Whittier Union exemplary and retired employees, along with the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, were celebrated for their hard work and commitment to the District on May 11. Six students and 35 employees were honored during the socially distanced event. Superintendent Martin Plourde and Board President Ralph Pacheco gave congratulatory speeches, recognizing the success of each individual.
In partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Community Advisory Council, Whittier Union High School District and Los Nietos School District will host a vaccination clinic from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 23 at Pioneer High School, 10800 Benavon St., Whittier. The second dose will be administered on Sunday, June 13. The clinic will offer the Pfizer vaccine and is open to anyone ages 12 and up.
Whittier Union’s five comprehensive high schools have been listed among the top performing public schools in the state and nation – ranking in the top 25% – according to the 2021 Best High Schools rankings by U.S. News and World Report. California, La Serna, Pioneer, Santa Fe and Whittier high schools have earned high rankings among approximately 1,675 high schools in California. Additionally, Santa Fe placed among the top 12% in the country.
Lynwood Unified School District Board members, alongside leaders of St. Anne’s Family Services, grabbed hard hats and shovels on May 12 to celebrate the start of renovations for a new Early Learning Center at Lugo Elementary School. Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite joined Lorna Little, President and CEO of St. Anne’s, to address an outdoor group of nearly 75 guests who gathered to commemorate the groundbreaking of a project that will provide Early Head Start programs for children ages 1-3 and their families. Scheduled to open this fall, the Early Learning Center is the result of a partnership between the District, St. Anne’s, and the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Ultimately, a total of five classrooms will be added at Lugo and Abbott elementary schools, serving a total of 164 children.
Twenty-three Fontana Unified students were honored for their excellence and commitment to furthering their education during the annual Upward Bound banquet, held virtually this year on May 7. Fontana Unified offers the Upward Bound program in partnership with Chaffey College, aiming to increase the rate of students who complete high school and enroll in and graduate from college. When enrolled in Upward Bound, students from A.B. Miller and Fontana high schools benefit from resources and services that include: one-on-one advising and support in academics, college and career planning; weekly tutoring from current Chaffey College students; detailed guidance during their senior year on college applications, financial aid, scholarships and college housing; and more.
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.
