Bonita Unified School District is offering 18 graduating students or recent graduates the opportunity to jumpstart their careers and become certified welders with an 11-week course through the Welding Certification Center in Pomona, offered in partnership with Pomona Valley America’s Job Center. The County of Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity will cover the cost of tuition for the 18 students, to be selected following an application and interview process, to attend the accelerated course that begins July 8. At the Welding Certification Center, the only state-licensed private welding school in Los Angeles County, students will be trained in shielded metal arc welding, also known as stick welding, and become certified welders licensed by both the American Welding Society (AWS) and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).
Whittier Union Adult School CTE Tours Boost Student Career Options
The Whittier Union Adult School hosted tours and information sessions for Whittier Union high school students on April 23 and 24, giving students the opportunity to explore the possibilities within the Adult School’s career technical education (CTE) programs and experience firsthand the hands-on, dynamic learning environments that fast-track their journeys to high-demand careers. During the CTE tours, students explored construction, medical assistant, and electrician classrooms, witnessing current Adult School students in action and hearing from them and their dedicated instructors. The Whittier Union Adult School offers a diverse range of CTE options, including medical assistant, cybersecurity, and plumbing pathways, all of which empower students to find their passions and unlock their potential in the workforce.
Bonita Unified Students Honored for Perseverance, Acts of Kindness
Nearly 150 Bonita Unified students received a moment in the spotlight to honor actions that often go unseen – including perseverance in the face of adversity and acts of kindness toward others – during the 2023-24 La Verne/San Dimas Educational Foundation Awards on April 29. The ceremony is one of the foundation’s signature events and provides awards and scholarships to students who overcome physical, emotional, or academic challenges and complete charitable acts in their community. Students from Bonita, Chaparral-Vista, and San Dimas high schools also received scholarships for demonstrating excellence in career technical education courses.
Whittier Union Educator Honored with Prestigious Award
Whittier Union High School District Education Specialist Adonis Chacon has been recognized by the California Teachers Association with its We Honor Ours (WHO) award, which goes to outstanding educators who demonstrate excellence, dedication, innovation, and leadership in their roles within the education community. As an education specialist, Adonis works as an Independent Study teacher at Sierra Vista High School in addition to providing special education support to Frontier High School students. In his 17 years at Whittier Union, Chacon has supported and empowered students to succeed in class despite personal struggles.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District’s Workman Elementary School and Newton, Sierra Vista, and Sparks middle schools received 2024 Civic Learning Awards from the California Department of Education, honoring the schools for their commitment to promoting civic education and engaging the entire District community in civic learning initiatives. Newton Middle School was one of three schools presented with the Award of Distinction, and Workman Elementary School was one of four that earned the Award of Merit. Additionally, Sierra Vista and Sparks middle schools were two of 11 campuses to receive an honorable mention.
Gladstone Elementary School held its annual “Be You” Night on April 17, an all-inclusive family celebration focused on embracing neurodiversity and encouraging Gladstone students to be accepting of classmates who think and act differently than they do, including students with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. The Gladstone campus was a buzz of activity, with students playing hopscotch with hula hoops, navigating an obstacle course, shooting hoops, making multi-colored rainsticks and sensory bottles, completing a scavenger hunt using communication boards, relaxing with a therapy dog and playing with animals in the petting zoo.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District is home to four comprehensive high schools, each offering a distinctive mix of programs and resources to support every student on their path to success. These schools ranked in the top 25% of California schools in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best High Schools rankings, released on April 23. Top performers were selected by weighted scores across six indicators of school quality. Additionally, Glen A. Wilson ranked among the top 4% of all high schools in California for the second consecutive year.
Bonita Unified Musicians Win Awards at Route 66 Jazz Festival
Bonita Unified’s domination of music competitions continued at the Route 66 Jazz Festival on April 20, where San Dimas High School’s jazz band took home three individual awards. Hunter Peterson’s compositional/arrangement talents, evident in his jazz arrangement of “Cantina Band,” inspired judges to create a new award category and name Peterson as the inaugural Outstanding Young Composer Award recipient. John Lopez and Anthony Bailey were also honored with Outstanding Soloist Awards.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Celebrates 2024 Teacher of the Year
Valinda School of Academics second-grade Dual Language Immersion teacher Fany Melendez has been named Hacienda La Puente Unifed’s 2024 Teacher of the Year for her unwavering commitment to student success and holistic approach to teaching, inspiring excellence in every aspect of her classroom. With 13 years of service in education, Melendez is a passionate nurturer of students' academic and personal growth. She focuses many of her efforts on closing the achievement gap for language learners by incorporating the DLI curriculum into meaningful lessons that also support students' socio-emotional growth.
Lynwood Unified to Host Third Annual 5/10K Run for Student Benefit
Lynwood Unified will promote health and wellness while celebrating Lynwood schools during the third annual Lynwood Run 5/10K at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 11 at Lynwood City Hall. The entire Lynwood community is invited to participate, with all proceeds supporting Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation scholarship funds. For details and to register, visit thelynwoodrun.com. Lynwood City Hall is located at 11330 Bullis Rd., Lynwood.
