The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District community celebrated the installation of solar panels throughout the District with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Los Altos High School on Feb. 16, which featured a performance from the school’s jazz band and solar panel information and displays.The Board of Education approved the 4 MW Solar Project and the Solar Energy Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in October 2019, which funded the design, installation, operation and maintenance of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems at the District Office, Willow Adult Education Center and the District’s four comprehensive high schools.
Mountain View High School’s Teacher Preparation Academy (TPA) has returned for the spring semester, during which students are tutoring and providing one-on-one instruction to transitional kindergarten through sixth-grade students while focusing on the development of their teaching skills. Co-Directors Amy Minick and Mary Boutté lead the group of junior and senior students in TPA –– a Golden Bell Award-winning program that provides aspiring educators a pathway toward pursuing a teaching career –– as they offer weekly tutoring sessions at Maxson Elementary School and Payne Elementary School in the nearby Mountain View School District.
Whittier Union Cybersecurity Team Recognized as Top Competitor
Pioneer High School’s Cybersecurity Club reached a milestone by placing in the state semi-finals of the National Youth Cyber Defense CyberPatriot competition, held in January, placing the school in the top echelon of anti-hacking teams in California. Working in teams, Pioneer’s cyber sleuths scoured computer operating systems to prevent hacking and identify vulnerabilities in existing software. Many of the club’s members have been active in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs since middle school.
Lynwood Unified Partners with Graduate School for Residency Program
With a goal of providing more equity and diversity among its educators, Lynwood Unified has partnered with the Alder Graduate School of Education to create a teacher residency program that pairs students working toward master's degrees and teaching credentials with LUSD teachers who serve as mentors in the classroom. Led by Lynwood Unified Assistant Director of Human Resources Geraldine Rescinito, the residency program is in its second year with 11 residents paired with mentors throughout the District. The inaugural cohort from the 2020-21 school year produced 11 Alder graduates, with five being hired as full-time teachers in Lynwood.
Covina-Valley Unified’s Mesa Elementary Celebrates Lunar New Year
More than 700 Covina-Valley Unified students, staff and families gathered at Mesa Elementary School to celebrate the Year of the Tiger by enjoying Chinese cuisine, gifts, and entertainment, bringing forth tidings of good fortune, wealth and longevity. Held on Feb. 4 and Feb. 9, the festivities brought the District community together to honor the history and tradition of Lunar New Year on a campus adorned with red lanterns and artwork.
Sierra Vista High School senior Kiara Aparicio was recognized as the high school first-place award winner for the National Association for Bilingual Education's (NABE) 2022 National Essay Writing Contest, earning her a $500 reward, a NABE certificate and the highly coveted NABE Shining Star Trophy. Aparicio presented her award-winning essay to more than 1,000 attendees on Feb. 9 during the annual NABE 2022 Conference and Awards Ceremony, held in New York.
Lynwood Unified Hosts HBCU Caravan, Students Receive Scholarships
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caravan visited Firebaugh and Lynwood high schools on Feb. 14, with more than 25 colleges and universities giving students the opportunity to earn on-the-spot acceptances. Students came prepared with transcripts and test scores and were offered scholarships that reached as high as $35,000. Participating HBCU universities included Tuskegee University, Shaw University and Alabama A&M.
Whittier Union High School District to Close Vaccine Clinic
Whittier Union will conclude its COVID-19 vaccine clinic for students, staff and the Whittier community on Wednesday, March 16. The clinics, which started in September 2021 in partnership with Paramount Family Pharmacy and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, have given out more than 3,000 doses to the community. The clinics are open to all residents ages five and up and operate from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Whitter Union Board Room, 9401 Painter Ave., Whittier. Residents who are interested in receiving a vaccine are encouraged to visit MyTurn.ca.gov and register using the zip code 90605.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District’s Valley Alternative High School has been named a 2022 Model Continuation High School by the California Department of Education, one of 36 schools to receive the recognition. The model schools will retain their designation for three years and will be recognized at the California Continuation Education Association Plus 2022 State Conference in Long Beach in May.
Celebrating the success of its cultural exchange program, Río Hondo College received an award from the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) and the mayor of New Taipei City during a ceremony on Feb. 18. Río Hondo College and TECO will adopt a plan for the Taipei-California International Cultural Exchange Project, with both parties signing a memorandum of understanding to mark a new year of international education.
