El Monte High School’s (EMHS) varsity cheerleading team captured the 2026 National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) High School National Championship during a competition held Jan. 23–24 in Fort Worth, Texas, earning the first national title in the District’s and program’s history. The Lions claimed the championship in the Advanced Non-Tumbling Coed Varsity Crowd Leading division, becoming the only California school to compete in the category and just the third California team to claim an NCA national title in the organization’s 75-year history. Teams from across the country competed at the national event.
The Summit High School Fortepiano String Orchestra will make its way to the Big Apple this April for a return performance at Carnegie Hall’s National Band and Orchestra Festival, continuing the momentum of achievement for the SkyHawks Marching Regiment thanks to instrumental music and band director James Sharp. The Summit High band program – which includes concert band, wind ensemble, prep orchestra, Color Guard, drum line, and the Fortepiano Orchestra – encompasses more than 200 visual and performing arts (VAPA) students in addition to the Summit Majorette squad, which performs at football games and special events.
Lynwood Unified School District’s emerging robotics program was on full display as student teams from Lynwood and Firebaugh high schools competed against schools from across the region at the District’s first-ever VEX V5 “Push Back” robotics tournament on Jan. 27. Dubbed the Knight City Challenge, the event reflects Lynwood Unified’s continued efforts to bolster STEM education by expanding hands-on, project-based learning opportunities that prepare students for college and future careers in engineering and technology.
For Yuba College in California, fostering a caring culture is not a short-term strategy – it is a defining part of the institution’s identity. That commitment is reflected in the college’s decision to remain a Caring Campus Network (CCN) member through 2030, reinforcing a long-term investment in connection, belonging, and student success. The CCN offers members access to tools and resources designed to strengthen and sustain cultures of care. Benefits include impactful webinars covering a variety of topics, a robust artifacts database featuring examples from Caring Campus institutions nationwide, discounted Caring Campus conference registration, and eligibility for Caring Campus Certification.
Wearing golden crowns and gathering among shelves of storybooks, Shull Elementary School families were transported to lands far, far away in January for the first Family Reading Night of the 2026, an event designed to strengthen literacy skills while reinforcing the school’s culture of family partnership and academic excellence. Shull’s Family Reading Nights are intended to bring families into the learning process, reinforcing reading as a shared responsibility extending beyond the classroom. By creating opportunities for families to engage with books, educators and one another, the event encourages building literacy habits at home that complement daily instruction at school.
Upland Unified School District will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of Upland High School’s newly renovated athletic facilities. The upgraded space features new artificial turf baseball and football multi-use fields as well as a new high-tech scoreboard and sound system.
Close to 600 teachers and paraeducators from across Upland Unified School District convened at Upland High School on Jan. 27 for the District’s first-ever technology summit, a professional development event designed to strengthen instructional practices through innovative and effective classroom technology.
Approximately 80 jazz ensembles, ranging from elementary school through college, will participate in the 52nd Annual Western States Jazz Festival, representing schools from throughout California. Student musicians will compete in multiple divisions based on age and experience level, showcasing their talent through performances of classic and contemporary jazz selections. Awards for first-, second-, and third-place will be presented in each division. The two-day festival will feature daily guest performances by Wayne Bergeron, an Emmy-nominated trumpeter whose work spans more than 500 television and motion picture productions, including Jeopardy! and Disney’s The Incredibles. Bergeron is widely recognized as one of today’s leading studio and jazz trumpet artists. The event is open to the public, with tickets available for purchase on site. Refreshments will be available for purchase. All proceeds from the festival will benefit the Upland High School Instrumental Music Program.
As one of the smallest Caring Campus institutions, Ranger College in Texas has intentionally cultivated a culture of care that removes barriers, builds trust, and strengthens student success. In doing so, the college demonstrates how faculty and staff can create meaningful change regardless of size or geographic location. That commitment to implementing Caring Campus principles and strategies is reflected in everyday moments. Meetings often begin with stories of Random Acts of Kindness witnessed on campus – whether it be faculty members helping students navigate unfamiliar spaces, staff stepping up beyond their job descriptions, or acts of generosity that extend into the surrounding community.
El Monte Union High School District students who would like to see more vegetarian and vegan options for lunch will have an opportunity to shape their school’s meal plan through the District’s newly-formed Dietary Inclusion Council, a student-led coalition that will work directly with the Nutrition Services Department to advocate for healthy, plant-based items on daily lunch menus. The council was spearheaded by Arroyo High School senior Emily Lin, who petitioned the Board of Trustees to pass a resolution to establish the Districtwide advisory body. The resolution was passed during the Jan. 7 Board meeting. Lin also helped secure a $4,000 microgrant from the nonprofit advocacy group Friends of the Earth to support the promotion and marketing of plant-based options across the District.
