Fontana Unified School District will host a dedication ceremony on Friday, Oct. 27 as it officially names Fontana High School’s newly-renovated sports field at Steeler Stadium to Dick Bruich Field in honor of the school’s legendary retired coach. The dedication ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. just before the 7 p.m. kickoff of Fontana High football’s final home game of the 2023 regular season. Bruich left an indelible mark on Fontana Unified in his 30-plus year career coaching at District schools, as he guided the Steelers to a national championship, two state championships and two CIF titles, then went on to coach Henry J. Kaiser High School from 1999 to 2009, where he won a state championship and two more CIF titles. Fontana High School is located at 9452 Citrus Ave., Fontana.
Lynwood Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Gudiel R. Crosthwaite has been honored as the 2023 Los Angeles County Superintendent of the Year by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, a recognition that reflects his unwavering commitment to student success and outstanding leadership. Crosthwaite received the surprise recognition from L.A. County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo during Lynwood Unified’s annual State of the District on Oct. 20.
Sierra Vista High School’s Jack B. White Stadium was filled with Dons and Braves supporters, dressed in Sierra Vista High School red and black and Baldwin Park High School blue and white, for Baldwin Park Unified’s annual Crosstown Showdown Game on Oct. 20. The night was packed with energetic performances from both high school’s football, cheer, band, and color guard teams. Baldwin Park High ended the game with a strong 26-6 finish, ensuring the Braves will keep the historic community bell for another year.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Students Explore College and Career Options
More than 200 middle and high school Hacienda La Puente Unified students and their families gathered to explore various education and career booths, connect with more than 70 college representatives and engage in numerous informational workshops during the 56th Assembly District Annual College and Career Fair at Los Altos High School on Oct. 14. The annual affair, hosted by 56th District Assemblymember Lisa Calderon in partnership with the District and the Boys and Girls Club of the East & West San Gabriel Valley, provided a myriad of resources designed to help students and parents learn how to prepare and apply for college, certificate or trade programs, scholarships and financial aid.
Bonita Unified students achieved record-setting scores on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) in 2022-23, reflecting its success in overcoming the learning loss that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to CAASPP results for spring 2023, released by the state on Oct. 18, 72 percent of Bonita Unified students met or exceeded standards in English language arts (ELA) – an all-time high for the District – and 58 percent met or exceeded standards in math, achieving the District’s second-highest math scores of all time. The 2022-23 results also indicate a four-point growth in both ELA and math from the 2021-22 school year.
Three Whittier Union high schools were recognized by the College Board as Advanced Placement Honor Roll schools, reflecting a commitment to increasing a college-going culture on campus and providing opportunities for students to earn college credit and maximize college readiness, based on data compiled from the schools’ Class of 2023 graduates. La Serna High School earned a Silver Award, while Pioneer and Santa Fe high schools were honored with Bronze Awards. Additionally, La Serna and Santa Fe each earned the AP Access Award, recognizing the schools for providing underrepresented students access to advanced coursework. The College Board places schools on its Honor Roll after evaluating three separate data sets representing college culture (students taking at least one AP exam), college credit (students scoring a “3” or higher on an AP exam) and college optimization (students taking five or more AP exams).
Whittier Union Adult School Citizenship Students Achieve Their Dreams
Whittier Union Adult School Citizenship class teachers are known for continually showering their students with care, support, devotion and celebrations as they navigate the steps of becoming a U.S. citizen, accomplishing what is a lifelong dream for many. Teachers Jesus DeLaTorre and Katherine Herrick provide their students with application assistance and help refine their grammar, pronunciation, dictation and reading skills in preparation for their citizenship interview. DeLaTorre and Herrick also provide instruction in American history and government to further prepare students for the citizenship test.
Baldwin Park Unified Honors Namesake Tradition at Elementary School
Baldwin Park Unified students and staff from Margaret Heath Elementary gathered on Oct. 6 to celebrate Margaret Heath Day and recognize the educational pioneer as well as name a Margaret Heath Scholarship winner. Abigail Gil, a 2023 graduate of Baldwin Park High School, was awarded this year’s scholarship to put toward her academic pursuits at Cal State Los Angeles. Every year, Heath students collect coin donations for the scholarship, which goes to a Margaret Heath alumnus and Baldwin Park Unified graduate.
San Dimas High School freshman Jacqueline Chen first displayed her diving prowess at nine years old during a trip to Cancun, Mexico with her family. Standing atop a cliff more than 15 feet above the water, Chen showed no fear when she suddenly leapt off, performing a perfect dive. Now Chen is preparing to make another huge leap – from high school student to Olympic athlete. After years of participating and medaling in USA Diving Junior Olympic competitions, Chen will travel to the Philippines for the Asian Age Group Championship, to be held from Dec. 3 to 6, trying to stamp her ticket to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. At San Dimas High School, Chen plays clarinet in the marching band and enjoys art class, juggling campus activities with Honors classes and her rigorous diving practice schedule. Chen will also represent San Dimas High in CIF meets when diving season begins in spring 2024.
Virtual Coffee Talk with Río Hondo College Superintendent/President
The Río Hondo College community is invited to join Superintendent/President Dr. Marilyn Flores for a virtual coffee talk event, Un Cafecito, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 1. Dr. Flores will use this opportunity to meet with members of the community, hear their ideas, and establish camaraderie with those who participate in the event. To join Un Cafecito, use this Zoom link.
