Río Hondo College Names Quad in Congresswoman Napolitano’s Honor
The Río Hondo College Board of Trustees unanimously approved renaming the College’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Quad as the Grace F. Napolitano Quad at its July 10 meeting, honoring Congresswoman Napolitano’s extensive contributions and advocacy for RHC, particularly its CTE programs, over her 24-plus years in Congress. RHC will host a dedication ceremony of the Grace F. Napolitano Quad for local elected officials and other distinguished guests at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14.
Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) and the Fontana Water Company will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a recycled water project and dedication to making conservation a way of life. The conversion of six FUSD schools to recycled water estimates to save enough drinking water to supply more than 200 residences with water for one year.
A herd of goats was intentionally released on Río Hondo College’s campus on July 18 as part of the College’s ongoing vegetation management and wildfire prevention efforts. Over the course of two weeks, the goats visited several designated grazing areas on campus under the supervision of a professional herder and a border collie to ensure they remained within their specified zone. RHC hosted a meet-and-greet with the working goat herd to provide students, the college community, and visitors the opportunity to learn more about goat grazing as a way to lessen the risk of wildfire.
Covina High School Future Farmers of America students showed off their knowledge, skills, and animals at the Chino Livestock Show from July 10 to 12, with many students earning recognition, winning prizes, and receiving a vital hands-on learning experience. Eighteen Covina High students participated in the livestock show, showcasing 30 animals over two days. The event marked the first time that three Covina High students advanced to the master showmanship level, highlighting their exceptional skills in handling their animals and their comprehensive knowledge of their lifestyle, nutrition, and habits.
All 46 Fontana Unified School District schools are gearing up for the start of the 2024-25 school year, with an especially historic day for Sierra Lakes Elementary School, which will celebrate the completion of a school renovation. Sierra Lakes Elementary or District representatives will be available for pre-arranged, on-camera interviews during the first day of school from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday, August 5. The three-phase project included the construction of a two-story building holding 15 new fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms, a second-level outdoor classroom area overlooking the San Bernardino Mountains, and a new playground area for students. Sierra Lakes Elementary is located at 5740 Avenal Place, Fontana.
Bonita Unified will begin the 2024-25 school year with several new top administrators, including four new elementary school principals, a high school assistant principal, and two new District administrators.
The new principals are Dr. Christine Wilson, Shull Elementary School; Phil Heng, Gladstone Elementary School; Dr. April Leon, Roynon Elementary School; and Dr. Christine Malally, Oak Mesa Elementary School. They are joined by new San Dimas High School assistant principal Joel Ravelo, Senior Director of Student Services Steven Patterson, and Senior Director of Specialized Services Jessicka Mears.
The Lynwood Unified School District Board of Education unanimously voted during its July 18 special board meeting to pass a resolution that authorizes the Los Angeles County Registrar to place an $80 million facilities bond measure on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. The bond measure would provide funding to further upgrade Lynwood Unified facilities, make structural repairs, remove hazardous materials, upgrade safety codes and security systems, and reduce reliance on portable classrooms, allowing the District to better support student achievement.
Río Hondo College's (RHC) innovative approach to nursing education has garnered it a prestigious spot as one of only four institutions statewide to receive the 2024 Nursing Education Investment Grant from the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC) on June 24. RHC will receive a share of FoundationCCC’s 2024 Nursing Education Investment Grant, which totals $450,000. The College will utilize the funds to partner with UbiSim, a virtual reality (VR) platform for nursing simulation, to equip its lab with immersive VR technology to enhance the clinical experience for its students.
Hacienda La Puente Summer Program Students Explore New Horizons
The summer months in Hacienda La Puente Unified saw students flourishing in comprehensive academic and enrichment opportunities that supported their needs and interests, from Speech and Debate – offered for the first time to high school students – and the Youth Cinema Project summer programs to annual sports and C-STEM robotics summer camps. More than 150 middle and high school students performed for their families, peers, and HLPUSD employees during the summer camp showcase on July 18 at Orange Grove Middle School.
As Covina-Valley Unified students commemorated their academic achievements in five graduation ceremonies at the beginning of June, Board of Education President Dr. Maria Cruz celebrated a significant milestone of her own – earning her Doctorate of Social Work from Loma Linda University. Dr. Cruz used her accomplishments and story to highlight the need for a more equitable educational landscape and an increased representation of Latinas pursuing doctoral degrees.
