Whittier Union Hosts Senior Sunrise and Back-to-School Assembly
La Serna High School students gained a glimpse into their school’s culture during a “Welcome to the Kingdom” themed back-to-school assembly, hosted by the Associated Student Body (ASB) on Aug. 18. Inspired by the movie, “Welcome to the Jungle,” each grade level represented an animal returning to their kingdom. In addition to performances by the band and cheer squads, students engaged in activities such as musical chairs. This year’s event was hosted outdoors for the safety of all the students. ASB also hosted a senior sunrise event, where nearly 400 seniors, dressed in pajamas and wrapped in blankets, were treated to a breakfast of donuts and juice.
Río Hondo College to Host Free Walk-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
Río Hondo College will host a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic for community members ages five and up from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are available to receive the Pfizer vaccine during this event. 100 doses are available at a first-come, first-serve basis. The clinic is a partnership between the College, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Active SGV, Veritas Healthcare and L.A. Care. The clinic will be held in parking lot ‘C’ at Río Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
El Monte Union High School District partnered with the El Monte Promise Foundation to honor the Class of 2021 with an Aug. 19 ceremony at El Monte High School, celebrating the hanging of graduate banners that will be displayed throughout the cities of El Monte, South El Monte and Rosemead. The event featured speeches from Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga, El Monte Promise Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Cobian, EMUHSD parent Gloria Garcia, and El Monte High School alumnus Joseph Herrera. Banners displaying photos of graduates will be hung from poles throughout the EMUHSD boundaries, honoring the Class of 2021 for their hard work and perseverance.
Baldwin Park Unified is encouraging water conservation and sustainability through a long-standing partnership with the Valley County Water District and its water bottle fill station program. The program, also made possible by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, saw the installation of 18 water bottle fill stations on Baldwin Park Unified campuses before the start of the 2021-22 school year.
Longtime educator Loriann Leota thrives on being able to roll up her sleeves and jump right into assisting her students, teachers and administrators – motivated by her love for a good team dynamic. Leota is bringing her hands-on approach to education – backed by a decade of experience in teaching and administration roles – to Pendleton Elementary School, where she will serve as principal in 2021-22.
Twenty-one Fontana Unified schools have earned platinum, gold, silver, and bronze awards from California Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Coalition, recognizing their efforts to create a positive campus culture and increase student engagement. Citrus, Cypress and Date elementary schools, Dolores Huerta International Academy, and Alder, Harry S. Truman and Sequoia middle schools have earned platinum certifications for their stellar execution of PBIS strategies in 2020-21. They are joined by gold PBIS Implementation Award recipients Juniper, Oleander, Randall Pepper and West Randall elementary schools, Southridge Tech Middle School and Jurupa Hills High School; silver PBIS Implementation Award recipients Maple, Poplar, Sierra Lakes and Virginia Primrose elementary schools, as well as Almeria and Fontana middle schools; and bronze PBIS Implementation Award recipients Live Oak Elementary and Mango Elementary.
The Río Hondo College Board of Trustees unanimously approved mandatory vaccinations for all students and College employees in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. During a meeting on Aug. 18, Río Hondo College administrators gave a presentation on COVID-19 facts, history, variants, trends and health compliances as well as information on improvements completed and planned by the College’s COVID-19 task force. The mandatory vaccinations coincide with the start of the fall 2021 semester, which begins Aug. 21.
Fontana Unified Welcomes 2021-22 Student Board Representative
The Fontana Unified Board of Education welcomed its 2021-22 student representative, Miranda Ordoñez, to the board during its Aug. 11 meeting. A senior at Fontana High School, Ordoñez is a high-achieving scholar at the top of her class, balancing Advanced Placement classes with clubs and activities such as the Girls & Guys for an Empowered Modern Society club, the California Scholarship Federation, manager for the wrestling team, and more. In her role as a student representative, Ordoñez will serve as the voice for all Fontana Unified students, sharing their perspective with the Board of Education and advocating for their interests.
Spirited Performances Highlight Río Hondo College Musical Production
Live theater returned to Río Hondo College with two rousing performances of the Broadway musical “Working,” livestreamed via Zoom on Aug. 6 and 7. The online production was highlighted by spirited and emotional performances, allowing audiences to enjoy live theater in their own home. Based on a book written by oral historian Studs Terkel, “Working” is a series of vignettes that tell the stories of everyday Americans in their own words, with songs written by Stephen Schwartz, James Taylor, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Professions range from long-haul truckers to restaurant servers, call center workers and flight attendants.
El Monte Union Green Ribbon-Cutting Heralds New All-Electric Bus Fleet
El Monte Union High School District community members and stakeholders received a glimpse at the future of transportation in the San Gabriel Valley as the brand new all-electric school bus fleet arrived at South El Monte High School, heralding the inception of the District’s $9.8 million Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project, celebrated during a “green” ribbon-cutting ceremony held Aug. 18. South El Monte students cheered as El Monte Union administrators joined with representatives from the California Air Resources Board, project corporate partners, state and local officials, and clean air advocates to cut a ceremonial ribbon on the initiative that puts into action California’s promise to drive zero-emission technology to support air quality and combat climate change.
