As a sophomore at Baldwin Park High School, Veronica Sanchez always pushed herself to succeed, taking AP and college prep courses and serving her community as a member of the BPHS Leo Club. To honor Sanchez’s memory after her sudden death in March 2020, the BPHS Leo Club created the Veronica Sanchez Memorial Scholarship and organized an online fundraiser to support seniors continuing their post-secondary education.
El Monte Union High School District will host its 2021 Lunar New Year Celebration from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26, at the District Office, 3537 Johnson Ave., El Monte. The festive event, celebrating the Year of the Ox, will feature traditional décor, dancing, and cuisine, with families receiving red envelopes filled with chocolate coins in a socially distanced drive-thru ceremony.
Monrovia Unified School District will present its finalized Hybrid Instructional Model for grades TK-5, 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25. The presentation will include an in-depth overview of the schedule, as well as a discussion on the next steps moving forward in the reopening of elementary schools.
Redwood Elementary School counselor Eduardo Valencia has seen firsthand the socio-emotional toll that COVID-19 has taken on his students and their families, hearing countless stories of personal and financial loss that are causing students to disengage from their studies. To assist in providing comfort to Redwood families and to reestablish much-needed personal connections, Valencia and Redwood Elementary distributed teddy bears and care packages to every student, teacher, and staff member – 600 in all – during a weeklong, after-school event from Feb. 22-26.
Río Hondo College will boost interest in choral music and the performing arts through a virtual workshop with acclaimed composer/conductor Eric Whitacre. Whitacre is a Grammy Award-winning composer, known for his ground-breaking virtual choirs. Guests are welcome to register by visiting here: https://bit.ly/3dnrIEo.
Baldwin Park Unified will partner with TeenLine, a teen-to-teen hotline that provides 24-hour personalized, inclusive support and resources for adolescents as part of its commitment to promote the healthy development of students and their families. The Board of Education approved the partnership for the nonprofit, community-based organization funded by Cedars-Sinai Hospital, to provide emotional support for its students through peer-based education, community outreach and online support.
Fontana Unified students will receive live, 24/7 aid in core subjects and an array of electives through a new District partnership with digital tutoring service Paper Education. The service will launch in March, providing students in grades three to 12 with access to one-on-one tutoring 24 hours a day, seven days a week in English and Spanish. The partnership is the latest effort in the District’s longtime mission to ensure equity in education, aided by initiatives that tackle the digital divide and achievement gap. The service will launch in March, providing students in grades three to 12 with access to one-on-one tutoring 24 hours a day, seven days a week in English and Spanish.
The Baldwin Park Unified Board of Education urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to direct the State Board of Education to request a waiver for standardized testing in spring 2021 amid the recent COVID-19 spike during a Feb. 9 board meeting. The District stated that using standardized testing this spring will not provide an equal comparison from prior years, impacting the reliability of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. The U.S. Department of Education waived requirements for the 2019-20 testing during the school closures in spring 2020.
Monrovia Unified elementary school PTAs have joined forces, creating an interactive scavenger hunt that encourages students and families to learn more about Monrovia by searching for hidden gems within the city and celebrate them by sharing photographs with the community. Completed activities include locating signs of diversity in the city and discovering notable paintings and sculptures. Upcoming activities include hunting for sidewalk poetry, and exploring historical points of interest during a city tour on Feb. 19.
Pioneer High School 2020-21 Stand Out seniors Michael and Sofia Lagos are two of the driving forces behind the school’s weekly Titan News Flash video report, bringing a sense of normalcy and relevance to distance learning-weary classmates. The fraternal twins are also academic standouts with matching 4.53 GPAs, having completed 13 AP courses apiece. For their academic achievements and communication skills, Michael and Sofia were recognized by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees for their academics and communication skills during a Feb. 9 board meeting.
