Thurgood Marshall Elementary School fourth- and fifth-grade students shared stories of struggle, hope and triumph during two emotionally charged dramatic performances staged Nov. 15 as part of Lynwood Unified’s Building Relationships and Inspiring Dialogue through Global Exchange (BRIDGE) Theatre Project. The two student-written plays – “Career Day” and “Lemonade Powder” – were received with ovations by parents and fellow students. The plays were followed by a community dance performance that celebrated multiculturalism.
Students at Whitaker School are acting out voice over dialogue, editing video and audio files and writing scripts to prepare themselves for digital media careers thanks to the school’s Story Maker academic initiative. Story Maker, which was introduced at the start of the 2019-20 school year, is an element of the school’s development into a Communications and Media Arts Academy. Story Maker teaches fourth- and fifth-graders to use digital media equipment and applications such as Vimeo and Audacity for video hosting and audio editing.
Baldwin Park Unified’s Olive Middle School Celebrates 50 Years of Educating
Past and present educators, students, principals and community members shared a day of joy and remembrance during Olive Middle School’s 50th anniversary celebration. Olive Middle School educators and alumni spoke about the school’s legacy in preparing students to be civic and engaged leaders. During the event, the school unveiled a mural painted by Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education Vice Principal Vanessa Arevalo that depicts the school’s Lancer mascot with the years 1969 to 2019.
Henry J. Kaiser High School sophomore Samantha Martinez sees the effects of hunger in her community and would love to establish a food pantry on campus, as well as make more community services available during summer and the holidays. Martinez was one of nearly 500 Kaiser sophomores who listened to a panel of experts on the subject of hunger on Nov. 20, as part of a Thanksgiving break project-based learning (PBL) research assignment designed to encourage students to find solutions to real-life problems.
Lynwood Unified Students Share Powerful Stories at Stage Performance
Thurgood Marshall Elementary School fourth- and fifth-grade students shared two emotionally charged dramatic performances on Nov. 15 as part of Lynwood Unified’s Building Relationships and Inspiring Dialogue through Global Exchange (BRIDGE) Theatre Project, which teaches students to write and perform short plays as they study other cultures. The two student-written plays explored themes of anxiety and displacement, as well as hope and reconciliation.
Whittier Union Senior, Future Businesswoman Recognized for Leadership
By the time California High School senior Denisse Palominos arrives at campus for zero period at 7:20 a.m., she has already prepared her three younger siblings for school. For Palominos – who maintains a 4.1 GPA and is captain the Cal High volleyball team – taking responsibility for others while balancing a full schedule of classes and extracurricular activities comes naturally, earning her respect from classmates, teachers and administrators alike. She was recognized with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees on Nov. 12.
Fontana Unified Named PBIS District of the Year
Fontana Unified on Nov. 14 was named the 2019 Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) District of the Year for the West End and East Valley regions of San Bernardino County. This District’s use of PBIS strategies to foster a positive school climate and increase student engagement was celebrated at the fourth annual PBIS Showcase, hosted by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ PBIS program.
Paramount Unified Students Reach New High in College Enrollment
Paramount Unified students reached a new high in college enrollment numbers this past year as 69% of 2019 graduates enrolled in colleges this fall – a nearly 10% jump from 2018. The District has achieved the boost through annual college fairs, college prep curriculum and by waiving the cost of PSAT/SAT tests to make them accessible for all students.
Fontana Unified School Receives IB Middle Years Programme Candidacy
Southridge Tech Middle School has been named a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP), marking a milestone in the District’s efforts to establish an IB Continuum. As a candidate school – a status achieved ahead of the District’s schedule – Southridge Tech is beginning trial implementation of the MYP and seeking authorization as an IB World School. MYP provides a rigorous, globally focused and inquiry-led framework of learning that fosters creative and critical thinking.
Tam Ly Wong, a 25-year teacher at South El Monte High School who has helped shape the future of El Monte Union’s career pathways and those of her students, was honored with the Bobby Salcedo Esperanza Award during the 16th annual Tamalada fundraiser on Dec. 12. The award – named for Roberto “Bobby” Salcedo, a respected El Monte Union educator who died in 2009 – is given to outstanding educators who exemplify Salcedo’s tireless commitment to education.
