Río Hondo College’s Dance Program will host “In Motion,” a fall dance concert, featuring a selection of newly choreographed works by faculty members, students, community organizations and alumni at the Wray Theater at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. Admission is free, but a suggested $10 donation will enter guests into a raffle to win a secret grand prize created by the dancers. All donations will benefit the Río Hondo College Dance Program and will help select students to attend the 2023 American College Dance Association Conference at University of California, Irvine. The Wray Theater is located at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
Former A.B. Miller High School media teacher Leo Rivas was named a San Bernardino County 2023 Teacher of the Year, a fitting final tribute for the popular teacher who inspired scores of A.B. Miller students to develop a passion for TV and film production before leaving the District to work for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Rivas, who was previously recognized as the Fontana Unified 2021-22 Teacher of the Year, helped create a three-year media production pathway at A.B. Miller, teaching beginning and advanced concepts of TV and film production, giving students a chance to earn college credits, and paving the way for the acclaimed student-produced news program ABTV and the annual A.B. Miller Film Festival. He is one of four educators to be honored as a San Bernardino County Teacher of the Year.
Citrus Elementary School fifth-grade students held flags and banners aloft, waved blue and yellow pompoms and shouted “U-C-L-A, fight, fight, fight!” in honor of their adopted homeroom university during a college day rally designed to encourage Citrus students to plan their future in higher education. The monthly rallies are just one element of Citrus Elementary’s schoolwide College Bound initiative that includes instruction provided by the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) college-prep program. Every Citrus class, from kindergarten to grade six, employs AVID strategies that help students organize their tools, time and thought to spur student achievement and inspire students to think of college as their destiny.
Eight Covina-Valley Unified School District students will join the Board of Education and serve as a voice for their peers after being sworn in as 2022-23 student board representatives at the Board of Education meeting on Nov. 14. Every school year, the District will select a student board member and an alternate from each of C-VUSD’s four high schools to participate in the governance process of the district, learn essential democratic skills, and represent and advocate for their peers. South Hills High junior Ahriana Chavez, Northview High senior Princess Espinoza Conde, Covina High junior Ashley Raffaeli, and Fairvalley High senior Bryan Santana were selected as this year’s representatives. Students interested in running for student board representative seats went through an interview process and then took part in an election at their schools. Junior Thaiz Gonzalez (Northview), senior Sofia Lopez (Fairvalley), junior Aiyana Martel (Covina), and junior Izabella Vazquez (South Hills) will serve as the student board alternates.
Whittier Union Transition Program student Frederick Bartz arrives at school each morning with a smile on his face and bursting with confidence. The 21-year-old, who is in his fourth and final year of the Transition program and known simply as Fred, brings a positive outlook and genial sense of humor to class that sets an excellent example for his younger peers in the program. When Fred arrives on campus, he barely stops to take a breath before heading out to perform volunteer work at the Whittier Area Cooperative Special Education Program (WACSEP) or work at one of his many part-time jobs in the community. For his progress and tremendous growth, Fred was recognized by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees with an Award of Merit during its Nov. 8 Board meeting. During the meeting, Fred used his communication device to thank the Board for the recognition. Whittier Union Transition teacher Darla Breiling, who joined Fred and his family, was effusive in her praise.
A.B. Miller High School is seeking additional community input via survey and town hall meetings as it undergoes the process to rebrand its Rebel mascot image, asking the question “what mascot best represents A.B. Miller High School Rebels and its core values?” A rebranding committee composed of students, alumni, certificated and classified staff, administrators and parents gathered in late August to discuss the purpose, parameters and intended goal of the process, which aimed to gain consensus regarding whether the school should retain the Rebel name and change its mascot image, or change both the name and the image.
Whittier Union Music Students to Participate in Annual Band Jamboree
Whittier Union High School District band, color guard, percussion, cheer, song and drill team students will have the opportunity to showcase their talents to the community during the District’s annual Band Jamboree. The event will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14 at Sandra Sanchez Thorstenson Stadium at California High School, 9800 S Mills Ave., Whittier. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/BandJamboree. Children under five are free and doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Whittier Union students are outperforming their peers across Los Angeles County and California in English language arts (ELA), math and science, according to data provided by the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), which monitors Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and California Science Test (CAST) scores throughout the state. CAASPP data shows that for SBAC and CAST tests taken during the 2021-22 school year, the percentage of Whittier Union students who met or exceeded state standards was 62% for ELA, 32% for math and 31% for science. These content areas outpaced those in the county and state by several percentage points, a first for Whittier Union since CAASPP assessments began in 2014. In Los Angeles County, the average scores were 54% for ELA, 26% for math, and 26% for science. In California the average scores were 55% for ELA, 27% for math and 28% for science.
Fontana Unified School District educators have been honored by the UC Davis C-STEM Center for the fourth year in a row, recognizing the District’s excellence in implementing an innovative curriculum to close achievement gaps, boost social-emotional wellness and help students discover a love for mathematics. Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Monica Makiewicz was named a 2022 C-STEM Administrator of the Year during the center’s annual conference, held Oct. 21. Elementary school teachers Greg Bradshaw, Monica Reyes and Heather Williams were also named 2022 C-STEM Teachers of the Year for their excellence in supporting student achievement through C-STEM instruction. C-STEM is currently available at 23 FUSD elementary schools, five middle schools and one high school.
The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees celebrated the careers of two of its longest-serving members during the Nov. 8 Board meeting, saying farewell to Vice President Jeff Baird and Clerk Leighton Anderson, who are both retiring from the Board after serving together for 25 years. Baird and Anderson were first elected to the Board in 1997 and have each served five terms. During that time, they have worked alongside four superintendents, have shepherded through three separate facilities bond measures, and seen thousands of Whittier Union students graduate and receive their diplomas.
