The Fontana High School Marching Steelers band will pump up the volume, hoping to inspire runners and music fans to put forth their best effort when they join Blink-182 drummer and FOHI alum Travis Barker for his “Run Travis Run” 5K race in Palm Desert. FOHI’s marching band will entertain participants in the runup to the race, and greet the racers as they finish. In June, the FOHI band joined in a civic celebration for Barker, a former Marching Steeler who was born in Fontana and graduated from FOHI in 1993, when he received a key to the city in a dedication ceremony for the newly renamed “Travis Barker Way.” Barker briefly joined the band, strapping on a snare drum and playing a solo, then giving the Marching Steelers a shout out during his dedication speech.
Whittier Union High School District spotlighted its success in preparing students for bright futures during its inaugural State of the District event on Oct. 1, engaging nearly 200 community members, elected officials, students, families, and staff with a catered dinner reception, live student performances, and a program that emphasized strong community partnerships and a deep commitment to academic excellence. The event, held at California High School and generously sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, was attended by state leaders such as Senator Bob Archuleta and Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco. Local leaders in attendance included Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri, Whittier City Councilmembers Cathy Warner and Mary Ann Pacheco, Whittier City Manager Conal McNamara, Santa Fe Springs Mayor Bill Rounds, Norwalk Councilmember Ana Valencia, and La Mirada City Councilmember Michelle Velasquez Bean.
Rosemead High School (RHS) English teacher Stacy Lim returned as a first-time mom from maternity leave late in the 2024-25 school year, feeling tired, overwhelmed, and stressed about providing for her son while she was working. She was quickly comforted, however, by the knowledge that she had resources and privacy at school to help make her transition easier with the District’s newly installed Mamava Lactation Pods, a secure, sanitary, and safe space for breastfeeding parents.
Senator Rubio will engage with approximately 30 Covina High students in an interactive lesson on the legislature and the civic process. She will also share her inspiring personal story as an immigrant and proud Latina leader, highlighting the importance of representation, civic responsibility, and community leadership. This unique opportunity allows students to connect classroom learning with real-world public service and gain insight into how their voices can shape the future.
Dr. Vincent Tinto, one of the nation’s most influential scholars on student success and belonging in higher education, will keynote the inaugural Caring Campus Conference: Building a National Culture of Care this November in San Diego. As Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at Syracuse University and former Chair of the Higher Education Program, Tinto has dedicated his career to advancing research on student persistence and the power of connection to transform college experiences and improve student outcomes. In distilling the research on college retention, Tinto found student success could be captured by two simple thoughts: students must want to persist – that is, be motivated to persist – and they must have or acquire the ability to persist.
Upland Unified School District’s StepUp Preschool prepares its youngest learners for school and life through an inclusive introduction to education. With approximately 150 spaces available each year, StepUp offers an innovative learning environment where children with special needs and their neurotypical peers learn side by side. StepUp Preschool is designed for three-year-olds and serves as a bridge into California’s universal transitional kindergarten for four-year-olds. Students are eligible to begin on their third birthday, and families may choose between morning (8:30 to 11:30 a.m.) or afternoon (noon to 3:30 p.m.) sessions, Monday through Thursday.
For more than half a century, the Smudge Pot has been more than just a football game in Bonita Unified – it has been a showcase of community pride, student talent, and family tradition. On Sept. 13, that legacy continued as Bonita and San Dimas high schools brought their rivalry to Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) for the 53rd annual matchup. This year marked the first time the storied contest was played at Mt. SAC’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium, where Bonita High secured its seventh consecutive Smudge Pot victory with a 28-14 win. Beyond the scoreboard, the annual Smudge Pot tradition has long been a celebration of the entire Bonita Unified community, District students’ talents in athletics and the arts. Students on both sidelines kept the energy high throughout the game; San Dimas High and Bonita High Associated Student Body (ASB) leaders led their sections in chants, while cheer and dance teams from both schools performed.
Pioneer High School senior Nydia Palacios is known as a natural leader and an academic role model who loves to challenge herself, acquiring both high school and college credits at a lightning pace while enjoying as many extracurricular activities as she can fit into one day. Palacios, who boasts a 4.05 GPA, entered her senior year with 286 credits, which far exceeds the traditional 220 credits needed to graduate. Palacios has also gotten a start on higher education, having completed seven community college dual enrollment courses, in addition to her myriad campus leadership positions and musical and athletic pursuits as a member of the PHS Jazz Band, track & field, and girl’s cross-country teams. Palacios’ love of volunteering has seen her devote countless hours to help serve those in need, whether she is engaging in afterschool tutoring for the Boys and Girls Club, or serving as a Youth Leader for her church. Palacios has also emerged as a campus leader. She is currently president of Pioneer’s PTSA Club and as a junior was vice president of the school site council.
Whittier Union students are getting a head start on their college education through a free dual enrollment partnership between the District and Río Hondo College (RHC), which allows students to take after-school courses for credit that are transferable to University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) schools. Beginning in their freshman year, Whittier Union students at all seven high schools can take one dual enrollment class per semester, plus summer school, and earn up to 30 college credits by the time they graduate. Students are encouraged to take courses that will qualify them for RHC’s Honors Transfer Program, which is designed to increase students’ chances of attending a four-year university.
Four more community colleges nationwide have achieved Caring Campus Certification, a distinction honoring institutions that exemplify what it means to lead with care while advancing student persistence, retention, and success. Patrick & Henry Community College in Virginia has made Caring Campus history as the first institution to earn gold certification, while Northeast Lakeview College in Texas, along with West Los Angeles College (WLAC) and Yuba College in California, have each earned silver certification – demonstrating their deep commitment to fostering connection, belonging, and opportunity for all students.
