performing students who will further their education at institutions across the country – including Columbia University, Boston College, UC Berkeley, UCLA and Stanford University – as well as graduates enlisting in the armed forces and beginning their careers with support from the District’s robust career technical education training. This year’s graduating class also featured nearly 550 State Seal of Biliteracy recipients.
Lynwood Unified to Honor Class of 2023 During Graduation Ceremonies
Lynwood Unified will recognize this year’s graduates with ceremonies for Lynwood Community Adult School on Wednesday, June 7 at 6 p.m.; Vista/Pathway High School on Monday, June 12 at 6 p.m.; Firebaugh High School on Wednesday, June 13 at 6p.m.; and Lynwood High School on Thursday, June 14 at 6 p.m. All ceremonies will be held at the Lynwood High School Imperial Gym, located at 4050 E Imperial Hwy., Lynwood.
El Monte Union to Celebrate Graduates with Commencement Ceremonies
El Monte Union High School District will host commencement ceremonies to honor students from the District’s five comprehensive high schools, alternative high school, adult school and transition center. Ceremonies begin on Wednesday, June 7 with the Granada Adult Transition Center, 10 a.m., 3513 Granada Ave., El Monte; followed by Fernando R. Ledesma High School, 5 p.m., 12347 Ramona Blvd., El Monte; El Monte High School, 7 p.m., 3048 Tyler Rd., El Monte; Rosemead High School, 7 p.m., 9063 Mission Dr., Rosemead; and South El Monte High School, 7 p.m., 1001 Durfee Ave., South El Monte. The remaining ceremonies will be held on Thursday, June 8, beginning with Arroyo High School, 7 p.m., at the Rosemead High School Stadium, 9063 Mission Dr., Rosemead; and concluding with Mountain View High School, 7 p.m., at South El Monte High School Stadium, 1001 Durfee Ave., South El Monte.
Summit High School Class of 2023 graduate Sandy Thomas’ excellence in the classroom and on the court has earned him recognition from the Jordan Brand Wings Scholars Program, which awarded him a full-ride scholarship to further his education at his college of choice. Thomas – a committed student athlete who has competed at the varsity level in both basketball and swim – was awarded the scholarship in front of family, friends, coaches and school staff during a ceremony earlier this spring. Though he was also awarded a full-ride scholarship to UC Santa Cruz, Thomas has decided to attend Cal Baptist University, supported by the Jordan Brand Wings scholarship.
Nearly 1,800 Río Hondo College students strolled, jogged and danced onto campus wearing smiles on their faces and colorful grad caps – some with hopeful messages about their dreams and futures, and others with homages to their loved ones, nationalities and personalities – during the College’s 60th commencement ceremony on May 26. This year, 1,791 students earned Bachelor of Science, Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees. Of these degrees, 1,074 are Associate degrees for transfer, meaning they are eligible for admission to the California State University system.
Fontana Unified Grad Earns Private Pilot’s License in CTE Pathway
A.B. Miller High School Class of 2023 graduate Nathan Aguilar loves nothing more than soaring above the clouds. As a member of the school’s aviation career technical education pathway, Nathan quickly developed his flying skills, distinguishing himself as the first A.B. Miller student to earn his private pilot’s license. Aguilar’s pilot’s license allows him to fly any aircraft for which he is appropriately rated and fly with friends, fly at night, take a business trip or do sight-seeing. A.B. Miller’s two-year aviation program serves as a flight training school and includes a pilot training class, an airline mechanic class and a flight simulator lab.
Baldwin Park High School Stages Mental Health Awareness Fair
Baldwin Park High School students created and led a Mental Health Awareness Fair on May 19 to further promote Mental Health Awareness month on campus. More than 100 students in the school’s mental health pathway researched current mental health topics and created interactive displays to engage with peers and educators on the importance of mental health discussion and increasing early intervention and prevention. Students organized special guest speakers from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, including Dr. Luis Guzman, a psychologist who leads the Latino Underserved Cultural Communities subcommittee under the Mental Health Services Act, as well as Julie Matsumoto and Josof Sanchez of Operation Street Kidz.
Covina-Valley Unified School District Medical Pathway Teacher Nikki Rodriguez-Ahern and South Hills High School senior Karissa Ramos provided medical expertise and life-saving care when they encountered a medical emergency in the community on April 26. Just four days before the medical intervention, Rodriguez-Ahern had led her C-VUSD Medical Pathway students, including Ramos, through a CPR certification course. For her heroic actions, Covina-Valley Unified’s Board of Education honored Rodriguez-Ahern at the May 8 Board meeting.
Baldwin Park Unified Seniors Celebrated as Joint Scholarship Winners
Fourteen graduating seniors from Baldwin Park Unified were recognized with thousands of dollars in District and local scholarships during BPUSD’s annual Joint Scholarship Ceremony on May 18. Seniors were evaluated based on GPAs, achievements in education, community service and personal essays about educators who influenced their academic paths. More than 30 educators, parents, administrators and staff joined the virtual Joint Scholarship Ceremony to celebrate the high-achieving seniors from Baldwin Park High School, North Park Continuation High School, Sierra Vista High School and the Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education (BPACE) program.
