Each time El Monte High School hurdler Derek Song steps onto the track, he pushes himself to improve on his momentum and speed; however, it is his kindness toward opponents and genuine care for his teammates that earned him the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Triple-Impact Competitor award. Song is one of 10 Los Angeles-area high school student-athletes to receive the recognition along with a $3,000 scholarship from PCA, a national nonprofit that works to develop better athletes and individuals by providing character-building sports opportunities.
Broken glass and car parts littered the street in front of Pioneer High School as the motionless body of a student lay on the hood of the vehicle, her feet caught where the windshield once was – a stark and unforgettable start to the “Every 15 Minutes” two-day program. Presented to Pioneer High School juniors and seniors on April 4-5, “Every 15 Minutes” shows the lethal and unforgiving consequences of operating a vehicle while distracted or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs by displaying a trio of scenarios, beginning with a simulated car crash.
Families at Baldwin Park Unified’s three high schools will learn about the power of a college degree, selecting the right college, the financial aid process and scholarship searches during upcoming College Night events. The programs, hosted by the Educational Credit Management Corp., will include opportunities to win a $500 scholarship. The events will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 at Baldwin Park High School, 3900 Puente Ave., Baldwin Park; Wednesday, April 18 at North Park Continuation High School, 4600 Bogart Ave., Baldwin Park; and Thursday, April 19 at Sierra Vista High School, 3600 N. Frazier St., Baldwin Park.
Monroe Elementary fifth-grader Elisha Luckett rounded the last corner of a 400-meter race and launched himself in front of his competitors to take first place for the second consecutive year in the 13th annual Monrovia Elementary Olympic (MEO) Games. Luckett joined more than 100 Monrovia Unified elementary school students who competed in more than a dozen track and field events, with parents, teachers, and classmates cheering them on at the Monrovia High’s sports fields on March 29.
Pioneer High School is accepting applications for its 28th annual Jaime Escalante Summer Math Academy, giving Whittier middle and high school students a jumpstart on their math classes and preparing them to take on advanced college-level courses. Named after famous Garfield High School calculus teacher Jaime Escalante, the six-week summer program offers students the opportunity to take classes in Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Math Analysis or Calculus. Pre-Algebra is new this year for sixth- and seventh-graders, who can take Algebra in eighth grade and continue advancing while in high school.
Jefferson Middle School students explored a variety of vocational fields, from accountant to aerialist, chef to civil engineer, and fashion designer to firefighter, on March 30 during the school’s annual Career Day. Students enjoyed presentations and hands-on demonstrations from 40 professionals, all of whom are parents, community members, or district staff.
Paramount Unified’s Odyssey STEM Academy – set to open in fall 2018 – solidified a partnership with AltSchool, an education and technology organization that personalizes learning through teacher-built and student-driven platforms. The system will feature lesson plans tailored for individual learners, long- and short-term goal planning and easy access for parents and teachers to communicate.
The California High School Chamber Choir celebrated 15 years of harmonic excellence with a performance at the prestigious California Music Educators Association (CMEA) 2018 All-State Choral Festival in March, part of a busy spring schedule that included an annual community goodwill tour of local nonprofits. Cal High was one of six high schools in the state to be selected to take part in the 2018 All-State Choral Festival, earning a Superior rating from the judges, the highest rating level. The group will next perform with the Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir festival at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday, May 18.
Two Lynwood High School seniors are among 30 high school students to receive $40,000 STEM college scholarships from Edison International on March 26. Abieiden Lopez and Lesly Leon will both attend Stanford University in fall.
Paramount High School senior Fernanda Corona is among 30 high school students from across the Southland to receive $40,000 STEM college scholarships from Edison International. Corona, who is co-captain of the school’s cross-country team, plans to pursue biomedical engineering.
