The El Monte Union Board of Trustees at its Aug. 7 meeting unanimously voted to reduce the use of polystyrene, a synthetic resin known by the brand name Styrofoam, from its campuses and administrative offices effective Jan. 1, 2020. The product, which has been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the fifth largest source of hazardous waste, comes in various forms, including coffee cups, coolers, cushioning material in packaging and lunch trays. Polystyrene is not recyclable, takes at least 500 years to decompose, and is a main pollutant of urban areas, oceans, bays and other U.S. water sources.
El Monte Union Board Votes to Reduce Use of Styrofoam Products
The El Monte Union Board of Trustees at its Aug. 7 meeting unanimously voted to reduce the use of polystyrene, a synthetic resin known by the brand name Styrofoam, from its campuses and administrative offices effective Jan. 1, 2020. Under the resolution, the District, excluding the Nutrition Services Department, is prohibited from purchasing, using and distributing polystyrene products in business or school activities; the District will seek more environmentally friendly alternatives to school polystyrene lunch trays. Faculty, staff and students will also be urged to reduce use of the foam product.
El Monte High Alumna Recognized as 2019-20 District Teacher of the Year
When Sonia Lamas was a junior at El Monte High School in the early 1990s, she made a bold prediction to her math teacher that she would one day return and take his place in the classroom. She came close to fulfilling her promise when she was hired as a math teacher at the Lion campus just a few short years later. While she didn’t displace her former mentor, Lamas, a precalculus and AVID teacher, she has made a considerable impact at her alma mater and its students over the course of 20 years. Her enthusiastic presence in the classroom and willingness to make time for every student has culminated in Lamas being recognized as El Monte Union’s 2019-20 Teacher of the Year.
The El Monte Union Board of Trustees adopted a 2019-20 budget that supports its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), which calls for developing wellness centers, additional after-school enrichment programs and implementing a new data analysis platform that will allow teachers to collaborate and modify instruction to ensure student success.
El Monte Union Summer Bridge Program Eases High School Transition
More than 270 freshmen who are set to launch their high school careers in El Monte Union this fall recently completed the District’s Summer Bridge program, during which they took field trips to local colleges, universities and museums, met high school faculty and staff, and learned about the requirements for high school graduation and how to prepare for college. The Summer Bridge program provides incoming freshmen with instructional support and guidance to ensure a successful transition from middle to high school, focusing on time management, organization and study skills.
More than 270 freshmen set to launch their high school careers in El Monte Union this fall recently completed the District’s Summer Bridge program, during which they took field trips to local colleges, universities and museums, met high school faculty and staff, and learned about the requirements for high school graduation and how to prepare for college.
The El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees recently honored six parents who dedicate their time to volunteering for the benefit of students, teachers, staff and the school communities they serve.
El Monte Union High School District is gearing up to launch its new Access for All digital learning initiative, which will put technology into the hands of every student and eliminate barriers to learning, ensuring academic success at school and at home.
Longtime El Monte Union educator, administrator and El Monte High School Class of 1989 graduate Dr. Jorge Morales has been selected to lead South El Monte High School as its new principal.
El Monte Union School Named to 2018-19 California Honor Roll
Rosemead High School has been named to the 2018-19 California Honor Roll for demonstrating consistently high levels of student academic achievement, narrowing the achievement gap and preparing students for college. The honor is given by the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and sponsored by the Campaign for Businesses and Educational Excellence (CBEE), based on the results of state standardized tests in math and English language arts (ELA) taken in spring 2018.
