El Monte Union Releases School Mobility & Active Transportation Plans
El Monte Union High School District has prepared School Mobility & Active Transportation Plans as part of their participation in the Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project. The plans were developed to help identify school-related mobility needs and solutions that will encourage active transportation for students within the El Monte Union High School District. A presentation on the plans is scheduled at the next Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, March 2. For more information visit the District’s Clean Mobility website www.emuhsdmobility.com.
Testing their capacities for endurance and perseverance, nearly 150 La Serna High School Oasis/HAVEN/Guided Studies students and their academic mentors worked to build their leadership skills and bond with one another during the intervention program’s annual Spring Reward Field Trip, held at the Orange County Ropes Course on Feb. 9. At a height of more than 60 feet and clasped securely to an overhead zip line, students navigated the challenging course, climbing up ropes, stepping precariously on ramps and boards, then repelling back down, all the while being cheered on by their classmates.
Whitaker School students had the opportunity to interview Buena Park School District alumnus and University of Virginia offensive lineman Ryan Nelson on Feb. 18 to learn about his journey as a scholar athlete and how his teachers, family and education paved the way for his success. Whitaker School student council members Porscha S., Andres S. and Kenjie B. asked Nelson about his favorite Whitaker teachers, his college experience and his favorite sports stars during an interview that was shared with the school’s classrooms via Zoom.
Whitaker School fourth-grade teacher Daniele Fuson aspires to make every day in her class fun and interactive, hosting sing-alongs, learning about her student’s hopes and dreams and playing music that excites her students about learning. Fuson’s lively approach to educating has earned her the distinction of Buena Park School District’s Teacher of the Year and a nomination for 2023 Orange County Teacher of the Year.
At an age when many of his classmates are learning to drive a car, Henry J. Kaiser High School senior Amitoj Lobana will be packing a bag filled with science books and cold-weather gear in preparation for the next step in his academic journey after receiving a full-ride scholarship to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For the 16-year-old Lobana, who skipped ahead two grade levels prior to entering Kaiser High and has a 4.95 GPA, it will be an opportunity to pursue his twin passions: studying computer science and working to bring equity in education and a better quality of life to underrepresented communities.
The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District community gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking at Wedgeworth Elementary School on Feb. 22, supporting the launch of construction for the school’s new campus. The project will provide a mix of modern single- and two-story buildings that will foster high-quality learning environments to support academic achievement for Wedgeworth students. The school is expected to unveil the new campus in fall 2024.
Covina High School has named Aaron Berry as its new head football coach, who will bring his winning experience as both a player and a coach to the role. An alumnus of Azusa Pacific University, Berry returns to the San Gabriel Valley to guide the Covina-Valley Unified school’s accomplished program, which won the Sierra League Championship and advanced to the California Interscholastic Federation quarterfinals last year. As Covina High’s head coach, Berry will lead all aspects of the football team and the holistic development of their student-athletes.
The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees selected Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Monica Oviedo, who has served the District as a teacher and administrator for 25 years, as its next superintendent during a Board meeting on Feb. 22. Oviedo was carefully chosen for her long record of achievement at Whittier Union, the enthusiasm with which she has implemented the District’s vision of doing “whatever it takes” to ensure student success, and her embrace of the ethnic and cultural diversity of the students, parents and community she serves. The decision follows extensive discussions by the Board of Trustees and widespread outreach that engaged District stakeholders and community members. The District received input utilizing an online survey and two input sessions – one virtual meeting for District staff, and a second meeting held in-person for the public. Feedback focused on the qualities, skills and abilities desired in a superintendent.
Río Hondo College has established a Universal Articulation agreement with Arizona State University (ASU), providing students with a reliable and rigorous academic preparedness transfer program to guide them toward earning bachelor’s degrees. Approved in the fall of 2021, the program, called MyPath2ASU™, provides students with course-by-course guided pathways, course applicability for transferable credits, personalized communications with ASU and guaranteed admission to ASU if all requirements are fulfilled.
Buena Park School District students matched wits and spelling acumen on difficult words such as Darwinism, coronation, and brocade during its annual Spelling Bee, held Feb. 10 at Buena Park Middle School. The competition was held in the middle school’s new performing arts center and welcomed 20 fourth-graders, 20 fifth-graders and 14 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders for a chance to prove their mental fortitude.
