Bassett High’s Class of 2018 soon-to-be graduates will wear their caps and gowns while visiting their elementary schools from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, May 21. Seniors will speak with their youngest peers on how they reached their goals to graduate high school and what colleges they will attend. They will also read to the students.
Bassett High School will recognize Class of 2018 seniors heading to universities with its second annual College Signing Day from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 22. Students will sign symbolic letters of intent for colleges and hold a reception to celebrate with family and friends. Bassett High is at 755 Ardilla Ave., La Puente.
Bassett High will hold an awards ceremony during its annual Senior Breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 19 to honor seniors who have earned scholarships. The event will be held at Cal Poly Pomona’s Kellogg West, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona. Each senior will receive a certificate of recognition and announce the college they will attend. Nancy Yeang, 909-445-1001 (office) or 909-331-6646 (cell)
Gabrielino High School will host its annual Speech and Debate Showcase from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5, highlighting the verbal talents of its state championship winners and national tournament qualifiers. The high school is at 1327 S. San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel.
The Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation will welcome comedian Paul Rodriguez at its inaugural comedy showcase fundraiser at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3 at Lynwood Middle School, 12124 Bullis Road, Lynwood. Rodriguez will be joined by comedians Jesus Sepulveda, Jerry Garcia, Paul Reyes and Christian Zaragoza for the age 18-and-up event. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $30 for preferred seating.
Lynwood Unified will put its artistic talent on display as it showcases original works, music and film at the Fifth Annual Arts Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at Firebaugh High School, 5246 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lynwood. Lynwood students will present visual art pieces and performances, while the city of Lynwood, the Lynwood Union Gallery and other community organizations will host informational booths.
Lynwood Unified and the National College Resources Foundation (NCRF) will host a two-day Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Combine, where unsigned Lynwood and Firebaugh high seniors, underclassmen and junior college athletes will have the chance to be recruited onto college football teams.
Zamboni Middle School will hire a full-time dance instructor and expand its performing arts program as part of a partnership with Turnaround Arts: California, co-founded by renowned architect Frank Gehry, which will provide up to $10,000 in annual financial support, helping to ensure arts education for every Zamboni student.
Paramount Unified’s Keppel Elementary students rallied behind three classmates who are battling cancer by raising $3,062 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients research program. “Through the fundraiser, we wanted students to see that they can make a difference right now where they are, and that they do not have to wait until they are older to make a positive impact on people,” Keppel Principal Darrenn Platt said. “It is rewarding for the students to know that the money raised is going to help kids like them, and it teaches our students to be leaders and to use their voices.” During the month of March, a challenge was held with classrooms competing to see who could raise the most money. Water bottles were placed outside of each classroom, with classes gaining points for pennies added and losing points for silver change and dollars.
Rio Hondo College will hold the world premiere of “Enemy/Flint,” a play that combines an exploration of the impact of water issues in Flint, Michigan, with the themes of Henrick Ibsen’s classic “An Enemy of the People.” Written by Long Beach-based playwright, actor and teaching artist Diana Burbano, the play will be directed by Julianna Stephanie Ojeda, a theater artist and former Rio Hondo College student. Some 32 students will act and serve as crew for the production. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 26, Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28; and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 29 at Rio Hondo College’s Wray Theater, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.