Hacienda La Puente Unified honored nearly 1,300 Class of 2022 graduates from its four comprehensive high schools and alternative high school. Valley High, William Workman High and La Puente High held festivities on May 17, followed by Glen A. Wilson High and Los Altos High, which concluded the celebrations on May 19. The ceremonies featured choir and band performances, chants, alma mater support, salutes, and heartfelt speeches from exceptional students.
Nearly 500 Lynwood community members are expected to hit the streets for a 5K Run/Walk that will raise money for students through the Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation. The Foundation, a partner of the Lynwood Unified School District, is collaborating with the City of Lynwood and Aztlan Athletics for the city’s first 5K event in nearly a decade. The 3.1-mile route will start and finish at City Hall. All proceeds will benefit the Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation. Access to vendor and resource booths, and a raffle drawing for a new Mazda Mitsubishi are scheduled for the awards ceremony following the race.
Fontana Unified high school students filled the stands of A.B. Miller High School’s football stadium on May 12, each eagerly wishing to hear their name called and claim the grand prize – a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox – at the District’s Perfect Attendance Spells Success (PASS) event. Held for high school students who have maintained a 94 percent attendance rate, have a GPA of 2.7 or higher, and have not received any out-of-school suspensions, PASS celebrates students’ commitment to their education and highlights the importance of attending school. Nearly 60 prizes, ranging from $250 scholarships to televisions, were awarded to students in a random drawing; ultimately, Jurupa Hills High School senior Martin Aguilar took home the top prize, donated by Rotolo Chevrolet.
Family means everything to Jurupa Hills High School senior Alejandro De La Torre, who routinely rises at 5 a.m. so he can better balance his studies and cross country training, while also making time to work at his father’s auto repair shop and serving as chief nutritionist and caretaker for his parents. De La Torre, who feels he can best serve his family and community by learning more about e-commerce and pursuing a law career, will attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison to pursue his goals, thanks to a full-ride Posse Foundation scholarship. De La Torre, an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme candidate ranked first in his class with a 4.72 GPA, is one of 10 Los Angeles Posse Scholars selected to attend the school.
Students from the Whittier Union High School District’s five comprehensive high schools, two alternative high schools and adult school will celebrate the conclusion of their academic journeys in the District during stadium commencement ceremonies. Ceremonies will be held at full capacity at the District’s two stadiums. This year, the Whittier Union Board of Trustees will honor a group of students from each comprehensive high school with the 2022 Trustee Award. Honorees were recommended by principals, counselors and teachers for outstanding academic achievement and demonstrating exemplary citizenship during their four years of high school.
Río Hondo College’s Reaching Institutionalized Students through Education (RISE) Scholars program will receive significant additional funding to provide counseling, peer tutoring, mentoring and other services, thanks to a Rising Scholars Network grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO). The CCCCO grant will provide more than $460,000 – spread over three years – to the RISE Scholars program, an award-winning Río Hondo College academic initiative that seeks to educate and empower formerly incarcerated students or those impacted by the criminal justice system. This is the first year the RISE Scholar program has received the CCCCO grant.
Fontana Unified has selected Dr. Douglas F. Staine, an established leader with more than 30 years of experience in education, to serve as its new associate superintendent of people services. Staine’s contract was approved by the Fontana Unified Board of Education during an April 20 meeting. Staine has served in a variety of roles in school districts across California, from teacher, counselor and school psychologist to overseeing special education, student services and human resources.
El Monte Union High School District hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating the completion of Rosemead High School’s track and field renovation, which includes a synthetic football field, resurfaced track and newly designed concession stands. Local dignitaries, school officials, students and community members gathered for the May 12 ceremony and were welcomed with performances by the school’s band and spirit squad, honorary speeches, refreshments and tours of the new area.
Baldwin Park Unified Educators Present at TELA Leadership Meeting
Administrators and educators from Baldwin Park Unified’s Geddes and Margaret Heath elementary schools shared their experiences in helping pilot a federally funded education program for English Learners during a Teaching English Learners Through the Arts (TELA) end-of-the-year celebration on May 12. Both elementary schools participated in the TELA program over the last five years, and their presentation highlighted the students and educators’ educational journeys, which included dance, fine arts and theater. The information shared will be part of the final report sent to Washington, D.C. and Congress for review and potential implementation in K-12 education across the country.
Henry J. Kaiser High School theater students are enjoying their time in the spotlight after taking top honors in two recent drama competitions and, in a separate competition, qualifying to participate in a national thespian festival. Kaiser High seniors Caitlin Porter and Giselle Albavera Burgette were recognized as superior monologists at the California Educational Theater Association Thespian Festival in early April, and will advance to the International Thespian Festival in June. Burgette was also named a state finalist at the English-Speaking Union High School Shakespeare Monologue Competition, held virtually in February. Additionally, seven Kaiser teams advanced to the semifinals at the recent Drama Teachers Association of Southern California Shakespeare Festival, with five Kaiser teams ultimately ranking in the top 10 and winning honorable mentions.
