Río Hondo College Library to Host First-Ever Zine Fest
Río Hondo College Library will host its first-ever Zine Fest over two days, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10 and from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Zine creators and enthusiasts will be on hand to share their zines in hopes of educating the community about zines and inspiring them to create their own self-made zines. Both days will be hosted at the Learning Resource Center, located on the second floor of the campus library. The event will kick off the Río Hondo College Library Outreach Project, where participants can contribute their zine to be included in a printed publication of the Río Hondo College Library Zines. Río Hondo College is located at 3600 Workman Mill Rd., Whittier.
Fontana Unified to Host Hispanic/Latinx Month Cultural Celebration
Fontana Unified School District will host a Hispanic/Latinx Month Cultural Celebration at Fontana High School from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 to commemorate how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large. The event will include mariachi, food trucks, guest speakers, arts and crafts, cultural performances and more. Fontana High School is located at 9453 Citrus Ave., Fontana.
Hacienda La Puente Unified’s Project Life Experience About Democracy (LEAD) program, designed to foster informed citizens by identifying community issues, developing solutions and participating in real-world civic action, has won the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Award for its excellence in amplifying the student voice and promoting change. This unique program, founded in 2014, was developed as an extracurricular experience for students to get involved in local politics and collaborate with various neighborhood affiliations year-round. The award-winning program continues to grow and is now available at eight HLPUSD schools within the San Gabriel Valley.
The program, founded in 2014, was developed as an extracurricular experience for students to get involved in local politics and collaborate with various neighborhood affiliations throughout the year, including the City of La Puente and its Parks and Recreation Department. Project LEAD is also a multi-year recipient of the California Department of Education’s Civic Learning Award.
Baldwin Park Unified orchestra director Paul Grant has a special place in his heart for the teachers who brought the joy of music to his life, helping mold an energetic and mischievous student into a world-class musician and inspiring him to pursue a career as a music instructor. For more than 10 years at BPUSD, Grant has channeled his former mentors, ensuring student success through equitable access to instruments and tailoring classroom lessons to ensure key foundational skills are learned each week. For his passion and dedication, Grant was recently named the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), Los Angeles Chapter’s 2023 Outstanding Teacher of the Year.For more than 10 years at BPUSD, Grant has channeled his former mentors, ensuring student success through equitable access to instruments and tailoring classroom lessons to ensure key foundational skills are learned each week. For his passion and dedication, Grant was recently named the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), Los Angeles Chapter’s 2023 Outstanding Teacher of the Year.
El Monte Union High School District honored Clean Air Day on Oct. 4 by celebrating the District's recognition as a Sustainable Trailblazer Award winner from the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCal REN), acknowledging the District’s sustainability efforts, notably its groundbreaking Clean Mobility in Schools Project. SoCal REN, a leading organization dedicated to advancing sustainable energy practices in Southern California, bestows the Sustainable Trailblazer Award upon entities that demonstrate exceptional leadership and innovation in environmental sustainability. El Monte Union’s achievement highlights its unwavering commitment to fostering a greener and healthier future.
Lynwood Unified School District’s Job Opportunity for Youth program (LJOY) has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Golden Bell Award, a recognition bestowed upon school districts that have demonstrated outstanding programs dedicated to supporting student needs and promoting excellence for all. The LJOY program – which provides at-promise students with the opportunity to complete their high school education while gaining valuable work experience within the District – will be recognized by the California School Boards Association at a reception and ceremony on Nov. 30 in San Francisco.
The Summit High School Majorettes delivered their first dance routine backing the Summit High marching band during its Sept. 15 football game, with students, parents and staff roaring their approval as they watched an inspired performance of hip hop, jazz and modern dance in a debut that made history. The 27-student SkyHawk team is the first Majorette team in Fontana Unified history and the first organized high school team in the Inland Empire. The Majorettes began as a club during the 2022-23 school year, embracing dancing traditions that are hugely popular in the South and have been made famous by pioneering performers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
In celebration of Latino Heritage Month, Lynwood Unified will host a Health and Wellness Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Holser Middle School. The fair, which is free and open to the public, will feature live music, folklorico dancing, photo booth, spa, game trucks, food and opportunities for families to explore resources on healthy living from partners of the District’s award-winning Health Collaborative, including Baby 2 Baby, Big Smiles Dental and the LA County Department of Mental Health, among others. Holser Middle School is located at 11387 Bullis Rd., Lynwood (Pathway High School entrance).
Three Whittier High School seniors have taken a significant step towards achieving their dreams of attending a top-tier university after high school by securing coveted spots in the prestigious and highly-selective University of Southern California’s (USC) Bovard Scholars program. Whittier High seniors Diana Nguyen, Fabiola Ramirez and Cynthia Flores participated in a three-week intensive program this summer that began with a week of online preparation, followed by two weeks on USC’s campus free of charge. The USC Bovard Scholars program connects underrepresented, first-generation students with higher education resources and coaching opportunities, helping them to gain admission and succeed at the nation’s top universities.
Fontana Unified School District’s plan to expand its work-based learning (WBL) opportunities shifted onto the fast track after it was one of two school districts in California and 81 nationwide to secure a semifinalist spot in the U.S. Department of Education’s Career Z Challenge, a $2.5 million multi-phase prize competition. Fontana Unified earned semifinalist honors in the inaugural Career Z Challenge for its proposal to launch the Future Shapers Academy (FSA), a systemic WBL ecosystem within its career technical education (CTE) program, in 2023-24. Through the Career Z Challenge, the federal government will provide FUSD with technical assistance, learning workshops, peer collaboration, and a monetary prize for rolling out the FSA during this school year.
