When Kahanu Zimmerman graduated from Río Hondo College Fire Academy’s Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program in 2019, he never dreamed that less than a year later he would be employing his disaster training in the epicenter of a global pandemic. In April, Zimmerman, who is an EMT with a Southern California ambulance service, volunteered to join a FEMA call to action and was deployed to New York City. For two weeks, Zimmerman ran intra-facility transfers between NYC hospitals in the Bronx, transporting patients, most of whom were COVID-19 positive, and helping to ease overcrowded conditions.
One of Whittier Union’s most popular academic programs – the Summer Math Academy at Pioneer High School – will celebrate its 30-year anniversary as an online learning program, continuing its rich tradition of challenging students to complete a year’s worth of advanced math in six weeks. Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the math academy, held in partnership with East Los Angeles College’s Jaime Escalante Program, will be administered online and is open to incoming ninth through 12th grade Whittier Union students only.
Whittier Union Appoints New Principal for La Serna High School
La Serna High School Assistant Principal Griselda Castro will take the helm as the school’s newest principal, bringing 25 years of education experience to the role. Castro will replace longtime La Serna Principal Ann Fitzgerald, who has been appointed assistant superintendent of personnel services effective July 1, 2020.
Fontana Unified Students Advance to National History Day Competition
Summit High School students Leslie Madrigal and Brian Garay and Almeria Middle School student Alyha Madrigal are headed to nationals after being named National History Day California champions. All three students competed in the virtual contest, earning top scores for their exhibits in the senior and junior divisions, respectively. They will compete in the National History Day contest, held virtually from Sunday, June 14 to Saturday, June 20. This year, four FUSD students qualified for the state competition after their success at the San Bernardino County History Day.
El Monte City Maintenance Crews Keep Campuses Tidy during Dismissal
Community members are noticing how El Monte City School District campuses – despite the absence of students during the extended dismissal – continue to beautify their neighborhoods with well-groomed fields, tidy exteriors and clean facilities. While students learn remotely, District maintenance crews have jumped at the chance to intensify their cleaning, groundskeeping and repair work often delayed until summer. The team also is assisting with grab-and-go meal distribution and even delivering meals to select students whose medical challenges make it difficult for them to pick up meals.
• Fontana Unified Senior Wins State Contest for Mental Health PSA
Summit High School senior Nicole Quinonez-Frias’ raw and emotional approach to highlighting cultural stigmas around depression and suicide, captured in a 60-second film, has earned statewide recognition as a category winner in the Directing Change Program and Film Contest. Quinonez-Frias’ film, titled “Our Story,” captured first place statewide in the Through the Lens of Culture – Suicide Prevention category, earning her a $1,000 prize. She is the first Summit High TV Production student to win an event in the competition. The Directing Change Program and Film Contest is part of Each Mind Matters: California’s Mental Health Movement. The program offers students an opportunity to lend their perspective to the movement by creating PSAs about suicide prevention and mental health, which are used to support awareness, education and advocacy efforts. Quinonez-Frias plans to attend UC Riverside in the fall.
Whittier Union Escalante Math Academy to Celebrate 30-year Anniversary
Pioneer High School’s Summer Math Academy, in partnership with East Los Angeles College’s Escalante Program, will celebrate its 30-year anniversary as a six-week distance learning program, continuing a tradition that allows students to complete an entire schoolyear’s worth of advanced math curriculum in one summer session and earn high school credits if they score a “B” grade or better. The program will run June 15 to July 28, with classes held from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. Classes will be conducted via Zoom videoconferencing. Online registration is open until May 20.
District Caravan Greets Baldwin Park Unified Scholarship Winners
Baldwin Park Unified Class of 2020 student leaders gave shouts of joy and shed a few tears as a District caravan of well-wishers equipped with balloons and flowers traveled through the city on May 15 to personally deliver news that they had received scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000. Wearing masks and practicing social distancing, District leaders surprised students at their homes, placing decorations and certificates on the lawns and porches of the recipients. Scholarships were provided by the Baldwin Park Organization of Supervisors and Administrators, Baldwin Park Education Association, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and the Ramona Burnham Foundation.
Fontana Unified Senior Earns President’s Award, Scholarship
A.B. Miller High School senior Claudia Villegas Rios has been named a Cal State San Bernardino President's Academic Excellence Scholars (PAES) award recipient, which recognizes students from San Bernardino County who graduate in the top 1% of their high school class. PAES award recipients receive funding to cover any tuition or fees not covered by state or federal financial aid, a supplemental award to cover first-year housing costs, and automatic admission to the University Honors Program.
Rio Hondo EMT Program Graduate Provides COVID-19 Support in NYC
Kahanu Zimmerman, a 2019 graduate of Rio Hondo College Fire Academy’s EMT program, spent the month of April in New York City providing volunteer support to fellow first responders during the height of the city’s COVID-19 health crisis. For two weeks, Zimmerman ran intra-facility transfers of COVID-19 patients between NYC hospitals, as well as delivering emergency supplies of oxygen, ventilators and PPE. Zimmerman was also part of an EMT team that saved the life of a NY police officer after an auto accident.
