Fontana Unified Marching Band Earns 2nd Place at L.A. County Fair
Henry J. Kaiser High School’s Catamount Pride Band and Color Guard captured second place in its category at the L.A. County Fair on Sept. 20, returning home with a $5,000 prize for their excellence. The L.A. County Fair High School Marching Band Competition invites local high school marching bands to compete during the fair’s daily parades in hopes of winning a cash prize. Bands compete in three categories: Open Class, for bands of all sizes; Class A, for bands of 65 or more, and Class B, for bands of 64 or less. Kaiser’s success in the Open Class category continues a tradition of success for the Catamount Pride Band and Color Guard, which represented Fontana Unified on a world stage as the premier band in the 2019 Tournament of Roses.
Wright Elementary School hosted a visit from children’s book author Jessie Janowitz, where she encouraged students to find their writing inspiration, which she called “the spark.” Janowitz is the author of two children’s books, “The Doughnut Fix” and the sequel, “The Doughnut King.” During her presentation, she used examples of how everyday events jumpstarted her writing career.
Fontana Unified High School Earns IB Middle Years Authorization
Fontana Unified’s Jurupa Hills High School will offer students the opportunity to engage in a rigorous, globally focused education through its newly authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme. The programme will serve Jurupa Hills High’s freshmen and sophomores, providing a framework of learning that encourages students to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers while fostering global engagement. It will also prepare students for the rigors of Jurupa Hills’ IB Diploma Programme, in which students can receive advanced college standing, course credit, scholarships and other admissions benefits at many of the world’s most prestigious colleges and universities.
Buena Park School District Offers Ocean-focused STEM Program
Buena Park School District students are learning to swim, build waterproof robots and sail thanks to the Long Beach Sailing Foundation's Middle School science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program. The program is a partnership between the District and the Long Beach Yacht Club. It provides 35 junior high Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) students with the opportunity to participate in water-based activities to boost achievement and social-emotional growth. Photos are available.
West Covina Unified Educator Named an LA County Teacher of the Year
Orangewood Elementary School kindergarten teacher Karla Toledo has been recognized as one of 16 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year. Toledo, an International Baccalaureate and Spanish Dual Language Immersion teacher, was previously named West Covina Unified’s 2019 Teacher of the Year in her second year in the District. Photos are available.
Paramount Park Middle School teacher Felicia Akuamoah was named one of 16 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year by Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo during an awards banquet on Sept. 20. Akuamoah is a language arts teacher known for her ability to connect with students. The honored teachers are eligible for the California Teachers of the Year competition this fall.
Inglewood Unified to Host I-Ready Parent Workshop
Inglewood Unified will showcase its I-Ready curriculum – an interactive online learning environment – and show parents how to improve their children’s achievement from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 at the District office, 401 S. Inglewood Ave., Inglewood. I-Ready is designed to tailor instruction based on each student’s unique needs.
Rio Hondo College Assists with Homeless Benefit
Rio Hondo College students have created more than 60 ceramic bowls for a fundraising event benefiting the homeless. The eighth annual Empty Bowls event will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 at Santa Anita Golf Course Club House, 405 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia. The event will feature area city leaders serving up soup made by more than 10 San Gabriel Valley restaurants with the bowls as gifts. Tickets are $50.
Monrovia’s Plymouth Elementary Hosts Mid-Autumn Festival
Plymouth Elementary will host its third annual Moon and Stars STEAM Night from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 at Plymouth Elementary School, 1300 Boley St., Monrovia. Students and families will take part in robotics, arts and coding activities. The event will also celebrate the school’s Mandarin Dual Language program and students will perform a classic Chinese tale.
More than 500 El Monte-area middle and high school students and their families learned skills on how to succeed in high school, prepare for college and achieve their personal goals during El Monte Union’s second annual College and Career Family Conference, called “The Places You’ll Go!”
Held in partnership with El Monte City and Mountain View school districts, the El Monte Promise Foundation, Rio Hondo College and UC Irvine, the Oct. 19 conference offered over 30 workshops in English and Spanish covering a range of topics, including financial aid, college entrance requirements, resources for Dream Act students and a review of the UC and CSU systems.
