Sierra Vista High School junior Jinhui Liu was recognized as a first-place winner in the high school division of the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) student essay contest. Liu delivered a passionate essay about how being a bilingual student has helped him connect with others and be a source of good while he serves those around him. Liu received a $500 scholarship, trophy and certificate. Liu will present his essay in English and Mandarin at the annual NABE conference in Portland on Feb. 24, joined by his mother and Sierra Vista High teacher Charlene Fried. This is the third year in a row that Fried has taught and mentored a NABE essay winner.
Covina-Valley to Hold Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Wellness Center
Covina-Valley Unified School District will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Health and Wellness Center and Family Resource Room at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30. The center will provide a full-service location for students and families to access resources that help eliminate barriers to school success, and serve as a hub for the District’s social workers while providing a variety of no-cost and low-cost programs and services to C-VUSD children, youth and families. The Covina-Valley Health and Wellness Center (formerly Lark Ellen Elementary School) is located at 4555 N. Lark Ellen Ave., Covina.
Covina High School senior Kevin Nguyen will take his studies to the East Coast in fall 2023 after receiving early admission to New York University for his impactful academic and personal achievements. Nguyen is a first-generation Asian American student whose parents emigrated from Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Nguyen has worked at his family’s nail salon since he was eight years old, an experience that has inspired him to study business at NYU.
The El Monte Union High School District will host a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction and upgrades to Arroyo High School’s athletic field at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The project will feature a new rubberized track and field, bleachers, concession stands and restrooms and a grand stadium entrance. The AHS athletic field project aims to promote healthy living, school spirit and will serve as a gathering place for physical fitness activities, athletic events, health and wellness instruction, student performances and school community functions. Arroyo High School is located at 4921 Cedar Ave., El Monte.
Lynwood and Firebaugh high school students received more than $3 million in scholarships from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) schools during a Black College Expo Caravan event on Jan. 23, hosted in partnership with the National College Resources Foundation. Lynwood and Firebaugh juniors and seniors came prepared with transcripts to meet with 30 HBCU representatives from across the country. With no application fees, many students received on the spot acceptances and full-ride scholarships.
Fontana Unified School District has named Tim Yelin, a proven leader with extensive classroom experience, to serve as the new principal of North Tamarind Elementary School. Yelin brings 17 years of educational experience – all spent in Fontana Unified – to his role as North Tamarind’s top administrator. Throughout his career, Yelin taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels, before stepping into an administrative role as assistant principal at A.B. Miller High School.
Hacienda La Puente Unified showcased student, staff and District accomplishments and highlighted the various ways it is embracing this year’s theme, “Explore, Learn, Grow: Inspire Deep Learning,”
during the eighth annual State of the District event on Jan. 19. Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez led the presentation in front of a high-spirited audience of distinguished guests, HLPUSD Board members, administrators, staff and community members after two years of hosting the event virtually.
Río Hondo College will welcome back Danie Cansino, an alumna, artist and adjunct professor at the USC Roski School of Art and Design, for a solo art show at the Río Hondo College Art Gallery. The show, titled “Despuès: A collection of works by Danie Cansino,” will feature Latino-inspired imagery. A special reception ceremony will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7 at the gallery, with the exhibit running from Thursday, Feb. 2 to Thursday, March 2. Regular viewing hours are between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. For more information about the reception ceremony and gallery, please contact abalcom@riohondo.edu. The Río Hondo College Art Gallery is located at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, Room B-14.
Baldwin Park Unified Welcomes New Assistant Principals
Baldwin Park Unified announced its selection of a new assistant director for Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education (BPACE) and introduced eight newly appointed elementary school assistant principals during its Jan. 17 Board of Education meeting. The Board welcomed Gale R. Lee as BPACE’s new assistant director, as well as assistant principals Lupe Anaya at Walnut Elementary; Yvette Erickson at Geddes Elementary; Sam-Ana Fenwick at Tracy Elementary; Rocio Gamino at Foster Elementary; Emma Rodarte at Bursch and Margaret Heath elementary schools; Adriana Urbina at Kenmore Elementary; Yesenia E. Valerio at Central and Pleasant View elementary schools; and Michelle Zamarripa at De Anza Elementary.
Bonita Unified Elementary Named a California Distinguished School
Oak Mesa Elementary School has been named a 2023 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education, an award that recognizes schools for excellence in closing the achievement gap or achieving exceptional student performance. Oak Mesa was one of 356 California schools to receive the designation in 2023. Schools were selected by analyzing data from the 2021-22 school year reported on the California School Dashboard, including assessment results, chronic absenteeism, suspension rates and socioeconomic data. Oak Mesa was previously honored as a California Distinguished School in 2020.
