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.
West Covina High Instrumental Music Department to Hold Winter Concert
West Covina High School’s instrumental music department will stage its winter concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 in the WCHS gymnasium, 1609 E. Cameron Ave., West Covina. The concert will feature performances from symphonic band, jazz ensemble, wind ensemble and the band and color guard, as well as a special performance from the Vine Elementary School choir.
West Covina High School Vocal Music Department to Stage Winter Concert
West Covina High School’s vocal music department will stage a winter concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at Bethany Church, 763 N. Sunset Ave., West Covina. Titled “Sounds of the Season,” the concert will feature choral performances of holiday classics.
West Covina High Band, Color Guard to Perform at Tree Lighting Ceremony
West Covina High School’s band and color guard will perform at the West Covina Mall tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24. The band will lead the countdown to the tree lighting and delight attendees with musical entertainment as they meet Santa and enjoy activities like face painting. The ceremony will take place outside the mall near Best Buy, 1800 Plaza Drive, West Covina.
A senior in Edgewood High School’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program, inspired to seek new academic and professional challenges, has won a coveted award that will help her launch the startup company SafeDetect. EHS senior Vanessa Li – working with a team of two UC Berkeley bioengineering students and a data scientist – co-created a simple, discreet and efficient way to test for HIV during the MIT San Francisco Grand Hack event held this fall. Their efforts captured third place in their track and secured a UC San Francisco Rosenman Institute Prize, which provides resources to help winners patent their products, pitch to investors and launch startups.
Fontana Unified, Fontana School Police Department and community members kicked off the holiday season with the first toy donations in the 22nd annual Fontana Santas Toy Drive, which aims to bring holiday cheer to families in need.
Fontana School Police Officer Cindy Evaro and district employee Lydia Wibert began Fontana Santas 22 years ago when they learned a Fontana boy ran away from home after Christmas because he did not receive any presents. Evaro, Wibert and Fontana School Police collected toys and donations from local organizations and delivered them to students during the holidays.
Baldwin Park Unified, in collaboration with the City of Baldwin Park and community partners, is seeking donations for the 23rd annual Santa Clothes Project, which will provide 350 students in need with a shopping trip to buy new winter clothes and shoes. The project will match Baldwin Park Unified students across all levels of instruction with volunteer shoppers, including Superintendent Dr. Froilan N. Mendoza, to help find their perfect set of winter clothes.
Paramount High School Welcomes 8th-graders for Meet and Greet
Paramount High School West Campus welcomed eighth-graders from Leona Jackson and Alondra middle schools on Nov. 12 when they hosted the young students for an orientation event. The PHS band and dancers performed for the middle school students, who also visited classrooms and connected with high school students.
Seventeen Fontana Unified schools were recognized at the fourth annual Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Showcase, held Nov. 14 in San Bernardino. The showcase highlighted schools that have effectively used PBIS strategies to foster a positive school climate and increase student engagement, netting platinum, gold, silver and bronze awards.
West Covina Unified Elementary Students Receive Shoe Donations
Fifty Orangewood Elementary School students received new shoes thanks to a collaboration between Nordstrom and Shoes that Fit, an organization that ensures families in need can equip their students with shoes.
