Edgewood High School will expand its information technology (IT) curriculum in fall 2020, providing new learning opportunities to incoming freshmen with the debut of a Cisco Academy career technical education (CTE) pathway. Edgewood will hold an open house on Feb. 12 to provide West Covina Unified families with information on the seven courses that constitute the Cisco Academy pathway. The pathway will accommodate 36 freshmen for the 2020-21 school year.
Whittier Union Alumnus Named New Pioneer High’s Head Football Coach
After graduating from Pioneer High School over three decades ago, longtime educator and athletic coach Steve Randall is returning to his alma mater as its new head football coach, bringing with him championship swagger and an emphasis on character building. Randall, who graduated in 1984, comes to Pioneer after a distinguished career as head coach at Colony High School in Ontario, where he compiled a 64-32 record and guided the team to a Central Division CIF championship in 2014, a year which saw Randall named Coach of the Year.
Whittier Union Schools Earn Recognition for Engaging STEM Programs
Two Whittier Union high schools are being highlighted for their outstanding work to expand access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses and develop robust, engaging programs that prepare students for innovative careers. For the second consecutive year, Whittier High School earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in its AP Computer Science Principles course. La Serna High School was recently recognized by Newsweek Magazine and STEM.org as one of America’s Top 5,000 STEM High Schools.
Monrovia Unified School District celebrated the opening of Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School’s new Paxton Patterson Lab on Feb. 4. The lab, which contains a series of topically focused stations, will give students an opportunity to develop creative and critical-thinking skills as they collaborate with each other in hands-on learning tasks. Students will receive access to lessons in career technical E=education pathways, such as audio communications, computer graphics and animation, flight technology, structural engineering, and more.
Fontana Unified High School Student-Athletes Commit to College
Five student-athletes from Summit High School declared their intent to attend college during a National Signing Day ceremony on Feb. 5. Kayla Carter Thomas will attend Quinnipac University and play softball; Laila Walker will enroll at Biola University and play basketball; Joshua Hornsby will play football and track and Southwest Minnesota State University; Jesse Davis signed his intent to play football at McPherson College; and Kamron Jordan will attend Texas Wesleyan University and play volleyball.
Bonita Unified Students Prepare Over 500 Meals for Families
Students, families, teachers and volunteers from Shull Elementary and Ramona Middle School gathered at the Holy Name of Mary church in San Dimas to help bag over 500 lunches for local families. Bags included Lunchables, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, crackers and cheese, candy, granola bars, water bottles and fruit cups.
Students and families from Baldwin Park Unified’s Foster Elementary School used aluminum foil as an electric conductor, made snow-people out of hair conditioner and baking soda, and tested probability and statistics with dice during the school’s annual STEAM Night on Jan. 30. Foster Elementary has hosted its science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) Family Night for five years to get students excited about learning and hands-on experiments.
Incoming high school freshmen with a passion for the performing arts are invited to attend a spring preview night for the West Covina High School Performing Arts Academy from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27. Families can learn what the Academy has to offer, gain insight into the application and audition process and meet Academy coordinators. Launching in fall 2020, the Academy will provide an exclusive fine arts education in a free, public school setting. Its first freshman cohort will be capped at 50 students. The preview night will be held at West Covina High’s Bulldog Café, 1609 E. Cameron Ave., West Covina.
El Monte City School District to Host Dr. Seuss Read-in Day
Community members will dress in wacky clothes and read Dr. Seuss stories to Cherrylee School students to celebrate the birthday month of the renowned children’s book author, at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Cherrylee School, 5025 Buffington Road, El Monte.
Buena Park School District to Honor Pendleton School Students
Buena Park School District will honor seven Pendleton School students for exemplifying superb core ethical values and making a friendly campus atmosphere at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 at the Board of Education meeting. Buena Park School District’s main office is at 6885 Orangethorpe Ave., Buena Park.
