Students from Mountain View High School enjoyed a lunchtime concert on Aug. 20, when The Red Pears – an indie rock band formed by two alumni in 2013 – made their triumphant return to the school. Mountain View Class of 2012 graduate Henry Vargas and Class of 2013 graduate Jose Corona met while competing in a school-sponsored Battle of the Bands in 2012. Though Corona’s band emerged the winner that night, the two eventually joined forces as the Red Pears, beginning a musical journey that has led them to sold-out shows at the Glass House in Pomona and a performance at Coachella in 2019.
El Monte Union to Host Free Community Vaccine Clinics
El Monte Union High School District has partnered with Fulgent to provide a series of free community vaccination clinics in conjunction with back-to-school nights at each of their respective high schools. The clinics are open to students, staff, and the community. Upcoming clinics will be held 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 14, at Rosemead High School, 9063 E. Mission Dr., Rosemead; and Friday, Sept. 16, at El Monte High School, 3048 Tyler Ave., El Monte, and Fernando R. Ledesma High School, 12347 Ramona Blvd, El Monte. To book appointments: https://www.emuhsd.org/Page/1.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) students will benefit from $300,000 in one-time funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund to support student achievement and District goals outlined in the 2021 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). The EMUHSD LCAP focuses on increasing mental health support services and bolstering the social-emotional well-being of students, which includes access to counselors and a continuation of awareness campaigns and sessions, such as online initiatives, that provide students with access to online workshops and activities that aid in reducing stress. The LCAP also outlines efforts to enhance student engagement on campus, as well as plans to increase access to credit recovery courses online to assist students in making up coursework.
The El Monte Union High School District is continuing its efforts to gather community input and boost voter participation as it begins the process of shifting from at-large elections to by-trustee area elections, holding its second in a series of public hearings on Wednesday, Sept. 1. The shift means that instead of residents voting for any board candidate on the ballot within the District’s boundaries, residents will vote for a single candidate residing in their newly drawn trustee-area, usually one-fifth of the entire District. The change will go into effect November 2022.
El Monte Union High School District partnered with the El Monte Promise Foundation to honor the Class of 2021 with an Aug. 19 ceremony at El Monte High School, celebrating the hanging of graduate banners that will be displayed throughout the cities of El Monte, South El Monte and Rosemead. The event featured speeches from Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga, El Monte Promise Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Cobian, EMUHSD parent Gloria Garcia, and El Monte High School alumnus Joseph Herrera. Banners displaying photos of graduates will be hung from poles throughout the EMUHSD boundaries, honoring the Class of 2021 for their hard work and perseverance.
El Monte Union Green Ribbon-Cutting Heralds New All-Electric Bus Fleet
El Monte Union High School District community members and stakeholders received a glimpse at the future of transportation in the San Gabriel Valley as the brand new all-electric school bus fleet arrived at South El Monte High School, heralding the inception of the District’s $9.8 million Clean Mobility in Schools Pilot Project, celebrated during a “green” ribbon-cutting ceremony held Aug. 18. South El Monte students cheered as El Monte Union administrators joined with representatives from the California Air Resources Board, project corporate partners, state and local officials, and clean air advocates to cut a ceremonial ribbon on the initiative that puts into action California’s promise to drive zero-emission technology to support air quality and combat climate change.
El Monte Union High School District students reunited with friends, classmates, teachers and staff as they returned to campuses for in-person instruction and kicked off the 2021-22 school year on Aug. 17. This momentous day was commemorated at Arroyo High School with a visit from Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo and the Los Angeles Department of Public Health Director, Barbara Ferrer.
El Monte Union High School District will transition from an “at-large” elections system to a “by-trustee area” system, a change initiated by the Board of Trustees to comply with the California Voting Rights Act. The District will hold a series of public hearings and open houses to engage the community in creating these trustee areas and to provide structured input. The official mapping process begins on Wednesday, Aug. 18, and the anticipated completion timeline is March 2022. Information on public hearings, open houses, and other meetings can be found at www.emuhsd-by-area-trustees.com.
El Monte Union to Hold Public Hearing on Board Election Process
El Monte Union High School District will hold the second in a series of public hearings as part of the transition to a by-trustee election system at the District office, 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 1. The hearing will invite public comments and input regarding the composition of the voting areas in advance of the preparation of draft trustee voting area plans by the District’s demographer. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to participate. The El Monte Union Board Room is located at 3537 Johnson Ave., El Monte. Participate in-person and virtually at https://www.emuhsd.org/boardlive.
Throughout her childhood, South El Monte High School Class of 2021 graduate Heather Gomez discovered a joy for playing soccer and a love of children. Gomez, who helped lead the SEMHS Eagles girls soccer team to a state championship in 2019, is taking her athletic prowess and dream of a career as a pediatrician to Montevallo College in Alabama. Gomez graduated with a 3.8 GPA, completed eight AP classes and holds the school record for most goals scored, totaling 29 -- one of the scholar-athlete’s many accomplishments on the field.
