Whittier Union High School District Class of 2020 graduates who overcame adversity to become campus leaders and enroll in college or trade school received $11,500 in combined scholarships from the Whittier Host Lions Club and the Credit Union of Southern California, which celebrated the 23 awardees during socially distanced ceremonies at their homes and schools. The scholarships – worth $500 each – are given to graduating seniors who demonstrate distinguished commitment, determination and unselfish service to others while balancing schoolwork with personal challenges to ensure a successful path toward college and career.
Baldwin Park Unified Marks September as Attendance Awareness Month
Baldwin Park Unified’s Board of Education has designated September as Attendance Awareness Month for the second consecutive year. To ensure high achievement for all learners, it is imperative that students attend their classes every day. Any families or students in need of assistance related to distance learning, including District devices, technology or personal support, are encouraged to reach out to their respective schools.
Río Hondo College will launch an intensive program to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies for students, including scientific research thanks to a $2.8 million, five-year Department of Education Title V grant. The grant will fund Enlace, a pilot program that will provide services to STEM students with a focus on low-income, first-generation, Hispanic students. More than 56% of Río Hondo students are high-need, low-income, first-generation students. More than 80.25% are Hispanic.
El Monte High School art teacher Patrice Cooley has a flair for connecting with her students, encouraging beginning and experienced artists alike to bring a unique voice and passion to their art. For her exceptional ability to empower students, set standards for quality education and achieve the highest level of professionalism in art education, Cooley has been recognized as the California Art Education Association (CAEA) 2020 Outstanding Visual Art Educator of the Year. She will be honored at CAEA’s virtual state conference in November and will represent California at the 2021 National Art Education Association convention.
Cheered on by city officials and District administrators, West Covina Unified Board of Education members on Sept. 8 cut a ribbon strung across the gates to Edgewood IB Schools, welcoming the community to tour the new Edgewood Event Center. The Event Center features a 350-seat auditorium and freestanding seats for District and school stage events and meetings, and houses Edgewood IB Schools’ career technical education programs, offering studios and classrooms for gaming design, video production, International Baccalaureate dance, and theater production.
Monrovia Unified Hosts Virtual 2020-21 State of the Schools Address
Monrovia Unified School District hosted its 2020-21 State of the Schools Address virtually on Facebook and YouTube on Oct. 21. The virtual event, presented by the District’s Board of Education, featured an overview of the District’s successes during the 2019-20 academic year, the transition to a digital environment and distance learning, steps taken to navigate the pandemic, finances and the District’s plans for future instruction.
West Covina Unified high school athletes dove into a new Olympic-size pool on Sept. 22 to celebrate the completion of a state-of-the-art sports complex as West Covina Unified Board of Education members, administrators and community leaders cheered. The latest of the District’s Measure ES-funded projects hosts an Olympic-size swimming pool, thermal shade structures that will reduce pool heating costs and bleachers that can accommodate 350 people. The complex also includes four locker rooms, two digital scoreboards capable of video playback, a high-quality sound system, and updated basketball courts.
Sen. Rubio to Donate 250 Backpacks to Baldwin Park Unified K-6 Students
Baldwin Park Unified elementary school students will receive new backpacks and school supplies from Sen. Susan Rubio during a drive-through distribution even from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Sierra Vista High School, 3600 N. Frazier St., Baldwin Park. The donations will provide 250 backpacks to students in kindergarten through sixth grade from all BPUSD K-6 schools. Students receiving backpacks were identified by the District, with parents notified by email and direct mail of the date, time, and location of the distribution.
Baldwin Park Unified is joining the nation in recognizing Sept. 6 through Sept. 12 as National Suicide Prevention Week to help erase stigmas associated with mental health and raise awareness about suicide prevention. BPUSD built into its distance learning model a designated time on Wednesdays for teachers and students to engage with social-emotional learning, and school psychologists and counselors are checking in with students to provide academic, social and emotional support.
Río Hondo College this fall kicked off a Student Success Teams initiative to assist students as they pursue their academic goals, including access to online Career Coach and Programs of Study sites. The Career Coach offers a self-paced personal survey to help students make choices about academic and career choices that align with their strengths and interests. The Programs of Study site provides information about the array of certificates and degrees offered at Río Hondo. The Student Success Teams are trained to support students in making decisions about class schedules, financial aid, transfer applications, work readiness and counseling support.
