Lynwood Unified to Host Community Wellness Resource Fair
In partnership with the California Department of Education and the office of State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, Lynwood Unified School District will host a “Health for the Holidays” Community Wellness Fair, from 2 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Lynwood High School, providing students with health resources, holiday activities and giveaways. Thurmond will attend the event to encourage students to make the most of the resources available to them, including free prescription eyeglasses, COVID-19 vaccines, housing resources, health screenings and other health services. Lynwood High School is located at 12124 Bullis Rd., Lynwood.
Bonita Unified Choir to Perform in Disneyland Candlelight Processional
The Bonita High School Chamber Singers, as well as alumni, have been selected to sing in the mass choir at Disneyland’s annual candlelight ceremony and processional, which will take place in the evening on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4. Following a vigorous audition process, the Bearcats were selected from a pool of applicants that included high school, collegiate and community choirs from across Southern California. Only 12 choirs were selected to perform in the mass choir. The Candlelight Processional is a 45-minute musical retelling of “The First Christmas” story, which features a mass choir as the centerpiece of the show.
Fontana High School’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (MCJROTC) Raider teams and Drill teams delivered showstopping performances during the fifth annual Santiago High School Raiders and seventh annual Santiago Drill competition on Nov. 5, continuing the program’s successful streak as it seeks to capture a national championship. Fontana High School’s two Raider teams earned the first-place overall award, as well as first place for the circuit physical fitness challenge, first- and second-place trophies for the speed orienteering challenge, first place for the top female physical fitness event, first- and second-place awards for the litter carry challenge, and second place for the single rope bridge. The Drill team, consisting of 10 students, brought home first place for the Unarmed Regulation Drill and second place for the Unarmed Inspection.
El Monte Union High School District will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony in celebration of Fernando R. Ledesma High School’s newly built Multipurpose Building and Gymnasium at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The renovated buildings feature a performance space, basketball court, fitness areas and outdoor classrooms. Local dignitaries, school officials, students, alumni and community members will celebrate the ribbon-cutting with a special student performance, honorary speeches, tours and refreshments. Fernando R. Ledesma High School is located at 12347 Ramona Blvd., El Monte. and more.
Four Fontana Unified schools received donations and food gift cards from Northgate Gonzalez Market during a grand opening celebration and special VIP reception on Nov. 29. Harry Truman Middle School and Cypress and Randall Pepper elementary schools received $1,500 each. Fontana High School received $2,500 to put toward the FOHI choir and ballet folklórico programs, as well as $3,000 to support families in need and student scholarships. Cypress Elementary will invest the donation in student, staff and parent incentives; Randall Pepper will use the funds for Northgate Market gift cards for families to spend over the holidays and school year; Truman Middle also will use the funds for food gift cards to help students’ families enjoy the winter season.
Whitaker Elementary School welcomed droves of students, parents and community members onto campus for a night of tasty burgers and outdoor cinematic splendor during its Movie Night Fundraiser on Nov. 17. The event was sponsored by Whitaker’s Home School Organization and featured an In-n-Out food truck, thanks to the In-n-Out Foundation. The night brought in more than $1,800, of which 75 percent will be used to fund Whitaker School field trips, student events and support for classrooms. The other 25 percent of the proceeds will be given to a Buena Park charity.
Glen A. Wilson High School shared its success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathways and highlighted its biomedical science program to more than 20 schools and districts nationwide during the 2022 Project Lead the Way (PLTW) National Showcase, held virtually on Nov. 9. In celebration of National STEM Week, PLTW chose one partnering high school to lead the annual showcase, during which Wilson High teachers shared success stories about fostering career readiness skills in students, discussed transformative professional development tips for educators and showcased their fourth-year course curriculum.
El Monte Union High School District students are receiving in-depth training in sports therapy and rehab thanks to the District’s new afterschool Sports Medicine Program, offered at Rosemead, South El Monte and Arroyo high schools. In the winter of 2021, EMUHSD worked with a small group of students to develop the program and partnered with ATvantage Athletic Training to provide athletic training services to all comprehensive schools. Rosemead, South El Monte and Arroyo have created afterschool programs that allow students to learn from ATvantage athletic trainers and gain the skills and knowledge needed to enter the athletic training and sports medicine industry.
A.B. Miller High School senior Damien Herrera has always had an interest in flying – one that turned into a passion through the school’s aviation career technical education (CTE) pathway. Now, Herrera will have the opportunity to turn that passion into a career, aided by a $10,000 scholarship from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Herrera, who was surprised with the scholarship on Nov. 11, is the second A.B. Miller aviation student to receive a scholarship this year. Fellow senior Nathan Aguilar also secured one in June 2022 from the EAA, a community of engaged aviation enthusiasts dedicated to growing participation in aviation.
Lone Hill Middle School students are finding their rhythm as artists and leaders, building a community and developing skills to carry them confidently into high school, college and career through the school’s dance team. The Lone Hill Dance Team (LHDT) launched six years ago when a group of students approached their counselor for assistance in forming a team. With oversight from the counselor, LHDT is led by the students – who choreograph their own routines and teach them to each other, becoming strong leaders and collaborators in the process. The team showcases its artistic skill throughout the school year – performing at lunchtime pep rallies, back to school night, open house, holiday events and an end-of-year talent show.
