Forty Ekstrand Elementary School students walked around campus with an extra spring in their step after receiving a surprise gift of brand-new shoes from Bonita Unified Board of Education President Greg Palatto and Ekstrand Principal Gerard Granade on Oct. 21. The donation, made possible by Shoes That Fit and the San Dimas Masonic Lodge, brought smiles and excitement as students eagerly tried on their new footwear, marveling at the size, color, and brand options tailored for them. Each year, the San Dimas Masonic Lodge chooses a local charity to sponsor; in support of Shoes That Fit, members raised more than $1,200 to fund the donation of shoes for Ekstrand students in need, who were identified by school staff.
In an effort to promote cultural awareness and understanding, Fontana Unified School District’s Board of Education, during its Oct. 2 meeting, unanimously approved making a standalone, yearlong ethnic studies course a graduation requirement for high school students beginning with the Class of 2028-29. In 2021, California became the first state to require all students to pass a semester-long ethnic studies course to earn a high school diploma starting with the Class of 2029-30. Fontana Unified went above and beyond the state’s directive to make its ethnic studies requirement a standalone, yearlong course starting with next year’s freshmen class.
The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, recently elected Río Hondo College (RHC) Board of Trustee Oscar Valladares as Secretary-Treasurer. ACCT represents more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who govern more than 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the United States and beyond. As a Dreamer and product of the community college system, Valladares emphasized the importance of his lived experience and how that shapes his work.
Recognizing the valuable contributions of strong community partnerships that support Bonita Unified staff, students, and families, Superintendent Matt Wien presented two local volunteers with the Bonita Purpose Award – the District’s highest honor – during the Oct. 9 Board of Education meeting. Wien presented the award to Project Boon executive director and co-founder Chris Suchanek, as well as Bonita Council PTA vice-president Vicky Maliszewski.
Hinds Community College, the largest community college in Mississippi, has embraced Caring Campus as part of its commitment to fostering meaningful relationships between students, faculty, and staff, promoting personal connections, and reinforcing its core values. Caring Campus helps students get the support they need to overcome challenges by engaging staff and faculty with the tools and commitments needed to establish a culture of care, ensuring all students feel valued, seen, and supported from the moment they step on campus. Hinds College President Dr. Stephen Vacik introduced Caring Campus to the college after witnessing its success at his previous institution, Maysville Community and Technical College.
When Chaparral-Vista High School culinary students began the semester, they thought they would simply be taking notes and honing their basic skills before moving on to preparing restaurant-quality dishes as the year progressed. What they did not know was that they would immediately be assigned to create a pot of chili that could compete with the best recipes in the District. The students were up to the task and the Chaparral-Vista culinary program once again shocked judges, contestants, and chili lovers alike by winning first-place in the third annual Bonita PTA Council Chili Cook-Off, held in September. Chaparral-Vista students also won the inaugural cook-off in 2022, and have now earned their second “golden ladle” to place on their culinary Wall of Champions.
Hacienda La Puente Unified celebrated the grand opening of Lassalette Elementary School’s new inclusive playground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 18, bringing together HLPUSD administrators and the Trojan community to mark this space where Lassalette students of all abilities can play together. The project, financed by the District’s general fund, was designed to enrich the playground experience for all students with the new space featuring a range of accessible equipment tailored to individuals with physical disabilities. The welcoming outdoor space—designed by the District’s Executive Director of Special Education, Dr. Mayra Helguera—offers a variety of play options, including traditional and wheelchair-accessible swings, slides, sensory play areas, and an inclusive merry-go-round.
Bonita Unified School District students achieved record-setting scores on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) in 2023-24, reflecting the District’s success in fully overcoming the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic performance. According to recently released CAASPP results for spring 2024, 72.5% of Bonita Unified students met or exceeded standards in English language arts (ELA) and 60.5% met or exceeded standards in math, marking an all-time high in both subjects for the District. The results indicate a slight increase over 2022-23 scores, which already marked significant progress in mitigating learning loss related to the pandemic.
Whittier Union High School District students reached new academic heights on the 2023-24 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) test, reflecting the District’s commitment to student success and college and career readiness. The CAASPP is a statewide test that evaluates student proficiency in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science. Whittier Union 11th graders achieved record-high District scores across the board, with 65% meeting or exceeding standards in ELA, 37% in math, and 39% in science. These results significantly surpassed state averages of 56%, 28%, and 32%, respectively. Additionally, the scores represent continued growth from 2022-23, when the District achieved 62% in ELA and 31% in math.
The California Reading Coalition (CRC) has ranked Covina-Valley Unified School District sixth in California and fourth in Los Angeles County in its California Reading Report Card, underscoring the District’s commitment to fostering early literacy for long-term academic success. The CRC’s Reading Report Card identifies and highlights California school districts that successfully teach reading to third graders, particularly to economically disadvantaged Hispanic/Latino students. Districts are ranked by the percent of these students who meet or exceed grade level for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) third-grade English Language Arts test.
