Lynwood Unified Board of Education members joined Congresswoman Nanette Barragán and District personnel for a walkthrough of the Lynwood Imperial campus, formerly Lynwood High School, on Feb. 15. The walkthrough with Barragán aimed to raise awareness of the finances required to move forward with the necessary repairs to ensure the campus is a safe learning environment for future students. The District has taken steps to raise awareness regarding the need for repairs on the campus, reaching out to community leaders and elected officials to receive more support.
The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Board of Education adopted map scenario two during its Board meeting on Feb. 10, a process that included extensive community input and demographic analysis of the proposed map scenarios. The District will provide this executed resolution, approved scenario map and electronic files to the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization and the Los Angeles County Registrar to implement the authorized trustee area boundary adjustments not later than Feb. 28.
Buena Park School District celebrated National School Counseling Week, recognizing the impact counselors have on academic and personal success, and expanding its counseling services to provide additional resources and support to students and families. Since the start of 2021-22 school year, the District has augmented its counseling services, employing an on-site counselor at each of its schools to ensure students are healthy in their bodies and minds.
South Hills High School has named Jacob Calderon as their next head football coach, an alumnus who brings years of experience and success as both a player and a coach to his new position. Calderon returns to South Hills following coaching stints at Chaffey College, El Monte High School and most recently, Bishop Amat Memorial High School.
The El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees adopted a resolution to recognize Lunar New Year across campuses during a Feb. 2 Board meeting, an initiative that honors the diversity of the EMUHSD community and celebrates the history and traditions of Asian communities around the world. El Monte Union students, faculty and staff celebrated the 2022 Lunar New Year, known as Year of the Tiger, with special festivities held at El Monte High School and Rosemead High School that were organized by Associated Student Body (ASB) members.
Bonita Unified School District recognized the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station, Incycle and the Southern California Velo Cycling Club (SCVelo) at their Board of Education meeting on Feb. 2, celebrating their generous donation of bicycles, helmets and toys to students during the holiday season. Incycle and SCVelo donated bicycles to the sheriff’s station, which then coordinated with the District to identify students in need. In total, 73 bicycles and helmets were distributed to Bonita Unified students and their siblings in December.
Fontana High School Class of 2015 graduate Carlos Galván remembers the day his Advanced Placement Chemistry teacher, Nina Rodriguez, told him he should consider attending a university and majoring in chemistry. For Galván, this was the first time his work was singled out for praise, motivating him to push himself to achieve at a high academic level. Today, Galván is a doctoral candidate in the UCLA Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program (MBIDP) and a UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center trainee, conducting research on skin cancer. As a first-generation college student, Galván is following a tradition of hard work and dedication rooted in his family, which has resided in Fontana for generations.
Baldwin Park Unified Robotics Teams Qualify for State Championships
Baldwin Park Unified’s BP STEM Academy qualified two robotics teams for the VEX State Championships, after a day of grueling Rio Hondo Middle School League competition on Jan. 29. Each team took first place in its qualifying matches, earning special recognitions, including the title of Tournament Champions. The VEX State Championships will be held on Sunday, March 13 in San Diego.
Lynwood Unified Teacher Performs at Tournament of Roses Parade
Vista High School band teacher Mario Castro began the new year on a musical note, joining the U.S. Air Force Total Force Band for its captivating 75th anniversary performance at the Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1. Some of Castro’s Vista High students made the trek to Pasadena to cheer him on during his performance. Castro holds the rank of Senior Airman and has been an Air National Guard Musician with the Total Force Band since 2017. Castro has played the euphonium and trombone since high school.
Lynwood Unified Senior Signs with Division I NAIA University
Firebaugh High School senior Belkis Urrutia has signed on to play basketball for Bethesda University, making her the first Lady Falcon in 10 years to sign to a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I college team. The NAIA has been dedicated to student success via athletic programs since 1937, with over 77,000 students earning more than 800 million in scholarships every year and having the opportunity to participate in national championships.
