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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Students Receive Powerful Lesson During DUI Car Crash Simulation

    Pioneer High School students received an opportunity to see how the real-life consequences of driving drunk, distracted, or impaired can have devastating and tragic results for their friends, family, and community during an “Every 15 Minutes” demonstration held in front of the school on March 18. The staged simulation for Pioneer High juniors and seniors – featuring the participation of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Los Angeles County Sheriff, City of Whittier Police Dept., Los Angeles County Fire Dept., first responders, and Funeraria de Angel Pico Rivera mortuary – took the students through an entire DUI car crash scenario – the initial 911 call, the rescue of victims, a sobriety test, and the subsequent arrest of the driver.

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  • California High School Senior Recovers from Debilitating Illness, Receives Award of Merit

    As an incoming freshman, California High School senior Viridian “Viv” Gonzalez got off to a flying start, earning straight A’s in her first semester, with a challenging schedule that included several Honors classes. Her future looked bright; then calamity struck. Gonzalez fell ill during her second semester and was hospitalized for months, missing a considerable amount of school. When Gonzalez returned to Cal High for her sophomore year, she was still very weak and wheelchair bound but determined to pick up where she left off. Enrolling in Cal High’s Health Academy pathway and with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to guide her, Gonzalez persevered despite her limited mobility, excelling in all her classes and slowly regaining her health. As a senior with a 3.5 GPA and improved health, Gonzalez said she is looking forward to taking the Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) exam this spring.

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  • Pioneer High Football Makes History with CIF Titles, Launches Fundraiser for Championship Rings

    The Pioneer High School football team made history in the fall 2024 season, taking home the school’s first-ever CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) title, followed by a regional title – an achievement that has ignited school spirit and set the stage for future generations of athletic excellence. While the team fell to Balboa High School in the CIF State Championship game on Dec. 14, their journey united the school and community in a milestone season. To commemorate this achievement, Pioneer High’s football team is raising funds for championship rings, a lasting tribute to their historic season. Contributions can be made through the school’s dedicated fundraising page or directly at Pioneer’s Business & Activities Office.

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‘Every 15 Minutes’ Program to Highlight Dangers of Drunk Driving to Whittier Union High School Students

Santa Fe High School will host the “Every 15 Minutes” program, a two-day event featuring a simulated car crash, rescue efforts and the dramatized deaths of students, as well as a mock funeral to emphasize the dangers of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 6 and Thursday, April 7 at 11 a.m. at Santa Fe High School, 10400 S. Orr & Day Road, Santa Fe Springs. The program will include a simulated live-action auto crash in front of the school, along with a pre-recorded 911 call which will trigger emergency response by local law enforcement agencies, firefighters, paramedics and the coroner. The event will conclude with a mock funeral school assembly the following day, featuring a video of the previous day’s event. Media contact: Andrea Garcia, 909-447-2403

Whittier Union Senior Named 2022 Dell Scholar, Receives $20,000 Scholarship

Pioneer High School senior Oscar Antonio has been honored as a 2022 Dell Scholar by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, an award that comes with a $20,000 scholarship spread over four years, textbook credit, and a laptop to support Antonio as he pursues his post-secondary education goals. Antonio, a high-achieving student with a 4.3 GPA and Summa Cum Laude honor, will also have access to Dell Scholars Connect, a mentoring program that offers academic support from other scholarship recipients. Upon graduating high school, Antonio hopes to attend either California State University, Los Angeles, the University of La Verne or California State University, Long Beach and obtain a degree in accounting.

Whittier Union Adult School ESL Students Organize Relief Drive

Whittier Union Adult School ESL students have responded to the humanitarian crisis in Europe by organizing a Ukrainian Relief drive, collecting socks, clothes, blankets, toys, personal hygiene items, baby items, disposable tableware and non-perishable food to assist the millions of refugees displaced from their homes. The donation drive has set in motion a passionate response among the adult school students, who have thus far amassed enough supplies to fill five truckloads. In addition to adult school students, donations have come from Frontier and Sierra Vista high school students, as well as District office employees who share the United Sierra Education Center complex.

Whittier Union Adult School Graduate Lands Position at District

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Renan Mota da Silva enrolled in Whittier Union Adult School’s English as a Second Language (ESL) online program, hoping to improve his language skills. A former special education teacher in Brazil, Mota de Silva longed to become a credentialed teacher in the U.S. Today, Mota de Silva is employed as an Instructional Vocational Specialist in the Transition Program at Whittier Union. His new position allows him to apply his experience as a special education teacher in Brazil and help Whittier Union transition students prepare for careers, find potential job sites, and learn to live independently.

Whittier Union Independent Study Student Recognized by Board of Trustees for Resilience, Determination

Sierra Vista High School Class of 2022 graduate Julio Zermeno has been recognized with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees for his resolve, effective use of time and determination. When Zermeno was a junior at Pioneer High School, he was reeling academically due to COVID-related school closures and the additional responsibilities of caring for his ailing father. Behind in school credits, Zermeno transferred to Sierra Vista High School, finding its independent study program ideal for dealing with the peaks and valleys of his life. As a mid-year graduate, Zermeno remains connected to Sierra Vista, taking advantage of the school’s new College and Career Center and exploring the variety of career pathways at local community colleges.

Whittier Union Names New Administrators to Superintendent Executive Cabinet

The Whittier Union Board of Trustees has announced that two longtime administrators will advance into new positions in the Superintendent’s Executive Cabinet. Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Kevin Jamero will also serve as Deputy Superintendent and Pioneer High School Principal Lilia Bozigian will become Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. The Board of Trustees announced the advancements during its March 8 Board meeting. In February, the Board appointed Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Monica Oviedo to replace Superintendent Martin J. Plourde, who is retiring in June. Dr. Oviedo, Jamero and Bozigian will step into their new roles at the end of the school year.

Whittier Union Senior Receives Award of Merit for Academic Excellence and Resilience

La Serna High School senior Carmela Claytor never lost her love for learning, even through the most trying times. From being placed in foster care as a freshman to struggling through distance learning as a junior, Claytor remained focused on academic achievement and emerged as one of La Serna’s top-performing scholars and student leaders. Going from intervention student to academic mentor, Claytor was recognized with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees during its Feb. 27 board meeting.

Whittier Union Intervention Students, Academic Mentors Build Trust Through Ropes Course Challenge

Testing their capacities for endurance and perseverance, nearly 150 La Serna High School Oasis/HAVEN/Guided Studies students and their academic mentors worked to build their leadership skills and bond with one another during the intervention program’s annual Spring Reward Field Trip, held at the Orange County Ropes Course on Feb. 9. At a height of more than 60 feet and clasped securely to an overhead zip line, students navigated the challenging course, climbing up ropes, stepping precariously on ramps and boards, then repelling back down, all the while being cheered on by their classmates.

Board of Trustees Chooses Assistant Superintendent Dr. Monica Oviedo as Next Superintendent

The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees selected Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Monica Oviedo, who has served the District as a teacher and administrator for 25 years, as its next superintendent during a Board meeting on Feb. 22. Oviedo was carefully chosen for her long record of achievement at Whittier Union, the enthusiasm with which she has implemented the District’s vision of doing “whatever it takes” to ensure student success, and her embrace of the ethnic and cultural diversity of the students, parents and community she serves. The decision follows extensive discussions by the Board of Trustees and widespread outreach that engaged District stakeholders and community members. The District received input utilizing an online survey and two input sessions – one virtual meeting for District staff, and a second meeting held in-person for the public. Feedback focused on the qualities, skills and abilities desired in a superintendent.

Whittier Union Cybersecurity Team Recognized as Top Competitor

Pioneer High School’s Cybersecurity Club reached a milestone by placing in the state semi-finals of the National Youth Cyber Defense CyberPatriot competition, held in January, placing the school in the top echelon of anti-hacking teams in California. Working in teams, Pioneer’s cyber sleuths scoured computer operating systems to prevent hacking and identify vulnerabilities in existing software. Many of the club’s members have been active in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs since middle school.