Covina-Valley Unified School District is set to kick off the 2024-25 school year with a lively Welcome Back Convocation for all teachers, staff, and administrators. The event will include a dynamic guest speaker, engaging activities, and opportunities to foster excitement and enthusiasm for the year ahead.
El Monte Union High School District will welcome more than 7,000 students back to school on the first day of the 2024-2025 school year, celebrating a historic start to the new academic year with major improvements at the five comprehensive high schools under the District’s Modernization Program. Notable upgrades at Mountain View and South El Monte high schools include revamped landscapes and quads, offering enhanced spaces for student activities and events. Student leaders at Mountain View will greet students with school pride, guiding them through the updated campus and festivities.
Bonita Unified students looking to get a head start on college and career have taken advantage of several summer workshops and programs designed to spark interest in career technical education (CTE) fields, including industrial and manufacturing engineering, auto repair, architecture, theater, interior design, welding, mentoring, and waste management. Cal Poly Pomona, Citrus College, Mt. SAC and the Claremont Colleges are among the local campuses providing guidance and instructors to assist students in finding their passion in diverse fields that can lead to lucrative careers. More than 100 BUSD students participated in programs over the summer.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will distribute free school supplies and provide complimentary access to essential services during its Back to School Extravaganza. Backpacks stuffed with school supplies will be provided to C-VUSD students in need on a first-come, first-served basis.
acienda La Puente Unified students of all ages were welcomed back to campuses for the first day of school on Aug. 7, with red carpets, balloon arches, hand-painted signs, staff welcome tunnels, and lively rallies setting the tone for a successful school year filled with innovative educational opportunities and a supportive environment for growth and achievement. Many schools embraced themes designed to engage students and foster a welcoming and creative environment on the first day of the 2024-25 school year. Fairgrove Academy greeted its K-8 students at “Camp Fairgrove” with t-shirts, signs, photo opportunities, and decorations to prepare them for “s’more learning.” Workman Elementary School staff embraced a “TEAM” theme, with students and staff sporting their favorite athletic gear, while Newton Middle School’s “Make your Mark” theme provided welcoming spaces for parents to write encouraging letters to their children.
The Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC) is bringing Caring Campus to rural colleges and universities nationwide with support from an ECMC Foundation grant, helping students to successfully navigate the transition to college life by establishing a sense of belonging and connection on campus. Rural colleges often face unique challenges with student persistence and success. Students from rural, tight-knit communities can experience culture shock and feel disconnected when transitioning to a new campus environment, according to ECMC Foundation Program Officer Stephanie Sowl. Caring Campus provides staff and faculty with the tools, resources, and support needed to create an inclusive and welcoming on-campus environment for students of all demographics. Data shows that retention, persistence, and success rates increase when students feel connected to their campus.
The Río Hondo College (RHC) Foundation will host its annual golf tournament to continue its mission to provide financial support to RHC programs, equipment, scholarships, and other projects benefiting the College community and its scholars. The golf tournament first launched in 2005 and is one of the Foundation’s signature fundraisers, having generated a net revenue of more than $450,000 to benefit RHC students.
Celebrations spread around Fontana Unified School District’s 45 schools as students embraced their peers, teachers, and administrators as they returned to campus to officially usher in the 2024-25 school year on Aug. 5. Lively music, smiling staff, welcome banners, photo backdrops, and even waving, inflatable tube men warmly greeted students as they stepped back on campus for a historic day in Fontana Unified. Redwood Elementary School celebrated its 75th anniversary to open the new year, while several schools commemorated new campus developments.
Nine Fontana Unified schools will enter the 2024-25 school year with new principals as part of a strategic reorganization designed to leverage existing leadership skills within the District and best meet the unique needs of each school community. Almond, Citrus, Locust, Maple, Virginia Primrose, and West Randall elementary schools, along with Chaparral Academy of Technology; Alder Middle; and Summit high schools will start the new school year with new leadership. Eight of Fontana Unified’s nine new principal appointments were already employed in the District, including six who served as principals at other schools in 2023-24, while a former FUSD principal is transitioning to the District office.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) celebrated alumna and renowned singer Vikki Carr with a lively July 31 dedication ceremony at Rosemead High School (RHS), renaming the school’s historic auditorium the Vikki Carr Performing Arts Center to honor her illustrious career and inspire future generations of artists. The event, bedecked with a red carpet and floral displays, praised Carr’s achievements while students had the opportunity to showcase their talents. Guests enjoyed a light reception, heartfelt speeches, energetic performances by Rosemead High School’s cheer team and choir soloists, and a touching tribute Carr sang for her late father.
