Hacienda La Puente Unified School District proudly unveiled the newly constructed Wedgeworth Elementary School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 3, which featured performances by the Glen A. Wilson High School band and brought together city officials and their representatives, current and former board members, students, teachers, staff, and families to commemorate the grand opening.
La Puente High School’s (LPHS) Career Technical Education (CTE) Public Safety Pathway has been recognized as a National School of Excellence by the Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN). It is one of only eight schools in California to receive this designation, which highlights exemplary programs in public safety education. In addition to the school-wide recognition, Challenge Coins – a respected honor awarded by peers in the field – were presented to Public Safety Pathway instructor Antonia Ramirez, LPHS counselor Melissa Bravata, and LPHS principal Dr. Lisa Lopez for their leadership and commitment to developing the pathway.
Wedgeworth Elementary School has been recognized as a California Distinguished School, a prestigious honor celebrating academic excellence, innovative programs, and a strong, collaborative school community. Wedgeworth stood out for its Chinese Dual Language Immersion (DLI) and Computer Science Immersion programs, as well as its commitment to improving student attendance and fostering a positive school climate. The school also supports students with accessible, online learning tools such as MyAccess, Lexia, and DreamBox, helping them achieve grade-level proficiency in reading, writing, and math.
Valley Alternative High School (VAS) has been named a 2025 Model Continuation School by the California Department of Education, a prestigious honor that highlights the school’s unwavering commitment to supporting students in earning their high school diplomas and preparing for their future. Valley Alternative is one of 74 schools across the state to receive this recognition, reflecting the school’s commitment to meeting students’ needs through flexible class schedules and hands-on learning. Teachers, counselors, and staff work together to provide consistent support and make thoughtful decisions on how to best support each student. Weekly staff meetings are held to review students’ academic performance, behavior, attendance, and overall well-being, fostering a collaborative approach to enhancing the school environment.
Hacienda La Puente Unified’s annual Art Show transformed Willow Conference Center into a gallery of imagination from March 26 to April 3, showcasing more than 1,000 student-created works centered on the theme, “Kaleidoscope: A World Where Many Pieces Fit Together.” The original art pieces were created by students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12, and the gallery featured live performances during opening night from the Fairgrove Academy Jazz Band, Glen A. Wilson High School Korean drummers, and the District’s middle school Mariachi ensemble made up of students from Orange Grove and Sparks middle schools.
Willie Allen Jr., a dedicated educator and coach at Glen A. Wilson High School, was recently honored with a Community Spotlight Award by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon for his lasting contributions to the community. With 25 years of experience as a math teacher and coach, Allen Jr. has spent his career giving back to the district that shaped him – running the Wilsons Kids Summer Camp for 23 years and serving as athletic director for 15 years.
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.
