Ben Lomond Elementary School students are strengthening their understanding of character traits and learning to put them into action through the Character Strong program, ensuring students treat one another with respect, care, and integrity every day. The Character Strong program focuses on three key outcomes: “Be Strong, Be Kind, and Be Well.” Each month, students explore a new character trait through grade-level specific lessons and songs that reinforce positive behavior, helping them develop respect, responsibility, empathy, gratitude, honesty, and more.
Covina-Valley Unified School District has earned multiple recognitions from U.S. News & World Report, Innovate Public Schools, and the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) Honor Roll for its innovative programs that empower students to excel inside and outside the classroom. All three Covina-Valley Unified middle schools ranked in the top 13% of public middle schools in California, while all nine elementary schools were ranked in the top 29% statewide, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. Additionally, Manzanita, Rowland Avenue, Grovecenter, and Merwin elementary schools, Las Palmas Middle School, and South Hills High School earned a place on Innovate Public Schools’ 2025 Top Public Schools list for closing opportunity gaps for Latino students.
Sierra Vista Middle School’s Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program is creating a culture of positivity, kindness, and care, ensuring every student feels seen and supported on campus. This commitment to fostering a welcoming environment earned WEB recognition at the World’s Greatest Schools Conference on Oct. 6 for digital positivity. WEB is made up of 38 seventh- and eighth-grade students who help engage their classmates through monthly classroom lessons, sports tournaments, games, rallies, and more. The program primarily supports sixth-graders and new seventh- and eighth-graders, helping them feel welcomed and connected to campus life.
Covina-Valley Unified will host its annual State of the District event, showcasing the District’s innovative programs and opportunities that prepare students for college, careers, and life. The event, emceed by Interim Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Blackmore, will feature a complimentary breakfast and the premiere of a showcase video celebrating the spirit, excellence, and dynamic offerings of Covina-Valley Unified.
When eighth-grader Lily Morales set her sights on reviving the cheer program at Traweek Middle School, she sparked a movement that led to the school’s first Pep Squad in 20 years, giving students new opportunities to lead, connect, and build school pride. When new teacher Heaven Velasquez introduced herself to her classes last school year and mentioned her lifelong cheer experience, Morales, a seventh-grader at the time, saw an opportunity.
Las Palmas Middle School teacher and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Coordinator Christy Thiel has been named one of only four finalists nationwide for the AVID Staff Developer of the Year Award, which honors educators for outstanding contributions to professional learning, student success, and the advancement of the AVID program. In 2008, Thiel became the school’s first AVID elective teacher and coordinator when the program offered only one section for seventh-graders. Seventeen years later, more than 330 students make up the 10 sections of AVID at Las Palmas, spanning sixth through eighth grade, including three AVID Excel sections for students in need of additional language support.
Being Deaf has shaped the life of South Hills High School senior Francisco Morales, presenting challenges many students never face, yet he has never allowed those challenges to define him. With resilience, determination, and the support of his teammates and coaches, Morales has immersed himself in academics, athletics, and leadership opportunities, proving that no obstacle can limit his ambition. Morales, who has been Deaf since birth, communicates through a combination of speech, American Sign Language (ASL), and the use of a cochlear implant. He also has the support of an interpreter in his classes, practices, and games, and credits his mother for encouraging him to learn ASL at age three.
Senator Rubio will engage with approximately 30 Covina High students in an interactive lesson on the legislature and the civic process. She will also share her inspiring personal story as an immigrant and proud Latina leader, highlighting the importance of representation, civic responsibility, and community leadership. This unique opportunity allows students to connect classroom learning with real-world public service and gain insight into how their voices can shape the future.
All three comprehensive high schools in Covina-Valley Unified School District have been ranked among the top 25% of public high schools nationwide and the top 35% in California by U.S. News & World Report, underscoring the District’s unwavering commitment to student success. U.S. News evaluates schools based on six key indicators of achievement and quality: college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.
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.
