South El Monte High School celebrated former and current Associated Student Body (ASB) members at their ASB Induction Ceremony in December, which emphasized their hard work and dedication during distance learning in 2020-21 and their successful return to campus in 2021-22. Despite spending the majority of their 2021 term online, student leaders came together and planned opportunities for students to stay engaged and have fun while following COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
El Monte Union High School District has selected Kirk McGinnis as the District’s new Director of Curriculum and Instruction. A key focus for McGinnis will be to provide leadership and expertise in developing career technical education (CTE) pathways within the District. With a history of building and maintaining positive school environments, McGinnis brings more than 20 years of experience in education to the role, as well as deep knowledge in how to build and expand programs such as dual enrollment for college credit, and CTE pathways that provide training in fields such as automotive technology, engineering, video production and sports medicine.
El Monte Union High School District released an eighth draft trustee area map for public review ahead of its next Board of Trustees meeting and final public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 2. The maps were created to support the District’s transition from at-large to by-trustee area elections. The newly released map – NDC Green 3 – was developed by professional demographers, National Demographics Corporation (NDC), based on comments received from the Board during the Jan. 5 public hearing. This map, includes a small revision to ensure the area bordered by Santa Anita Ave. on the west, Bryant Rd. on the north, Tyler Ave. on the east, and Valley Blvd. on the south is united in the proposed Trustee Area 3.
Rosemead High School senior Madison Loterina has received a full-ride Posse Foundation Scholarship to attend Bucknell University, where she will continue to explore her passion for learning and pursue her dream of becoming a history teacher. Madison, a first-generation college student with a 4.15 GPA, discovered her passion for helping others to learn at an early age while volunteering with younger students at her elementary school. Madison credits her Advanced Placement (AP) history teachers at EMUHSD for nurturing her love of the subject and inspiring her career goals.
The El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees will move forward three draft trustee area maps for further consideration as the District transitions from at-large elections to trustee-area elections. The Board plans to select a final map for adoption at its meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 2. Following comments during the Jan. 5 public hearing, as well as feedback taken during several community open houses and previous public hearings, the Board narrowed the number of draft maps for consideration following consensus to eliminate the NDC Yellow, NDC Green and NDC Green 2 maps and requested changes to NDC Green map to create a new NDC Green 3 Map. The Board of Trustees will adopt a final map from the following three drafts: NDC Orange Map, NDC Yellow 2 Map, and a new NDC Green 3 which is being developed by professional demographers based on comments received from the Board during the recent public hearing.
Arroyo High School held an open house on Dec. 17 to showcase their one-acre on-campus garden, also known as the ‘Farm Lab,’ where students grow and harvest their own produce, learn about ecology and farming science and how to conserve water to preserve the ecosystem. The urban garden provides a flourishing and sustainable food source for hungry families with a variety of crops, including fruits such as lemon, orange and papaya, medicinal and culinary herbs, root vegetables like carrots, radishes and sweet potatoes, lemon grass, sugar cane and more. While at the open house, guests had the opportunity to enjoy garden-grown basil lemonade, win raffle prizes and make party baskets full of harvested produce.
El Monte Union Narrows Trustee Area Maps Down to Three
The El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees has narrowed the number of draft trustee area maps to three and will hold a final hearing to consider and select a final trustee area map and sequence of elections, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 2, at the District Office, 3537 Johnson Ave., El Monte. The District released an updated map, NDC Green 3, for public review. This map, along with NDC Orange and NDC Yellow 2, will be considered before a final trustee area map is selected by the Board. The public is invited to participate in-person or virtually. Visit emuhsd-by-area-trustees.com to view the maps, submit comments, and for more information.
El Monte Union High School District released an additional draft trustee area map for public review and comment. The District, like many other school districts and cities in the state, is in the process of changing how members of the Board of Trustees are elected to office. A total of seven draft maps of what trustee areas in the District could look like have been shared with the public. Beginning in November 2022, registered voters will vote for a single Board of Trustees candidate residing in their newly drawn trustee area, comprised of one-fifth of the entire school district. Registered voters will not be able to vote for Board of Trustee candidates from trustee areas in which they do not reside.
El Monte Union Spreads Holiday Spirit and Cheer with Family Posada
The El Monte Union High School District hosted its fourth annual Family Posada on Dec. 10, welcoming more than 1,000 families to the event with featured appearances from Santa Claus, folklórico dancers, school swag giveaways, snow, and food such as tamales and pan dulce. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Family Posada was transformed by staff and parent volunteers into a drive-thru parade, during which cars lined up outside the District office before touring through a snowy Christmas light tunnel.
El Monte High School teacher Joel Whisler has been named the 2021-22 recipient of the Bobby Salcedo Esperanza Award, a distinction given to educators who exemplify Bobby Salcedo’s commitment to education. Whisler, who has taught music at El Monte High School for 27 years, was honored with the award during the El Monte Promise Foundation’s 18th Annual Tamalada on Dec. 9.
