Baldwin Park Unified will announce the winners of its second annual 21st Century Challenge – a science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) contest – during a celebration at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 26 at the Performing Arts Center of Baldwin Park, 4640 Maine Ave., Baldwin Park. Student teams from 11 elementary schools created 10-foot-by-10-foot Rube Goldberg devices over more than three months in the contest.
Hundreds of Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) students from Whittier Union High School District will take their first steps toward the next chapter of their academic futures during College Signing Day ceremonies. Pioneer High School will hold its celebration at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday, April 25. Whittier High School will hold its rally at 12:25 p.m. Wednesday, April 25. Santa Fe High School will hold its event at noon Wednesday, May 2.
Terri L. Armstrong, who teaches students with autism-related challenges at Holland Middle School, was named Baldwin Park Unified’s Teacher of the Year on April 17 for creating an engaging, energy-filled classroom environment. Armstrong, a 19-year teacher who has worked at Baldwin Park Unified for four years, was surprised with the news by a team of District administrators, teachers and union leaders during a festive celebration with flowers, balloons and much applause.
A group of 10 educators from West Covina Unified School District will visit Baldwin Park High School’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) student club from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 23 as the district considers creating a similar program. Baldwin Park Unified is a pioneer in opening student NAMI clubs, launching the first one in the East San Gabriel Valley in 2016-17 at Sierra Vista High School. Clubs have since been created at Baldwin Park High School and North Park Continuation High School. Students in the clubs, where membership can top 60, explore mental health fields and combat stigmas that can prevent people from accessing necessary mental health services.
A trio of Bassett Unified students received scholarships for overcoming challenges in their education and showing strong community leadership as part of Principal for A Day, in which San Gabriel Valley community members and educators became principals at each of Bassett Unified’s schools. Bassett High senior Joshua Hernandez, Nueva Vista 2017 graduate Lilliana Fernandez and Bassett Adult School student John Sandoval were recognized with $400 scholarships during a Feb. 20 luncheon.
Wilson Elementary students enjoyed the musical stylings of Brass Pacifica during an April 9 assembly, part of the Music Center of Los Angeles’ educational programming. Five brass soloists performed for students, taught listening and rhythm techniques, and held a question-and-answer session. The Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts and the San Gabriel Educational Foundation sponsored the event. Photos are available
Paramount Unified’s Keppel Elementary students collected change to assist in the fight against cancer, raising $3,062 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients cancer research program. Keppel students donated in support of three classmates who are battling the childhood diseases.
Plymouth Elementary School will receive $10,000 to upgrade its library catalog and services as one of 20 schools across California to share more than $300,000 in grant money as a Scholar Dollar Grant Program recipient. Plymouth earned the grant after receiving more than 10,000 votes during a two-week online poll that determined which of the 465 participating California K-8 schools would be selected as winners.
Two South El Monte High School seniors who helped create the school’s Freshman Mentoring Program have been selected as 2018 Dell Scholars. Miriam Benavides and Sandra Amezcua Rocha will each receive a $20,000 scholarship from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. As mentors, Benavides and Amezcua offer advice, recommend classes and making freshmen aware of scholarship opportunities.
Paramount Unified will hold a districtwide mental health training where staff members will learn from the Mental Health First Aid program from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5 at Paramount High School, 14429 Downey Ave, Paramount, CA 90723. Staff members will learn to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and gain skills needed to provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health crisis.