Mary Ann Voltaggio, a San Gabriel native who has taught at Coolidge Elementary for 22 years, is known as a compassionate educator and patient mentor. Voltaggio is among 15 Los Angeles-area teachers to be recognized with a Leader In Me leadership award, given to pioneering educators who practice The Leader in Me – a program that teaches leadership and life skills and strives to create a culture of student empowerment. Photos are available.
Lincoln Elementary School students shared the feelings of losing a friend or family member during two plays written in collaboration with the BRIDGE Theatre Project. The plays – “Sad and Stuck, Without Tears” and “Facing Deportation” – were performed April 25 at the Lincoln Elementary library. They are the 99th and 100th plays written and performed entirely by Lynwood Unified students during a four-year partnership with BRIDGE.
Monrovia Unified Chosen for English Learner Arts Program
Monrovia Unified has been selected for a five-year program that promotes using arts education to support English learner instruction. Monrovia will receive an annual grant of $5,000 from the Teaching English Learners through the Arts (TELA) program to train elementary school teachers. TELA, an effort between the Los Angeles County Office of Education and the L.A. Arts Commission, aims to develop educator skills in language acquisition and support, academic achievement and social and emotional learning for students with limited English skills.
Elwin Elementary School took first place in the Baldwin Park Unified 21st Century Challenge, a contest in which student teams at 11 elementary schools constructed 10-foot-by-10-foot Rube Goldberg devices using simple machines. Tracy Elementary placed second, followed by Santa Fe School at third. Honorable mentions went to Foster and DeAnza elementary schools. Winners were announced April 26.
Two Paramount High School seniors are among 300 students across the U.S. to receive the all-expense-paid Gates Scholarship. Karla Navarro and Armando Alexis Torres were named two of 2,000 semi-finalists in November before reaching the group of 600 finalists who were interviewed in March.
Pioneer High School senior Nylah Garcia was born under unusual circumstances, with her mother diagnosed with cancer while pregnant. Throughout a difficult childhood, Garcia was determined to be the first member of her family to attend college, finding support as an Achievement Via Individual Determination (AVID) student. On April 10, Garcia was named a 2018 Dell Scholar by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and will receive a $20,000 scholarship to help pay for her education at Cal State Long Beach.
Blood Drive to be Held for Student Athlete Battling Leukemia
Clifton Middle School will host a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 2 in support of James Speranta, a Monrovia High student athlete who was diagnosed with leukemia mid-March. Donations will go to City of Hope to help Speranta and other leukemia and cancer patients in need.
Bassett High Seniors to Promote College-Bound Spirit
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 to Host College Signing Day, Highlighting Student Success
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 to Honor Scholarship Seniors during Awards Breakfast
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)
