Baldwin Park Unified Students Enjoy Holidays with Santa Clothes Project
Braving the early morning rain and cold, 416 Baldwin Park Unified students received an early gift of holiday cheer as they were treated to a shopping spree at Wal-Mart, receiving $80 gift cards to spend on new outfits and shoes during the 24th annual Santa Clothes Project, held Dec. 7. The Santa Clothes Project – a partnership between the Baldwin Park Unified, the Baldwin Park Charitable Relief Organization, the City of Baldwin Park, the Baldwin Park Police Department and other local organizations – pairs students in need with volunteer chaperones, who assist the students in picking new clothes and basic essentials. In addition to a new outfit and shoes, each child receives a toy at the end of the shopping spree.
Banning Unified School District hosted “A Night to Remember” on Nov. 15, bringing together local officials, educators, students and families at Banning High School to celebrate the grand opening of the District’s state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center. The festivities began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring heartfelt speeches about how the project came to fruition and the vital role of the community in supporting the center. Banning Unified families, local officials and community members then gathered in the 27,000 square-foot auditorium – featuring a professional stage, orchestra pit, dressing rooms and more – to enjoy student performances from each school, showcasing the creative talents and arts offerings in Banning Unified.
Arroyo High School has debuted a new math class – Mathematical Reasoning with Connections (MRWC) – which provides students with a challenging, project- and group-based approach to math. In a presentation to the El Monte Union Board of Trustees during its Oct. 20 board meeting, Arroyo High Math Department Chair Patricia Espinoza and several of her students shared the benefits of MRWC, a fourth-year course designed for seniors that serves as a bridge to college mathematics.
Monrovia Unified School District Board of Education delivered an in-depth overview of what it means to provide World-Class Schools for World-Class Students to an audience of nearly 100 community members during its 2021-22 State of the Schools Address, held Nov. 17 at the Louise K. Taylor Performing Arts Center. During the event, community members – which included elected officials – learned about how the District navigated COVID-19 amidst school closures, the shift from virtual to hybrid learning and the return to in-person instruction this fall. The Board also discussed how the District has maintained a sound budget over the past year, the expansion of student support systems and provided an update on programs such as school athletics, the arts, Monrovia High School’s Early College Program and career technical education (CTE) pathways.
Fontana Unified School District is expanding its ongoing COVID-19 testing clinics to be available to the greater community at no cost. Testing clinics are available at all high school sites from 12:15 to 6:15 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 12:35 to 4:15 p.m. on Fridays; at middle school sites from 7:35 to 11:15 a.m. on Fridays; and at District office from 7 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 12:35 to 4:15 p.m. on Fridays. Appointments are available, but not required. Community members who are not Fontana Unified students or employees may register for testing at https://www.covidclinic.org/fusd/.
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.
