El Monte Union Approves ESSER III Plan, Focuses on Student Wellness
The El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees has approved the use of additional one-time funds totaling $22 million, provided through the Elementary Secondary Emergency Relief Plan (ESSER III), to place a greater focus on the academic, emotional and mental health needs of students and staff. The District surveyed students, staff and parents on their thoughts regarding learning loss and highest priority needs. El Monte Union has put together a plan of action for how to allocate these funds, which will support students by providing expanded learning opportunities with afterschool tutoring and Saturday Academy, as well as a continued three-year summer school program.
Whittier Union High School Provides Alternative Learning Options
Whittier Union High School District’s Sierra Vista High School is helping students navigate the changing world through its iSierra program, an online academy that provides students the opportunity to learn from home. Currently, 142 students are enrolled in the online academy from across the District. Students are given remote access to tutoring services, testing and additional support and can communicate with their teachers via Zoom and are encouraged to complete specific amounts of work each day to fulfill their academic requirements.
Lynwood Unified Provides Families with Low-Cost Internet
Lynwood Unified is partnering with the nonprofit Human-I-T to help ensure families have access to the internet from home. Qualified, low-income individuals may receive discounted or free internet through the Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit. Human-I-T also offers discounted computers to families who qualify, as well as a free digital skills course to teach the basics of computer use.
Fontana Unified Kicks Off 24th Annual ‘Fontana Santas’ Toy Drive
Fontana Unified has launched its 24th annual Fontana Santas Toy Drive, in which community organizations, District employees and Fontana residents come together to bring holiday cheer to families in need. Donations of unwrapped toys and gift cards can be dropped off at the Fontana School Police Department, 9680 Citrus Ave., Building 9, Fontana, and at all FUSD campuses. The toy drive will culminate with a drive-thru distribution event for families in need identified by school sites, to be held on Saturday, Dec. 18 at the District Office.
Banning Unified to Celebrate Grand Opening of Performing Arts Center
Banning Unified School District will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 15 to celebrate the grand opening of its new Performing Arts Center, which will provide all Banning Unified students with a state-of-the-art facility where they can develop their creative talents. Housed at Banning High School, 100 W. Westward Ave., Banning, the Performing Arts Center features a 27,000 square-foot auditorium that includes a professional stage, orchestra pit, dressing rooms, and media and TV production facilities with built-in, high-tech equipment. A showcase of student performances from each school will follow the ceremony; due to building capacity, tickets will be required for the student performances and are limited to special guests and families of performers.
Baldwin Park Unified to Open Vaccine Clinic for Students Ages 5-11
Baldwin Park Unified is partnering with Kaiser Permanente’s Baldwin Park Medical Center to provide students ages 5-11 with a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Jones Middle School, 14250 Merced Ave., Baldwin Park, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13. The second dose of the vaccine will be provided between 9 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4. Registration is limited to the first 150 students, and parents must register their students at www.bpusd.net.
The El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees has approved the use of additional one-time funds totaling $22 million, provided through the Elementary Secondary Emergency Relief Plan (ESSER III), to place a greater focus on the academic, emotional and mental health needs of students and staff. El Monte Union received a series of ESSER Grants, which provided additional funding to support students who have been affected by COVID-19 and school closures. The District surveyed students, staff and parents on their thoughts regarding learning loss and highest priority needs.
Banning Unified School District will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of its new Performing Arts Center, which will provide all Banning Unified students with a state-of-the-art facility where they can develop their creative talents. Housed at Banning High School, the Performing Arts Center features a 27,000 square-foot auditorium that includes a professional stage, orchestra pit, dressing rooms, and media and TV production facilities with built in, high-tech equipment. A showcase of student performances from each school will follow the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District has been named a top employer among veterans in the workforce according to Forbes' 2021 America's Best Employers for Veterans survey, released on Nov. 9. The District ranked among the top 200 companies receiving the highest total scores, from all industry sectors, across the country. In partnership with research and analysis firm Statista, Forbes surveyed more than 5,000 U.S. veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces – either in the active military, National Guard or military reserves.
Río Hondo College has been named a 2021 Equity Champion for Higher Education by the Campaign for College Opportunity, which recognized the College’s Associate Degree for Transfer program as an exemplary supporter of Latinx students. Río Hondo College will receive the award during a virtual ceremony on Nov. 16, alongside other esteemed community colleges who support Black and Latinx students through Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) programs. By earning an ADT, students meet all the general education requirements at a four-year university and are guaranteed acceptance to a California State University.
