Bonita Unified Elementary Students Bury Time Capsule for 2044
La Verne Heights Elementary School’s fifth-grade class and Associated Student Body celebrated the end of a memorable school year together by creating a time capsule, which was buried on campus on May 31. The time capsule included letters to future students, a yearbook, an aerial photograph of the school, and student-suggested items that are representative of 2024, such as a pair of Crocs, Stanley beverage cups, and Takis. La Verne Heights Elementary will invites its current families to return in 20 years to open the time capsule.
Whittier Union Unveils New Logo and Refreshed Branding
Whittier Union High School District officially unveiled its new logo, which reflects the District’s roots in tradition and educational excellence, as well as its mission “To Achieve and Maintain Excellence.” The new logo, which provides Whittier Union with a fresh look, encapsulates the themes of honoring tradition while staying modern, being approachable and engaging, and helping students achieve by creating educational pathways toward the future. The new branding will begin rolling out over the next couple of months.
Bonita High School Class of 2024 graduate Rishika Ravichandran never passes up an opportunity to help others. Whether she is participating in a local food drive, assisting in a National Honor Society clothing drive, or preparing incoming freshmen for high school life as Bonita’s Link Crew senior director, Ravichandran is committed to helping others in need. Ravichandran’s volunteer spirit was recently recognized by the Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity, who presented her with its Community Builder award, given to young community leaders and high-achieving students, during a ceremony held April 28 at the Fairplex Sheraton. Ravichandran, who maintained a 4.8 GPA her senior year, will attend the University of California, San Diego in the fall to study mathematics-computer science.
8 Hacienda La Puente Unified Schools Selected for ERP Honor Roll
Hacienda La Puente Unified is among 109 districts included in the Educational Results Partnership’s (ERP) 2023 Honor Roll, a prestigious recognition highlighting California’s top-performing school districts for their exemplary efforts in closing achievement gaps and preparing students for success in college and their future careers. Glen A Wilson High School, Baldwin Academy, Bixby, Grazide, Los Molinos, Wedgeworth, and Mesa Robles elementary schools, and Newton Middle School were all recognized among the top-performing schools.
El Monte Union Graduate Selected as Dell Scholar Recipient
Mountain View High School Class of 2024 graduate Breanna Montoya has been named a 2024 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Scholar, which includes a $20,000 scholarship to support her higher education goals. Montoya will attend UCLA and pursue a degree in neuroscience. Montoya has demonstrated her commitment to education through academic achievements and leadership roles, including taking part in Mountain View's Associated Student Body, the Class of 2024 Club presidency, a U.S. Bank internship, the Teacher Preparation Academy, and the Pasadena City College Upward Bound Math-Science program.
El Monte Union Grad Earns Posse Scholarship to Middlebury College
Rosemead High School Class of 2024 graduate Kyan Chau has earned a full-ride Posse Scholarship, helping him to attend Middlebury College in Vermont, where he will study medicine and neuroscience. Chau founded Rosemead High’s Medical Club, aiming to increase diversity in the medical field. Chau has also actively engaged in internships, partnerships, and volunteer opportunities with City of Hope, Stanford Neuroscience Journal Club, and the Huntington Hospital Emergency Department. Chau hopes to become a neurosurgeon and establish his own lab to design innovative therapies that will improve the daily lives of his patients. The Posse Scholarship, awarded for extraordinary leadership potential, provides full-tuition scholarships for students to pursue their academic goals at top colleges and universities nationwide.
Celebratory music swelled and streamers cascaded through the evening skies as nearly 800 graduates tossed their caps and shared tearful hugs during Bonita Unified School District’s commencement ceremonies, which marked the end of an award-winning year for the Class of 2024. Chaparral-Vista and San Dimas high schools kicked off the festivities on June 4, followed by Bonita High School on June 6. Each school recognized graduates for their academic, artistic, and athletic excellence, highlighting CIF champions, regional and state honors for arts and music, and nationally recognized career technical education programs. Bonita Unified’s Class of 2024 will continue their education at institutions that include Harvard University, UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University, and the California Institute of Technology; many others will enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces or enter the workforce.
Covina-Valley Unified School District celebrated the culmination of a year filled with accomplishments from its diverse and talented Class of 2024 with five vibrant commencement ceremonies, held June 3 to 6, that honored the achievements of more than 1,000 graduates. Among the many standout graduating seniors, the District recognized 49 valedictorians who achieved 4.0 GPAs from South Hills, Covina, and Northview high schools. Fairvalley High School, the Covina Learning Options Academy, and Tri-Community Adult Education added to the District's diverse success stories.
El Monte Union celebrated the accomplishments of its distinguished Class of 2024 with lively and emotional commencement ceremonies held on June 5, including ceremonies at Mountain View and Arroyo high schools that were staged in newly renovated state-of-the-art stadiums. The festivities began with an early morning commencement for the Granada Adult Transition Center and a late afternoon ceremony for Fernando R. Ledesma High School, followed by evening ceremonies for South El Monte, Rosemead, El Monte, Mountain View and Arroyo high schools. El Monte Union celebrated more than 1,000 graduates with choir performances, video recaps, fireworks, and the rousing cheers of family and friends.
Whittier Union Moves to Rename Board Room, Honor Longtime Trustee
The Whittier Union Board of Trustees will move to rename its Board Room to honor one of its most cherished and longstanding members, the late Dr. Ralph S. Pacheco, during its Tuesday, June 11 Board meeting. Pacheco served the District for 32 years before retiring in July 2023. Throughout his tenure, Pacheco was an active member of the community, serving on many distinguished civic, college, and community service agency boards and commissions. Pacheco was a fervent supporter of modernizing District buildings and infrastructure and saw three separate bond projects passed during his time on the Board: the $98 million Measure C bond, passed in 1998; the $75 million Measure W bond, passed in 2008; and the $183 million Measure AA bond, passed in 2020. Each bond measure led to construction and improvements across the District. Pacheco died in October 2023 after a long illness.
