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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Adult School Plumbing Program Success Recognized by South Bay Workforce

    The Whittier Union Adult School’s (WUAS) Plumbing 1 class has served as a pipeline of employment since its inception in 2022, with the career technical education (CTE) course providing students with expert guidance that emphasizes employability, efficiency, accuracy, and relationship-building. Preparing the next generation of plumbers, the class currently has an 80% employment rate. The rapid success of the program has been recognized by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB), who awarded WUAS with its 2025 Outstanding Program Performance Award. The school will receive its award at SBWIB’s 30th Annual Awards Ceremony, held Oct. 30 at the Torrance Marriott South Bay.

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  • Whittier Union Celebrates Community, Student Success at Inaugural State of the District Event

    Whittier Union High School District spotlighted its success in preparing students for bright futures during its inaugural State of the District event on Oct. 1, engaging nearly 200 community members, elected officials, students, families, and staff with a catered dinner reception, live student performances, and a program that emphasized strong community partnerships and a deep commitment to academic excellence. The event, held at California High School and generously sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, was attended by state leaders such as Senator Bob Archuleta and Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco. Local leaders in attendance included Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri, Whittier City Councilmembers Cathy Warner and Mary Ann Pacheco, Whittier City Manager Conal McNamara, Santa Fe Springs Mayor Bill Rounds, Norwalk Councilmember Ana Valencia, and La Mirada City Councilmember Michelle Velasquez Bean.

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  • Whittier Union Senior Receives Award of Merit for Leadership, Commitment to Mental Wellness

    Pioneer High School senior Nydia Palacios is known as a natural leader and an academic role model who loves to challenge herself, acquiring both high school and college credits at a lightning pace while enjoying as many extracurricular activities as she can fit into one day. Palacios, who boasts a 4.05 GPA, entered her senior year with 286 credits, which far exceeds the traditional 220 credits needed to graduate. Palacios has also gotten a start on higher education, having completed seven community college dual enrollment courses, in addition to her myriad campus leadership positions and musical and athletic pursuits as a member of the PHS Jazz Band, track & field, and girl’s cross-country teams. Palacios’ love of volunteering has seen her devote countless hours to help serve those in need, whether she is engaging in afterschool tutoring for the Boys and Girls Club, or serving as a Youth Leader for her church. Palacios has also emerged as a campus leader. She is currently president of Pioneer’s PTSA Club and as a junior was vice president of the school site council.

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Whittier Union Adult School Earns Award for Integration of CTE Curriculum into English as a Second Language Program

Whittier Union Adult School English as a Second Language (ESL) students are enhancing their technological skills and advancing their workforce literacy through the integration of career technical education (CTE) curriculum into the ESL program. The successful integration has earned the Adult School the Promising Practice Award in Adult Education from the California Department of Education and the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS). Schools can self-nominate for the Promising Practice Award through CASAS by showcasing their innovative programs, practices or ideas that support students in achieving their goals and preparing them for the workforce. By integrating CTE curriculum into the ESL program, the Adult School has successfully achieved its goal of enhancing literacy among ESL students and equipping them with the skills necessary to pursue successful careers upon graduation.

Whittier Union Board of Trustees Makes Provisional Appointment for Upcoming Board Vacancy

Whittier Union High School District’s Board of Trustees voted to appoint Josefina E. Canchola to serve the remainder of retiring Board Member Dr. Ralph S. Pacheco’s term during a special Board meeting on June 10. Following the announcement of Dr. Pacheco’s retirement from the Board, which will be effective Friday, July 7, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted in favor of a provisional appointment to fill the Trustee Area 3 seat during a May 9 meeting. During the special Board meeting, the Board of Trustees interviewed six candidates in an open session following a public comment period. At the conclusion of the interviews, the Board deliberated during open session and voted to appoint a provisional seat to Canchola, who will take the oath of office and begin her tenure on Tuesday, July 18.

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.