California High School senior Sarah Plascencia was recognized with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees, who honored Plascencia’s determination for completing her schooling and graduating with the Cal High Class of 2023. Plascencia received the award during a meeting on Oct. 11, where she was joined by her friends, family and Cal High supporters. Plascencia moved out of the area when her foster mother died last December, then successfully advocated to remain at Cal High so that she could maintain her friendships and stay with the school family that has guided and nurtured her.
La Serna High School student leaders participated in the school’s inaugural Student Leadership Conference on Sept. 27, where they received training on how to be effective student leaders on campus and how to best connect with their peers to create a fulfilling high school experience. Link Crew leaders, academic mentors, academy leads, sports captains, Associated Student Body members and OASIS/HAVEN leaders made up the nearly 300 students who attended the conference and heard from keynote speaker Felix Bobo, an accomplished educator, businessman and leader who supports and coaches individuals on how to achieve higher levels of success. During the conference, students engaged in breakout sessions that covered a wide range of leadership topics including emotional intelligence, the power of a story, and the importance of communication and conflict resolution.
Whittier Union High School District students filled the California High School quad and learned more about their post-secondary options during the 2023 Districtwide College Fair on Sept. 13. Students had the opportunity to speak with representatives from more than 50 colleges – which included several University of California and California State University campuses, along with private schools, community colleges, trade schools, United States Armed Forces and out-of-state universities – and gained insight to each school’s offerings, while filling out registration cards for more information.
Whittier Union Adult School’s (WUAS) Electrician 1 program has recently received recognition from the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB), which presented the school with its coveted Outstanding Achievement Award for the school’s success in guiding students to employment in the industry. The program, which includes a math/electrician component, is designed to prepare students to pass the Electrical Training Institute’s (ETI) electrician’s apprentice application. WUAS students have an 89% placement and employment rate after completing their training. WUAS will receive its award at SBWIB’s 27th annual awards ceremony on Nov. 3 at the Torrance Marriott South Bay.
Whittier Union High School District joins with several local school districts to host the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce (HOT) Interdistrict Parent Education Conference, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1 at the United Sierra Education Center, 9401 S. Painter Ave., Whittier. The conference will focus on and bring awareness to the needs of English learners and will cover topics such as K-12 and adult education, transportation, childcare, academic success, financial aid, social emotional learning and career technical education. Cost for the conference is $50 per person.
Whittier Union High School District students are receiving expanded Social Emotional Learning (SEL) services during the 2022-23 school year, an initiative that aligns with Whittier Union’s commitment to supporting the development and well-being of students. Guided by the District’s multi-tiered SEL Pyramid, Whittier Union aims to have services available for all students, whether they need someone to talk to or need crisis intervention and referral services. Students are supported by an SEL Collaborative of student well-being liaisons, student well-being interns, counselors, psychologists and school social workers. Every Whittier Union school has one full-time social worker on staff to assist with the day-to-day concerns of students. At the District office, two full-time social workers are available to work with students who have more pressing social emotional needs and offer a lifeline of support to keep them in school. Calming rooms with comfortable furniture and amenities have also been created at every school, providing students a safe space where they can ease their stress and anxiety.
Nearly 11,000 Whittier Union High School District students made their way onto campuses bedecked in colorful posters and balloons for the first day of school on Aug. 17, welcomed by cheer teams, Associated Student Body members, principals, administrators and peers. Across campuses, students made their way down red carpets, hugged one another and high-fived as band members played thrilling tunes to create an exciting environment for students and set the tone for a successful 2022-23 school year. Freshmen students kicked off the new school year during the District’s Freshmen First Day on Aug. 16 – an annual tradition that aims to ease the transition into high school for students.
Reflecting the Whittier Union High School District commitment to provide equity for every student and maintain high teaching standards, eight teachers have been awarded $25,000 grants by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as part of a statewide incentive program to retain and train National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) to teach at high-priority schools throughout California. The grants will be spread out over five years, with the recipients receiving $5,000 annually beginning July 1, 2022. To receive the grant, the recipients – who are all National Board Certified teachers – have agreed to continue teaching at their schools for five years. The grants will be paid through the California Department of Education.
Whittier Union Teachers Receive $25,000 National Board Grants
Six Whittier Union High School District teachers have been awarded $25,000 grants by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as part of an incentive program to retain and train National Board Certified Teachers to teach at high-priority schools throughout California. The recipients are Lindsey Garcia, Julie Tonkovich, Laura Mejia Torres, Virginia Glasscock and Rebecca Doran from California High School and Robin Hernandez from Whittier High School. The grants will be spread out over five years, with the recipients receiving $5,000 annually, beginning July 1, 2022.
The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees honored three graduates who were unable to walk during commencement ceremonies, presenting them with their diplomas and gift baskets during a Board meeting on June 14. The graduates recognized during the meeting were California High School Summa Cum Laude graduate Anthony Franco and La Serna High School Magna Cum Laude graduates Anabelle Rocha and Andrew Reyes. During the presentations of diplomas, the Board shared words of gratitude for each graduate and expressed their congratulations for achieving high academic success at Whittier Union. The students were joined by their family, peers and school administrators.
