To ensure the continued health and safety of students, Whittier Union High School District is now offering free rapid COVID-19 testing to students. Tests are voluntary and administered on each Whittier Union campus once a week through a partnership with the California Department of Public Health.
The Lynwood Unified School District community gathered virtually on April 24 for a day filled with art activities and lively band, dance and drama performances during the District’s seventh annual Arts Festival and District Showcase. Students, families, teachers, and faculty across the District were welcomed by Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite, following messages from Assemblymember Anthony Rendon, Lynwood Mayor Marisela Santana, and Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator Mariana Astorga-Almanza. Sponsored by Assemblymember Rendon, Conga Kids, P.S. Arts, and the Music Center, the event featured student artwork and performances by the Pacifico Dance Company and Conga Kids.
Whittier Union’s Pioneer High School and La Serna High School have been recognized as 2021 California Distinguished Schools, earning the designation from the California Department of Education (CDE). Pioneer received the honor for the first time in school history, while La Serna received the designation for the fifth time. Pioneer and La Serna boast graduation rates of 94.6% and 93.2%, respectively, and serve their students through rigorous college and career readiness programs and robust intervention policies. The award is the state’s top honor for high-achieving schools, celebrating successes in boosting student achievement, attaining strong graduation rates, and fostering college and career resources.
The El Monte Union High School District will launch a series of public meetings to gather community input as it begins the process of shifting from at-large elections to by-trustee area elections. The transition means that residents will vote for a single candidate residing in their newly drawn trustee-area, usually one-fifth of the entire district, instead of voting for any board candidate on the ballot within the El Monte Union District boundaries. The change will go into effect November 2022. The process will be divided into two parts. First, the District will initiate a community information program beginning in May, which will share details about the transition through postcards, a website and community meetings held in the morning and in the evening Thursday, May 13.
Jurupa Hills High School senior Joy Anyiam is passionate about the English language and civil rights. With a dream to become a lawyer and bring justice to underrepresented groups, Anyiam faced a tough choice after being accepted by nearly a dozen elite universities across the country, including Stanford and Columbia. Anyiam, a high-achieving scholar with a 4.64 GPA, chose to attend Harvard University, and is the first Jurupa Hills student to be accepted to the storied Ivy League campus. Throughout her senior year, Anyiam paid close attention to issues of social justice; these conflicts, combined with the rigor of an International Baccalaureate education, have inspired Anyiam to pursue a career in law.
Taking on powerful subjects such as suicide prevention, mental illness, and systemic racism, nearly a dozen Jurupa Hills High School student filmmakers were recognized by the Directing Change Film Project for excellence in producing 60-second public service announcements. Jurupa Hills sophomore Kashmir Garnica won a regional first place award for her suicide prevention film, “Keep an Eye Out,” and will advance to the Directing Change state finals. Junior Kimberly Do earned an honorable mention in the Directing Change statewide Hope and Justice category for her film, “Racism is the Real Virus.” Six other Jurupa Hills-produced films received regional honorable mentions.
Dr. Robert Gilchick, of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, joined a livestream discussion with Lynwood Unified to share his positive outlook on students returning for in-person instruction and give the District his blessing ahead of its secondary school reopening on May 3. Gilchick and LUSD Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite convened on April 22 for a Facebook Live audience where they talked about safety protocols, the improving health outlook of LA County, and the District’s strong work in welcoming back children to campuses.
Drawing on her passion for advocacy and community betterment, Fontana High School junior Miranda Ordoñez will provide a voice for Fontana Unified students and serve as the Board of Education student representative in 2021-22. Ordoñez was selected from a pool of five finalists following a virtual interview during the April 28 Board of Education special meeting. As a first-generation, college-bound Latina, Ordoñez takes her education seriously and has made the most of the learning and extracurricular opportunities in Fontana Unified. She is a high-achieving scholar at the top of her class, balancing Advanced Placement classes with clubs and activities and an array of volunteer roles.
Eight students from La Serna High School’s Organized Academic Support in School (OASIS) and HAVEN program received $500 scholarships from Lions Club of Whittier and Credit Union of Southern California for their academic achievements. The scholarship winners were announced during a Celebration of Learning virtual event on April 23, which acknowledged the students’ efforts in overcoming obstacles in their education and achieving the necessary credits to graduate from high school.
Pioneer High School began the celebrations for the Class of 2021 with a drive-thru senior rally on April 28. During the rally, seniors picked up celebratory yard signs, received senior goodies such as T-shirts and Pioneer High masks, shared their college commitments and plans after high school, and received yearbook, prom and graduation information. Students, families and staff who participated in the event wore masks and remained socially distant during the event. Photos are available.