Río Hondo College leaders on Aug. 14 emphasized the need to show care and compassion to students struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while delivering online instruction in fall 2020-21. The message was the core focus of FLEX Day, an annual training program held the day before classes began for fall semester. Faculty and staff leaders praised College employees for their swift and effective shift to distance instruction in spring 2020 but said the new year will require a redoubled focus on the needs of students.
For the second consecutive year, Jurupa Hills High School has been recognized by the California Department of Education’s Student Aid Commission Race to Submit campaign as one of the top 24 schools in the state with the highest financial aid application completion rates. According to the 2020-21 Race to Submit Dashboard, Jurupa Hills scored a completion rate of 90.41%, with 424 of 469 Class of 2020 graduates completing either a FAFSA or California Dream Act application and submitting a GPA verification form. Additionally, more than half of Jurupa Hills High School graduates have been awarded a Cal Grant.
Fontana Unified Prepares for 2020-21 Year, Continues Device Distribution
Fontana Unified School District is preparing students for a successful start to the 2020-21 year, which begins Monday, Aug. 24 in online distance learning, with the continued distribution of laptops to students from transitional kindergarten to 12th grade. During a video interview between Mayor Acquanetta Warren and FUSD Superintendent Randal Bassett, Fontana Unified received a $25,000 donation from the National Real Estate Development Association's Inland Empire chapter. The donation will help offset the costs of providing the District’s 36,000 students with laptops.
Fontana Unified Extends Summer Meal Service to Aug. 19
Fontana Unified School District will extend its free weekly summer meal service through Wednesday, Aug. 19, providing meals to children ages 18 and under. Meals are available for pickup from 9 to 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday at 11 schools. For more information, including pickup locations, visit www.fusd.net.
Monrovia Unified Community to Participate in ‘Chalk the Walk’
Monrovia Unified School District families will participate in ‘Chalk the Walk,’ a community effort that is meant to get students excited for their return to school on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The District’s Parent Teacher Association is asking the community to help mark the non-traditional first day of school by chalking encouraging messages on sidewalks around Monrovia. The community effort will take place Sunday, Aug. 16 through Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Mt. SAC Early College Academy to Welcome its Third Freshman Class
Mt. SAC Early College Academy will welcome its third freshman class on Monday, Aug. 17, inviting a new group of students to tackle the rigors of West Covina Unified’s flagship dual-enrollment high school. The Academy will expand to serve grades nine through 11 in 2020-21, providing students the opportunity to earn up to two years of college credit and work toward an Associate of Arts degree as they pursue their high school diploma. Students may still apply for 2020-21 enrollment at the Academy, where college courses, books and materials are provided at no cost. West Covina Unified schools, including the Academy, will begin the school year with state-mandated distance learning.
Baldwin Park Unified Prepares to Welcome Students Online for Fall 2020
Baldwin Park Unified will welcome back students on Monday, August 17 with an enhanced distance learning program, complete with online academic support groups and emotional and mental wellness check-ins. BPUSD’s task force – made up of administrators, educators and District leaders – developed instructional support systems to guide students and parents. Schools hosted registration and drive-thru distribution days to ensure all students are equipped with the necessary materials for distance learning.
Río Hondo College’s Roadrunner Hand Crew 77 has been activated for the second time this summer by the U.S. Forest Service, deployed first to fight the Texas Fire and then to assist efforts against the rapidly expanding Lake Fire, both in the Angeles National Forest. The crew began its activation on Aug. 5. It was previously activated to backfill behind crews in June. The crew, created by the College’s Wildland Fire Academy, is staffed by a team of graduates from recent cadet classes, including Victor Apodaca, Nicholas Casimiro, Nicolas Demonte, Evan Espinoza, Yulfiano Gerwynaldo, Daniel Ingelmo, Jesse Jimenez, Marcus Manty Ortiz, Ilunga Mulonga, Diego Rodriguez, Alan Perez, Eduardo Reyes, Hector Samayoa and Andrew Salinas.
Rosemead High School junior Xitlalic Palacios was such a talkative child growing up that her parents nicknamed her “perquito,” the Spanish word for parrot. Spurred on by her parent’s encouragement, Palacios has emerged as a strong public speaker, campus leader and engaged students. Palacios, a first-generation college-goer, will use her leadership qualities to advocate for El Monte Union students after being sworn in as Student Trustee by the District Board of Trustees during a virtual board meeting on Aug. 5. Palacios is the first junior to ever serve on the Board.
Palacios, a first-generation college-goer, will use her leadership qualities to advocate for El Monte Union students after being sworn in as Student Trustee by the District Board of Trustees during a virtual board meeting on Aug. 5. Palacios is the first junior to ever serve on the Board.
Mt. SAC Early College Academy will welcome its third freshman class on Aug. 17, inviting a new group of students to tackle the rigors of West Covina Unified’s flagship dual-enrollment high school. The Academy will expand to serve grades 9-11 in 2020-21, providing students the opportunity to earn up to two years of college credit and work toward an Associate of Arts degree as they pursue their high school diploma. Students may still apply for 2020-21 enrollment at the Academy, where college courses, books and materials are provided at no cost.
