Fontana High School Bio Animatronic and Neuro Prosthetic students got a glimpse of what is possible when imagination meets science on March 13 after receiving a visit from a children’s author whose life changed when animatronics specialists at Garner Holt Productions created a realistic, fully functional prosthetic arm for her. June Durr, a former San Bernardino-based marketing consultant, told her story accompanied by Garner Holt, the founder of the animatronics firm, relaying how a chance visit to the studio 19 years ago netted her a new arm and a new lease on life. Holt designed the arm for Durr in 2003, using techniques that FOHI students are currently learning in their bio animatronics lab.
Glen A. Wilson High School robotics team "AlphaGenesis" will advance to the 2022 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World Championships after ranking first in robot performance and earning strong overall scores at the Southern California FTC Regional Championship on March 12. More than 150 Southern California high schools participated in the FTC program this season, which included six qualifying tournaments, with 36 teams advancing to regionals and the top three teams progressing to the World Championships. The program is run by For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), an international science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) non-profit organization.
Lynwood Unified School District and St. Anne’s Family Services leaders joined LUSD Board members, elected officials, and educators to celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 14 that commemorated a new early learning center that was two years in the making. The facility, which features newly modeled classrooms with state-of-the-art learning tools, as well as kitchen and laundry areas, is the result of a partnership between the District, St. Anne’s, and the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Five classrooms, serving a total of 164 children, have been added at Lugo and Abbott elementary schools.
St. Anne’s Family Services will celebrate the opening of its ninth Early Learning Center at Lugo Elementary in Lynwood, California on Monday, March 14, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In partnership with Lynwood Unified School District and the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), St. Anne’s will deliver comprehensive resources for infants and toddlers along with supportive services for their families at Lugo and Abbot Elementary School campuses respectively. With nearly 20 percent of the Lynwood population living below the poverty line, St. Anne’s will address a critical need by providing educational and social services to help families thrive.
Fontana Unified School District will transition from an “at-large” to by-trustee area elections system for the Board of Education in November 2022, following the adoption of Resolution No. 22-05 and the selection of a final trustee map and sequence of elections during the March 9 Board meeting. The Board of Education adopted Scenario 6 – a map submitted by a group of Fontana citizens that had gained the most public support – following a series of public hearings that solicited input from the community. The Board also approved Trustee Areas 1, 2 and 5 to be included in the 2022 election and for Trustee Areas 3 and 4 to be elected in 2024.
Covina-Valley Unified Wrestlers Excel at CIF State Championship
Northview High School’s wrestling program continues strengthening its status as one of the top high school wrestling teams in the state, wrapping up another historic season at the CIF State Wrestling Championships. Under the leadership of National High School Wrestling Hall of Fame coach David Ochoa and Bobby Bellamy, the team had four athletes place at the CIF State Championships: senior Savannah Lewis, who placed second in the 150-pound weight class; junior Leilani Lazaro, who placed fifth in the 116-pound weight class; senior Adrian Limon, who placed fifth in the 120-pound weight class; and senior Julian Leon, who placed eighth in the 132-pound weight class.
Covina-Valley Unified School District has expanded its metal fabrication career technical education pathway by approving a new capstone course for the District’s high school welding program. The new course will be the third metal fabrication class in the District’s three-year course sequence and will be offered in the fall of 2022 – with an option to begin in the summer of 2022, depending on enrollment – to juniors and seniors at Covina-Valley Unified’s four high schools.
Lynwood Unified Joins Diversity and Leadership Fellowship Program
Lynwood Unified has partnered with Loyola Marymount University to bring additional administrative opportunities to Black and Latino educators in Los Angeles County through their Diversity and Leadership Institute Fellowship program. Inspired by the vision of Culturally Responsive School Leadership (CRSL), participants will explore their cultural identity and how it affects their leadership. The program will begin in the fall of 2022 and take place over 16 months through a combination of virtual and in-person sessions held in Los Angeles by local and national leaders in education. Directors of the program will select 20 participants across Los Angeles to join the program, five of which will be from Lynwood Unified.
South El Monte High School will host a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the launch of construction of its quad renovation project. The quad renovation will include the new addition of a concrete stage, seat walls, walkways, landscaping, electric and audio connections and outdoor furnishing. The event will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16 at South El Monte High School, located at 1001 Durfee Ave., South El Monte.
Río Hondo College will host the return of its popular and lively “A Taste of Río” event on Friday, June 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. (5 p.m. for VIPs) – inviting guests onto campus for an evening of delicious foods, fine wines, craft beers, live entertainment and a silent auction. Created by the Río Hondo College Foundation, “A Taste of Río” raises funds for scholarships to support students in achieving their educational goals. Presale tickets are $75 for general admission and $125 for VIP passes. Tickets are available now and can be purchased online at https://gorio.page/atasteofrio. Río Hondo College is located at 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
