EMUHSD Celebrates Clean Mobility Initiatives with Ribbon-Cutting
El Monte Union High School District will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of a new 80-foot mural, marking the culmination of the District’s Clean Mobility in School Pilot Project, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Friday Feb. 23. Artists Lalo Alcaraz and Levi Ponce will join with media personality Alysha Del Valle to host the event. The mural, which displays the message, “The Future Will Be Emission Free,” will be visible to tens of thousands of commuters on the 60 freeway. Guests will also be treated to a screening of the District’s new Clean Energy Careers animation. The ceremony will be held at the EMUHSD Bus Depot, 1003 Durfee Ave. South El Monte.
The El Monte community sits at the nexus of several major freeways, negatively impacting the air quality for the people who live, work, and go to school there. Join artists Lalo Alcaraz and Levi Ponce and Media Personality Alysha Del Valle to celebrate the completion of a new 80’ mural, visible to tens of thousands of commuters on the 60 freeway, and EV car wraps to encourage the use of clean transportation. The project marks the culmination of El Monte Union High School District’s Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project. Guests will also be treated to a screening of the District’s new Clean Energy Careers animation.
El Monte Union Annual Open House Showcases Programs, Facilities
Mountain View High School (MVHS) students and families gathered for the school’s annual Open House on Jan. 18, which featured food and refreshments, classroom tours, department showcases, informational workshops and a raffle for MVHS merch, including a brand-new letterman jacket. Showcases included highlights of the school’s Visual and Performing Arts program, ASB and Link Crew, CTE pathways, AVID, Zoo Crew and Engineering and Robotics. Families learned about Advanced Placement options, college preparation, facilities changes and updates, campus clubs and athletics, and a Cash for College workshop. Visitors also took a tour of the school’s wellness center.
El Monte Union Senior Garners Acclaim for Debut Novel
South El Monte High School senior and student author Aaron Morales unveiled his debut book titled, "Legacy: After Effects, A Red America Novel" to the El Monte Union community and was acknowledged for this outstanding achievement by the District’s Board of Trustees during a meeting in December. Set against a backdrop of societal upheaval, the book delves into the complexities of a post-apocalyptic world and explores the aftermath of a world-changing event in the heart of a divided America. "Legacy: After Effects, A Red America Novel" is now available for purchase on Amazon.
Arroyo High School alumnus and girls basketball coach Mike Gorball is celebrating multiple achievements during his 34th season at Arroyo High, after becoming the first girls basketball coach in San Gabriel Valley history and only the 12th coach in CIF Southern Section history to earn 500 victories. Gorball completed the milestone when Arroyo defeated Schurr High School 40-22 in December 2023. The El Monte Union Board of Trustees will honor Gorball during a meeting in February.
Arroyo High School sophomore Richard Cobian will showcase his talents in saber fencing – and seek to inspire others in his community to develop a love for the sport – when he competes against elite fencers from across the country at the 2024 USA Fencing Junior Olympics in February. Cobian earned his spot at the Junior Olympics after winning a gold medal during the qualifier in December. Cobian started fencing when he was a fifth-grader at Río Hondo Elementary School, which was close to his studio, the West Coast Fencing Academy. Cobian specializes in the saber category – one of three disciplines in modern fencing, which are saber, foil and épée, with each specialty using a different kind of blade and set of rules.
Seven graduates from El Monte Union High School District’s Adult Transition Program were celebrated with joy and applause for their academic accomplishments and successes during a winter commencement ceremony held on Dec. 21. In the presence of families, friends, the Board of Trustees, and District administrators and staff, the ceremony showcased heartfelt moments as graduates Jolin Duong, Gabriel Escobar, Edgar Valdez, Edwin Huaracha-Campos, Andrea Montano, Dominiak Morrow, and Fatima Santellan walked across the stage to receive their certificates of completion.
Arroyo High School’s Band and Color Guard students cheered in triumph as they celebrated their first ever gold medal at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association 5-A Division Championships held in Long Beach on Nov. 18. This accomplishment marks the first time in Arroyo High and El Monte Union band history that a school has earned a gold medal. With a score of 92.1, Arroyo was ranked first out of 17 high school teams that competed over the past seven weeks to earn a spot to the finals. Before winning the gold medal, Arroyo earned four bronze medals in the last seven years.
Mountain View High School English teacher Coreen Pineda is fueled by her love for her students, working tirelessly every day to inspire them to achieve great things and have confidence in their abilities. These qualities have earned Pineda recognition by the El Monte Promise Foundation, honoring her with the Bobby Salcedo Esperanza Award for Outstanding Educators, an annual award presented to educators who are committed to student success in education. Pineda received her award at the foundation’s 20th annual Tamalada Gala on Dec. 7. As a Mountain View High alumna, Pineda was inspired by her teachers to pursue a career in education. She went on to major in English at Cal Poly Pomona and has been teaching at her alma mater for the past 23 years.
El Monte Union High School District’s male students honed their leadership abilities through workshops during the District’s inaugural California Boys Acquiring Lifelong Learner Educational Resources On Success (CABALLEROS) event on Nov. 18 at El Monte High School, which included keynote speakers and activities geared toward personal growth and success. The engaging workshops covered essential topics such as image and etiquette, mental health, physical fitness and financial literacy. Attendees were also treated to a continental breakfast and nutritious lunch, where they took part in a rotating lunch activity, and received commemorative event T-shirts.
