Whittier High School senior Ashley Perdomo came to the United States from El Salvador when she was 10, after her parents had been granted political asylum. Arriving at Whittier High as a freshman, Perdomo found a sense of direction, eventually becoming a student leader with a 4.4 GPA and earning the respect of her teachers and classmates for her work ethic and mentoring ability. Perdomo was recognized by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees with an Award of Merit for her perseverance during its Jan. 12 board meeting.
Emery School students are banging on drums, learning about cultures and enhancing distance learning lessons through a new virtual music program that teaches students musical appreciation in the comfort of their homes. The program, which offers six weekly music lessons to students, is part of a partnership between the school and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Each lesson pairs a Segerstrom musician with a class to mesh music with lessons on world cultures, folklore and history.
Fontana Unified Opens 2021-22 TK/Kindergarten Enrollment
Fontana Unified School District will conclude 2021-22 open enrollment for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten on Friday, April 2. Fontana Unified offers comprehensive early learning opportunities that include coding and robotics, dual language immersion and leadership development. Families may begin the enrollment process online; for more information, visit www.fusd.net/enrollment.
Fontana Unified to Open Applications for Dual-Language Program
Fontana Unified School District will begin accepting applications for 2021-22 enrollment in its Spanish Dual-Language Immersion (DLI) program on Monday, Feb. 1. The program begins in kindergarten and is offered at Redwood Elementary School and Dolores Huerta International Academy. The DLI program fosters bilingualism and biliteracy, sociocultural competency and high levels of academic achievement. For more information, visit www.fusd.net/enrollment.
Fontana Unified to Host Virtual Session on Parenting in the Digital World
Fontana Unified will host a virtual Parent University session from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, led by “Cyber Safety Cop” Clay Cranford, highlighting tips for keeping children safer online and how to manage students’ screen time. FUSD’s Parent University aims to build capacity for parents and empower them as vital partners in the education process. Families may register for the virtual session on the Fontana Unified website.
Whittier Union Business Academy Seniors Join in National Trade Show
Seniors from La Serna High School’s Green and Clean Business Academy participated in an online National Trade Show, where they had the opportunity to present their business and product, Cart Care. From the ground up, and completely through Zoom, students created a business, a product and consumer packages, a website and employee handbook, business plan, and even a radio commercial and sales pitch. Cart Care, a sanitation service, uses three models for effective sanitation: UVC-Sanitation Stations, Cart Tracks and a Canopy Tent. To learn more about Cart Care, visit their website or Instagram account.
Monrovia Unified Anti-Vaping Video Recognized by Los Angeles Dodgers
An anti-vaping video created by Clifton Middle School Tech and Publicity students was recognized by the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, which selected it as one of three finalists in an online video contest held in partnership with the L.A. County Department of Public Health. The vape-free campaign, “Let the Smoke Clear,” encourages teenagers to make educated choices. Clifton students were rewarded for their high achievement by winning a Zoom session with Dodgers catcher and World Series hero Will Smith. Photos are available.
Whittier Union Food and Nutrition Services Expand Meal Distribution
Whittier Union High School District’s Food and Nutrition Services has added a new meal distribution site for drive-through service. St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 11345 Miller Road, Whittier, will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for students ages 18 and younger to pick up meals. As of December 2020, Whittier Union has distributed more than 277,000 meals to students in the community.
Fontana Unified families were greeted with cheerful holiday decorations and festively dressed volunteers, the melodies of classic holiday music and the smell of fresh Christmas trees as they collected gifts during the District’s 23rd annual Fontana Santas toy distribution. The socially distanced drive-thru event, held Dec. 19 at the District Office, bestowed families in need from Fontana Unified’s elementary schools with age-appropriate gifts, supplies for a holiday dinner, stuffed stockings and more. Middle- and high-school families received gifts earlier in the week.
Río Hondo College has welcomed back former Director of Accounting Stephen Kibui as its new vice president of finance and business, charged with overseeing all College financial, business and administrative functions. Kibui, who was hired in October, briefly left the College to serve as vice president of administrative services at Compton College, where he also oversaw financial, business and administrative functions.
