Santa Fe High School students received an opportunity to join the democratic process during a National Voter Registration Day rally on Sept. 19, hosted in partnership with Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco. During the event, nearly three dozen Santa Fe students registered to vote or filled out paperwork to ensure they are “Vote Ready” when they turn 18 years old.
Baldwin Park Unified students are learning about the strategies and tactics of chess through Chess Masters, a 10-week program that will culminate in a final tournament at the Elwin Professional Development Center in November. The chess experience is open to students in Think Together in transitional kindergarten to eighth grade, as well as Geddes and Tracy elementary students in the District’s pilot program. Chess Masters launched at the start of the 2023-24 school year with more than 1, 700 students participating.
The Río Hondo College campus bustled with activity as live music, international cuisine and laughter filled the air on Sept. 15, as the community celebrated the College’s 60th anniversary and its history of service and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Río Hondo welcomed its entire community – from College students, staff, the Board of Trustees and REX the Roadrunner to local dignitaries and the general public ¬– to share in the milestone event. Festivities started in the morning and stretched all the way into the evening, as guests were treated to a diverse display of live cultural performances and global fare throughout the day.
Mountain View High School’s VISTA Academy “The Art of Talking” student podcast team hosted a successful live event with two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and cartoonist, Lalo Alcaraz to discuss his new animated short, “Taking a Healthy Ride on the Green Side” on Sept. 19. In partnership with the District's Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project and the California Air Resources Board, the animation focuses on how choosing green transportation options to get to school can improve community health. The short features the voices of El Monte Union students and administrators, which Alcaraz recorded in the VISTA podcast studio. During the live event, Alcaraz spoke on his creative process, shared insights into his artistic journey, and highlighted the significance of using art as a vehicle for activism and societal change.
Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School will unveil a state-of-the-art health and biomedical science lab during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12. Attendees will receive a tour of the new facility and have an opportunity to see Lynwood Unified career technical education students in action. Firebaugh High is located at 5246 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lynwood.
Approximately 35 Fontana Unified School District high school students partnered with a local general contractor, Final Touch Construction & Design, to assist with a four-day renovation project of a historic barn located in their own backyard at the Pepper Street Agricultural Museum. Students in Fontana Unified’s Career Connections program, a career technical education pathway in general construction offered at Citrus and Fontana high schools, assisted with the project, which took place from Sept. 20 to 23.
La Verne Police Detective Janessa Gonzalez and La Verne Firefighter/Paramedic Tristan Janeway trailed behind eager Bonita Unified elementary students at Target La Verne, taking note and filling handbaskets with each child’s choice of brightly patterned jackets, stylish shoes and other clothing essentials during the annual Bonita Children’s Shopping Day on Sept. 14. This is the first year Gonzalez and Janeway had the opportunity to participate in the shopping experience, a collaboration between Bonita Unified School District and Soroptimist International of San Dimas/La Verne that provided nearly 70 students in need from the District’s eight elementary schools with a $75 budget to pick out new school clothing basics.
Grace Miller Elementary has been honored as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, a coveted recognition that celebrates the school’s remarkable efforts to close the achievement gap and help students achieve academic excellence. Grace Miller Elementary is among just 33 schools in California to receive the award this year and is the second Bonita Unified school overall to earn the honor – joining Shull Elementary School, which was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2012 and 2022. Grace Miller Elementary was celebrated for its collaborative learning environment, which Sandoval credits as the school’s key to success in establishing a campuswide culture of inclusion, successful early intervention practices, and holistic support of student achievement.
Four Hacienda La Puente Unified schools were named 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizing public and private elementary, middle and high schools' academic excellence and success in closing achievement and opportunity gaps. Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez and Board of Education President Christine H. Salazar celebrated with the community at Glen A. Wilson High School during a District viewing party. The Hacienda La Puente Unified schools were four of only 33 schools in California and 353 schools nationally to be recognized as 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools.
Pioneer High School senior Christian Figueroa has always valued the importance of in-person connections, which motivated him to become a highly involved student and participate in multiple extracurricular activities and sports – all while maintaining a 4.41 GPA. During his time at Pioneer High, Figueroa has excelled academically, taking seven honors courses, 10 Advanced Placement classes and a dual-enrollment course at Río Hondo College. For his academic accomplishments and his commitment to learning, Figueroa was honored with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees during a meeting on Sept. 12.
