Lynwood High School senior Jaren Johnson had his share of college options. A standout student-athlete with a 4.1 GPA and basketball skill to match, Johnson was always destined to find higher education opportunities for his enormous potential. But for Johnson, who grew up just outside of Lynwood, choosing a school wasn’t just about himself but the community that helped to inspire him. This was a motivating factor when he officially committed to Dartmouth College.
Río Hondo College’s Board of Trustees declared a state of emergency on March 16, providing Superintendent/President Dr. Arturo Reyes with greater flexibility to formulate a response to issues related to COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus. The action was taken during a special 6 p.m. board meeting called specifically to address the issue.
In response to the recent coronavirus pandemic and in consultation with its Board of Trustees, Rio Hondo College is transitioning courses to an online format. Effective March 16 through April 4, as many courses as possible will be moved online to the College’s Canvas instructional management tool. The College will continue to follow its academic calendar, closing for spring break March 21-27.
San Dimas High School seniors got a crash course in money management and financial planning during the school’s annual Career Day on March 4, using the app-based simulation “A Bite of Reality” to mimic real-world budgetary decisions. Students were given occupations, families and a net monthly income, along with a list of debt obligations. They were tasked with paying recurring expenses – such as housing, clothing and entertainment – with a goal of retaining a positive bank balance by the end of the exercise.
Career Technical Educator (CTE) Shelley Andros works tirelessly to encourage her students to reach their “aha” moment when they revel in achieving a hard-earned goal during coding classes, robotics sessions or even in the school’s garden. Andros’ gumption and inspiring spirit at Buena Park Junior High earned her a spot of the 2020 Top 10 Educators of Orange County list by Parenting OC. She was also named Buena Park School District’s Teacher of the year.
El Monte City School District students exhibited their expertise in building robotics, coding in computer languages and editing with video production software to parents and community members during the District’s second annual Tech Fair. The “Magic of Technology” themed showcase on Feb. 27 featured information booths from each school, outlining how the District is using technology to boost student achievement.
Baldwin Park Unified Aspiring Chefs Advance to C-CAP Culinary Finals
Two Baldwin Park Unified student chefs are one step closer to earning a scholarship to an elite culinary school after advancing to the Careers Through Culinary Arts (C-CAP) Los Angeles cooking competition finals, to be held in April. Sierra Vista High School senior Angela Chandara and Baldwin Park High School senior Simon Luong are among 35 L.A. and Ventura county student finalists whose culinary expertise wowed the judges during a Feb. 7 preliminary competition. By advancing to the finals, Chandara and Luong have qualified for C-CAP scholarships.
El Monte City School District Science Olympiad Wins Big at Regionals
Gidley School’s Science Olympiad team won seven medals and placed sixth overall at the 2020 Los Angeles Regional Tournament, earning a spot at the Science Olympiad State Tournament in April. The Science Olympiad team earned awards by completing tasks such as investigating viral outbreaks, using math to measure density levels and answering questions about genetics.
Buena Park School District Amazes with ‘Jungle Book’ Performance
Corey School students wowed parents and community members when they transformed themselves into panthers, elephants, monkeys and other inhabitants of the jungles of India during their musical theater performances of “The Jungle Book Kids.” The play, which ran from Feb. 25-27, featured songs from the 1967 Disney animated film “The Jungle Book” about a boy named Mowgli who is beset by the tiger Shere Khan.
West Covina Unified Opens Enrollment for New Performing Arts Academy
West Covina High School is accepting applications from artistically inclined incoming freshmen for its Performing Arts Academy, launching in fall 2020. The Academy will provide a rigorous fine arts education in a free, public school setting, welcoming a cohort of 50 freshmen. Students from Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties are eligible to apply; applications are available online.
