More than 400 students in Baldwin Park Unified’s violin and orchestra programs are honing their musical skills and practicing compositions thanks to the dedication of District orchestra teachers Jacob Boyd, Joshua Chan, Paul Grant and Justin Wong. Through a collaborative effort, BPUSD’s music department will create a virtual performance to celebrate the winter holidays, featuring elementary, middle and high school students
About 100 Whittier-area families in need received an outpouring of holiday cheer complete with Thanksgiving dinner fixings and a $25 Stater Bros. gift card at a Turkey Drive held at Pioneer High School on Nov. 15. The event was conceived by Helping Homeless Veterans-LA President and founder Cynthia Perry-Lopez and her husband, John Lopez, who is Pioneer’s campus operations supervisor. Families began lining up for the Turkey Drive at 4 a.m. Each car received a grocery bag filled with boxes of stuffing and mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, gravy and the gift card.
Fontana Unified has kicked off its 23rd annual Fontana Santas Toy Drive, which collects gifts and donations to provide holidays gifts to FUSD students in need. The annual toy drive is a joint effort by Fontana Unified, Fontana School Police, Fontana Teachers Association, United Steelworkers Local 8599, Fontana Foundation of Hope, Fontana School Police Officers Association and Fontana Management Association. Donations may be dropped off at the Fontana School Police Department, 9680 Citrus Ave., Building 9, Fontana.
Four Fontana High School seniors, known for their excellence in the classroom and leadership on campus, have been named QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship finalists. Victor Campos, Vanessa Gutierrez, Fatima Kamara and Ernesto Sanchez are among nearly 7,000 students across the United States in consideration for early admission and four-year full scholarships if matched with a participating university.
Beatty Middle School will provide 20 students with backpacks, physical education clothes, notebooks and writing utensils thanks to a $2,000 donation from the Orange County Korean American Lions Club (OCKALC). Members of the OCKALC were welcomed to the campus, where Principal Erik Bagger led a tour of the school’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lab, offices and classrooms. Bagger said the money will go a long way to make students feel at home at Beatty. Photos are available.
Whittier Union California High School senior George Felton was recognized with an Award of Merit from the Whittier Union Board of Trustees on Nov. 10 for his unwavering commitment to academics and athletics. Felton is known on campus for his big heart and positive attitude, a dedicated student who never backs down from a challenge. Felton, who has been in the California foster care system since he was 11 years old, has gone to great lengths to remain at Cal High. Felton has a 3.45 GPA and has been a member of the Cal High football team for four years. After graduation, Felton wants to study criminology and become a police officer.
scholarship to college after being named QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship finalists. David Aguilar, Marco Garcia, and Sonia Heyer are among nearly 7,000 students chosen as finalists, joining two seniors from Jurupa Hills High School in consideration for early admission and four-year scholarships to participating universities. Aguilar, Garcia and Heyer are leaders on campus, engaging in activities like Academic Decathlon, AVID, marching band and orchestra, National Honor Society and more. David Aguilar, Marco Garcia and Sonia Heyer are among nearly 7,000 students across the United States chosen as finalists, including two seniors from Jurupa Hills High School. Finalists are selected from a pool of more 18,000 students who apply to participating universities for free and are considered for early admission and a four-year full scholarship.
Bedecked in Titan white, blue and orange, Jurupa Hills High School senior Sophia Guevara brought her childhood dream to life with a flourish of a pen, signing her letter of intent for Cal State Fullerton as family cheered her on during a Nov. 11 ceremony. Guevara, who received a full athletic scholarship, will play catcher for the Titans softball team as she pursues a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.
Río Hondo College served 222 individuals who cast their ballots at its Whittier hilltop Vote Center from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, as well as 200 voters who dropped off absentee ballots. The Vote Center was one of 11 in the community hosted as part of the Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP) program. VSAP enables voters to cast ballots with new, accessible ballot marking devices.
Geddes and Margaret Heath elementary school students are building on their English language skills through an academic curriculum that infuses dance, visual arts, music and theater – made possible through a partnership between Teaching English Learners through the Arts and the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Now in its third year at BPUSD, the five-year pilot program aims to create an effective and equitable arts-based education that can be used as a template for schools across the country.
