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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Adult School Student Receives Award of Merit for Resilience, Determination

    At a crossroads with her education, California High School Class of 2018 graduate Abigail Villanueva had completed her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and public health at the University of Southern California, with a goal of enrolling in medical school. But before she could apply to a college, Villanueva needed to gain clinical experience in a medical setting. Taking the advice of a friend and former Whittier Union Adult School (WUAS) student, Villanueva enrolled in the WUAS medical assistant program, a comprehensive two-quarter course where students gain essential clinical and administrative skills through hands-on training that prepares them for real-world scenarios, clinical training, and internships.

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  • Whittier Union Alumna Seeks to Give Back to Community as Human Rights Advocate

    California High School Class of 2016 graduate Alondra Saldivar has a passion for helping others. From her days leading Cal High Condors into community service projects as Interact Club president to her current role as a law graduate working for the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Arizona, Saldivar has worked tirelessly to champion human rights while inspiring others to become community volunteers. Saldivar’s post-secondary journey has been a whirlwind of education and advocacy, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a Juris Doctor degree at the University of San Francisco (USF), all while continuing to mentor young students and encourage them to pursue participation in community service clubs.

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  • Whittier Union Senior Celebrated, Receives $50,000 Edison Scholarship Surprise in Class

    Pioneer High School senior Olivia Jimenez envisions a day when socially assistive robotics will provide equitable and affordable support for children with special needs, helping them with their cognitive development and social skills. Jimenez’s goal is to use the field of mechanical engineering as a template for doing good work. Jimenez became inspired to work in the field of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) after watching her sister, who is autistic, struggle to find the support she needed in under-resourced schools. Jimenez became fascinated with STEM, immersing herself in projects, exploring all possibilities, and searching for answers, a pursuit that led to her becoming Pioneer High’s Science Club president.

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Whittier Union Board to Fill Vacancy During Special Board Meeting

The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees will interview six eligible candidates to fill the vacancy for the Trustee Area 3 seat, following Dr. Ralph S. Pacheco’s retirement from the Board on July 7, 2023. The candidates, all from Santa Fe Springs and Norwalk, will participate in a candidate orientation during a Special Board Meeting beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 10 at the District Board Room, 9401 S. Painter Ave., Whittier. Following the orientation, candidates will be interviewed during open session. At the conclusion of the interviews, the Board will deliberate during open session and vote to appoint a provisional seat to the Whittier Union Board of Trustees.

Whittier Union Celebrates Academic Achievements, Honors Class of 2023 with Stadium Commencement Ceremonies

Whittier Union High School District’s Class of 2023 scholars celebrated their academic achievements and triumphs as they crossed the graduation stage, hearing heartfelt speeches that reflected on their time in the District, during commencement ceremonies held June 5 to 7. The District celebrated graduates from the District’s five comprehensive high schools, two alternative high schools and adult school. Nearly 2,700 graduates, accompanied by educators, administrators and families, shed tears of joy as they enjoyed exhilarating performances from the District's band and choir groups. Santa Fe High School, Sierra Vista High School and Frontier High School seniors, along with Whittier Union Adult School graduates, were cheered on by their families and friends during ceremonies on June 5, followed by California High School and Whittier High School graduations on June 6. La Serna and Pioneer high schools concluded the festivities with ceremonies on June 7.

Whittier Union to Interview Six Candidates to Fill Board of Trustees Vacancy

Six local residents have been declared eligible to fill a vacancy in the Whittier Union Board of Trustees created with the retirement of Dr. Ralph S. Pacheco. Pacheco, who currently serves Trustee Area 3 and is the Board’s vice-president, informally announced his retirement during the April 11 Board meeting, which will bring his service to the District to a close after 32 years as a trustee. Dr. Pacheco submitted his formal resignation letter to Los Angeles County Office of Education Superintendent Dr. Debra Duardo on May 8. His final day as a Whittier Union trustee will be Friday, July 7. Following the formal announcement, the Board unanimously voted in favor of a provisional appointment to fill his seat during a meeting on May 9, setting in motion a comprehensive selection process that gave Trustee Area 3 residents an opportunity to apply for the position.

Whittier Union Sophomore Stages First Professional Play as Young Writers Project Finalist

Santa Fe High School sophomore Lucas De La Loza has been writing short stories since elementary school and has more than 100 original works stored on his Google Drive. Now, De La Loza can add “professional playwright” to his resume after his one-act play was selected to be staged as part of Los Angeles-based Theatre of NOTE’s 2023 Young Writer’s Project (YWP). De La Loza’s play, “A Wicked Hallucination,” which centers on the Salem Witch Trials, ran for two consecutive weekends in May, and was one of five YWP high school student plays chosen to be performed by the Theatre of NOTE. On the final weekend, De La Loza and the other YWP student winners were presented with stipends and certificates that identified them as professional writers.

Whittier Union High School District to Celebrate Class of 2023 Scholars with Stadium Commencement Ceremonies

Students from the Whittier Union High School District’s five comprehensive high schools, two alternative high schools and adult school will celebrate the conclusion of their academic journeys during stadium commencement ceremonies beginning at 6 p.m. Ceremonies will be held at the District’s two stadiums: Sandra Sanchez Thorstenson Stadium at California High School, 9800 Mills Ave., Whittier, and Dick Torres Memorial Stadium at Pioneer High School, 10800 Benavon St., Whittier. Ceremonies begin on Monday, June 5, with the United Sierra Education Center, which includes Frontier High School, Sierra Vista High School and the Whittier Union Adult School, at Thorstenson Stadium; and Santa Fe High School, at Torres Stadium. Tuesday, June 6 will have ceremonies for California High School at Thorstenson Stadium and Whittier High School at Torres Stadium. The ceremonies conclude on Wednesday, June 7 with La Serna High School at Thorstenson Stadium and Pioneer High School at Torres Stadium.

Santa Fe High School Educator Honored as Whittier Union High School District’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

There are few things that Santa Fe High School architectural design teacher Mike Griffie enjoys more than a good tailgate party and seeing his community come together to share a hamburger or hotdog before a home football game. As Santa Fe’s football announcer, Griffie revels in the opportunity to be the tight-knit school’s No. 1 booster. Griffie, who has been at Santa Fe High for 30 years and is the director of the school’s Mechanical and Architectural Drafting (MAD) Academy, is fully committed to student achievement, whether by encouraging students to pursue careers in fields that interest them or by helping struggling students get back on track for graduation. For his dedication and generosity, Griffie was named Whittier Union’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. The Whittier Union Board of Trustees presented Griffie with his award during the May 9 Board meeting.

Whittier Union High School District Announces Provisional Appointment to Fill Board Vacancy Following Retirement of Dr. Ralph S. Pacheco

The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees will interview six eligible candidates to fill the vacancy for the Trustee Area 3 seat, following Dr. Ralph S. Pacheco’s retirement from the Board on July 7, 2023. The candidates, all from Santa Fe Springs and Norwalk, will participate in a candidate orientation during a Special Board Meeting beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 10 at the District Board Room, 9401 S. Painter Ave., Whittier. Following the orientation, candidates will be interviewed during open session. At the conclusion of the interviews, the Board will deliberate during open session and vote to appoint a provisional seat to the Whittier Union Board of Trustees.

High-Achieving Whittier Union Seniors Receive Prestigious Scholarships, Commit to Pursuing Careers in Service

Santa Fe High School seniors Karina Ramirez and Alexis Martinez are on the path to making a difference in the world, aided by the prestigious Gates and Destiny scholarships that will enable them to attend top universities in the fall and pursue careers in service. Out of 51,000 applicants, Ramirez is among the 750 exceptional individuals awarded the Gates Scholarship, a distinction that will enable her to attend UCLA and will offset tuition costs that are not already covered by financial aid. Ramirez will travel to Florida this summer to be recognized alongside other scholarship winners during a special ceremony held by Bill Gates.

Whittier Union Performing Arts Center Poised to Become Jewel of the Community

Whitter Union High School District is putting the finishing touches on the design phase of a new Performing Arts Center (PAC) that will become the cornerstone of the District’s visual and performing arts programs, providing a state-of-the-art venue that will be available for all schools within the District to stage theatrical play, live music shows and other special events. The 450-seat dual-level PAC, which is poised to become a jewel of the community, will be located at the District’s United Sierra Education Center. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024 with an estimated December 2025 completion date. A second phase of renovations will transform the remaining green space into recreation areas that can by used for youth sports programs and serve more than 2,000 people.

Whittier Union Seniors See College Dreams Come True as Dell Scholars, Receive $20,000 Scholarship

Pioneer High School seniors Ashley Cortes, Sara Munoz and Wendy Zaragoza and Santa Fe High School senior Muhammad Shakeel have spent countless long nights studying and dreaming of attending an elite university – a dream that has come true after all four were named 2023 Dell Scholarship winners by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. All four students will receive a $20,000 scholarship spread out over the course of several years, $2,000 in additional money for textbooks and other expenses, and a Dell laptop. They will also have access to exclusive support services, including the Scholars Resource Network, which connects students and their families with resources to deal with academic, personal and life issues. Cortes, Munoz and Zaragoza have each honed their skills in Pioneer’s college-prep elective Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), which provides instruction and guidance for underrepresented students and first-generation college-goers.