Grammy Award-winning composer Eric Whitacre joined Río Hondo College choral students for a virtual music workshop on March 11, providing guidance for those seeking to pursue a career as a professional singer or music composer. Whitacre discussed his influences, his early years as a student at the Julliard School of Music, moving to Los Angeles to work as a film composer, his initial successes in the music industry, the value of chance in the songwriting process, how to turn failure into success and the inspirations that led to the formation of his Virtual Choir project.
Helen Keller and Washington elementary school staff greeted more than 60 total K-2 students at the front entrance on March 22, a day when even face coverings could not mask the excitement of Lynwood Unified School District reopening its doors for in-person instruction. The District welcomed back students on a limited basis, beginning with grades K-2 for just two schools, and will continue with a staggered restart of all elementary grades on April 15 following spring break.
Buena Park Middle School teacher Kristina Walshe positively radiates joy at the idea of getting students excited about math and science, especially when new students are afraid of the daunting subjects. Her unending positivity and exemplary work have earned her recognition as Buena Park School District’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.
Baldwin Park Unified Orchestra Recognizes Anniversary of Distance Learning
Baldwin Park High School’s orchestra department staged a musical project to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent move to distance learning. Student musicians performed heartfelt pieces which included written commentaries to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences from the past year.
Whittier Union High School Wellness Program Connects with Students
Personalized gift bags – filled with snacks, stress balls, school supplies, resource guides and positive messaging – reached the homes of 55 students as part of California High School’s Cal Cares wellness program, during a distribution event that took place March 17-19. Cal Cares is aimed at connecting Cal High administrators and counselors with students who have experienced social-emotional distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The gift bags have been distributed to more than 175 Cal High students through the 2020-21 school year, providing comfort to students who have lost loved ones, are experiencing anxiety or just need to hear a kind word.
El Monte Union High School District held a socially distanced groundbreaking ceremony at Rosemead High School on March 25, with administrators and staff cheerfully celebrating the launch of construction for the school’s new track and field. The project, which features a new synthetic football field and repairs to the rubberized track, is expected to be completed in July 2021.
Summit High School career technical education (CTE) students delivered impressive performances at the SkillsUSA Region 6 2021 Virtual Leadership and Skill Conference, earning 15 gold medals and sending 46 students to the state finals, to be held in April. From entrepreneurship and cyber security to pin design, Summit students rose to the challenge of the virtual format, medaling or placing in 17 separate categories. Medalists included Aaron Vera, Emma Hernandez, Natalia Ramirez and Jade Centeno, who captured gold in Entrepreneurship for their startup app Wisteria, a healthcare platform that allows users to access a wide range of mental health services and resources, with the goal of increasing equity in mental health resources for underrepresented populations.
Río Hondo College voters elected Anais Medina Diaz to serve on the Board of Trustees, according to a final ballot count released by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office on March 12 and certified on March 15. Medina Diaz will serve Trustee Area 1, which includes the City of El Monte. The seat has been vacant since former Trustee Norma Edith Garcia resigned in July 2020.
Lynwood Unified will partner with St. John’s Well Child and Family Center for a collaboration that will expand access to the COVID-19 vaccine to employees of the District and the City of Lynwood, with the goal of ultimately providing vaccinations to community residents at Lynwood Unified facilities. On March 15, Firebaugh High School began serving as a vaccination site to serve District employees.
El Monte Union High School District invites you to tune-in to a groundbreaking ceremony at Rosemead High School, celebrating the start of renovations and upgrades to the school's track & field and concessions stands. This event will feature speeches, a ceremonial groundbreaking and more. In order to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved, El Monte Union will livestream the groundbreaking ceremony. The ceremony will be held outdoors at Rosemead High School's track & field. This project is funded by EMUHSD Facilities Bond Measures D and HS.
