fbpx

Whittier Union High School District

  • Frontier and Sierra Vista High Schools Earn Top Accreditation for Excellence and Student Support

    Whittier Union High School District’s Frontier and Sierra Vista high schools have both earned a six-year accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS-WASC), reaffirming their commitment to fostering supportive learning environments and ensuring student success both academically and personally. ACS-WASC accreditation guarantees that a school’s credits and diplomas are recognized by colleges and universities. It also drives school improvement through a rigorous self-study and the development of an action plan focused on student achievement. While all public high schools in California are required to be ACS-WASC accredited, earning a six-year accreditation with a half-way progress report is known as the highest distinction a school can receive.

    Read More

  • Whittier Union Senior Honored with Award of Merit for Leadership, Wellness Support

    La Serna High School senior Felipe Galvan is a natural leader known for building strong relationships with both students and staff alike while continually looking for ways to improve outcomes for his classmates, either as a member of La Serna’s Puente Program, as an English language development (ELD) and Link Crew mentor, or as president of the school’s Wellness Club. Galvan has a passion for promoting social-emotional well-being for his classmates and has brought awareness to mental health by serving as an organizer and fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Galvan, who boasts a 4.26 GPA and has completed 11 Advanced Placement and eight Honors classes, was recently recognized by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees with an Award of Merit, during the Jan. 14 Board meeting.

    Read More

  • Whittier Union Students Spread Holiday Cheer, STEM Inspiration through Annual Tradition

    Students from Whittier High School’s Cardinal Academy of Technology (CAT) continued a cherished end-of-year tradition when they made their annual holiday visit to Lydia Jackson College Prep Academy to spread holiday cheer on Dec. 6, delighting dozens of Lydia Jackson second grade students. The holiday visit has been a tradition for the two schools for 20 years, with Whittier High juniors enrolled in the CAT program bearing gifts, telling stories, and singing songs to the elementary students, while also inspiring the students to consider pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects as they progress through school.

    Read More

Whittier Union Football Coach’s Character-Building Merits Recognition from L.A. Chargers

When Santa Fe High School Class of 2004 graduate Ryan Bateman played for the legendary Chieftain varsity football squads of the early 2000s, he rarely felt the agony of defeat. During Bateman’s three years on varsity, the team went undefeated in league play. Now, Bateman is back at Santa Fe and continuing his legacy of excellence on and off the field. Bateman returned to Santa Fe in 2023 as its new head football coach, tasked with turning around a team that had won just five games in its previous five years. The impact was immediate. One year after the Chieftains completed their season with a 0-10 record, Santa Fe High reemerged as a Del Rio League contender, finishing the year with a 9-4 record and making it to the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 12 playoffs.

Whittier Union Dedicates Whittier High School Art Building to Former Art Teacher, WWII Hero

Longtime Whittier resident Yoshio Nakamura, whose engaging personality and gentle encouragement transformed the highly-decorated World War II combat veteran into a much beloved and influential art teacher for multiple generations of Whittier students, returned to Whittier High School on Sept. 7, when the District officially dedicated the school’s art building in his honor. The Whittier community, which included the Whittier Union Board of Trustees, Congressional representatives, City Council members, former students, and veterans from the U.S Armed Forces, gathered to honor the 98-year-old Nakamura, known to everyone as “Yosh,” for his longtime career in education, which included 10 years as an art teacher at Whittier High School and nearly 30 years as an art teacher, dean, and vice president at Río Hondo College.

Whittier Union Unveils New Swimming Pool, Aquatics Center at La Serna High School

La Serna High School made a big splash with the Whittier Union community during a ribbon-cutting for its new Aquatics Center, which is anchored by a newly constructed, regulation-size 35-meter swimming pool, a state-of-the-art timing system and scoreboard, and an expanded bleacher section, on Aug. 24. Rousing cheers sounded as the La Serna High aquatics teams and coaches, Whittier Union Board of Trustees, Superintendent Dr. Monica Oviedo, and La Serna Principal Griselda Castro gathered to cut the ribbon and kick off a celebratory afternoon highlighted by a ceremonial “jump-in” to christen the pool, and a luau complete with food, games, and Polynesian dancers.

Whittier Union to Dedicate Art Building to Former Teacher, Decorated WWII Veteran

Whitter High School will recognize longtime Whittier resident, former art teacher, and decorated World War II veteran Yoshio Nakamura by dedicating its South Campus art building in his honor and unveiling a commemorative plaque. On March 12, the Whittier Union Board of Trustees unanimously voted to dedicate Whittier High’s Q Building to honor the 98-year-old Nakamura, known to his friends as “Yosh.” The highly decorated Nakamura was hired as an art teacher at Whittier High in 1950 and spent 13 years there before leaving to become the first teacher hired at Río Hondo College in 1963.

Whittier Union Adult School Debuts New Healthcare Technician Certification Classes

Whittier Union Adult School (WUAS) will debut two new professional healthcare certification programs this fall, allowing students who are looking for careers in the medical field an opportunity to expand their skills, earn more money, and have more options as they move forward in the healthcare industry. The two new classes – an EKG technician certification course and a phlebotomy technician certification course – are offered in partnership with CalRegional, a leading private, post-secondary healthcare education provider. Registration for the certification programs – which can both be completed in less than a month – is still open, with both day and evening classes available.

Whittier Union to Host Ribbon-Cutting, Carnival for Grand Opening of La Serna High Aquatics Center

La Serna High School will host a grand opening for its newly reconstructed Aquatics Center, which includes a ribbon-cutting for the school’s new, state-of-the-art swimming pool. The new pool was paid for with funds from the District’s $183 million Measure AA facilities bond, passed by voters in November 2020. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by a “Jump In” pool carnival, with relay races, alumni races, raffles, silent auctions, and opportunities to purchase aquatics spirit wear.

Whittier Union Starts 2024-25 Strong, Unveiling New Theme and Athletic Program for Students

With a District theme of “Standing Strong Together,” the 2024-25 school year got off to a rousing start for more than 10,000 Whittier Union High School District students, who strode cheerfully and purposefully through their school gates on Aug. 14, ready to reconnect with friends and faculty and make new memories, as they take the next step in their academic journeys. All five Whittier Union comprehensive high schools, as well as its continuation and independent study schools, greeted students with red carpets, welcome posters, balloons representing the school colors, cheer performances, band performances, and more.

Whittier Union to Kick Off 2024-25 School Year with Freshmen First Day

Whittier Union High School District’s incoming freshmen will kick off the 2024-25 school year during Freshmen First Day (FFD) on Tuesday, Aug. 13 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. It also helps new students build connections with one another and familiarize themselves with their new campus, and teachers and administrators, ensuring they are prepared to have an impactful high school experience.

Whittier Union Adult School Recognized by CDE with Promising Practice Award

A Whittier Union Adult School (WUAS) program that streamlines the process for students looking to graduate into the local workforce has been recognized with the California Department of Education’s Promising Practice Award, further establishing the school as a valuable resource for residents looking for industry certifications that lead to lucrative careers. WAUS is one of two California adult schools to participate in the U.S Department of Education’s Integrated Education Training (IET) Advanced Design Camp program, which aims to align classroom instruction to better reflect the needs of local industry based on three specific criteria: literacy, workforce preparation, and workforce training. This is the second consecutive year that WAUS has received the Promising Practice Award from the CDE. In 2023, the school was cited for its program that merged English as a Second Language curriculum with career technical education.

Río Hondo College Student Takes Oath of Office for 2024-25 Term on Board of Trustees

Río Hondo College (RHC) student Hesma Valdes took an oath of office to officially begin her tenure as the student trustee for the 2024-25 academic year during the College’s Board of Trustees meeting on June 12. Valdes said she is motivated by a passion for advocacy for students' basic needs and wellness, aiming to be a voice for her fellow RHC students and foster positive change on campus. Her primary focus is addressing psychological needs and improving accessibility for students.