The California Reading Coalition (CRC) has ranked Covina-Valley Unified School District sixth in California and fourth in Los Angeles County in its California Reading Report Card, underscoring the District’s commitment to fostering early literacy for long-term academic success. The CRC’s Reading Report Card identifies and highlights California school districts that successfully teach reading to third graders, particularly to economically disadvantaged Hispanic/Latino students. Districts are ranked by the percent of these students who meet or exceed grade level for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) third-grade English Language Arts test.
The Fontana School Police Department (FSPD) has received a $34,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to launch an initiative that will help improve road safety for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the Fontana Unified School District. The FSPD will use the grant to bolster community-focused programming designed to reduce road accidents. By focusing on education and prevention, the Department will promote best practices and encourage community members to take extra precautions on the road to ensure everyone’s safety.
Hacienda La Puente Unified educators and leadership team showcased the District's innovative work in Computing, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (C-STEM) during a plenary panel at the University of California, Davis's 14th Annual C-STEM Conference on Oct. 4. HLPUSD was recognized with numerous awards at the conference, including Los Altos Elementary School being named a 2024 C-STEM Distinguished School, Sparks Elementary School principal Gilbert Barraza being awarded C-STEM Administrator of the Year, and Sierra Vista Middle School math teacher Kien To being named a C-STEM Teacher of the Year. These achievements underscore the District’s dedication to fostering excellence in STEM education and its commitment to providing students with the tools and opportunities they need to excel in a rapidly advancing technological world.
Rosemead Adult School (EMRAS) united its community to encourage public health awareness and civic participation in October through events aimed at raising awareness for breast cancer research and funding and registering voters for the upcoming elections. EMRAS continued its legacy of community engagement through a Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign, marked by visual reminders on campus, including vibrant signs and a remembrance wall. The school launched the month of personal and collective awareness with a four-day voter registration drive, which ended on Oct. 3.
Forty-one students spread across all five Fontana Unified comprehensive high schools earned awards from the College Board National Recognition Program for their demonstrated academic achievement and strong performance on college-preparatory exams, including 32 students set to become first-generation college students. Fontana Unified students were honored by four of the College Board’s five programs, including the National First-Generation Recognition Program Award (NFGRPA), which debuted this year. National College Board recognition helps distinguish students during the application process for college scholarships or admissions.
Cyrus Sapien, a Fontana High School senior, boarded a bus to make the 10-mile trek to the 2024 Regional College and Career Fair, cohosted by Fontana Unified and Chaffey Joint Union High School districts at the Ontario Convention Center on Oct. 9. Sapien was on a fact-finding mission, looking to narrow down his short list of colleges and decide if he would attend college in or out of state. He knew he wanted to study industrial engineering and pursue a career in a blue-collar trade but was uncertain about which college was right for him.
For the third time and second year in a row, Southridge Tech Middle School has been recognized as a trailblazer in educational innovation and for transforming the foundations of teaching, learning, and preparing students for lifelong success with a redesignation as a Microsoft Showcase School for the 2024-25 school year. Southridge Tech was first named a Microsoft Showcase School in 2018, then again in 2023, and has since been applauded for bridging the technology gap and providing students access to digital platforms that enhance learning. The school will receive a Showcase badge, an educator community team, an invitation to the Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert & Showcase School Welcome, and more.
With the 2024 general election less than three weeks away, Lynwood High School on Oct. 11 transformed its gymnasium into a vibrant mock political convention, with students campaigning for their chosen candidates and measures, informing attendees about key issues on the ballot and marching for changes they hope to see as part of the school’s Rock the Vote event. Clad in professional business attire and ready to defend their candidates through colorful poster boards, dozens of seniors presented a presidential candidate, their respective economic policies and propositions ranging from affordable housing and mental health to climate change and school facilities via Measure U and Prop 2.
Current Rosemead High School students and alumni, dating back to the 1950s, commemorated the school’s legacy and impact with student performances and carnival-inspired food and games during a 75th-anniversary Panther Palooza celebration on Oct. 10. El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) leaders, Board of Trustee members, staff, students, and the community embraced the festive atmosphere, which was orchestrated by the RHS Associated Student Body (ASB) and Class of 2025 before Rosemead’s football game against Mountain View High.
