El Monte Union High School District continued the annual tradition of celebrating its graduates, placing more than 450 banners throughout the District that feature the photos and academic accomplishments of its Class of 2022 grads from El Monte, South El Monte, Rosemead, Arroyo, Mountain View and Fernando R. Ledesma high schools. Created through a partnership between the cities of El Monte, South El Monte and Rosemead, the El Monte Promise Foundation and Los Angeles County First District Supervisor Hilda Solis, the banners display names and commencement photos of the graduates, as well as their post-graduation plans for college, trade school or military service.
Rosemead High School’s AP U.S. History teacher Michelle Ban was named El Monte Union’s 2022-23 Teacher of the Year for her ability to connect with her students and create lesson plans that are both relevant and challenging. The El Monte Union Board of Trustees recognized Ban with a bouquet of flowers and added her name to the honoree plaque at its Oct. 5 Board meeting. The Board room was filled with Ban’s colleagues and supporters, who came out to celebrate her accomplishments. Ban has also been named a 2022 Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, one of just 16 teachers to earn this distinction.
Mountain View High School students, families, staff, dignitaries and community members gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 20, which celebrated upgrades to the school’s Zoo Crew Classroom and Cafetorium, including the addition of theater-quality retractable seating, a proscenium wall for performances and lighting and sound systems in the Cafetorium. Following the program, refreshments and snacks were served as community members took self-guided tours to view the progress of the renovations.
El Monte Union families connected with more than 50 colleges, universities and other organizations during a Districtwide College Night held Sept. 12 at Mountain View High School. Students learned about the many academic opportunities available to them after high school. In addition to receiving guidance on their options for postsecondary education, each student received an El Monte Union T-shirt and swag bag, filled with items to use throughout the school year. Mountain View’s VISTA Academy set up a photo booth for families to commemorate the event.
The El Monte Union High School District will host a groundbreaking tour to celebrate the newest upgrades to Mountain View High School’s Zoo Crew Classroom and Cafetorium at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20. The project will highlight the addition of retractable auditorium seating, proscenium wall for performances, computer labs, 3-D modeling and workshop areas to construct projects related to animal habitats. Mountain View High School is located at 2900 Parkway Dr., El Monte.
South El Monte High School students, families and staff mixed with dignitaries and community members for a lively ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 24, celebrating the completion of the school’s quad renovation project. The ceremony, highlighted by the South El Monte choir singing the national anthem, included speeches, certificates of recognitions from City Council members and local elected officials, and a special birthday greeting for the school, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Sept. 2.
El Monte Union High School District welcomed more than 8,000 students back onto campuses for the first day of school on Aug. 17, when they were greeted by peers, cheer teams, campus leaders, mascots, teachers and administrators who helped create an inviting atmosphere and excite students for the start of the 2022-23 school year. Each El Monte Union campus was brightly decorated with balloons and posters displaying school colors. At Rosemead High School, Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga was present to welcome students with fist bumps and high fives
South El Monte High School students, families and staff mixed with dignitaries and community members for a lively ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 24, celebrating the completion of the school’s quad renovation project. The ceremony, highlighted by the South El Monte choir singing the national anthem, included speeches, certificates of recognitions from City Council members and local elected officials, and a special birthday greeting for the school, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Sept. 2.
El Monte High School students interested in Japanese language and culture are saying “konnichiwa” to the school’s new Japanese 101 dual enrollment college course. The afterschool class, which debuted in January, allows students to earn 4.5 units of transferable college credit through a partnership with Río Hondo College, which provides instruction at the high school. Sixteen El Monte High students were enrolled in the class this spring, which stresses oral and written proficiency of the Japanese language. Students learn the basics of Hiragana and Katakana script and are introduced to Kanji characters, while studying Japanese history, culture and civilization. Students will need to complete at least 27 hours of intensive individualized oral-aural practice to earn full credit.
El Monte High School has received the 2021 AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award from the College Board, recognizing the school for expanding women’s access to Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science classes. El Monte High received the award for fostering equal gender representation in AP Computer Science Principles during the 2020-21 school year and is among 1,200 high schools across the United States honored by the College Board.
