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Whittier Union High School District

  • 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.

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  • Whittier Union Freshmen Take Deep Dive Via Mobile Museum Virtual Ocean Experience

    La Serna High School freshman biology students took their first steps as marine biologists, with a deep dive through the San Pedro Channel and observing the Pacific Ocean ecosystem, through a unique, immersive multimedia experience brought to campus by the Natural History Museum’s (NHM) “An Ocean Experience” Mobile Museum program. Inside the mobile museum, meticulously transformed into the submersible DSV Sea Nettle to simulate a deep-sea expedition, students received a closer look at underwater species, including squids, sea turtles, sharks, shellfish, and myriad other obscure yet vital organisms that live in the ocean. Led by NHM educator Augie VanDeVeer, who posed as captain of the DSV Sea Nettle, the submersible set off in search of an “anomaly” – in this case, a blue whale carcass lying at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean – and discussed its ecological impact and the efficient way that ocean species use organic biodegradation to keep its ecosystem thriving and robust.

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  • Pioneer High School Celebrates First-Ever CIF Southern Section Football Championship

    When the Pioneer High School football team struggled during a mid-season slump, coach Ramon Juarez inspired his players by telling them they were on the cusp of greatness if they never stopped believing in themselves. Pioneer shook off decades of frustration and disappointment by capturing their first-ever CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) football title, after defeating San Gabriel High by a final score of 13-6 in the Division 14 championship game on Nov. 30. The game was played in front of 2,000 passionate supporters at Dick Torres Memorial Stadium, which included Titan alums from as far back as the 1960s.

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Whittier Union Business Academy Seniors Join in National Trade Show

Seniors from La Serna High School’s Green and Clean Business Academy participated in an online National Trade Show, where they had the opportunity to present their business and product, Cart Care. From the ground up, and completely through Zoom, students created a business, a product and consumer packages, a website and employee handbook, business plan, and even a radio commercial and sales pitch. Cart Care, a sanitation service, uses three models for effective sanitation: UVC-Sanitation Stations, Cart Tracks and a Canopy Tent. To learn more about Cart Care, visit their website or Instagram account.

Monrovia Unified Anti-Vaping Video Recognized by Los Angeles Dodgers

An anti-vaping video created by Clifton Middle School Tech and Publicity students was recognized by the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, which selected it as one of three finalists in an online video contest held in partnership with the L.A. County Department of Public Health. The vape-free campaign, “Let the Smoke Clear,” encourages teenagers to make educated choices. Clifton students were rewarded for their high achievement by winning a Zoom session with Dodgers catcher and World Series hero Will Smith. Photos are available.

Whittier Union Food and Nutrition Services Expand Meal Distribution

Whittier Union High School District’s Food and Nutrition Services has added a new meal distribution site for drive-through service. St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 11345 Miller Road, Whittier, will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for students ages 18 and younger to pick up meals. As of December 2020, Whittier Union has distributed more than 277,000 meals to students in the community.

Whittier Union Administers Oath of Office to Board of Trustees

Whittier Union High School District held a special Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 15, administering the Oath of Office to returning Trustee Dr. Ralph S. Pacheco and newly elected Trustee Jaime Lopez. During the meeting, Pacheco was named president, Dr. Russell Castaneda-Calleros was named vice president and Jeff Baird was named clerk.

Whittier Union Adult School Students Complete Electrician Course

Two Whittier Union Adult School class sections successfully completed the Electrician 1 course in December. The course, held in-person with COVID-19 health and safety protocols in place, is designed to prepare students to enter the Union Apprenticeship program at the Electrical Institute in the City of Commerce and provide interview preparation for the required Math and Mechanical Reasoning Entry Test.

Whittier Union Board of Trustees Commends Outgoing Member Tim Schneider for Community Service

Whittier Union High School District’s Board of Trustees presented outgoing member Tim Schneider with flowers and a plaque of recognition at its November meeting, honoring the longtime Whittier resident for helping to create and maintain a unique educational culture during his 13 years of service. Schneider focused on strengthening the bond between parents, teachers and students, and pushed for diversity and equity.

Whittier Union High School Seniors Offer ‘Wednesday Wisdom’ Advice

La Serna High School seniors are connecting with one another to offer advice through a new Instagram series, “Wednesday Wisdom.” In the most recent episode, seniors Marcus Ruiz, Melea Earley, Katie Garcia, Justin Hernandez, Remy Vigil, Jayben Romo and Adrian Marquez offered advice for mental wellness and being organized as students tackle assignments and college applications. In short video sequences, the seniors suggested daily mental wellness checks; encouraged the use of a daily planner to track deadlines; and highlighted the importance of not getting in the way of your own goals.

Whittier Union High School Holiday Donation Assists Families

About 100 Whittier-area families in need received an outpouring of holiday cheer complete with Thanksgiving dinner fixings and a $25 Stater Bros. gift card at a Turkey Drive held at Pioneer High School on Nov. 15. The event was conceived by Helping Homeless Veterans-LA President and founder Cynthia Perry-Lopez and her husband, John Lopez, who is Pioneer’s campus operations supervisor. Families began lining up for the Turkey Drive at 4 a.m. Each car received a grocery bag filled with boxes of stuffing and mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, gravy and the gift card.

Cal High Senior Recognized with Award of Merit for Determination and Leadership

Whittier Union California High School senior George Felton was recognized with an Award of Merit from the Whittier Union Board of Trustees on Nov. 10 for his unwavering commitment to academics and athletics. Felton is known on campus for his big heart and positive attitude, a dedicated student who never backs down from a challenge. Felton, who has been in the California foster care system since he was 11 years old, has gone to great lengths to remain at Cal High. Felton has a 3.45 GPA and has been a member of the Cal High football team for four years. After graduation, Felton wants to study criminology and become a police officer.

Whitter Union Announces Extension of Remote Learning

Whittier Union High School District announced on Nov. 12 the extension of remote learning to the end of December 2020. Whittier Union will remain in Stage 1 of the District’s 4-Stage Back to School Plan until the end of December and reevaluate health data when spring semester begins in January. In the meantime, the District continues to check in with individual schools to ensure all sites have the resources needed to keep students and staff safe for their return to classrooms.