Showcasing their creative talents in a variety of media, more than 40 Jurupa Hills High School International Baccalaureate (IB) art students contributed artwork for sale at the IB Charity Art Show on April 5. Proceeds from the show will be split between a charity selected by IB art students and the Fontana Foundation of Hope’s IB Scholarship Fund.
California High School teacher Doug Nordquist was honored with a Patriot Award by California Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) on April 5. The award recognizes individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees. Nordquist, the school's band director, has been an educator at Whittier Union for 38 years, 23 of those at Cal High. ESGR, a Department of Defense program, seeks to foster a culture in which employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve.
Students from Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School lined up to receive Chromebooks during the school’s one-to-one device rollout event on April 10, enhancing the school’s commitment to boost student-learner outcomes by providing a quality education that includes digital instruction. In addition to the Chromebooks, students also received chargers and laptop sleeves to protect the computers.
Bennett-Kew Elementary School cut the ribbon on a new playground on April 11 as students, parents and community members cheered. The playground features a slide, climbing bars and other fun features. It was donated by Carter’s Kids and American Airlines and built by volunteers from the two organizations. Bennett is updating its facilities as it prepares to expand to accept sixth-grade students in fall 2019 when it launches a Leadership Academy.
Several Whittier Union High School District schools have been honored for achieving high academic growth, with students consistently making academic gains faster than similar students at similar schools. Pioneer High School was honored with the CORE Districts' Academic Growth Award for achieving three years of success in math. California, Santa Fe and Whittier high schools were honored with High Impact Badges for their success in English language arts (Cal) and math (Santa Fe/Whittier).
Bassett Unified teacher Jodi Ruiz, with the help of technology integration specialist Michael Jephcott, set up a Skype lesson for her Edgewood Academy third-grade classroom to speak with renowned primatologist Jane Goodall on April 3, which also happened to be Dr. Goodall’s birthday.
Students at West Covina Unified’s Mt. SAC Early College Academy will explore the mysteries of marine biology, express their creativity through art and master math and expository writing during the Academy’s first-ever summer school courses.
Wayne Ruble Middle School will celebrate its California Schools to Watch listing with city officials, District personnel, teachers, students and staff during a special campus ceremony. Wayne Ruble’s band and cheerleaders will perform amid speeches from the Fontana Unified superintendent, a California League of Schools representative and Wayne Ruble’s principal and ASB president.
Rio Hondo College Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss has been named a 2019 Distinguished Woman of the Year for the 57th Assembly District in recognition of her contributions to the community. Assembly Majority Leader Ian C. Calderon, who represents the 57th District, honored 10 distinguished women during a March 28 event at The Clarke Estate in Santa Fe Springs.
Angelica De La Rosa, who had enrolled in Rio Hondo College after high school only to be declared academically ineligible due to poor grades, returned with a plan.
