As Buena Park School District’s Student and Community Services Director, Dr. Elsie Briseño Simonovski is guided by the motto “There’s always more to accomplish,” and is seen regularly visiting various schools in the District, engaging with parents, and fostering relationships with community partners to enhance support for all students. For these efforts, Simonovski was named Region 17 Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). She will receive the award on May 8 during the ACSA Region 17 Orange County Award Recognition at the Irvine Marriott.
Río Hondo College’s Dance Program students and staff are preparing to captivate the community with a series of vibrant and breathtaking solo and ensemble dances during “Emergence” – the Spring 2023 Dance Concert. The concert, co-directed by Kristina Urteaga and Carol McDowell, will be held at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 11 and 6 p.m. on Friday, May 12 at the Kinesiology, Dance and Athletics Complex at Río Hondo College. The concert will feature “Where I Left Off,” an ensemble dance work created by guest choreographer and College alumna Rivka Villanueva.
Summit High School junior Julieta Gutierrez Martin will serve as Fontana’s Unified’s Board of Education student representative in 2023-24, a role in which she will aspire to motivate other students to strive for success and make the most of their educational opportunities. Gutierrez Martin, now a high-achieving student actively involved in campus activities, came to the District as an English learner in preschool. Through her aptitude and passion for mathematics, she was able to bridge the language gap and develop her English language arts and writing skills.
Cesar Chavez Middle School’s Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA) team put its creative and technical skills to the test during a regional contest in April, sweeping the competition with first-place rankings that have secured them a spot at the MESA State Competition on May 20. The CCMS team will compete against students from across California who will show off their winning projects focused on community equity for the 2023 State Championship title. This marks the third time CCMS will be represented at the state level.
Cypress Elementary School fourth and fifth grade students are developing valuable life skills in the school’s newest afterschool learning opportunity: the sewing club. The club, which meets once a week for two hours, will teach students the basics of sewing, including how to use a sewing machine, load thread, fix torn clothes, sew on buttons and more. Students also learn how to follow directions and work in a team environment. The sewing club was formed when Cypress Elementary School Assistant Principal Michael Rodriguez heard that the City of Fontana had additional funds available to provide after-school programs for students. Rodriguez reached out to Fontana Adult School sewing teacher Mr. Hayes, who expressed his interest and excitement in teaching elementary students how to sew.
El Monte Union High School District students and community members explored the latest in clean air initiatives and cutting-edge clean energy transportation options during the District's Clean Mobility Info Fair, held in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), on April 20, 2023. During the event, attendees were treated to information booths on environmental sustainability and tours of the District's new electric school buses and ride-share vehicles. Longo Toyota-Lexus also wowed the crowd with a display of electric and hydrogen-powered cars.
Covina High School senior Heidi Alhannat dreams of breaking down barriers and showing others that they can do anything they set their minds to. This passion has driven Alhannat to outstanding achievement in her academic and personal pursuits, earning her recognition as a National Merit Scholarship finalist. National Merit Scholarship semifinalists are made up of students that score in the top 1% of the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT), which equates to roughly 16,000 students nationwide. That pool of students is then narrowed down to roughly 15,000 finalists based on their transcripts, extracurricular activities, a personal statement essay, and a personal recommendation. About 7,250 National Merit Scholarships are then given out after further evaluating students’ abilities, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
Buena Park School District students displayed their grit and athleticism by flinging frisbees, kicking soccer balls and throwing shot puts to the delight of family and friends during the inaugural Special Olympics Field Day, held April 14 at Pendleton Elementary School. The event included a fun-filled station rotation, where athletes showcased skills they learned throughout the year, such as fundamental movement, coordination, balance, focus, endurance and social interaction. The event was held in partnership with the Special Olympics, the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Baldwin Park Unified juniors from Baldwin Park, North Park and Sierra Vista high schools will embark on an educational trip to the California State Capital in Sacramento this summer, thanks to a generous donation from the City of Baldwin Park’s financial assistance program. Thirty-two BPUSD juniors will receive a full-guided tour of the State Capital from Monday, June 12 through Thursday, June 15. The sponsored trip will include airfare, transportation, hotel accommodations, meals and a full-time tour director.The City of Baldwin Park’s sponsored field trip was developed in partnership with the City and District to provide BPUSD students with additional field trip opportunities to increase student access to engaging and life-changing learning experiences. Baldwin Park’s City Council approved the allocation of $120,000 for the Field Trips Financial Assistance Program earlier this year.
Bonita Unified School District recognized the positive impact that educators and school employees can have on students’ lives – whether in just a few years or during a career that spans decades – as it honored the District’s 2022-23 Classified, Certificated and Management Employees of the Year during the Board of Education meeting on April 12. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Kevin Lee provided a heartfelt introduction of each employee during the meeting, where the honorees were presented with flowers and received hugs and applause from their colleagues, families, friends and students. Chaparral-Vista High School registrar Cathy Schofield was named the District Classified Employee of the Year, celebrating her key role in going above and beyond to ensure that all students, parents and staff receive the support they need. Schofield, who has worked at Chaparral-Vista High for eight years and served the students of Bonita Unified for 30 years, will retire at the end of the 2022-23 school year.
