Glen A. Wilson High School’s Science Olympiad team competed in 23 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) events and ranked first overall against more than 55 Los Angeles County schools during the 2023 Southern California Science Olympiad Regionals at Rio Hondo College on March 4. Students were eager to return to the tournament for their seventh consecutive year, hopeful of defending their 2022 standings. This day-long event is designed to improve the quality of K-12 science education, increase student interest in STEM and celebrate outstanding student achievements.
Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School received a six-year accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for its excellence in meeting the needs of students and providing them with a high-quality education. Accreditations are based on the school's overall work plan, evidence of acceptable student achievement and commitment to improvement. Schools that meet the rigorous standards set by the commission are considered trustworthy institutions for student learning. Firebaugh High School has consistently shown dedication to student success by providing ample college and career opportunities, social-emotional resources, and diverse curriculum.
San Dimas High School has been recognized by the College Board for its work in establishing equal gender representation in its Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) class, honoring the school with its 2022 AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award. This is the first year that San Dimas High has been recognized with the award since initiating its program in 2019. The award is given to schools that have AP CSP classes with 50% or more female exam taker representation, or a percentage of CSP exam takers that meets or exceeds that of the school’s female population. San Dimas is one of just 832 high schools across the United States to receive the award in 2022.
Buena Park Middle School students are diving into learning proper swimming etiquette and safety while having fun at the Long Beach Yacht Club, thanks to the school’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) Sailing/Swimming program. The STEM Sailing/Swimming program, which has been available to Buena Park Middle School students for six years with support from the Long Beach Yacht Club’s Sailing Foundation, is held each spring, turning new and novice swimmers into naturals. This year, more than 30 students are participating in the program with help from four Long Beach Yacht Club volunteer swim coaches on Mondays from March to May.
Fontana Unified School District students have spent the last five weeks networking and exploring potential careers in healthcare through the Kaiser Permanente Internship Program at the Fontana Medical Center. Thirty-seven A.B. Miller High School Health Services Academy (HSA) seniors, who interned at Kaiser Permanente’s Fontana Medical Center in February and March, will receive a certificate of completion and letter of recommendation during a graduation ceremony at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 27 the Kaiser Fontana Medical Center. The Kaiser Permanente Internship Program serves as a capstone course for A.B. Miller’s HSA, a three-year career technical education (CTE) pathway that introduces students to a wide range of medical careers. The HSA first began in 2005 and launched internships in 2006. This internship program returned this year following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pioneer High School senior Jeremiah Parra was struggling to find his footing at school after suffering through the loss of both of his parents. Parra’s life changed when he first arrived at the Boys and Girls Club of Whittier/Pico Rivera. There, Parra rediscovered his love of learning, eventually joining the Club’s Leader in Training program as a teen tutor. For his ability to overcome adversity and commitment to bettering the lives of others, Parra was named the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier/Pico Rivera’s 2023 Youth of the Year. Parra received a trophy and certificate of recognition at the Youth of the Year presentation in early 2023.
Students in Fontana High School’s Career Connections career technical education (CTE) pathway will put their design and construction skills to the test during the 38th annual Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF) Design Build Competition. Design Build challenges students to design, plan, and construct a 96 square-foot structure that meets a set of criteria established under the advisement of industry professionals. Students also have the opportunity to network with industry professionals, earn scholarships and apprenticeships, and more.
Beatty Middle School students learned how they can train guide dogs, build advanced robots, delve into foreign languages and plan their careers when Sunny Hills and Buena Park high school representatives visited on March 7 and 8. Gordon H. Beatty Middle School students got a glimpse of their futures as Coyotes and Lancers as they spoke with students and faculty from both schools, who provided insight on how to prepare for the transition to high school in 2023-24.
U.S. Rep. Linda Sánchez delivered a $750,000 check to the City of Whittier and the Whittier Union High School District, which will help transform the athletic fields at Sierra Education Center (SEC) into a community recreation space that can be used for youth sports programs and serve more than 2,000 young people annually. Sánchez, who represents the 38th District, was joined by Superintendent Dr. Monica Oviedo, Board President Jaime Lopez, Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri and Whittier City Manager Brian Saeki for a ceremony at SEC on March 14.
Sierra Vista High School sophomore Sofia Estrada poured her passion for soccer and belief in its uniting power into an impactful essay, winning her first prize in the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Student Writing Contest and showcasing how the sport allows bilingual people to share their stories, art and dreams. In her essay, “The Universal Language That Could Change the World,” Estrada details how soccer enables people to communicate with each other without speaking the same language, tearing down barriers and uniting people from different cultures, religions and backgrounds.
