Over 300 Lynwood Unified School District students from Lynwood, Firebaugh and Vista high schools celebrated Black excellence, participated in workshops and heard from inspiring speakers during the District’s Teen Summit on February 22. The annual event – organized by the District’s Equity, Access and Instructional Services Department – is one of Lynwood Unified’s many efforts to bring together the rich cultures within the school community and encourages students to embrace their passions, break through barriers and become high achievers.
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.
Whittier Union CTE Fair Prepares Students for Post-Secondary Options
Whittier High School students explored career technical education (CTE) classes and post-secondary pathway options during the school’s annual CTE Fair, held Feb. 22 in celebration of Career Technical Education Month. Cardinal students spoke with CTE representatives from a host of local colleges, trade schools and recruiters including Fullerton College, Cerritos College, Whittier College, Los Angeles Trade Tech, Downey Adult School, America’s Job Center California, and Tri-Cities ROP. The lunchtime event aimed to introduce students to pathway programs available on campus, as well as the opportunity to connect to post-secondary programs that align with Whittier High curriculum, so that students can continue to pursue CTE pathways after graduation.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Students Connect Via Engineering Pathway
For 35 years, Hacienda La Puente Unified's award-winning Los Altos Academy of Engineering (LAAE) pathway has provided Los Altos High School students with hands-on learning experiences, vocational training, and a student-led curriculum centralized around math and science. With more than 1,000 program graduates, the LAAE continues to grow in popularity each year. Thanks to the long-standing success of LAAE, the District expanded the pathway to Orange Grove and Newton middle schools during the 2022-23 school year, introducing seventh- and eighth-grade students to computer, science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (C-STEM) through various courses, electives, and clubs.
Bryan Clavecilla’s journey to being appointed Orange County Superior Court Judge took him through Río Hondo College in 2003. Designated by California Governor Gavin Newsom for the judgeship on Jan. 29, Clavecilla is quick to credit the College for leading him to a successful future and providing him with experiences – on the College’s Speech & Debate and Wrestling teams – that helped develop his critical thinking and public speaking skills, giving him the confidence to pursue his goal of becoming a trial attorney.
Bonita Unified to Host Career and Community Resources Fair
Students from Bonita, San Dimas, and Chaparral-Vista high schools will have the opportunity to explore local mentorship, employment and volunteer opportunities during the District’s annual Career and Community Resources Fair, to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 18. The event brings together local organizations, colleges and universities, and businesses to connect with students and families, provide information on available resources and training opportunities, and get students thinking about their future. The fair will be held at San Dimas High School, 800 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas.
Río Hondo College students, staff and community leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting celebration to mark the grand opening of the institution’s first Pride Center on Feb. 15, thanks to financial support from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO). The Pride Center provides students with a place to bond in community and access support resources. Located near Río Hondo College’s Administration Building, the center is a place where students can rest and study, meet with counselors for academic appointments and connect with support staff and other students.
Fontana Unified School District has appointed three new administrators and a school principal, continuing a transformative first full year under Superintendent Miki R. Inbody. At the District level, FUSD has named Glenn Alegre as Chief Technology and Digital Integration Officer, Jonathan Dunn as Executive Director of Fiscal Services and Tammy Fleming as Director of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports – Academic. The District also selected Monique Martinez to serve as the new Juniper Elementary School principal.
The El Monte community sits at the nexus of several major freeways, negatively impacting the air quality for the people who live, work, and go to school there. Join artists Lalo Alcaraz and Levi Ponce and Media Personality Alysha Del Valle to celebrate the completion of a new 80’ mural, visible to tens of thousands of commuters on the 60 freeway, and EV car wraps to encourage the use of clean transportation. The project marks the culmination of El Monte Union High School District’s Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project. Guests will also be treated to a screening of the District’s new Clean Energy Careers animation.
When La Serna High School senior Marcos Barajas launched his streetwear clothing line as a junior, he never dreamed he would come to school and see his classmates wearing his latest designs and showing off his brand to their friends. The recognition Barajas has received for his creations shows how far he has come since a challenging freshman year. After recording a 0.4 GPA in ninth grade, Barajas was placed in the school’s award-winning OASIS Studies program, where he was assigned a peer academic mentor. Now on track to graduate, Barajas has a 3.0 GPA, was a recipient of La Serna’s “Be Your Best” award and is committed to working with struggling underclassmen as a Haven academic mentor. For his hard work and dedication to overcoming adversity, Barajas was presented with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees during a meeting on Feb. 13.
