Beginning this school year, El Monte Union is transitioning to a new meal program that will provide all
students, regardless of income, with free breakfast and lunch. The change comes in response to Senate
Bill 138, signed into law in January 2018 requiring school districts in high-poverty areas to provide free
meal service to all students. Applications for free and reduced-price meals are available at each school, the District office and on the District Nutrition Services website at https://bit.ly/2NyayY3.
The El Monte Union High School District is supporting the state’s High School Voter Education Weeks by promoting civic engagement and education at its schools, which will serve as early voter registration sites for 16- and 17-year-old students in September. The Board of Trustees passed a resolution earlier this year declaring Sept. 17-28 as a time when students can pre-register to vote on their high school campus so they will automatically become active voters once they turn 18. The District has partnered with advocacy group OCA-Greater Los Angeles to provide voter registration support and training to select student leaders who will promote civic engagement in the schools and classrooms
El Monte Union Partners with Law Enforcement on Campus Safety
El Monte Union collaborates with local law enforcement, including the El Monte Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, to ensure campuses are safe and students are prepared for any circumstance. The Sheriff’s Department recently held an active shooter training session at Rosemead High School, and the El Monte Police Department conducted an active shooter session for students at El Monte, Arroyo and Mountain View high schools. Lockdown drills were also performed.
Members of South El Monte High School’s inaugural Early College Academy – conducted in partnership with Rio Hondo College – will tour the Whittier campus, visit career technical education classes, participate in a time management workshop and meet staff on Sept. 7. Under the Early College plan, SEMHS students can earn a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit in four years, or about 40 credits, which are transferable to UCs or CSUs. Students can take the college-level general education courses for free at South El Monte High or at the Rio Hondo College campus, reducing the cost of attaining a college degree.
English teacher and Advancement Via Individual Determination coordinator Cesar Castellanos’ reputation for empowering students to realize their dreams of attaining a college education has earned him El Monte Union High School District’s highest honor: 2018-19 Teacher of the Year.
AVID Coordinator Named El Monte Union 2018-19 Teacher of the Year
South El Monte High School Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher Cesar Castellanos has dedicated his teaching career to encouraging students to follow their dreams. Castellanos, who has been a member of the El Monte Union family since 2011, was selected as the District's 2018-19 Teacher of the Year. AVID is an elective class designed to help traditionally underrepresented students forge a path to college by boosting their study skills and offering academic, social and emotional support.
El Monte Union’s Mountain View High School launched its new Zoo Crew: Engineers Gone Wild! career technical education pathway on the first day of school on Aug. 20 with a surprise guest courtesy of the Wildlife Learning Center – a long-legged, long-eared African wildcat, the serval. Zoo Crew will provide students with the opportunity to study the health and well-being of animals in the wild. Wildlife Learning Center representatives gave a formal presentation on the serval to more than 50 students in two sessions.
El Monte Union High School students explored colleges and other post-secondary opportunities during the District’s annual College Night and Career Resource Fair on Sept. 17 at South El Monte High School. Colleges and universities that participated included UC Berkeley, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, Rio Hondo College and the University of La Verne. The event also featured representatives from various student support services and college access programs.
El Monte Union’s high schools will host back-to-school nights for students and their families, enabling parents to connect with teachers and staff and learn about goals for each class. Events will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the following comprehensive high schools: Thursday, Aug. 23 at South El Monte High School; Tuesday, Aug. 28 at Rosemead High School; Thursday, Aug. 30 at El Monte High School; Wednesday, Sept. 12 at Arroyo High School; and Thursday, Sept. 13 at Mountain View High School. Fernando R. Ledesma High School will hold its event from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20.
El Monte Union High School District welcomed thousands of students for the new school year on Aug. 20. Students have the opportunity take part in a variety of award-winning academic programs, including the Teacher Preparation Academy at Mountain View or join the new Early College Academy at South El Monte High School in partnership with Rio Hondo College.
