Baldwin Park Unified Awarded $10,000 Grant from It Gets Better Project
Baldwin Park High School’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs received a boost when the school was awarded a $10,000 grant from the It Gets Better Project. The grant will go toward supporting the club’s missions to create safe spaces, forums and events. The funds will directly support Baldwin Park High School’s LGBTQIA+ population, with a focus on eliminating the stigmas attached to the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as increasing mental health awareness. Through the grant, the NAMI and GSA clubs are now hosting Mindful Monday Experiences and Thoughtful Thursday Workshops where students can unwind and learn healthy methods to cope with stress.
Mountain View High School students, families, staff, dignitaries and community members gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 20, which celebrated upgrades to the school’s Zoo Crew Classroom and Cafetorium, including the addition of theater-quality retractable seating, a proscenium wall for performances and lighting and sound systems in the Cafetorium. Following the program, refreshments and snacks were served as community members took self-guided tours to view the progress of the renovations.
El Monte Union families connected with more than 50 colleges, universities and other organizations during a Districtwide College Night held Sept. 12 at Mountain View High School. Students learned about the many academic opportunities available to them after high school. In addition to receiving guidance on their options for postsecondary education, each student received an El Monte Union T-shirt and swag bag, filled with items to use throughout the school year. Mountain View’s VISTA Academy set up a photo booth for families to commemorate the event.
Hacienda La Puente Unified celebrated the completion of a series of renovations at La Puente High School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 14. The renovations include a state-of-the-art swimming pool and a modernized kitchen and locker room facilities. The upgrades are designed to provide meal service efficiency, expand engagement in aquatic activities and promote school pride.
The El Monte Union High School District will host a groundbreaking tour to celebrate the newest upgrades to Mountain View High School’s Zoo Crew Classroom and Cafetorium at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20. The project will highlight the addition of retractable auditorium seating, proscenium wall for performances, computer labs, 3-D modeling and workshop areas to construct projects related to animal habitats. Mountain View High School is located at 2900 Parkway Dr., El Monte.
Four new administrators will bring their talent and experience to Covina-Valley Unified School District to begin the 2022-23 school year. Rebecca Handzel will take the helm at New Fairvalley High School, which includes the Adult Transition Program and Covina-Valley Learning Options Academy; Ann Anderson takes over as principal at Grovecenter Elementary School, Kazuko Tuttle is the new principal of Cypress Elementary School, and Elena Camarillo will serve as assistant principal at both Cypress and Mesa elementary schools.
Whittier Union High School District joins with several local school districts to host the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce (HOT) Interdistrict Parent Education Conference, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1 at the United Sierra Education Center, 9401 S. Painter Ave., Whittier. The conference will focus on and bring awareness to the needs of English learners and will cover topics such as K-12 and adult education, transportation, childcare, academic success, financial aid, social emotional learning and career technical education. Cost for the conference is $50 per person.
The atmosphere was electric as supporters wearing face paint and sporting school colors streamed into Citrus College Stadium to celebrate the golden anniversary of the cherished football rivalry between Bonita and San Dimas high schools, known as the Smudge Pot, on Sept. 10. The 50th installment of the rivalry featured the return of nearly two dozen former Bearcats and Saints players and coaches who participated in the inaugural Smudge Pot game in 1972, who came to cheer on their alma maters and were honored during pregame festivities. The game provided a chance for them to catch up and reminisce about their days of glory on the football field and revel in the camaraderie that brought them together as teammates and lifelong friends. Bonita High School rallied to win the game, 21-13.
All Lynwood Unified schools will observe Latino Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 as LUSD honors rich traditions and heritage through special events and celebrations.
The College Board has recognized 14 Bonita High School and 10 San Dimas High School students with National Recognition Awards, an honor given to underrepresented students for academic excellence. Each Bonita Unified student received the award for placing in the top 10 percent of students taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test or placing in the top 10 percent of Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores among California Hispanic, African-American or Indigenous students.
