Arroyo High School sophomore Richard Cobian will showcase his talents in saber fencing – and seek to inspire others in his community to develop a love for the sport – when he competes against elite fencers from across the country at the 2024 USA Fencing Junior Olympics in February. Cobian earned his spot at the Junior Olympics after winning a gold medal during the qualifier in December. Cobian started fencing when he was a fifth-grader at Río Hondo Elementary School, which was close to his studio, the West Coast Fencing Academy. Cobian specializes in the saber category – one of three disciplines in modern fencing, which are saber, foil and épée, with each specialty using a different kind of blade and set of rules.
Seven graduates from El Monte Union High School District’s Adult Transition Program were celebrated with joy and applause for their academic accomplishments and successes during a winter commencement ceremony held on Dec. 21. In the presence of families, friends, the Board of Trustees, and District administrators and staff, the ceremony showcased heartfelt moments as graduates Jolin Duong, Gabriel Escobar, Edgar Valdez, Edwin Huaracha-Campos, Andrea Montano, Dominiak Morrow, and Fatima Santellan walked across the stage to receive their certificates of completion.
Arroyo High School’s Band and Color Guard students cheered in triumph as they celebrated their first ever gold medal at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association 5-A Division Championships held in Long Beach on Nov. 18. This accomplishment marks the first time in Arroyo High and El Monte Union band history that a school has earned a gold medal. With a score of 92.1, Arroyo was ranked first out of 17 high school teams that competed over the past seven weeks to earn a spot to the finals. Before winning the gold medal, Arroyo earned four bronze medals in the last seven years.
Mountain View High School English teacher Coreen Pineda is fueled by her love for her students, working tirelessly every day to inspire them to achieve great things and have confidence in their abilities. These qualities have earned Pineda recognition by the El Monte Promise Foundation, honoring her with the Bobby Salcedo Esperanza Award for Outstanding Educators, an annual award presented to educators who are committed to student success in education. Pineda received her award at the foundation’s 20th annual Tamalada Gala on Dec. 7. As a Mountain View High alumna, Pineda was inspired by her teachers to pursue a career in education. She went on to major in English at Cal Poly Pomona and has been teaching at her alma mater for the past 23 years.
El Monte Union High School District’s male students honed their leadership abilities through workshops during the District’s inaugural California Boys Acquiring Lifelong Learner Educational Resources On Success (CABALLEROS) event on Nov. 18 at El Monte High School, which included keynote speakers and activities geared toward personal growth and success. The engaging workshops covered essential topics such as image and etiquette, mental health, physical fitness and financial literacy. Attendees were also treated to a continental breakfast and nutritious lunch, where they took part in a rotating lunch activity, and received commemorative event T-shirts.
A group of El Monte Union students with a strong interest in environmental science and sustainability received an inside look at the important work being done by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) at their newly built state-of-the-art Riverside Headquarters on Nov. 8. While the students enjoyed the tour, the District’s newest all-electric school bus used for travel, was able to plug-in to the facility’s charging station and recharge. The field trip began with an overview of CARB, providing students with valuable insights into the organization's mission and the pivotal role it plays in safeguarding air quality and promoting clean energy solutions in California. The experience also gave students the opportunity to see themselves conducting work to help these efforts and be a part of the solution.
El Monte Union Students Visit California Air Resources Board
A group of El Monte Union students with a strong interest in environmental science and sustainability received an inside look at the important work being done by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) at their newly built Riverside Headquarters on Nov. 8. The field trip began with an overview of CARB, providing students with valuable insights into the organization's mission and the pivotal role it plays in safeguarding air quality and promoting clean energy solutions in California. The experience also gave students the opportunity to see themselves conducting work to help these efforts and be a part of the solution.
EMUHSD Receives Support from Longo Toyota for CTE Programs
Longo Toyota, the world’s largest Toyota dealership, hosted an online auction for a Limited Edition 2023 Toyota GR Corolla MORIZO from Oct. 18 to Oct. 24, with all proceeds set to be donated to the El Monte Union, El Monte City school districts and Vision To Learn. El Monte Union will earmark a portion of the proceeds toward supporting the District’s transportation career technical education program that provides students with hands-on automotive industry experience. Training includes vehicle diagnostic testing, brake system adjustments and electronic computer component testing.
El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) has selected Arroyo High School mathematics teacher Catherine Flores as the District’s 2023-24 Teacher of the Year, recognizing her dedication to giving back to the same school and District that helped shape her as a student. The EMUHSD Board of Trustees recognized Flores with an award and her name on the District’s Teacher of the Year honoree display plaque at its Oct. 4 Board meeting. Each Board Member praised Flores’ accomplishments as a classroom teacher and for the impact she has on her students. Flores was also honored by the Los Angeles County Office of Education during a luncheon on Sept. 22.
El Monte Union High School District’s five comprehensive high schools are being celebrated for their academic excellence and commitment to college and career, receiving recognition among the top-performing public high schools in the state and nation, according to the 2023-24 Best High Schools rankings by U.S. News and World Report. This is the third consecutive year that all five El Monte Union high schools were recognized in the Best High Schools rankings. Arroyo, El Monte, Mountain View, Rosemead and South El Monte high schools each earned high rankings among nearly 1,603 high schools in California and boast a graduation rate of 90% or higher.
