Newton Middle School and Orange Grove Middle School have been named 2022 California Schools to Watch by the California Department of Education, recognizing their continued success in boosting student achievement, social equity and robust student support programs for all students. Newton and Orange Grove middle school are among 16 schools to be newly designated as Schools to Watch this year and were honored alongside 31 redesignated model schools at the California League of Schools Conference held May 3-5 in Monterey.
The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District community gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking at Wedgeworth Elementary School on Feb. 22, supporting the launch of construction for the school’s new campus. The project will provide a mix of modern single- and two-story buildings that will foster high-quality learning environments to support academic achievement for Wedgeworth students. The school is expected to unveil the new campus in fall 2024.
The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District community celebrated the installation of solar panels throughout the District with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Los Altos High School on Feb. 16, which featured a performance from the school’s jazz band and solar panel information and displays.The Board of Education approved the 4 MW Solar Project and the Solar Energy Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in October 2019, which funded the design, installation, operation and maintenance of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems at the District Office, Willow Adult Education Center and the District’s four comprehensive high schools.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District’s Valley Alternative High School has been named a 2022 Model Continuation High School by the California Department of Education, one of 36 schools to receive the recognition. The model schools will retain their designation for three years and will be recognized at the California Continuation Education Association Plus 2022 State Conference in Long Beach in May.
The Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Board of Education adopted map scenario two during its Board meeting on Feb. 10, a process that included extensive community input and demographic analysis of the proposed map scenarios. The District will provide this executed resolution, approved scenario map and electronic files to the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization and the Los Angeles County Registrar to implement the authorized trustee area boundary adjustments not later than Feb. 28.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District delivered its 2022 State of the District, held virtually on Jan. 20, with a detailed presentation showcasing the District’s success implementing its 2021-22 theme of “Learning Forward – Building Better.” Due to the recent COVID-19 surge, the scheduled in-person event was replaced by an in-depth video presentation led by Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez and shared on its YouTube channel. The State of the District highlighted student, staff and District successes, facilities and budget updates, expansion of socio-emotional growth systems, and provided an overview on school programs.
William Workman High School celebrated its remodeled media center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 11, unveiling new flooring, paint, updated furniture and audio-visual equipment made possible by a $100,000 donation from Class of 1990 graduate Les Callahan. Modernizations began in November 2021, bringing Callahan’s goal of an enhanced educational space to fruition in early January. The media center now serves as a hub of resources and a safe space for students to study, relax, collaborate, and host club meetings and tutoring sessions during and after school.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Seeks Community Input for By-Trustee Maps
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District will hold two community input meetings on Thursday, Jan. 6 and Tuesday, Jan. 18 to discuss the 2020 Census Evaluation and Trustee Area Boundary Adjustments. Two proposed maps have been shared with the community on the HLPUSD website and will be addressed through a series of in-person and virtual community meetings, public hearings and Board meetings. The Board will select a final map on Thursday, Feb. 10. The approved map will then be presented to the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization for final approval.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District has partnered with Scholastic Inc. to provide free, carefully curated book packs to students before winter break, supporting the District’s inaugural Holiday Reading Campaign beginning Dec. 17. Hacienda La Puente Unified’s new District Librarian, Lesley Jarrett, has played an integral part in the campaign, selecting and distributing the reading material for every HLPUSD student in transitional kindergarten through grade 12. The Holiday Reading Campaign aims to foster a reading culture in the home and promote the skills and knowledge that lead to longtime academic advantages.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District has been named a top employer among veterans in the workforce according to Forbes' 2021 America's Best Employers for Veterans survey, released on Nov. 9. The District ranked among the top 200 companies receiving the highest total scores, from all industry sectors, across the country. In partnership with research and analysis firm Statista, Forbes surveyed more than 5,000 U.S. veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces – either in the active military, National Guard or military reserves.
