Local residents needing help filing their tax returns have received IRS-certified help from Bonita High School accounting students free of cost for more than 20 years, thanks to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Through the guidance of Bonita High accounting teacher Madhu Sekhri, who is a Certified Public Accountant, students immerse themselves in the fundamentals and complexities of tax law, with Sekhri training them in basic and advanced skills using software, testing guidelines, and tests provided by the IRS under the VITA program. Bonita High is the only high school in Southern California that provides the service to its students and local residents.
A.B. Miller High School junior Setsianna Kraynak showcases an unrelenting drive and dedication in everything she does, from competing on the Rebels’ girls wrestling and basketball teams to her work in the classroom. She is regarded as one of A.B. Miller’s top scholars with a 4.0 GPA, and is standout performer both on the mat and the court, where she has earned a combined total of six All-Mountain Valley League honors in wrestling and basketball.
Frontier High School has been named one of California's 2024 Model Continuation High Schools by the California Department of Education (CDE), highlighting the school for excelling in providing innovative programs addressing the academic and socioemotional needs of its students. Frontier High’s academic program offers students instruction designed to match their needs, learning style, and skill level. The school’s smaller class sizes and individualized learning experiences allow students to make up missing credits. The school also offers robust support for social-emotional and student well-being, a diverse range of extracurricular activities, and the chance for students to concurrently complete college courses. Frontier was one of 31 schools recognized by the CDE for their exceptional commitment to providing comprehensive services to at-promise youth.
Bonita Unified Principal Named New Sr. Director of Student Services
Oak Mesa Elementary School Principal Steven Patterson has been named Bonita Unified’s new Senior Director of Student Services. The promotion was announced at the District’s March 6 Board meeting. Patterson has 27 years of experience as a math teacher and administrator, with the last 10 years at Bonita Unified, and served as an assistant principal at Ramona Middle School prior to leading Oak Mesa. Patterson is married with three children, including one son who is a Bonita High School graduate, and twin sons who are currently sophomores at Bonita High. His wife, Bobbi, is an elementary school teacher in a neighboring school district. Patterson will begin his new position on July 1.
Glen A. Wilson High School has been named a 2024 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education (CDE), recognizing the Hacienda La Puente Unified school for demonstrating exceptional student performance and achieving accelerated academic growth for one or more historically underserved student groups. Glen A. Wilson High is one of just 293 secondary schools honored in 2024. To be selected, the CDE used multiple measures to identify eligible schools based on their performance on the state indicators specified in the 2023 California School Dashboard.
Longtime Whittier resident Yoshio Nakamura discovered his love of art while stationed in Italy as a member of the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. Immersing himself in the works of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Raphael, Nakamura began to lay the foundation for a lifelong career as an artist and teacher – a career that got its start when Nakamura was hired as a teacher at Whittier High School in 1952. Acknowledging Nakamura’s contributions as a teacher and his commitment to art education, the Whittier Union Board of Trustees voted unanimously on March 12 to dedicate the Whittier High School Fine Arts building in his honor. This honor celebrates the man who shook off the adversity of being interned with his family in WWII to become a highly decorated war hero and beloved teacher and administrator at Whittier High and, later, as Río Hondo College’s first art professor.
The Río Hondo College Foundation will host “Roadrunner Madness,” a faculty vs. administration volleyball match as part of a fundraising event to support student scholarships. The event is open to the public, with tickets available for purchase online now for $15. Individuals can contribute to support the event and Río Hondo College’s students, regardless of their ability to attend, by donating here.
he Río Hondo College Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Division will host its second annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Festival for local elementary, middle and high school students. The free community event will allow families to conduct hands-on experiments orchestrated by Río Hondo College students, faculty and community partners in chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, arts and more. Entry and parking for the three-hour event are complimentary, but registrations are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis at this link. Participant students will get prizes for finishing STEAM activities along with free raffle prizes for a few lucky winners.
Lynwood Unified School District’s Vista High School is among 31 schools in the state recognized as a 2024 Model Continuation High School by the California Department of Education for fostering a supportive learning environment for at-promise youth and providing exemplary instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, and support services to ensure personal and academic success. Vista High School serves students in the District who require a flexible schedule due to jobs, family needs or other life circumstances. The school’s efforts to promote academic and social success for every student contributed to Vista’s recognition as a Model Continuation High School.
Cesar Chavez Middle School has earned the coveted distinction of being named a 2024 School to Watch by the California Department of Education and California League of Educators (CLE) for its exemplary performance in fostering a positive campus culture and providing an enriching curriculum that boosts student engagement and success. Cesar Chavez Middle School (CCMS) is the second Lynwood Unified School District campus to become a School to Watch, joining Hosler Middle School, which earned the distinction in 2023. District and CCMS leaders will accept the award at the CLE 2024 Annual Conference on Friday, March 8.
