Baldwin Park Unified hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 20 to celebrate the unveiling of Olive Middle School’s renovated soccer field. More than 20 city and local dignitaries gathered for the event, which featured a special performance by the school’s band. The field renovation is one of the last projects to be completed using Measure K funds, passed by voters in 2006.
In partnership with the City of Baldwin Park, America’s Job Center of California, Goodwill of Southern California and the Baldwin Park Business Association, Baldwin Park Unified is launching a NextGen Youth Workforce Program to provide additional job opportunities to students and residents in Baldwin Park from ages 14 to 24. A kick off celebration was hosted on May 25 to formally recognize the program. The program will begin with 70 students who will receive work experience and training with local businesses and potential employers.
Baldwin Park Unified hosted a farewell event for the Elwin Elementary School community on May 25 to celebrate and honor the legacy of the school and its students, teachers, staff and alumni. More than 300 Elwin Elementary community members reminisced on the years gone by while enjoying an outdoor barbeque with current students and families. The Board of Education took action on March 22 and approved the closure of Elwin Elementary School after the 2021-22 school year because of continued declining enrollment.
Decked out in caps, gowns and tassels, nearly 1,000 Baldwin Park Unified Class of 2022 graduates celebrated the final moments of their high school journeys during commencement ceremonies held on June 1 and 2. With raucous crowds of family and friends cheering wildly, Baldwin Park, Sierra Vista and North Park high school grads gave each other farewell hugs, listened to inspirational speeches, and proudly walked on stage to receive their diplomas, with many acknowledging their supporters with waves and smiles. The Class of 2022 boasted many distinguished scholars who will move on to universities such as Stanford and Washington University in St. Louis.
Baldwin Park Unified students from Geddes and Margaret Heath elementary schools will showcase their dancing skills from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10 during a Spring Celebration at L.A. Live. The 12 BPUSD fourth and fifth grade students are members of Conga Kids, an organization that brings dance to elementary schools, and were selected to advance to the Conga Kids Grand-Finale Competition. L.A. Live is located at 800 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.congakids.org/comp.
Baldwin Park Unified celebrated 10 exceptional seniors on May 12 during the District’s virtual Joint Scholarship Awards Ceremony. Scholarships included a $5,000 award from the Ramona Burnham Foundation, named in honor of long-time BPUSD educator Ramona Burnham; four $750 scholarships from the Baldwin Park Organization of Supervisors and Administrators; three $500 scholarships from the Baldwin Park Education Association and two $750 Delta Kappa Gamma Society International scholarships.
Baldwin Park Unified’s middle school robotics teams from BP STEM Academy closed out an exceptional season in May, with two teams delivering standout performances at the VEX World Championships. Team Hold Up went on a 10-0 run and went undefeated in their division qualifying rounds, and team Something Ain’t Right went on a 7-3 run and ranked 16th in their division qualifying round before making the final round – the first time a BPUSD team reached this level in its history. More than 500 teams were invited or qualified for the VEX World Championship Middle School division.
Baldwin Park Unified will recognize the Class of 2022 with commencement ceremonies for the District’s two comprehensive high schools and continuation high school. North Park Continuation High School seniors will celebrate their milestone while walking the school’s red carpet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1. Sierra Vista High School’s Class of 2022 will accept their diplomas at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, followed by the Class of 2022 from Baldwin Park High School at 7 p.m. BPACE is located at 4640 N. Maine Ave.; North Park is located at 4600 Bogart Ave.; Sierra Vista High School is located at 3600 Frazier St.; and Baldwin Park High School is located at 3900 N. Puente Ave.
Administrators and educators from Baldwin Park Unified’s Geddes and Margaret Heath elementary schools shared their experiences in helping pilot a federally funded education program for English Learners during a Teaching English Learners Through the Arts (TELA) end-of-the-year celebration on May 12. Both elementary schools participated in the TELA program over the last five years, and their presentation highlighted the students and educators’ educational journeys, which included dance, fine arts and theater. The information shared will be part of the final report sent to Washington, D.C. and Congress for review and potential implementation in K-12 education across the country.
Baldwin Park Unified is partnering with the Kiwanis Clubs of Baldwin Park and La Puente to host the Tees Up for Kids Golf Tournament at 7 a.m. Monday, June 6 at the California Country Club, located at 1509 Workman Mill Rd., Whittier. Presented by Balfour Beatty, the charity golf tournament will benefit the Kiwanis Clubs of Baldwin Park and La Puente and will raise scholarship funds for local high school students. To sponsor or register, visit TeesUpforKids.org.