Hacienda La Puente Celebrates Class of 2024 with Commencements
Fontana Unified School District’s Class of 2024 graduates marked their milestone achievement with a myriad of unique, dynamic celebrations, from business-like handshakes to fist pumps, selfies, and even dances, as they crossed the stage to accept their diplomas during their respective graduations. Over eight vibrant commencement ceremonies, FUSD honored more than 2,000 students in its Class of 2024 from seven high schools and one adult school from May 21 to 23. This year’s Fontana Unified class includes more than 580 high school seniors who will graduate with the California State Seal of Biliteracy for a high level of proficiency in bilingualism and biliteracy, marking a more than 200% increase for FUSD over the last two years.
Hacienda La Puente Unified’s School Attendance Review Board (SARB) has been honored as a Model SARB for initiatives and practices that significantly contribute to reducing chronic absenteeism rates and improving overall student attendance. Hacienda La Puente Unified is one of 23 districts recognized by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and State SARB for demonstrating outstanding efforts by placing a focus on prevention and positive measures. HLPUSD's achievements were celebrated at the California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance State Conference on April 26, where the District formally accepted the award.
Hacienda La Puente High School Receives Grant for Media Center
Hacienda La Puente Unified’s Glen A. Wilson High School was presented with a $850,000 Community Project check to upgrade the school’s media center during the 22nd Annual 38th Congressional District Student Art Competition by Assemblywoman Lisa Sanchez. Students, families, and Wilson staff were elated as Sanchez praised the school for its superlative year and gave a brief rundown of the upcoming modernizations, which are estimated to be completed by December 2026.
La Puente High School is one of only four schools recognized as a 2024 California Democracy School by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), receiving the honor for its high-quality civic learning, commitment to strengthening democracy, and pursuit of happiness for future generations across the District community. The award-winning schools were honored during LACOE’s 2024 California Civic Learning Student Showcase and Award Ceremony at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Museum on May 11, where students, families, and District representatives gathered to learn more about the students’ initiatives throughout the 2023-24 school year.
Hacienda La Puente Unified has been chosen as a recipient of the California Community Schools Partnership Program's (CCSPP) third cohort, an esteemed honor that includes $21.3 million in state board-approved community school implementation grants, highlighting the District's commitment to advancing innovative student learning initiatives and developing mental health and community engagement solutions. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced the expansion of the CCSPP and its recipients on May 8, with 17 schools from Hacienda La Puente Unified among those celebrated.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and the California State Board of Education (SBE) announced the expansion of the CCSPP and its recipients on May 8, with 17 schools from Hacienda La Puente Unified among those celebrated. The District plans to follow the community schools model to strengthen enrichment programs, increase student academic support, and improve resources for students and families.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District’s Workman Elementary School and Newton, Sierra Vista, and Sparks middle schools received 2024 Civic Learning Awards from the California Department of Education, honoring the schools for their commitment to promoting civic education and engaging the entire District community in civic learning initiatives. Newton Middle School was one of three schools presented with the Award of Distinction, and Workman Elementary School was one of four that earned the Award of Merit. Additionally, Sierra Vista and Sparks middle schools were two of 11 campuses to receive an honorable mention.
Hacienda La Puente Unified School District is home to four comprehensive high schools, each offering a distinctive mix of programs and resources to support every student on their path to success. These schools ranked in the top 25% of California schools in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best High Schools rankings, released on April 23. Top performers were selected by weighted scores across six indicators of school quality. Additionally, Glen A. Wilson ranked among the top 4% of all high schools in California for the second consecutive year.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Celebrates 2024 Teacher of the Year
Valinda School of Academics second-grade Dual Language Immersion teacher Fany Melendez has been named Hacienda La Puente Unifed’s 2024 Teacher of the Year for her unwavering commitment to student success and holistic approach to teaching, inspiring excellence in every aspect of her classroom. With 13 years of service in education, Melendez is a passionate nurturer of students' academic and personal growth. She focuses many of her efforts on closing the achievement gap for language learners by incorporating the DLI curriculum into meaningful lessons that also support students' socio-emotional growth.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Students Hit Dance Floor for Conga Kids
Fifth-grade students from 22 Hacienda La Puente Unified elementary schools put their costumes on, grabbed their partners and headed to the dance floor to compete in the second annual Conga Kids semifinals on April 17. The gymnasium was at maximum capacity as families gathered to watch the largest semi-finals in Conga Kids history, featuring students showcasing their determination, communication skills, and dancing abilities with a variety of ballroom dances and battling for a spot in the finals, to be held at L.A. Live in May.
LACOE Cites HLPUSD School as California Democracy School
The Los Angeles County Office of Education will recognize La Puente High School as a 2024 California Democracy School at the California Civic Learning Student Showcase and Award Ceremony, to be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 11 at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Museum. The ceremony will honor California Democracy School awardees and highlight the various ways students are addressing real-world issues as responsible, civically engaged citizens. The Nixon Library is located at 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda.
