Whittier Union High School District’s commitment to academic excellence, evidenced in its Whatever It Takes philosophy, is reflected in the recent U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 high school rankings, with all five of its comprehensive schools ranked in the top half of high schools in California and the top third of high schools nationwide. The rankings, which measure school success metrics such as graduation rates and college-readiness, consider multiple factors that include AP exam pass rates, proficiency in math, reading and science, enrollment and the percentage of socio-economically disadvantaged students in the District. Whittier Union is home to two California Distinguished Schools, five California Gold Ribbon Schools, two AVID National Demonstration schools, two AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award-winning schools and a Model Continuation High School.
Mountain View High School students and staff celebrated the school’s innovative learning environments that integrate cutting-edge technology and sustainable design during a groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school's Modernization Project and the completion of the Zoo Crew Engineering Classroom Project on Sept. 7. The celebration included a welcome reception, lively performances by the Mountain View High band and choir groups, and a showing of the District’s Clean Mobility in Schools animated short, “Taking a Healthy Ride on the Green Side.”
Covina-Valley Unified School District was celebrated for its exemplary insights and strategies into student enrollment and success in A-G courses, shining a light on the District’s devotion to reducing equity gaps in college eligibility and promoting educational excellence. Covina-Valley Unified was one of nine school districts featured in the Policy Analysis for California Education’s (PACE) 2023 A-G Resource Guide, each of which achieved completion rates that surpassed the overall statewide rate.
Baldwin Park Unified Recognizes Attendance Awareness Month
Baldwin Park Unified is joining a nationwide campaign to promote Attendance Awareness Month in September, and is working to reduce chronic absenteeism for the 2023-24 school year. BPUSD will highlight the importance of good attendance throughout the year, with a focus on providing individualized support to ensure students can overcome any barriers they face in achieving consistent attendance. Good attendance is essential to academic success; however, many students are at risk academically because they are chronically absent. Chronic absence is described as missing 10% of the school year — or about 18 days — for any reason.
La Puente High School students now have an opportunity to immerse themselves in dance and nurture their creative talents, as the school’s popular dance program has been expanded into a three-year career technical education pathway. It is one of three exciting new visual and performing arts programs making their debut in the 2023-24 school year, joining a three-year Graphic Design pathway and a partnership with the Youth Cinema Project, which comes to La Puente High after successful pilot programs at the elementary and middle school level. Applications to join the pathways are still being accepted. For information, go to the La Puente High website.
Baldwin Park Unified to Host Positive Discipline Workshops
Baldwin Park Unified families are invited to learn ways to boost their child’s self-esteem, how to help teach their children responsibility and encourage their independence through the District’s Positive Discipline Workshops. The workshops will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Elwin Professional Development Center, located at 13010 Waco St., Baldwin Park. Classes are in Spanish and interpreted into English, and will be held on Thursday, Sept. 14, Thursday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, Sept. 28.
Río Hondo College Plans Fall Transfer Fair for Students
Río Hondo College will connect students with more than 50 universities during its Fall 2023 Transfer Fair on Monday, Sept. 11. Students will be able to meet with representatives from four-year universities to discuss admission requirements, transfer planning, and learn more about each university, while Río Hondo College transfer counselors will be on hand to assist in the transfer process. Río Hondo College is located at 3600 Workman Mill Rd., Whittier.
Three Whittier Union history teachers received an up-close look at living history when they participated in the Auschwitz Legacy Program, a one-week trip to Poland in July that included tours of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and the Warsaw Ghetto, as well as access to archives of letters and personal items saved from Holocaust victims during World War II. John Bellanti of Whittier High School, Gena Arriola-Salas of Pioneer High School and MaryAnn Fajardo of Frontier High School joined a group of 30 educators and Holocaust researchers from across the United States as part of an education initiative created by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation to keep the memories of victims alive.
Fontana High School public service cadets from the school’s Fire Technology, Emergency Medical Technician and Law Enforcement career technical education pathways will pay tribute to the victims and fallen heroes of 9/11, joining organizations from across the United States that are taking part in the National 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb challenge. Fontana High public service cadets will climb exactly 2,200 steps in gear – representing the 110 floors of the World Trade Center towers that New York City first responders climbed – and will raise money through donations made from students, families, staff and community sponsors. All proceeds and donations will go to the McGinnis Scholarship Foundation.
Bonita High School Auto Technology students will have the opportunity to work toward an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) entry-level certificate during the 2023-24 school year, a vital step for students looking to join the private sector or continue their education at a trade school or community college in pursuit of a career as a mechanic or auto technician. ASE certifications – the industry standard for auto repair – are available for entry-level, professional and master technicians. Throughout the school year, BHS Auto Tech students will pursue multiple projects, including: building an electric car from scratch, participating in National Hot Rod Association race-day events and working to restore vintage and classic vehicles.
