Hacienda La Puente Unified Celebrates Self-Expression with Art Exhibit
Continuing to bring incredible talent and joy to its schools and the District community, Hacienda La Puente Unified will host its annual Art Show at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 at the Hacienda Heights Community Center. With its theme of “Wonder Everlasting,” the art show will feature beautiful displays of self-expression and creativity from students of all ages. The showcase will conclude with an awards reception to celebrate the young artists’ immense growth, collaborative efforts, and achievements. The Hacienda Heights Community Center is located at 1234 Valenica Ave., Hacienda Heights.
Whittier Union Students to Participate in ‘Every 15 Minutes’ Program
Whittier Union High School District’s Santa Fe High School will host “Every 15 Minutes,” a two-day event featuring a simulated car crash, rescue efforts and the dramatized deaths of students. The program also consists of a mock funeral that aims to emphasize the dangers of operating a vehicle while under the influence. “Every 15 Minutes” is a national campaign which focuses on high school juniors and seniors and aims to challenge students to think about the dangers of drunken driving. The two-day program will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5 at Santa Fe High School, 10400 Orr and Day Road, Santa Fe Springs.
Covina High School senior Terran Li will bring her unique skills, passions, and goals to Columbia University in the fall after receiving a full-ride scholarship to the prestigious institution. Columbia University granted the income-based scholarship to Li after she applied using the university’s Early Decision option. Li’s experience in the Alexander Hamilton Scholars program, which provides high-achieving and underserved students with a comprehensive network of support and guidance as they transition from high school to college, provided her with resources to apply to prestigious universities like Columbia.
The Institute for Evidence-Based Change’s (IEBC) longtime partner, California Community Colleges Classified Senate (4CS), is producing a guide outlining strategies for community colleges to sustain and institutionalize the Caring Campus initiative beyond its initial implementation, integrating the program's principles and strategies into the college's culture for long-term effectiveness. IEBC created Caring Campus to provide staff and faculty with tools and resources to help students feel more connected to their college, thereby improving student retention, persistence, and success. 4CS is a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers from across the California Community College system who advocate for shared governance for all classified professionals. IEBC and 4CS have partnered together since 2019, when IEBC President and Founder Dr. Brad Phillips delivered the keynote speech at a 4CS Classified Leadership Conference.
When Pioneer High School senior Anthony Hernandez arrived on campus as a freshman, he was an English Learner with a passion for playing soccer and a talent for motivating his teammates – an intangible skill that led Hernandez to be named captain of Pioneer’s varsity soccer team as a sophomore, a position he has held for three years. Hernandez is one step closer to fulfilling his dream to play soccer in college after being named a 2024 Michael and Susan Dell Foundation scholar, one of just 500 students nationwide to receive the prestigious honor. The scholarship includes $20,000 in tuition support, a laptop and textbook credits, as well as exclusive access to Dell scholar services, including counseling, mentorship, and networking.
Fernando R. Ledesma High School students delved into the complexities of the legal system through a realistic mock murder trial experience on March 15, gaining insight into the workings of the modern judiciary firsthand. Dubbed “People vs. Hayes,” the mock murder trial served as the final project for Fernando Ledesma seniors. The murder trial simulation aimed to foster a deeper understanding of court proceedings and encouraged students to use their critical thinking, research, and public speaking skills throughout the trial.
Eric Birch High School earned its first-ever Model Continuation School designation from the California Department of Education for its alternative programming designed to empower at-promise youth to pursue academic and personal success. Birch High joined an esteemed list of 31 schools to secure Model Continuation School status in 2024. Model Continuation Schools retain their designation for three years and will be formally recognized during the 2024 California Continuation Education Association Plus State Conference in Los Angeles on April 25-28.
Chaparral-Vista High School was once again designated as a California Model Continuation High School by the California Department of Education (CDE), recognizing the school for providing comprehensive services to at-promise students through exemplary instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, and guidance and counseling services. Chaparral-Vista was first designated as a Model Continuation High School in 2021. The award is sponsored by the California Continuation Education Association Plus (CCEA+), which advocates for the betterment of alternative education. CCEA+ representatives praised Chaparral-Vista’s approach to socio-emotional learning through its Serenity spaces, its culinary arts curriculum and students’ commitment to their education.
Grammy Award-winning jazz musician and band leader Gordon Goodwin returned to Bonita Unified with his world-famous Big Phat Band for a concert that showcased All-District Jazz Ensemble musicians and served as a tribute to longtime Bonita High music teacher Robin Snyder, who is credited with introducing jazz into Southern California school music programs in the 1960s. Goodwin, who graduated from Bonita High School in 1973, performed double duty at the March 16 Bonita Center for the Arts show, jamming with All-District players during their opening set, then leading a nearly two-hour performance with his 19-member group. In between songs, Goodwin took time to reminisce about his years at Bonita High, and how Snyder helped develop his career.
La Puente High School's dynamic running group, LP Runs LA, showcased their grit and determination at the 39th Annual Los Angeles Marathon on March 17, which saw 19 student-athletes and four teachers put their year-long training to the test as they tackled the grueling 26.2-mile course among a crowd of approximately 25,000 racers. La Puente High School educators, club advisors, and avid runners Ana Benitez and Wesley Perez said they started LP Runs LA in 2015 aiming to bring the many health and socio-emotional benefits of running to the students and staff of La Puente. This year marked LP Runs LA's seventh race, with three runners earning an LA Loyal pin for completing the journey around some of the city’s most notable landmarks for the second time.
