Río Hondo College Board of Trustees Seeks Applicants to Fill Vacancy
Río Hondo College Board of Trustees is seeking applicants to serve the remaining term of District 1 trustee Norma Edith García, who stepped down from the governing board in July. The board expects to conduct interviews and appoint a new member in September. The new member will serve until García’s term ends in December 2022. Individuals interested in being considered must submit a Declaration of Appointment form and a brief resume by 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3. Information is available at www.riohondo.edu/board-vacancy.
Baldwin Park Unified to Host Online Dual Language Enrollment Meeting
Baldwin Park Unified will present a virtual parent information meeting to learn about the benefits of the District’s award-winning English/Spanish Dual Language Program at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 via WebEx. Families from Foster, Geddes, Margaret Heath, Tracy and Walnut elementary schools are invited to discover the academic culture of biliteracy and bilingualism starting as early as transitional kindergarten.
West Covina Unified Offers Distance Learning Training for Parents
West Covina Unified School District is ensuring all families feel supported during distance learning through a series of in-person parent trainings, which explore how to get connected, navigate the digital learning tools and support students’ online learning. The Aug. 26 sessions discussed Google Classroom and Clever. Additional trainings will be held Wednesday, Sept. 2 – highlighting Google Docs, Slides and more – and Wednesday, Sept. 2 – highlighting SchoolsPLP, Seesaw and other online platforms. Two sessions will be held each day, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., in the multipurpose room at Wescove Elementary, 1010 W. Vine Ave., West Covina. Space is limited; parents must RSVP.
Monrovia Unified Hosts Series of Virtual Back to School Nights
Monrovia Unified School District is hosting virtual back to school nights this year over webinars and Zoom. Bradoaks Elementary Science Academy will host its back to school night beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 and Monrovia High School will follow at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2. The following week, Monroe Elementary and Clifton Middle School, will launch their events. Back to school night gives parents the opportunity to learn more about their children’s school, get to know administrators and teachers, and ask questions regarding distance learning and the academic year.
A.B. Miller High School Spanish teacher Dr. Sybil Acevedo’s teaching career began as a junior in high school when she founded the Culver City High Spanish Club to tutor fellow students, one of several public service projects Acevedo initiated before attending college. More than 30 years later, Acevedo’s leadership and passion for education is being recognized by Assemblymember Eloise Reyes, who has selected Acevedo as a finalist for the 2020-21 District 47 Woman of the Year.
Construction of a new multipurpose building and gymnasium at Fernando R. Ledesma High School is moving forward as El Monte Union plans a host of new Measure HS-funded projects, including a new Community Education Center and synthetic track and fields. Approved by voters in November 2018, Measure HS authorized $190 million in facilities bonds that are funding enhancements of learning facilities at each high school. The first series of bonds was sold in June 2019 for $56.7 million. It is anticipated that the next series will be sold in 2021 or 2022.
Whittier Union launched the 2020-21 school year on Aug. 12, welcoming 10,500 new and returning scholars virtually and providing support to students and families as they transition to the remote learning instructional model – which has seen nearly 100% of students actively participating. District leaders have spent the last several months developing an extensive four-phase strategic learning plan to educate students in a virtual learning environment, providing teachers, staff, parents and students with the trainings, tools and resources to ensure a successful start to the school year.
Seasoned Buena Park School District educator Stephanie Williamson thrives on challenging herself, whether that means learning a new skill or finding more ways to connect and encourage her colleagues and students. After 22 years of service in the Buena Park School District, she was recently named principal of Whitaker School.
Río Hondo College Recognized for COVID-19 Response, Collaboration
Río Hondo College has been recognized by The RP Group Impact & Insights publication for responding in a time of crisis and expertly modeling collaboration that unites a large cross-section of educators. Led by Río Hondo’s student success team, educators identified three main areas of support: academic, basic and community (the ABCs). The ABCs resource plan initiated an increase in technology resources, including an expanded capacity for Zoom and Canvas lectures. Students can access Chromebooks, calculators and hotspots from the library check-out service during the first three weeks of the semester and by appointment after Saturday, Sept. 5. Río Hondo has also launched a virtual welcome center, complete with Zoom rooms and live chats to support students.
Baldwin Park Unified Creates Community Virtual Wellness Center
Baldwin Park Unified launched a virtual Wellness Center for students, staff and parents to provide easy access to a number of mental health and socio-emotional resources for the community, including a Virtual Calming Room. Inspired and adapted from the Sacramento City Unified School District, the Virtual Calming Room is a space for the BPUSD community to learn strategies for processing and managing emotions, as well as activities to de-stress such as yoga, guided meditation and journaling.
