Fifty firefighters from across California are hewing their way through structures with axes and chainsaws and carving up cars during an advanced training course this week at Rio Hondo College’s annual Regional Truck Academy. The academy, launched last week, runs through Jan. 18 at the Rio Hondo Fire Training Center, 11400 Greenstone Ave., Santa Fe Springs. Professionals attend a mix of instructional lectures and hands-on exercises, including forcible entry into burning structures, structure ventilation, high-rise operations, elevator rescues, rope rescues, thermal imaging, auto extraction and rapid intervention tactics.
Rio Hondo College will host a lunar eclipse viewing party from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20 for students from Whittier City School District, East Whittier School District and South Whittier School District. The event will begin with a welcome, presentations and lectures. Eclipse viewing will begin at 8 p.m. with peak viewing from 8:45 to about 9:45 p.m. On Jan. 20, the sun’s rays will reflect on the surface of the moon, coloring it red – leading to the name “Blood Moon.” Guests should gather at Parking Lot C at Rio Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. The event will be canceled if there is a heavy cloud cover or rain.
Lynwood Unified School District has announced new $1,000 scholarships in honor of the late father of LUSD Board President Gary Hardie Jr. The Gary Hardie Sr. Memorial Scholarships will benefit graduating seniors going on to study the arts or service in the military.
Students from El Monte City School District’s Gidley School will showcase their science knowledge at the 2019 Mesa Robles/Wilson High School Science Olympiad Invitational on Saturday, January 19. Gidley School will send 17 seventh- and eighth-grade students to compete against hundreds of area students in the contest, which tests students on science topics that include physiology, astronomy and chemistry.
About 300 students in kindergarten through third grade at El Monte City School District’s Potrero School will receive new pairs of athletic shoes during a special event at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23 sponsored by Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center. The shoes are provided through Shoes That Fit, a Claremont-based nonprofit that battles poverty by giving children new pairs of shoes. Potrero School is at 2611 Potrero Ave., El Monte.
Bassett Unified held an Oath of Office Ceremony on Dec. 11 for returning Board of Education members Dolores Rivera and Paul Solano and newly elected board member Patrice Stanzione. At an organizational meeting that followed, Rivera was appointed president for a fourth consecutive term, board member Natalie Ybarra was appointed vice president and board member Armando Barajas was appointed clerk.
Baldwin Park Unified’s Central, Elwin and Pleasant View elementary schools were granted $50,000 by the Masons of California to implement Raising a Reader, an early reading intervention program for Southern California schools to develop home literacy routines. Pleasant View hosted the Public School’s Raising a Reader event kick-off on April 9, featuring a performance by Pleasant View transitional kindergarteners and kindergarteners.
Bonita Unified is being honored as a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) District Honor Roll recipient, marking District success in promoting college readiness and achievement among traditionally underrepresented students. The District is one of 373 school districts across the U.S. and Canada and one of 25 in California recognized as a national leader in expanding access to AP courses while improving AP exam performance.
San Gabriel Unified Teacher to be Honored by L.A. Clippers
Coolidge Elementary second-grade teacher Catherine Peters will be honored during the L.A. Clippers Teacher Appreciation Night at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28. Peters was nominated by her peers at Coolidge and will represent San Gabriel Unified.
District to Raise Money for Scholars at 2nd Annual Quartermania
Paramount Unified community members will bring out their quarters to help raise money for college scholars at the second annual Quartermania event at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 at Paramount High School, 14429 Downey Ave., Paramount. The event will feature dinner, giveaways and an auction from 6 to 8 p.m., when attendees will bid using quarters. Tickets are $20 and include dinner and a bidding paddle.
