El Monte Union’s Student Leaders Shine Bright at ASB Leadership Day
El Monte Union's Associated Student Body members celebrated leadership and community engagement at the District's annual ASB Leadership Day on April 19, where they gathered to hone skills, share experiences, and inspire positive impacts in their schools and communities. With a theme of “Cars,” inspired by the Pixar film, the event helped to cultivate leadership skills, foster teamwork, and inspire innovation among the El Monte Union’s future leaders. Students engaged in interactive workshops, participated in team-building activities, and heard from guest speakers renowned for their expertise in leadership development.
El Monte Union Celebrates Successes of 2024 QuestBridge Scholars
Five El Monte Union High School District seniors have been selected as recipients of the prestigious QuestBridge National Match Scholarship, earning admission and a full four-year scholarship worth more than $200,000 to the nation's most selective colleges. The QuestBridge scholars are South El Month High School seniors Mariana Ortega Ubeda and Karla Ixchop; Rosemead High School senior Wesley (Junaho) Huang; Arroyo High School senior Chris Tu; and Mountain View High School senior Jason Flores. QuestBridge’s rigorous selection process honored finalists who have demonstrated qualities necessary for success in college and beyond, including excellence and diligence in their studies, and active engagement in their school communities.
El Monte Union Prom Fashion Show Electrifies Campus
In celebration of prom season, Mountain View High School’s Class of 2025 hosted a “Prom Fashion Show” on April 12, where students walked the red carpet and showcased different looks to increase excitement about prom, promote inclusivity, and electrify school spirit throughout the campus. As a grand gesture, Friar Tux provided male student models with complimentary suits and Windsor Store provided female student-models with dresses, shoes, and accessories.
El Monte Union showcased its unwavering commitment to student advocacy through active participation in the 2024 Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip to Washington, D.C., held April 8 to 10. Trustees and superintendents joined forces with approximately 260 other dedicated members to champion the needs of California students on Capitol Hill. During the trip, representatives from El Monte Union engaged in crucial discussions with notable figures such as Senators Laphonza Butler and Alex Padilla, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Pete Aguilar, and many more. The focus was on addressing pressing issues such as increasing special education funding, enhancing teacher recruitment and retention efforts, reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools Act, expanding broadband access, and safeguarding student data with cybersecurity resources.
El Monte High School Visual and Performing Arts students proudly unveiled a transformative mural project, bridging the realms of art and music in an innovative display of creativity and collaboration. The mural project, which incorporates both music and art, began as a modest endeavor, then blossomed into an epic installation over two years, standing as a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of El Monte High’s artistic community. The mural’s primary objective is to foster connection and inspiration among students across different artistic mediums, using symbols and inspirational quotes to ignite creativity and appreciation among their peers.
El Monte Union Salutes National Athletic Training & Red Cross Month
In celebration of National Athletic Training and Red Cross Month, Rosemead High School sports medicine and athletic training students partnered with the school’s Red Cross Club to host a First Aid Workshop on March 8. Students were taught splinting, spine boarding, how to handle open wounds, and how to perform CPR. Arroyo High School’s athletic training students were also hard at work attending to the needs of athletes during their school’s baseball and softball games on March 18.
El Monte Union Alumni Return for Annual Alumni Staff Track Meet
El Monte High School hosted its second annual Alumni Staff Track Meet on March 22, with dozens of alumni and staff challenging the current track and field team, highlighting their athleticism while fostering deeper connections on campus. Participants received commemorative T-shirts and earned medals for their hard work. Alumni and staff took home the trophy for a second year in a row.
Fernando R. Ledesma High School students delved into the complexities of the legal system through a realistic mock murder trial experience on March 15, gaining insight into the workings of the modern judiciary firsthand. Dubbed “People vs. Hayes,” the mock murder trial served as the final project for Fernando Ledesma seniors. The murder trial simulation aimed to foster a deeper understanding of court proceedings and encouraged students to use their critical thinking, research, and public speaking skills throughout the trial.
Arroyo High School has been recognized as a 2024 California Distinguished School, one of just four schools in the San Gabriel Valley to receive the honor from the California Department of Education (CDE), for its outstanding efforts in closing the achievement gap for students and producing exceptional scholars. Arroyo was one of 293 schools across California recognized by the CDE. Arroyo High's achievement follows its recent six-year accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 2023. The school provides rigorous programs and high-quality services catering to the needs of its students.
El Monte Union High School District celebrated a milestone in its commitment to clean mobility awareness with a dynamic ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 23, which marked the completion of an eye-catching 80-foot-long mural, visible to tens of thousands of commuters on the 60 freeway, and electric vehicle car wraps that encourage the use of clean transportation. The projects marked the culmination of the District’s Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project. Students, administrators, project partners, parents, and representatives of local elected officials were also treated to a screening of the District’s new “Clean Energy Careers” animation created by renowned artist Lalo Alcaraz. The new animation aims to inspire the next generation of students to explore career opportunities that can positively impact air quality.
