Rosemead High School senior Wendy Sar has a knack for numbers and the mindset of an explorer. As a member of the Riordan Scholars Program at UCLA, Sar served as team leader in a stock market analysis competition, guiding her team to first place. The rigorous weekend classes did more than provide Sar with a challenge; they helped propel her to an elite university. Sar will attend Northwestern University after being named a 2023 Posse Foundation scholar, one of just 10 Posse Los Angeles Chapter members to receive a full-ride scholarship to Northwestern. Sar plans to major in economics and pursue a managerial analytics certificate. This is the fourth year in a row a Rosemead High student has been named a Posse scholar.
Abbott Elementary School sixth-grade students put their imagination and art skills to the test, officially unveiling a colorful mural they created for their school community during a festive celebration on Feb. 3. The project – sponsored by nonprofit Turnaround Arts: California – was spearheaded by Abbott Elementary teacher Ann Salvador and artist Lilia “Liliflor” Ramirez, who worked with nearly 70 students over the last several months to bring their vision of honoring the Earth, its people and its beauty to life.
The Bonita Unified Board of Education unanimously approved Matt Wien to serve as the District’s superintendent during its Feb. 1 meeting, a decision met with deafening cheers and a standing ovation from a packed room of District teachers, staff, community leaders and families. The approval of Wien’s three-year contract for superintendent follows his success as acting and interim superintendent over nearly six months, during which he continued to serve in his previous position as assistant superintendent of educational services.
Fontana Unified School District Board of Education unanimously voted in favor of A.B. Miller High School retaining the current “Rebel” likeness as its mascot during the Feb. 1 Board meeting, acknowledging community feedback following an exploratory rebranding process. The consideration of a rebranded mascot began in June 2020, following an online petition created by students and staff that called for the selection of a new mascot that would better represent the community and school. A.B. Miller High School discontinued the use of the Rebel image, instead using a large letter “M,” while it solicited input from the school community and developed a rebranding committee composed of students, alumni, certificated and classified staff, administrators and parents.
Bonita Unified Accounting Students Offer Free Tax Filing Services
Students in Bonita High School’s accounting class are putting their knowledge into practice by filing free tax returns for students, as well as local taxpayers with income below $60,000, through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, the VITA program has provided free tax assistance for more than 50 years. Under the supervision of Bonita High accounting teacher Madhu Sekhri, students will be available to assist their peers and community members with their tax returns from 11:35 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, contact Sekhri at m.sekhri@bonita.k12.ca.us or call (909) 971-8220.
Buena Park School District Students Learn Compassion, Kindness
Buena Park School District students learned about charity, friendly attitudes and helping others during the District’s second annual Kinder Kindness Week celebration, held Jan. 23 to 27. Some 375 kindergarten students were given medals and superhero capes for learning various ways to make their campus, community and homes better by spreading kindness. Students also created artwork about how they’re reaching out to make new friends, planting trees, cleaning up their neighborhoods and being polite.
The El Monte Union High School District community celebrated the groundbreaking of Arroyo High School’s Athletic Field and Stadium Project during a ceremony on Jan. 31, signaling the start of construction on a project that includes a high-performance rubberized track and field, new scoreboard, renewed visitor bleachers and concession stands, and a grand stadium entrance. The Arroyo High Athletic Field and Stadium Project will provide students with a space that promotes healthy living and school spirit and will serve as a gathering place for physical fitness activities, athletic events, health and wellness instruction, student performances and school community functions.
Jurupa Hills High School senior Jesse Juarez’s talent as a photographer was first recognized when he posted photos on Instagram in middle school. At Jurupa Hills, Juarez began honing his skills under the guidance of photography teacher Rebecca Cauchon, who encouraged him to expand his horizons and consider a career in visual and digital arts. Juarez is one of five Jurupa Hills students whose work was recognized for excellence by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, with Juarez winning a coveted Gold Key Award at the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing West Coast Region Awards for his photo collage “Many Me.” The collage will be featured as part of the Alliance’s annual National Exhibition, to be held in New York City in the spring. Juarez was joined by seniors Rosemary Atkins and Roxana Silva, who received Silver Key Awards. Jurupa Hills senior Anita Rodriguez and junior Sam Aguba received Honorable Mentions for their work.
Sporting their favorite Los Angeles Dodgers gear, Whittier High School students created a sea of blue and white in the school’s gym as they received a special visit from the Dodgers during a schoolwide Hispanic Heritage-themed pep rally on Feb. 3. Whittier High’s 1,700 students had the opportunity to meet Dodgers players and legends and play a variety of games with them during the pep rally, which was part of the team’s Love LA 2023 Community Tour. The Cruz Show from Real 92.3 pumped up students and emceed the event. The Whittier High School visit was part of several other stops on the Dodgers 19th annual community service tour, which focused on expressing gratitude and providing fun-filled activities and experiences for Dodger fans throughout Los Angeles County.
Baldwin Park Unified Community Learns from Dual Language Author
Baldwin Park Unified students and parents in the District’s Dual Language program learned about the additional benefits and resources for cultivating bilingual, biliterate and bicultural homes through a special guest lecture from award-winning author and speaker Maritere Rodriguez Bellas on Jan. 25. Bellas, a bilingual parent mentor and writer, visited multiple Baldwin Park Unified schools to speak with Dual Language students and teachers, including Foster, Geddes, Margaret Heath, Tracy and Walnut elementary schools. She concluded her trip at Olive Middle School, where she led a special parent discussion for more than 60 parents.
