Monrovia Unified Welcomes New Board of Education Student Rep
Monrovia High School senior Alexia Holt will serve as Monrovia Unified’s Board of Education student representative in 2021-22, a role that will enable her to expand on her passion for learning and act as a spokesperson for her peers. Holt was administered the Oath of Office by Board President Maritza Travanti during the Sept. 10 Board meeting. In addition to serving as ASB President, Holt is a four-year varsity softball player and captain of the team. Holt’s academic and athletic performances have earned her recognition as a Scholar Athlete, an honor awarded to athletes who maintain a GPA of 3.5 and above. Holt hopes to attend UCLA, where she plans to earn a degree in economics or business administration.
Monrovia Unified School District students received the red-carpet treatment on Aug. 18, welcomed with colorful balloons, inspirational banners, and exuberant school mascots as they returned to in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year. Wearing big smiles behind their face masks and chatting amiably with their friends, Monrovia students from transitional kindergarten to 12th grade made their first appearances on campus for full-time instruction since March 2020. Monrovia Unified also launched Mountain Park Virtual Academy this school year, presenting students and families with an online option while still receiving a full, comprehensive curriculum.
Monrovia Unified Students Return to Campuses for 2021-22 School Year
Monrovia Unified School District students will return to full-time, in-person instruction on Wednesday, Aug. 18. While students are returning to in-person learning, health and safety protocols – such as the use of face coverings while indoors – are still in place. Families who have chosen not to return to in-person learning were given the option to enroll in the District’s new Mountain Park Virtual Academy.
Community activist and former Monrovia Unified Board Member Mimi Mency was honored during a dedication ceremony on June 29, when the Monrovia Unified Board of Education officially named the District Office Lobby in her memory. Mency, who was the first African-American to hold a seat on the Board of Education, died in 2011 at the age of 74. Mency served on the Board of Education from 1972 to 1984, leading the Board as president twice during her term. During her time on the Board, Mency was instrumental in the desegregation of Monrovia schools and led the effort in establishing Monrovia High School’s Black Student Union, a club that is still running strong today.
Nearly 430 graduates from Monrovia Unified School District cheered as they walked across the graduation stage to receive their diplomas during in-person and drive-thru commencement ceremonies, held June 8 and 9. Canyon Oaks High School and Mountain Park School celebrated the success of 45 graduates on June 8 during a drive-thru ceremony, where administrators and teachers delivered emotional speeches that detailed each student’s hardships and successes that led to graduation day. On June 9, Wildcat Stadium roared as administrators, teachers, and families celebrated 378 seniors who persevered during an unprecedented school year. Monrovia Unified School District implemented health guidelines as outlined by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, such as the use of face coverings and social distancing throughout both events, to ensure the safety of its students, families, and entire school community.
Longtime Monrovia Unified educator Susan Hirsch dedicated her career to championing student wellness and equipping students with the skills and support for success. Hirsch, who died in December 2020, worked in Monrovia Unified for more than 30 years, building a legacy of compassion and connection. On June 3, the Board of Education dedicated Monrovia High School’s Wellness Center – of which Hirsch was the architect – in her memory, renaming it the Susan Hirsch Wellness Center.
The Monrovia Unified School District Board of Education, joined by local elected officials, honored Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian for eight stellar years of service to the District, during its June 23 board meeting. In her final board meeting, Dr. Thorossian was celebrated for her dedication to students and for strengthening the academic tradition in Monrovia. Incoming Superintendent Dr. Ryan Smith will assume his role beginning July 1.
Monrovia High School senior Charlie Heatherly, who has helped build the school’s prestigious game development team Forge Interactive, will take his talents to the next level as he attends USC – home to the top game design program in the country. Forge Interactive works to develop team members that specialize in all aspects of the game design process, with a goal to graduate students who are knowledgeable about the game industry. Heatherly developed his first game, Gossip Inc., as a junior, then brought a team together to design Forge’s first digital game, Red Dungeon.
Monrovia Unified Partners with Nonprofit for NASA Nutrition Program
Bradoaks Elementary Science Academy is participating in NASA’s “Plant the Moon” challenge, through a partnership with the nonprofit Food ED. Bradoaks students will assist Food ED associates in an experiment to grow vegetables in artificial moon dust. The experiment aims to help NASA scientists learn the best lunar conditions for growing crops. The challenge, sparked by NASA’s new initiative to return to the moon, will explore ways to feed those who will one day visit the moon.
Monrovia Unified Secondary Students to Return for In-Person Instruction
Monrovia Unified School District secondary students will return to campus for in-person instruction on Monday, April 19, using a Secondary Hybrid Instructional Model approved by the Board of Education in March. The approved schedule will divide students into three separate cohorts, with Cohort A and B attending school Monday and Tuesday, and Thursday and Friday, respectively. Cohort C will continue with 100% distance learning.
