Río Hondo College (RHC) has taken a significant step in enhancing campus safety by appointing local leader and law enforcement veteran Todd Rogers as the first police chief of its newly established Campus Police and Safety Department, the newest police agency in Los Angeles County. The RHC Campus Police and Safety Department has operated under an interim police chief since its founding in July 2023. The Río Hondo Community College District (RHCCD) Board of Trustees formed the department as part of the college’s commitment to fostering a safe, secure and welcoming learning environment. Chief Rogers, whose hiring was approved at the board’s Aug. 14 meeting, will be officially sworn in at the board meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Over the last three decades, South El Monte High School (SEMHS) Athletic Director Sonia Ayala has been instrumental in shaping the school’s 17 competitive sports teams while also committing herself to the physical wellness of her students as a freshman physical education (PE) teacher. In recognition of her dedication to student success in her hybrid role at SEMHS, Ayala was named the District’s 2024-25 Teacher of the Year. She received the award at the Oct. 2 Board meeting and was also honored as a 2024 Educator of Distinction by 56th District Assemblymember Lisa Calderon.
When San Dimas High School students pass the gym on their way to class, they are greeted by a wall of fame highlighting some of the greatest athletes to ever wear a Saints uniform. Bookended by sibling stars Jocilyn and Jeremy Veal, who anchored the great San Dimas girls and boys basketball teams of the 1990s, the images seek to inspire and instill school pride.
At Pioneer High School (PHS), the images greet students and staff as they navigate the hallways on their way to class – portraits of Bob Marley and Emiliano Zapata, a mountainside paradise, an Aztec calendar, the penetrating eye from George Orwell’s “1984” – images that beautify the campus and provide a nurturing environment for learning. The artwork is the product of Pioneer High Class of 2012 graduate Domingo Perez, whose meticulous craftsmanship and collages have become a daily source of inspiration and Titan pride. Perez’s sublime portraits and artistic flourishes adorn nearly a dozen classroom doors at Pioneer, part of an ongoing project that began when Perez was still a PHS student painting his friend’s backpacks for fun.
The girls flag football teams at Bonita and San Dimas high schools will engage in a beloved District tradition as they face off for the first time during the inaugural season of CIF Southern Section flag football for the “Smudge Crown” rivalry game. With the undefeated Bonita squad setting its sights on a perfect record in its inaugural season, San Dimas will look to play spoiler. The game – rescheduled due to the Bridge Fire in September – will also feature an unusual, head-to-head family rivalry with a much-anticipated matchup between sisters Ashley and Breanna Sandmark, who will face off on opposite sides of the field for the very first time. Ashley and Breanna, both in their senior years and co-captains of their teams, attend San Dimas High and Bonita High, respectively.
The El Monte Union High School District and Rosemead High School community will come together for a carnival to kick off the school's 75th anniversary celebration with "Panther Palooza." The event will include a senior night and tailgate, student performances, games, a DJ, photo booth, food, and music. Hosted by Rosemead High's Associated Student Body and the Class of 2025, the Panther Palooza will feature a tailgate for seniors as they introduce the Rosemead High School football team before its game against Mountain View High School at 7 p.m. on the Panthers' field.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) and the South El Monte High School (SEMHS) community celebrated the school’s revamped landscaping, outdoor seating areas, upgraded classrooms, a new library, and a state-of-the-art administration building during a ribbon cutting ceremony, which marked a major milestone in the SEMHS Modernization Project, on Sept. 26. The event featured heartfelt speeches from EMUHSD Board of Trustees President Ricardo Padilla, Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga, SEMHS Principal Dr. Jorge Morales, and Associated Student Body President Gabriela Garcia.
Delta College in University City, MI, is championing student well-being both in and out of the classroom through the institutionalization of Caring Campus strategies. With a focus on fostering a sense of belonging, the college has seen improvements in enrollment, retention, and completion rates, underscoring its commitment to student success.
Thirty-one Fontana Unified schools secured prestigious California Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Coalition Awards for their dedication to creating and maintaining supportive and inclusive cultures that foster student success during the 2023-24 school year. This marks the fourth year in a row FUSD has set a District record for total and platinum PBIS awards, with 11 schools securing the highest honor from PBIS, for its commitment to promoting positive behaviors through the comprehensive PBIS framework. All 31 FUSD schools will be honored at the 2024 California PBIS Coalition Conference from Wednesday, Oct. 9 to Friday, Oct. 11 in Sacramento.
