The El Monte Union High School District will host a groundbreaking tour to celebrate the newest upgrades to Mountain View High School’s Zoo Crew Classroom and Cafetorium at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20. The project will highlight the addition of retractable auditorium seating, proscenium wall for performances, computer labs, 3-D modeling and workshop areas to construct projects related to animal habitats. Mountain View High School is located at 2900 Parkway Dr., El Monte.
Four new administrators will bring their talent and experience to Covina-Valley Unified School District to begin the 2022-23 school year. Rebecca Handzel will take the helm at New Fairvalley High School, which includes the Adult Transition Program and Covina-Valley Learning Options Academy; Ann Anderson takes over as principal at Grovecenter Elementary School, Kazuko Tuttle is the new principal of Cypress Elementary School, and Elena Camarillo will serve as assistant principal at both Cypress and Mesa elementary schools.
Whittier Union High School District joins with several local school districts to host the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce (HOT) Interdistrict Parent Education Conference, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1 at the United Sierra Education Center, 9401 S. Painter Ave., Whittier. The conference will focus on and bring awareness to the needs of English learners and will cover topics such as K-12 and adult education, transportation, childcare, academic success, financial aid, social emotional learning and career technical education. Cost for the conference is $50 per person.
The atmosphere was electric as supporters wearing face paint and sporting school colors streamed into Citrus College Stadium to celebrate the golden anniversary of the cherished football rivalry between Bonita and San Dimas high schools, known as the Smudge Pot, on Sept. 10. The 50th installment of the rivalry featured the return of nearly two dozen former Bearcats and Saints players and coaches who participated in the inaugural Smudge Pot game in 1972, who came to cheer on their alma maters and were honored during pregame festivities. The game provided a chance for them to catch up and reminisce about their days of glory on the football field and revel in the camaraderie that brought them together as teammates and lifelong friends. Bonita High School rallied to win the game, 21-13.
All Lynwood Unified schools will observe Latino Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 as LUSD honors rich traditions and heritage through special events and celebrations.
The College Board has recognized 14 Bonita High School and 10 San Dimas High School students with National Recognition Awards, an honor given to underrepresented students for academic excellence. Each Bonita Unified student received the award for placing in the top 10 percent of students taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test or placing in the top 10 percent of Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores among California Hispanic, African-American or Indigenous students.
Sierra Vista High School Class of 2019 graduate Diana Aguilar-Cruz came to the U.S. as an English learner in 2015, and since then she has embraced a new language and become an advocate for equity in education. Currently a biology major California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Aguilar-Cruz is using her voice to speak for nearly 500,000 collegegoers statewide as a Cal State University Student Trustee. Aguilar-Cruz was appointed to the position by Gov. Gavin Newsom in June and will serve a two-year term.
Two Bonita Unified elementary schools began the 2022-23 school year with new principals, one of a series of administrative promotions and new hires that include two new assistant principals at Bonita High School, a new assistant superintendent of business services, and new senior directors of fiscal services and educational services. The promotions include Nicole Grant as La Verne Heights Elementary School principal, Joshua Richards as Bonita High assistant principal, Sonia Eckley as the assistant superintendent of business services and Dr. Jaymi Abusham as senior director of educational services. New to Bonita Unified are Gerard Granade as Ekstrand Elementary School principal, Rene Gonzalez as Bonita High assistant principal and Jazmin Ortega as senior director of fiscal services.
The Bonita Unified Board of Education unanimously appointed longtime educator and proven leader Matthew Wien to serve as the District’s interim superintendent during a Board meeting on Sept. 7. Wien, who brings more than 20 years of education experience to his new role, will also continue to serve in his current position as assistant superintendent of educational services. During his tenure as assistant superintendent, Wien has overseen the development of a comprehensive academic program that has resulted in high levels of achievement on state assessments and placed Bonita Unified in the top 10 percent of unified districts in California.
Hacienda La Puente Unified will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at La Puente High School to celebrate the completion of a newly built pool capable of holding CIF-sanctioned events, a 4,350 square foot kitchen and renovated locker rooms. The event will begin at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 15615 Nelson Ave., La Puente.
