Clad in personalized, royal blue aprons and chef hats, three Lassalette Elementary School Lunch Divas faced off against a trio of ambitious culinary teams from Mesa Robles Middle School in their quest for the tastiest entrées at the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District’s third annual Student Chef Recipe and Cookoff, held March 14 at the Willow Adult School culinary kitchen. The four teams sliced, stirred, and sautéed their way through the TV cooking show-inspired competition, racing against the clock to diligently plate at least 25 servings. The Lunch Divas came out victorious with their birria tacos, winning over the taste buds of the judges.
The California League of Middle Schools (CLMS) recognized four Hacienda La Puente Unified School District schools for their exceptional contributions to academic excellence, social and emotional support, and hands-on programs that prepare students for future success. Grandview College Preparatory Academy and Sparks Middle School are among 46 California schools to be newly designated as Schools to Watch, with Newton and Orange Grove middle schools being among 44 others to be redesignated. All schools were honored during the National Schools to Watch conference from March 6 to 7.
Hacienda La Puente Unified brought the Year of the Snake alive during a visually stunning and melodious Lunar New Year’s celebration on Feb. 18 featuring the student talents of Glen A. Wilson and Los Altos high schools, and Mesa Robles and Newton middle schools, who honored the holiday’s cultural heritage with song and dance. Wilson High senior Taylor Hornell, who attended previous District Lunar New Year celebrations, said he was eager for an opportunity to kick off the cultural festivities and provided opening remarks in Mandarin, with others speaking in English and Korean.
Hacienda La Puente Unified’s community came together for the 10th annual State of the District event on Feb. 6, which highlighted the District’s commitment to engaging students to become lifelong learners while celebrating key milestones achieved in the past year. The theme of the night was “Transformative Learning, Pathways for Student Success,” with Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez sharing how the District continues to evolve and invest in rigorous academic curricula and technological advancements to prepare students for future opportunities in rewarding, in-demand careers.
A savvy and enterprising group of Glen A. Wilson High School computer science students combined their knowledge and talent to create an AI-powered app designed to let users detect the possibility of skin cancer from their mobile phones. The app, named FOCAL, was recently recognized as a U.S. House of Representatives Congressional App Challenge winner by Linda Sánchez, California’s 38th District Representative. The FOCAL team, led by Wilson senior Julina Liu (database administrator), juniors Ethan De la Cruz (AI developer) and Alvin Cheng (back-end developer), and sophomore Nolan Huang (front-end developer), as well as their faculty advisor, Wilson computer science teacher Courtney Bushyeager, will be recognized by Sánchez during a special ceremony at Glen A. Wilson High’s Media Center on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
A Hacienda La Puente Unified restorative justice youth court program that promotes an innovative, proactive approach to reducing out-of-school suspensions has been recognized by the California School Boards Association (CSBA) with its prestigious Golden Bell Award. The Youth Court Program offers students in grades 6-12 a peer-driven alternative to suspension. By encouraging accountability, reflection, and understanding of their actions' impact, along with support from Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) resources, the program has contributed to a 40% decrease in out-of-school suspensions for grades 6-12 during the 2023-24 school year.
Various school clubs will collaborate to create a warm, festive atmosphere for all attendees. Families will be welcomed as they enjoy the holiday spirit and receive thoughtfully chosen gifts, including skateboards, board games, toys, headphones, and much more. Guests are encouraged to open their gifts during the event. The event is funded by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and donations from the school community are organized by active-duty USMC member and Workman High School English teacher Travis Bui. District officials and administrators are invited to attend and celebrate the season of giving.
Hacienda La Puente Unified celebrated the grand opening of Lassalette Elementary School’s new inclusive playground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 18, bringing together HLPUSD administrators and the Trojan community to mark this space where Lassalette students of all abilities can play together. The project, financed by the District’s general fund, was designed to enrich the playground experience for all students with the new space featuring a range of accessible equipment tailored to individuals with physical disabilities. The welcoming outdoor space—designed by the District’s Executive Director of Special Education, Dr. Mayra Helguera—offers a variety of play options, including traditional and wheelchair-accessible swings, slides, sensory play areas, and an inclusive merry-go-round.
Hacienda La Puente Unified educators and leadership team showcased the District's innovative work in Computing, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (C-STEM) during a plenary panel at the University of California, Davis's 14th Annual C-STEM Conference on Oct. 4. HLPUSD was recognized with numerous awards at the conference, including Los Altos Elementary School being named a 2024 C-STEM Distinguished School, Sparks Elementary School principal Gilbert Barraza being awarded C-STEM Administrator of the Year, and Sierra Vista Middle School math teacher Kien To being named a C-STEM Teacher of the Year. These achievements underscore the District’s dedication to fostering excellence in STEM education and its commitment to providing students with the tools and opportunities they need to excel in a rapidly advancing technological world.
Hacienda La Puente Unified’s Workman High School students are accelerating their college and career paths with the Workman Early College Academy Network (WECAN), a program offering free college classes on the high school campus through a partnership with Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC). Now in its third year, the program allows students to earn college credits alongside their high school requirements, enabling them to participate fully in sports, extracurriculars, and their high school experience while progressing toward a college degree.
