Lynwood Unified has launched an Independent Study Virtual Academy to provide an alternative instructional program for families who need unique support during distance learning and beyond.
Remote instruction has challenged each family differently, and the District’s Virtual Academy will allow students to study at their own pace while still receiving the full curriculum of their peers. Available to K-8 students, the academy will remain open as an option once the District returns to onsite learning.
El Monte Union Student Receives Nomination for Theater Competition
Arroyo High School student Terralyn Contresceri-Ryan pursues her passion in musical theater by actively searching for online opportunities while on distance learning. Just recently, Contresceri-Ryan was accepted as a nominee for Broadway’s Next on Stage, a high school musical theater competition. In Contresceri-Ryan’s video submission she performed “Sonya Alone” from the musical “Natashe, Pierra and the Great Comet of 1812.” Though she did not qualify for Top 30, Contresceri-Ryan’s dedication is a great example of the passion and drive El Monte Union students have.
Whittier Union Auto Shop Program Keeps Students Engaged Interactively
Whittier Union’s California High School auto shop teacher Bill Buttinelli has found a creative approach to keeping students engaged in class, even though the course relies heavily on hands-on training. Buttinelli uses video to provide students with demonstrations of the tasks and subjects they are covering. After Zoom class is completed, he re-records the tasks with a higher-quality camera that shows more details and a closer view of the work being performed. Additionally, Buttinelli created a YouTube channel that is available for his automotive students and is specifically designed to reinforce the tasks students would have performed in-person.
West Covina Unified Elementary Named i-Ready Distinguished School
Orangewood Elementary School has been named a 2020 i-Ready Distinguished School, recognizing the school’s usage of i-Ready and diagnostic data during distance learning in spring 2020. i-Ready provides educators with actionable and intuitive data for students in math and reading, revealing students’ strengths and identifying where they need further assistance. Orangewood educators have used i-Ready to provide more targeted instruction to students and ensure continued success during distance learning.
Buena Park School District provided its community with another means to stay healthy as it administered 247 flu vaccinations to students in pre-school through eighth grade during its first drive-thru flu clinic. The District teamed with the Orange County Health Agency, Kaiser Permanente and Cal State Fullerton’s School of Nursing to deliver vaccinations to families who lined a parking lot and surrounding area of Buena Park Middle School. Students, staff, parents and volunteers wore masks and followed social distancing rules to maintain safety
Río Hondo College will host a Vote Center in the Campus Inn from Friday, Oct. 30 through Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3 as part of a program designed to ensure maximum community access to voting opportunities. Río Hondo College is one of multiple community partners hosting the centers as part of the Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP) program. VSAP enables voters to cast ballots with new, accessible ballot marking devices.
Longtime educator Nicasio “Nick" Salerno has been selected as Fontana Unified’s interim associate superintendent of teaching and learning, bringing 38 years of public education experience to the role. Salerno was selected by Fontana Unified’s Board of Education during a special meeting on Sept. 30. He has spent much of his education career serving high school students in El Monte, working as a teacher, coach, counselor and mentor teacher before stepping into administration as an assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent.
Whittier Union’s Whittier High and Frontier High School students are benefiting from Spirit Awakening, an after-school program that helps students build confidence and raise self-awareness, using creative writing, visual arts, mentorship, service and leadership training. Its facilitating artists and teaching assistants connect with students through empathy and authenticity. The after-school program has adapted to COVID-19 restrictions by replacing in-person lessons with Zoom conferences three days a week. From 20 to 50 Whittier High and five to 10 Frontier High students participate. Click HERE for more information about the program.
Wendy Payan, a Sierra Vista High School history teacher for 16 years, enriches her students’ lives academically and personally – an achievement that has earned her the title of 2020 Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year. Payan was recognized as one of 10 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year during a virtual celebration on Oct. 1, paying tribute to educators who transcended challenges during the pandemic and distance learning.
Martina Rodriguez used to cringe at the thought of schools reopening. She has a daughter currently receiving distance learning in the District, and the idea of them returning to the classroom brought about more anxious questions than answers. The road to return has now become more clear for Rodriguez, who is a member of the District’s COVID-19 Parent Task Force which helps identify potential issues and concerns that come with reopening. The group of parents joins District staff and community partners in visiting school sites twice per month to ensure safety protocols are being followed that will safeguard the health and well-being of the District.
