Fontana Unified School District will provide high-speed internet access for its more than 36,000 students – at home and in their community – by creating the nation’s first Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) private network of its scale dedicated to education. The Board of Education on April 15 approved a five-year initiative, in partnership with Crown Castle Fiber LLC, to establish a private cellular network that students can access on District-issued devices.
Southridge Tech Middle School has been named a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP), marking a milestone in the District’s efforts to establish an IB Continuum. As a candidate school – a status achieved ahead of the District’s schedule – Southridge Tech will begin to develop its MYP units of study and pursue authorization as an IB World School. MYP provides a rigorous, inquiry-led framework of learning that fosters creative and critical thinking.
Arroyo High School senior Yvette Hernandez has been recognized as a 2020 Dell Scholar by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. She is one of just 500 students across the country to be selected for the coveted $20,000 scholarship. Hernandez, a first-generation college-goer with a 3.84 GPA, is one of just 260 Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) students to receive the Dell Scholarship. Hernandez credits AVID for providing the support and resources to help her navigate the scholarship application process.
El Monte Union high schools have been listed among the top-performing public high schools in the state and the nation, according to the 2020 Best High Schools rankings by U.S. News and World Report. Arroyo, El Monte, Mountain View, Rosemead and South El Monte High Schools ranked in the top 30% or higher of high schools in the nation, as well as earning high rankings among approximately 2,600 high schools in California.
Whittier Union’s five comprehensive high schools have been listed among the top-performing public high schools in the state and the nation, according to the 2020 Best High Schools rankings by U.S. News and World Report. California, La Serna, Pioneer, Santa Fe and Whittier high schools ranked in the top 25% or higher of high schools in the nation, in addition to earning high rankings among approximately 2,600 high schools in the state.
Whittier High School engineering teacher Steve Swanson is bringing a little comfort to the medical workers at PIH Health Whittier as they support the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using 3D printers, Swanson, who is in his fifth year teaching at Whittier High, created over 300 ear guards for surgical masks and donated them to the hospital’s health care professionals this month.
Emery School third-grade teacher Amy Biesiada is using her love of technology to not only boost excellence in her students during at-home learning sessions, but also to assist her Buena Park School District colleagues. Biesiada said her expertise in apps like ParentSquare and Seesaw create a smooth transition to online learning – picking up right where she left off in her classroom. Both programs are online communication tools. ParentSquare is used for parent communication and Seesaw is a digital portfolio of students work, which can be shared with teachers.
The Río Hondo College Foundation is seeking immediate community support to help Río Hondo students during this unprecedented health crisis. The Foundation is seeking donations for the Río Cares Student Relief Fund, established to assist students facing extraordinary challenges with housing, food scarcity, digital connections and stress as they juggle family, work and school during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.
West Covina Unified’s IB Schools Hold Virtual Shakespeare Festival
Amid school closures prompted by COVID-19, Edgewood International Baccalaureate Schools’ National English Honor Society is transforming its annual Shakespeare Festival into a virtual event. The event, which aims to immerse students in Shakespeare’s world, typically features theatrical performances, and Renaissance attire. Students are sharing Shakespearean performances daily on the page’s Instagram stories.
Inglewood Unified School District Distributes Laptops to Students in Need
Inglewood Unified School District has started distributing laptops to students who are in need, ensuring they have the tools and resources they need to continue their studies while participating in distance learning. To date, the District has distributed over 2,000 laptops to students.
