The holidays are a little brighter for dozens of Montebello Unified students and families identified as homeless, as parents picked out gifts of toys, books, school supplies, dental kits, gift cards and canned hams to give to their children as part of MUSD’s inaugural Families in Transition Gift Giveaway on Dec. 9 at Laguna Nueva School. The Families in Transition Program mission is to provide MUSD’s 972 identified homeless students and their families with support services to promote academic achievement.
Montebello Unified’s Bell Gardens High School has been revalidated by AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) as a National Demonstration School, which recognizes schools that have successfully implemented the AVID College Readiness System as models for other schools. AVID was brought to BGHS in 1998 and served 32 students. The school was first deemed a National Demonstration School in 2004 and now serves about 600 students annually. BGHS has a 100 percent AVID graduation rate, conferring diplomas to all 112 AVID seniors in the Class of 2016. The AVID system has impacted the entire student population at BGHS by creating a college-going culture supported by schoolwide AVID instructional strategies and practices.
More than 600 intermediate and high school students from Montebello Unified learned from professionals about higher education, careers and personal development during the sixth annual Adelante Young Men! Conference (AYM) at Pasadena City College. The AYM Conference offered intermediate and high school boys the opportunity to take part in interactive, educational workshops related to issues that affect their lives now and in the future. Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anthony J. Martinez served as the AYM 2016 Conference Chair and presenter while Applied Technology Center students Christian Osorio and Mark Hernandez also presented during the Nov. 12 event.
Montebello Unified School District will host a Day One press availability at La Merced Elementary School on Thursday, Aug. 29. Contact: Maritza Fairfield, 909-445-1001 (office) or 909-816-7722 (cell)
The MUSD Police Department this month offered its first training course for cadets already employed by the Department. Cadets get hands-on training in areas such as drug awareness, handcuffing and arrest control, report writing and weaponless defense. Training continues through next week – reporters are invited to do ride-alongs, etc. Contact: Maritza Fairfield, 909-445-1001 (office) or 909-816-7722 (cell)
Bella Vista Elementary (Monterey Park) was named a first-place winner in a video competition sponsored by Big Lots. Students put on a skit about why their school is in dire need of new technology, highlighting their “ancient” computers on campus. There will be a photo opportunity when the prize is presented at the Alhambra Big Lots at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10. Contact: Maritza Fairfield, 909-445-1001 (office) or 909-816-7722 (cell)