Río Hondo College leaders on Thursday declared their support for a Supreme Court ruling that has upheld President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order that offers protections against deportation for children brought to America. President Trump has been fighting since 2017 to end the program, which shields some 700,000 young immigrants known as “Dreamers” and allows them to work. More than 200,000 of those immigrants attend U.S. colleges and some 70,000 undocumented students attend the California Community Colleges system.
Lynwood Unified School District will continue providing distance learning for students through a virtual summer school program that inspires grade-level mastery while promoting academic and creative development for future success. The summer program will begin on June 22 for both elementary and secondary students who will receive virtual instruction that emphasizes essential curriculum and digital skills. Parents can contact their child’s school site to enroll.
Baldwin Park Unified honored the Class of 2020 – lauded for its academic achievement and resilient spirit – with socially distanced celebrations that culminated an unconventional school year. Nearly 850 graduates from Baldwin Park, North Park Continuation and Sierra Vista High Schools were celebrated through senior recognition days, drive-thru ceremonies, social media shout-outs and virtual celebrations, ensuring seniors received a memorable send-off while adhering to public health guidelines.
Río Hondo College has been named a 2020 Best Online Community College of California by Guide to Online Schools, a free resource aimed toward helping students achieve optimal online learning. Río Hondo joins 20 other community colleges throughout the state to receive the honor.
El Monte City School District Launches Virtual Summer School Programs
El Monte City School District will launch two virtual summer school programs in June in addition to offering a slate of self-guided programs for students. An Accelerated Math Academy for incoming seventh- and eighth-graders will be held in partnership with Río Hondo College from Monday, June 22 through Friday, July 24. The District’s 2020 Summer Academy at Home will run from Monday, June 29 through Friday, July 17 with classes held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Information on both programs as well as the self-guided activities is available at emcsd.org.
Río Hondo College’s Board of Trustees on June 10 adopted a resolution affirming its “passionate support” for Black Lives Matter, racial quality, social justice and equity for all and “vigorously opposing” racism, white supremacy and colonialism. The resolution acknowledges that the College’s student body is nearly 90 percent students of color who look to the Board of Trustees to “stand and kneel in solidarity with all whose lives are affected by the effects of racism.”
Bonita Unified School District Board of Education member Diane Koach is retiring at the end of her term in December 2020. The announcement came during the June 10 regular board meeting, where members acknowledged retirees throughout the District. Koach was elected to the Board in November 2007 and has served three terms in office.
Over 60 seniors from Canyon Oaks High School and Mountain Park Independent Study School were cheered on as they walked the stage to receive their diplomas during a drive-thru commencement ceremony on June 3 at Monrovia High School. When the ceremony began, cars lined up and graduates exited their vehicles with masks on and lined up 6 feet apart from one another. Teachers were invited on stage to share their memories of each student and ended with words of encouragement for the future.
South El Monte High School has been named to the 2020 Top Los Angeles County Public Schools for Underserved Students list for helping to close the opportunity gap for low-income Latino students in Los Angeles County and helping them flourish despite the obstacles. The Innovate Public Schools list, developed in partnership with USC, features 278 schools that are beating the statewide average for low-income Latino or African American students in one or more factors, including math and reading scores and college eligibility rates, while maintaining low suspension rates.
Four Whittier Union high schools have been named to the 2020 Top Los Angeles County Public Schools for Underserved Students list for narrowing the opportunity gap for low-income students of color, particularly Latino students, in Los Angeles County and helping them thrive despite barriers. Among the 2,075 schools in Los Angeles County, 1,346 schools serve at least 43% of low-income Latino students. Of these, only 254 schools have been recognized as Top Schools for closing the gap for low-income Latino students. Whittier Union schools that are leading the way include La Serna, Pioneer, Santa Fe and Whittier high schools.
