Baldwin Park Unified School District’s Adult and Community Education (BPACE) program is offering free testing for the high school equivalency exam (HiSET). Interested participants only need to enroll in a test preparation class at BPACE and complete a 12-hour course, during which student will create a HiSET exam account and take the pretests. The HiSET exam helps adult learners earn a high school equivalency certificate.
Forty-one Buena Park School District students received $50 gift cards for Vans shoes, thanks to donations from the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park. The employees and owners of Simpson Buick GMC of Buena Park raised $5,000, which was divided to provide 100 Boys & Girls Club children with gift cards. Students were given their gift cards during a Feb. 26 event; some students also won prizes such as blankets, t-shirts, cup holders and backpacks emblazoned with Vans logos.
El Monte High School senior Oscar Martinez and South El Monte High School senior Marina Limon both joined Academic Decathlon as a way to challenge themselves and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with being an AcaDeca team member. As team captains, Martinez and Limon knew that the 2021 Los Angeles County Office of Education competition would be the most challenging yet, since the El Monte Union High School District AcaDeca teams – including those from Mountain View and Arroyo high schools – could not study and sharpen their skills in-person. Instead, what the teams gained was a lesson in teamwork and perseverance.
Whittier Union scholars made impressive showings at the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) 2021 Academic Decathlon. Whittier High School and Santa Fe High School took first and second place, respectively, in Division III during the virtual event held in February. Whittier High was awarded 27 medals, while Santa Fe scored 21 medals and was named LACOE’s Most Improved Team. Santa Fe also took third place in Super Quiz, earning bronze medals for each team member.
Baldwin Park Unified is accepting enrollment applications for the 2021-22 school year beginning on Monday, March 8. Baldwin Park Unified School District provides comprehensive learning opportunities that span transitional kindergarten through adult school. The District’s signature programs include the award-winning Dual Language program, career technical education pathways and hands-on STEM opportunities. Families may begin the enrollment process online at www.bpusd.net.
Whittier Union alternative schools – including Sierra Vista High School, Frontier High School and the WUHSD Transition Program – celebrated its top students for their high academic achievements during a virtual awards ceremony on Feb. 25. More than 120 students were recognized in the categories “Student of the Term,” recommended by teachers, and “Top Producers,” given to students who exceeded the minimum number of credits during the second quarter.
Lynwood High School senior Alexa Escamilla is preparing for higher education by doing what she loves, helping others. For Escamilla, who has a 4.6 GPA, community service has given her purpose amid the uncertainty of the world over the past year. Escamilla is targeting Columbia University and UCLA as two prospective schools to attend in the fall.
La Serna High School held its 15th annual Be Your Best awards ceremony on Feb. 19 with a drive-thru celebration that honored more than 100 students for their excellence during remote learning. Traditionally celebrated through grade level assemblies, this year’s ceremony allowed students the opportunity to see one another from a distance as they received a Be Your Best certificate and T-shirt. P
South El Monte and El Monte high school students won a total of 24 awards during the 2021 Future Business Leaders of America Virtual Inland Section Leadership Conference, securing an opportunity to compete in the state finals in April. The winning students demonstrated their excellence in categories including business communication, entrepreneurship, accounting, marketing, management decision making, international business and public speaking.
Abbott Elementary School students welcomed rapper, writer, producer and “Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs to a virtual assembly that celebrated music and the arts on Feb. 24. The award-winning actor visited students through the Turnaround Arts: California program to inspire students to follow their passion.
