Rio Hondo College’s Board of Trustees adopted a balanced budget for 2018-19 on Sept. 12 even as it expands an ambitious free-tuition program to boost student success, College leaders have announced. The budget, with an apportionment of $74 million, is up from $69 million under the state’s previous formula. Student success numbers are also looking up for Rio Hondo College. Completion rates hit 73.4 percent for college-ready students who earned at least 30 units and 60.4 percent for students who completed a degree, certificate or transfer related outcome, according to the 2018 Student Success Scorecard.
Fontana Unified Collects Donations for Military Care Packages
Fontana Unified is partnering with Burrtec, Inc. and Veterans Partnering with Communities, Inc. to gather donations and create care packages for active duty military members. Fontana Unified teachers, students and staff will be collecting and donating food, toiletries, entertainment items and clothing and writing letters to the military through Friday, Sept. 28. Donation drop-off sites are located throughout Fontana Unified.
Fontana Unified Teacher Recognized by Azusa Pacific University, Hot 103.9
Palmetto Elementary School kindergarten teacher Jeanette Campbell was recognized on Sept. 20 by Azusa Pacific University’s Inland Empire Regional Campus and Jeff Pope of Hot 103.9 under their “Teachers are Heroes” program, which honors a local teacher each month. Campbell, who was nominated by a Palmetto Elementary parent, was surprised with a pizza party for her class.
California High School senior Avigahy Garcia’s childhood included moving from California to Mexico and back, challenging her to learn and re-learn the different languages and cultures. Garcia returned to California in her sophomore year and enrolled at Cal High, leaving her parents behind in Mexico, but working arduously to excel in her studies with the help of the school’s support program, Expanded Horizons. She was honored with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees on Sept. 11.
Baldwin Park Unified School District is promoting a year-long attendance campaign for the 2018-19 school year to combat chronic absenteeism, starting with September Attendance Awareness Month. With the slogan “Attendance Matters – Every School Day Counts,” the District emphasizes that good attendance is essential for student achievement and graduation.
Bonita Unified Senior Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist
San Dimas High School senior Amita Stowitts was named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist, placing her in the running for the prestigious award thanks to exemplary scores on the Preliminary SAT. Stowitts is among 16,000 students across the nation being considered for 7,500 scholarships.
Approximately 1,500 Paramount Unified K-12 students and their parents learned how to plan for higher education at the District’s second annual College Fair, held Sept. 26 at Paramount High School’s Senior Campus. More than 30 colleges provided information on academic opportunities, financial aid, scholarships and the admission process.
Students from San Gabriel Unified’s Gabrielino High School danced and sang along to a playlist of upbeat songs on Sept. 26 as they built and hung paper chains with links featuring the names of students and something they had in common – a shared class, favorite food, or type of music. The chain-building activity culminated Gabrielino High School’s inaugural Mental Health Awareness Day, which brought students together to promote social connectedness and highlight issues like isolation.
Mountain View High School hosted a tree planting ceremony as part of a grant provided by the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. More than 60 students participated in the planting of 30 trees. The trees will contribute to Mountain View’s Farm-to-Table Culinary Arts CTE activities, bolster the school's National Wildlife Federation Eco-Schools designation, and expand the District's ongoing efforts to “Go Green” by creating a healthier, more sustainable environment in which to study, live and work.
Lynwood Unified alumni will join college representatives to inspire students to pursue their college and career dreams during the District’s annual Alumni College Conference on Sept. 22 at Lynwood High School. The conference features college workshops and representatives from more than 20 universities. Topics includes the admission process, the first-year college experience, choosing a major and career, and financial aid.
