Oak Park Elementary School has been recognized on a state level for its high academic performance and dedication to closing the achievement gap after earning a spot on the Educational Results Partnership’s (ERP) prestigious 2024 Honor Roll list of California schools. Like other ERP Honor Roll schools, Oaks Park Elementary has demonstrated consistently high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time, and a reduction in achievement gaps among student populations. Principal Gerald Mullins credits those positive results to a positive school culture, along with its dedicated staff and teachers, and a supportive community.
Manzanita Elementary School kindergartener Noah P. showcased his creativity and talent by earning a finalist spot in the SC Johnson Happy Hands contest, a national competition that emphasizes the importance of handwashing in schools. The contest encourages students in grades K-12 to use their imagination by designing a custom soap dispenser to promote better handwashing. A committee of judges evaluated each submission based on visual appeal, overall design, creativity, and unique design elements and chose finalists from both K-5 and 6-12. The Grand Prize winner will be chosen through public voting, open from Saturday, Feb. 1 – Friday, Feb. 28.
Families and neighbors shared hugs with teachers, children danced and played games, and the Pasadena Unified School District community, looking for stability and normalcy after a week of devastating fires and loss, took its first steps in rebuilding and reopening campuses during a Community Connector event held at Pasadena City College on Jan. 17. Embracing Pasadena Unified’s theme for the school year of “The Power of Us,” hundreds of Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre families came together to commiserate over their grief and enjoy food and treats during the afternoon event. District administrators, faculty, and staff, led by Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco, were on hand to provide crucial information on how to re-enroll children at school, provide care packages and resources, and let everyone in the community know that Pasadena Unified will come back stronger than ever.
With tax season in full swing, Bonita High School’s IRS-certified accountants-in-training once again are poised and ready to provide tax return filing assistance to local residents free of cost, as part of the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which has been a fixture at Bonita for more than 20 years. The VITA program will kick off with Tax Day on Thursday, Jan. 30, with a class session dedicated to tax preparation appointments for residents and students. Guided by accounting teacher Madhu Sekhri, who is a Certified Public Accountant, Bonita’s VITA program is available for all students and tax payers who earned $67,000 or less in 2024. Tax preparation services are available through April 11 during the hours of 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Chaparral Academy of Technology students erupted in cheers, waving glow sticks as balloons and lively music filled the air as the announcement was made that their school won the Jostens Epic School Revamp Contest, which comes with a prize package valued up to $150,000. A panel of judges named Chaparral Academy the grand-prize winner of the Jostens second annual Epic School Revamp contest, giving the school access to a team of identity and culture experts that will work with faculty and students on a rebranding. The school will soon be transformed with new murals, banners, and other vibrant visuals that refresh the campus while embodying the essence of the Roadrunner spirit.
South Hills High School students, employees, families, and community members celebrated the grand unveiling of the school’s innovative new library, designed to inspire and support student success, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 23. The cutting-edge learning hub features updated technology, dynamic workspaces for both individual and collaborative use, and an imaginative atmosphere to fulfill the needs of South Hills students. The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured addresses by Covina-Valley Unified Superintendent and event MC Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer, Board of Education Vice President Maria Caceres, and Board Member Maria Cruz, emphasizing the importance of providing students with modern resources to enhance their educational journey.
At San Dimas High School, there will always be a place on the Wall of Fame for Class of 2021 alumna and professional soccer player Ally Lemos, who brought the Lady Saints soccer team its only state championship in 2021, before continuing on to UCLA and getting drafted to the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), winning championships for each team. Lemos becomes the latest former Saint to have their jersey retired and placed on the school’s Wall of Fame in the lobby of the San Dimas High gymnasium. Principal Omar Mayen and assistant principal Jack Nance made the presentation during halftime of the San Dimas varsity basketball game on Jan. 10. Lemos, who has now won championship titles at the state, college and pro levels, turns 21 in March.
El Monte Union senior Alexander Gonzalez made El Monte High School (EMHS) history with his selection to the prestigious California Choral Directors Association’s (CCDA) All-State Honor Choir, making him the first Lion to ever earn a spot among the top 300 vocal talents in the state. Gonzalez, who began his choir journey as a freshman at EMHS, reached a major milestone in October 2024 by qualifying for the regional choir. At his audition, he distinguished himself as one of the top scorers, earning a spot in the California All-State Choir. During the audition process, the senior impressed judges with a memorized Italian song "Sebben Crudele" and demonstrated his abilities in music reading, scales, aural skills, and sight-reading.
A savvy and enterprising group of Glen A. Wilson High School computer science students combined their knowledge and talent to create an AI-powered app designed to let users detect the possibility of skin cancer from their mobile phones. The app, named FOCAL, was recently recognized as a U.S. House of Representatives Congressional App Challenge winner by Linda Sánchez, California’s 38th District Representative. The FOCAL team, led by Wilson senior Julina Liu (database administrator), juniors Ethan De la Cruz (AI developer) and Alvin Cheng (back-end developer), and sophomore Nolan Huang (front-end developer), as well as their faculty advisor, Wilson computer science teacher Courtney Bushyeager, will be recognized by Sánchez during a special ceremony at Glen A. Wilson High’s Media Center on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Fontana Unified School District will celebrate Black History Month with a special event designed to recognize the achievements and contributions of Black students and culture. The event is hosted in collaboration with the District African American Parent Advisory Council (DAAPAC) and will feature culturally enriching entertainment, art displays, a collection of moving historical artifacts, and an awards ceremony recognizing District students for their academic and artistic excellence.
