Amid an air of excitement and anticipation, more than 10,000 Whittier Union High School District students stepped onto campuses adorned with vibrant posters, balloons and red carpets on the much-awaited first day of school on Aug. 16. Across the District, students were welcomed onto campuses and greeted by energetic ASB and Link Crew members, cheer and song teams, principals and administrators. During the morning rush, band and color guard ensembles played exhilarating tunes, creating an engaging and positive campus atmosphere for students and setting the stage for a successful 2023-24 academic year. The District also hosted its annual Freshman First Day on Aug. 15 – a tradition that seeks to build camaraderie between incoming freshmen and their new school community.
Two Whittier Union high schools have been recognized for their success in guiding students toward completing rigorous coursework required to attend a California four-year university, significantly narrowing the achievement and equity gap, and providing students an opportunity to have greater success in higher education and pursue their dream career. Santa Fe and Pioneer high school students are completing their A-G coursework at rates far above the California average, and across numerous demographic subgroups, including socioeconomically disadvantaged, Latinx, Black and English Learner. Schoolwide A-G completion rates are 76% for Pioneer High and 65% for Santa Fe High. The California completion rate average is just over 40%.
Whittier Union to Kick Off New School Year with Freshmen First Day
Whittier Union High School District’s incoming freshmen will kick off the 2023-24 school year during Freshmen First Day (FFD), held Tuesday, Aug. 15 at each of the District’s comprehensive high schools. FFD is an annual tradition that aims to ease the transition into high school for new students. FFD also helps new students build connections with one another and familiarize themselves with their new campus, teachers and administrators, ensuring they are prepared to have an impactful high school experience.
Whittier Union Partners with Highway Patrol for National Night Out
The Santa Fe High School band will perform as part of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Santa Fe Springs office’s inaugural National Night Out, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 5. The event is free to the public and will feature a bicycle rodeo, police, K-9 and motorcycle demonstrations, information booths, a bicycle helmet giveaway, and photos with Chipper the Chipmunk. The CHP Santa Fe Springs office is located at 10051 Orr and Day Rd., Santa Fe Springs.
Whittier Union High School District is kicking off the 2023-24 school year with the renewal of the GoPass program, offering students consistent and reliable transportation to school by providing unlimited rides at no cost on the Metro bus and rail. The program began its pilot year in Whittier Union in October 2021 after the District was approached by City of Whittier Mayor Pro Tem and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board member Fernando Dutra. The Fareless System Initiative aims to increase student ridership, student success, and improve student health. According to Metro, students with access to public transportation have a higher rate of graduation and are also shown to be healthier due to a more active lifestyle.
Whittier Union Renews Free Public Transportation to Students
Whittier Union High School District is kicking off the 2023-24 school year with the renewal of the GoPass program, offering students consistent and reliable transportation to school by providing unlimited rides at no cost on the Metro bus and rail. The program began its pilot year in Whittier Union in October 2021 after the District was approached by City of Whittier Mayor Pro Tem and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board member Fernando Dutra. The Fareless System Initiative aims to increase student ridership, student success, and improve student health. The pass allows each student unlimited rides on Metro bus and rail, as well as bus lines including Norwalk Transit, Montebello Bus, City of Commerce, LADOT Dash, Culver City Bus and the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus.
Whittier Union Diver Makes Waves as CIF Springboard Champion
La Serna High School senior Steven Figueroa loves the challenge of performing a successful dive. Whether competing on springboard at 1m or 3m or taking the plunge from a platform three stories high, Figueroa is making a name for himself around the Southern California diving community after winning the CIF Div. 3 championship as a junior. Figueroa, who began diving at seven years old, took the championship despite La Serna not fielding a diving team, representing his school as an individual competitor. In the last year, Figueroa has added platform diving to his repertoire, and dives with increasing degrees of difficulty, like reverse 2 ½ and inward 2 ½ dives.
Whittier Union Welcomes New Member to Board of Trustees
The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees welcomed Josefina E. Canchola as the newest member of the Board during a July 18 meeting. Canchola, who was joined by family, friends and community members, officially took her seat as Trustee representing Area 3 following her oath of office during the same meeting. Currently, she serves as the director of secondary programs for the Puente Project, a statewide non-profit academic preparation program that focuses on empowering first-generation college students in underrepresented communities. She will fulfill the remainder of Dr. Ralph Pacheco's term from July 2023 through the first Friday of December 2024. Pacheco retired from the Board on July 8 after 32 years of service to the District.
Whittier Union to Hold Trustee Area 3 Oath of Office Ceremony
Whittier Union High School District will conduct an oath of office ceremony for Josefina E. Canchola, representing Trustee Area 3, during an upcoming Board meeting on Tuesday, July 18. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. and be held in the District Board Room, located at 9401 S. Painter Ave., Whittier. Canchola will fulfill the remainder of former Board member Dr. Ralph Pacheco’s term from July 2023 through December 2024. Pacheco retired from the Board on July 8 after 32 years of service to the District. Canchola currently serves as the director of secondary programs for the Puente Project.
Ahead of the 2023-24 school year, the Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees has taken significant steps in prioritizing student wellness and educational inclusivity by unanimously approving a Land Use Acknowledgement policy and an Alcohol and Other Drugs policy during its June 13 Board meeting. The newly adopted Land Use Acknowledgement policy actively recognizes the rich history, art and culture of Native Americans. The policy is slated to be integrated into the District’s comprehensive Ethnic Studies curriculum, and will also be read at various District and school-specific events. The Board also approved a revised Alcohol, Marijuana and Other Drugs policy, which updates District protocols for addressing alcohol and drug-related activities, acknowledging the detrimental effects that issues related to drug use have on the District community. The policy emphasizes the development of comprehensive intervention programs and restorative activities that promote safe, healthy environments free from alcohol, marijuana and other drugs.
