Lynwood Unified School District, in partnership with environmental nonprofit TreePeople, has been awarded a $1 million CAL FIRE Green Schoolyards grant to transform three of its campuses into greener, more sustainable spaces. The ambitious project includes planting 110 trees and 1,800 California native plants and removing over 40,000 square feet of asphalt to create new green spaces at Abbott and Lindbergh elementary schools and Vista High School. Tree planting is set to begin in spring 2025, ushering in a new era of sustainability for Lynwood schools.
Fontana Unified School District’s headquarters will once again transform into a Southern California winter wonderland as it continues its tradition of spreading holiday cheer to local families in need during its 27th annual Fontana Santas toy distribution. Throughout the event, District families – who are identified by school sites – will enjoy a festive holiday celebration and receive age-appropriate gifts during a drive-through gift. Donations of unwrapped toys and gift cards can be dropped off at the Fontana School Police Department (9680 Citrus Avenue, Building 9, Fontana).
Bonita High School Class of 2023 graduate Micah Tofilau discovered he had a knack for working with his hands when he took a jewelry-making class as a junior. Realizing that Tofilau had a great aptitude for soldering and fabricating, his instructor Brian Harrison recommended that he look into pursuing a career as a welder. Tofilau was one of nine recent Bonita Unified graduates who received welding certifications from the Welding Certification Center (WCC) in Pomona during a special graduation ceremony on Nov. 21, after taking advantage of a 16-week career technical education (CTE) pilot program that provided low- to no-cost certification training to high school students, through a partnership with Pomona Valley America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) and the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (LACDEO).
Twenty-eight Bonita Unified educators were awarded nearly $10,000 in mini-grants by the La Verne/San Dimas Educational Foundation (LVSDEF), which will help enhance hands-on learning opportunities for students across the District in the 2024-25 school year. Members of the LVSDEF presented the mini-grants, which ranged from $100 to $500, to educators from 13 BUSD schools during the Nov. 6 Board of Education meeting.
Four El Monte Union students have been selected from a competitive pool of applicants to serve on the 2024-25 Los Angeles County Superintendent Dr. Debra Duardo’s Student Advisory Council, providing them with a leadership platform to engage in meaningful conversations on critical issues in public education. Rosemead High School (RHS) senior Alexis DiPrima, junior Van Do, and Mountain View High School (MVHS) junior Alejandro Dena and sophomore Noah Reyes have joined fellow student leaders across Los Angeles County public high schools on the council. The group meets virtually every quarter throughout the 2024-25 school year to discuss and influence decisions on key educational topics, including educational equity, student well-being, and the overall quality of our schools.
Río Hondo College (RHC) will undertake a series of construction projects for essential upgrades and repairs in alignment with its institutional mission to provide affordable access to higher education and job training to Los Angeles County students, thanks to the passing of Measure RH. Río Hondo College, which celebrated 60 years of serving the community in 2023, will utilize the bond dollars to address safety and accessibility issues on campus, as well as modernize classrooms, labs and facilities to better prepare students for careers or university transfer. Measure RH, a $442.2 million facilities bond, passed with more than 64% of the vote from Río Hondo Community College District voters, clearing the 55% approval rate needed for local bonds to pass on the November ballot.[1]
A.B. Miller High School students continue to reach new heights as they explore future career opportunities through the school’s Aviation Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway, with three students recently passing written exams in pursuit of their private pilot licenses. Jesse Cuba, Xavier Gonzalez, and Christopher Hernandez became the most recent A.B. Miller students to pass the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Private Pilot Certificate written exam this school year, continuing a legacy of excellence in the school’s CTE program. The two-year pathway serves as a flight training school and includes a pilot training class, an airline mechanic class, and a flight simulator lab.
More than 300 Lone Hill Middle School (LHMS) students, parents, and community members promoted inclusivity and acceptance as they celebrated the legacy of American civil rights icon and activist Ruby Bridges by participating in the school’s inaugural Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on Nov. 14. Students at Lone Hill gathered early in the morning, enjoying donuts as they prepared for a walk promoting inclusion and unity. Led by two students carrying a “Brave Like Ruby” banner, participants marched together in a large line, starting from two locations, holding signs that celebrated diversity and togetherness. The walk concluded with an assembly featuring speakers who highlighted the importance of acceptance and kindness as cornerstones of Lone Hill culture.
When Whittier High School junior Anika Monzon and her sister, sophomore Adelina Monzon, saw the Tournament of Roses Parade in person on New Year’s Day, they felt great pride in seeing their older brother, Whittier High Class of 2024 graduate Myles Monzon, march in the Honor Band, performing on the tenor drum. This year, it will be a Monzon family affair, as Anika and Adelina are among five Whittier Union students selected to perform at the 2025 Rose Parade as members of the Pasadena City College (PCC) Tournament of Roses Honor Band, joining Myles, currently a PCC student, who was again selected to play tenor drum.
It was far from an ordinary day at Fontana High School (FOHI) as a large portion of campus was carved out for the school’s annual, award-winning College Application Day on Nov. 14, which promotes college readiness throughout the community and dates back to 2014. Hundreds of FOHI seniors, with many surrounded by family members, patiently waited for their opportunity to take a large step toward their goal of postsecondary education during the seven-plus hour event. Students collectively submitted more than 2,450 applications to four-year colleges and universities – an event record. Fontana High seniors Ana Porras and Iris Martinez said they had looked forward to the day for years after their older siblings took part in the event.
