Covina High School junior Gatsbee Gumban, known by his teammates as “The Great Gatsbee,” has been named the Sports Illustrated National High School Boys Athlete of the Week for Aug. 18-24, a recognition that highlights his extraordinary football performance. In a game against La Puente High School on Aug. 21, Gumban rushed for 337 yards and scored four touchdowns, powering the Colts to a 49-35 victory and earning him the national recognition. Beyond his athletic ability, Gumban is known for his kindness and humility both on and off the field, consistently supporting his teammates, classmates, and school community.
Covina-Valley Unified School District students were welcomed back to campuses with energy and enthusiasm for the first day of school on Aug. 18, setting the tone for a school year filled with achievement and continued student success. Smiling teachers and staff, balloons, signs, welcome-back rallies, student-led activities, and more created a festive and supportive atmosphere as students returned to their classrooms, ready to learn and thrive.
Covina-Valley Unified School District students and families filled the Health and Wellness Center for the District’s annual Back-to-School Extravaganza on Aug. 12 – a day of preparation, resources, and community connection ahead of the 2025-26 school year. The event featured free school supplies, haircuts, a complimentary breakfast, and health and wellness screenings designed to help students arrive on the first day of school feeling confident and ready to learn.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will kick off the 2025-26 school year with its annual Welcome Back Convocation, bringing together teachers, staff, and administrators for a morning of celebration, connection, and inspiration. The event will include a dynamic keynote speaker, team-building activities, and uplifting messages to set a positive tone for the year ahead.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will welcome students and families back to its annual Back-to-School Extravaganza, continuing its tradition of providing students with free backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year.
Covina-Valley Unified is opening new doors for middle school students through a pilot career technical education (CTE) summer program, giving incoming seventh- and eighth-graders early exposure to hands-on, real-world learning. The program, open to Las Palmas, Traweek, and Sierra Vista middle school students, quickly reached full capacity after its launch. Organized into three sessions, the program offers students the chance to explore two CTE programs per session, including studio art and business entrepreneurship, sports patient care and medical patient care, aviation/aerospace, and theater production.
The Covina-Valley Unified School District Board of Education has appointed longtime educator and District leader Dr. Jonathan Blackmore as interim superintendent for the 2025-26 school year, following a Board meeting held on July 10. Blackmore will lead the District while the Board conducts a comprehensive search for a permanent superintendent, which is expected to begin later this year. With more than 31 years of experience in education and over a decade of service to C-VUSD, Blackmore brings expertise and a strong commitment to student achievement, family engagement, and organizational excellence. Since joining the District, Blackmore has served in various roles, including Director of Communications, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Director of 21st Century Learning and Special Projects, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to his tenure in Covina-Valley Unified, he served as a high school principal, assistant principal, counselor, and English teacher.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will host a spirited ceremony to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Covina High School Softball and Athletic Complex. The state-of-the-art facility will feature new athletic fields, a snack bar, and restrooms, providing modern amenities to support Covina High student-athletes and elevate the school’s athletic programs.
Covina-Valley Unified School District honored the Class of 2025 with five uplifting commencement ceremonies held June 2-5, celebrating the accomplishments of more than 1,000 graduates as they enter the next chapter of their lives. Graduates from Northview, South Hills, and Covina high schools are headed to prestigious universities, including Harvard University; the University of Pennsylvania; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of Southern California; the University of California, Irvine; the University of Oregon; and more. Many are attending these institutions with notable scholarships in hand, including the $50,000 Southern California Edison Scholarship and the $25,000 ACE Mentor Scholarship.
Covina High School senior Titilola (Lola) Opanubi is preparing to take the next step in her academic journey this fall at the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN), paved by her deep commitment to academic excellence, social impact, and student leadership. Opanubi’s acceptance to UPENN continues a tradition of Ivy League success at Covina High School – a legacy of academic excellence that has spanned the past three years. Driven by a desire to uplift her community, Opanubi has spent her high school years leading and giving back. Through a voluntary Social Impact Project with Close the Gap Foundation, she worked to increase awareness of college access programs, such as “fly-in” opportunities and internships. Opanubi also serves as finance director for IgniteHER, a nonprofit focused on empowering the next generation of young female leaders.
