More than 400 families left the Covina-Valley Unified School District Health and Wellness Center with huge smiles and backpacks brimming with free school supplies, thanks to the District’s first-ever “Back to School Extravaganza” held Aug. 10. The event – a resource fair aimed at preparing District families for the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 21 – included a complimentary pancake breakfast, free haircuts, health screenings, and mental health resources from the District’s Student Services team of counselors, social workers, and nurses.
Covina-Valley Unified School District has been honored with ENERGY STAR certifications from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its dedication to sustainable and fiscally responsible practices through its comprehensive energy conservation program.
Twelve C-VUSD school sites earned ENERGY STAR certifications for meeting ventilation standards set by the EPA and rating in the top 25 percent nationwide for energy efficiency. The District’s ENERGY STAR-certified facilities are proven to save energy and money, and help protect the environment by generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions than typical buildings. Through its partnership with Cenergistic, an energy conservation company, the District created a comprehensive conservation program to protect the environment and save taxpayer dollars. The District has saved more than $1 million since the launch of the program two years ago.
Covina-Valley Unified School District will distribute free backpacks stuffed with school supplies on a first-come, first-served basis and provide complimentary access to essential services during its “Back to School Extravaganza” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10. The event will take place at the C-VUSD Health and Wellness Center, 4555 N. Lark Ellen Ave. Families will receive access to a free pancake breakfast and professional haircuts, as well as free health screenings, mental health resources, and more from the District’s Student Services team of counselors, social workers, and nurses.
C-VUSD Energy Conservation Program Earns EPA ENERGY STAR Honors
Covina-Valley Unified School District has been honored with ENERGY STAR certifications from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its dedication to sustainable and fiscally responsible practices through its comprehensive energy conservation program. Twelve District buildings, including 10 school sites, earned ENERGY STAR certifications for meeting ventilation standards set by the EPA and rating in the top 25 percent nationwide for energy efficiency.
Covina-Valley Unified Prepares for First Day of 2023-24 School Year
Covina-Valley Unified School District will start its new school year on Monday, Aug. 21. The District serves the communities of Covina, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Irwindale with 19 school sites, including an early childhood center and two adult education campuses.
Children throughout the San Gabriel Valley will have access to free, essential nutrition through Covina-Valley Unified School District’s Community Summer Meals Program. Any child 18 years or younger in the surrounding Covina-Valley community can receive one free breakfast and lunch meal every day through the Summer Meals Program, which runs at 10 different locations until Wednesday, Aug. 16.
Covina-Valley Unified School District has named Dr. Kim Braswell, a 24-year veteran in education with a breadth of experience as a teacher and school administrator, as the new principal of Rowland Avenue Elementary School. Over the last six years, Dr. Braswell served as a school administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She comes to Covina-Valley Unified from Bonita Unified School District, where she served as both the interim principal at Roynon Elementary School and the assistant principal at Ramona Middle School. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in Rowland Unified School District, which included two stints as a teacher on special assignment.
Covina-Valley Unified School District celebrated the resilience and extraordinary accomplishments of its diverse Class of 2023 with five vibrant graduation ceremonies filled with powerful music, moving speeches, and festive streamer cannons. Over four days, a total of 1,064 Covina-Valley Unified graduates were individually recognized and had their names read aloud to packed, cheering crowds filled with friends and family. The District’s Class of 2023 included 38 valedictorians and 229 graduates with honors for attaining GPAs of 3.65 to 4.0.
When Brandon Calderon walked across the stage to accept his high school diploma at South Hills High School’s commencement ceremony on June 7, it capped a run of nearly perfect high school attendance – an uncommon achievement in a post-pandemic world. Calderon only missed one day of school in his four years of high school – when he took a day off after finals to attend his sister’s graduation.
Covina-Valley Unified School District Medical Pathway Teacher Nikki Rodriguez-Ahern and South Hills High School senior Karissa Ramos provided medical expertise and life-saving care when they encountered a medical emergency in the community on April 26. Just four days before the medical intervention, Rodriguez-Ahern had led her C-VUSD Medical Pathway students, including Ramos, through a CPR certification course. For her heroic actions, Covina-Valley Unified’s Board of Education honored Rodriguez-Ahern at the May 8 Board meeting.
