California High School senior Sarah Plascencia was recognized with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees, who honored Plascencia’s determination for completing her schooling and graduating with the Cal High Class of 2023. Plascencia received the award during a meeting on Oct. 11, where she was joined by her friends, family and Cal High supporters. Plascencia moved out of the area when her foster mother died last December, then successfully advocated to remain at Cal High so that she could maintain her friendships and stay with the school family that has guided and nurtured her.
The Lynwood Unified School District community gathered to celebrate the new school year and receive insight on the District’s goals for the future, during the 2022 State of the District address on Oct. 14. Speakers reflected on the many successes and accomplishments of the past year, including receiving $250 million of financial support from the State of California to rebuild Lynwood High School after a structural failure in 2020. The address included performances by the Firebaugh High School cheer squad and the Lynwood High School marching band, as well as a full breakfast prepared by Lynwood High culinary students.
The Baldwin Park and Sierra Vista high school football teams will battle for bragging rights during their annual Crosstown Football Game at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14 at Baldwin Park High School’s Ted K. Gorrell Stadium. The Baldwin Park Unified community will join in celebrating the friendly rivalry on a night filled with school spirit and camaraderie. Baldwin Park High School is located at 3900 N. Puente Ave., Baldwin Park.
Covina-Valley Unified high school students and families enthusiastically gathered on the District Field to explore their many post-secondary options and help solidify their future plans during the District’s College and Career Fair on Oct. 4. Students visited information booths and spoke with representatives from more than 50 colleges and universities, trade schools, and the armed forces including USC, Chapman University, Grand Canyon University, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, the U.S. Naval Academy, and more.
Margaret Heath Elementary School students collected pennies and coin donations from their families and neighbors over the last year to fund a $500 scholarship for a Baldwin Park Unified graduate, as part of a long-standing tradition to celebrate the school’s namesake on Oct. 7. During this year’s celebration, Baldwin Park High School Class of 2022 graduate Linah Robles was awarded the Heath Scholarship to help fund her educational pursuits at Mt. San Antonio College. Margaret Heath was a longtime educator in the District, and the school was founded in her honor in 1927.
Lynwood Unified to Provide Free Metro Student Passes
Lynwood Unified School District has partnered with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) to implement the Fareless System Initiative (FSI) K-12 program, which will provide free transportation access for all students in the District. LACMTA developed the program to create a new generation of independent transit riders. The FSI is a two-year pilot program funded by the state and will enable wider access to academic and career opportunities for students. Additionally, Lynwood Unified plans to launch the GoPass program this fall, which will allow students to use over a dozen transit systems.
Baldwin Park Unified Athletes Set to Compete in CIF Flag Football
Baldwin Park Unified’s Sierra Vista High School is one of eight high schools that is set to compete in the pilot launch for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section girls’ flag football league. The CIF-SS voted on Sept. 29 to make flag football an official girls’ high school sport, with the goal of making the game an official sport in California by the 2023-24 school year. Sierra Vista High School’s girls flag football team is going into its second year, with more than 15 student athletes on the team.
Lynwood Unified to Provide Community with Mental Health Resources
Lynwood Unified School District is expanding its mental health initiatives through the Mind and Body Awareness Program, with the goal of informing educators and students on the foundations of trauma, mindfulness and self-care practices. The program provides specialized resources for teachers who might be struggling with wellness issues, so that they can better teach students who are having similar experiences. The District will host sessions where participants learn a wide spectrum of techniques that can be used in the classroom or at home, as well as during office hours and coaching sessions. As part of Lynwood Unified’s Youth Leadership Program, the Mind and Body Awareness program is set to begin during spring 2023.
Rosemead High School’s AP U.S. History teacher Michelle Ban was named El Monte Union’s 2022-23 Teacher of the Year for her ability to connect with her students and create lesson plans that are both relevant and challenging. The El Monte Union Board of Trustees recognized Ban with a bouquet of flowers and added her name to the honoree plaque at its Oct. 5 Board meeting. The Board room was filled with Ban’s colleagues and supporters, who came out to celebrate her accomplishments. Ban has also been named a 2022 Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, one of just 16 teachers to earn this distinction.
La Serna High School student leaders participated in the school’s inaugural Student Leadership Conference on Sept. 27, where they received training on how to be effective student leaders on campus and how to best connect with their peers to create a fulfilling high school experience. Link Crew leaders, academic mentors, academy leads, sports captains, Associated Student Body members and OASIS/HAVEN leaders made up the nearly 300 students who attended the conference and heard from keynote speaker Felix Bobo, an accomplished educator, businessman and leader who supports and coaches individuals on how to achieve higher levels of success. During the conference, students engaged in breakout sessions that covered a wide range of leadership topics including emotional intelligence, the power of a story, and the importance of communication and conflict resolution.
