The Institute for Evidence-Based Change (IEBC) is bringing Caring Campus to rural colleges and universities nationwide with support from an ECMC Foundation grant, helping students to successfully navigate the transition to college life by establishing a sense of belonging and connection on campus. Rural colleges often face unique challenges with student persistence and success. Students from rural, tight-knit communities can experience culture shock and feel disconnected when transitioning to a new campus environment, according to ECMC Foundation Program Officer Stephanie Sowl. Caring Campus provides staff and faculty with the tools, resources, and support needed to create an inclusive and welcoming on-campus environment for students of all demographics. Data shows that retention, persistence, and success rates increase when students feel connected to their campus.
The Río Hondo College (RHC) Foundation will host its annual golf tournament to continue its mission to provide financial support to RHC programs, equipment, scholarships, and other projects benefiting the College community and its scholars. The golf tournament first launched in 2005 and is one of the Foundation’s signature fundraisers, having generated a net revenue of more than $450,000 to benefit RHC students.
Celebrations spread around Fontana Unified School District’s 45 schools as students embraced their peers, teachers, and administrators as they returned to campus to officially usher in the 2024-25 school year on Aug. 5. Lively music, smiling staff, welcome banners, photo backdrops, and even waving, inflatable tube men warmly greeted students as they stepped back on campus for a historic day in Fontana Unified. Redwood Elementary School celebrated its 75th anniversary to open the new year, while several schools commemorated new campus developments.
Nine Fontana Unified schools will enter the 2024-25 school year with new principals as part of a strategic reorganization designed to leverage existing leadership skills within the District and best meet the unique needs of each school community. Almond, Citrus, Locust, Maple, Virginia Primrose, and West Randall elementary schools, along with Chaparral Academy of Technology; Alder Middle; and Summit high schools will start the new school year with new leadership. Eight of Fontana Unified’s nine new principal appointments were already employed in the District, including six who served as principals at other schools in 2023-24, while a former FUSD principal is transitioning to the District office.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) celebrated alumna and renowned singer Vikki Carr with a lively July 31 dedication ceremony at Rosemead High School (RHS), renaming the school’s historic auditorium the Vikki Carr Performing Arts Center to honor her illustrious career and inspire future generations of artists. The event, bedecked with a red carpet and floral displays, praised Carr’s achievements while students had the opportunity to showcase their talents. Guests enjoyed a light reception, heartfelt speeches, energetic performances by Rosemead High School’s cheer team and choir soloists, and a touching tribute Carr sang for her late father.
Hacienda La Puente Students Find Inspiration Through Football Camp
Hacienda La Puente Unified students across the District laced up their cleats for an action-packed football camp filled with speed, agility, plyometrics, and nutrition training on July 27 at William Workman High School. The football camp was hosted by the nonprofit Take Back the Neighborhood and led by former National Football League (NFL) players. Fifty-five boys and girls, ages seven to 18, were welcomed to the free football camp, regardless of their skill level. NFL veterans led the students through various football drills and conditioning sessions emphasizing the importance of mindset, body care, perseverance, and the dedication required to excel in athletics.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Educators Shine at Adobe Creativity Institute
Hacienda La Puente Unified educators received an opportunity to enhance their tech skills, while discovering new digital tools and apps that will help them to initiate creativity in their classrooms during an all-day Adobe Creativity Institute professional development seminar, held on July 29. Nearly 200 HLPUSD teachers attended the seminar, making it the biggest cohort to ever attend an Adobe Creativity Institute event. Participants who completed the seminar received a certificate of achievement for completing six hours of accredited professional learning and earned Adobe Creative Educator Level 1 and Level 2 badges.
Whittier Union High School District’s incoming freshmen will kick off the 2024-25 school year during Freshmen First Day (FFD) on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at each of the District’s comprehensive high schools. FFD is an annual tradition that aims to ease the transition into high school for new students. It also helps new students build connections with one another and familiarize themselves with their new campus, and teachers and administrators, ensuring they are prepared to have an impactful high school experience.
Fontana Unified School District celebrated its commitment to conservation and mindful resource management with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held jointly with the Fontana Water Company on July 29 at Henry J. Kaiser High School to mark the completion of a reclaimed water project. Six FUSD schools in the south end of Fontana connected their existing landscape irrigation water supplies to recycled water, which is estimated to save enough drinking water to provide more than 200 Fontana residences with water for one year, which amounts to approximately $190,000 in savings each year for both the District and taxpayers.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) is welcoming three new administrators to the District for the 2024-25 school year, with each new appointee bringing a breadth of experience and passion for education to their positions. At the District level, EMUHSD has hired Dr. Michael Lin as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services and Dr. Refugio Gracian as Director II of Human Resources. El Monte Union also appointed Renee Tellez as South El Monte High School’s new assistant principal.
