Whittier Union Students Return to Campus Two Days a Week
Whittier Union High School District moved into Stage Three of its reopening plan – with students receiving in-person instruction two days a week – on April 27. Under Stage Three, students are divided into Cohort A and Cohort B, and attend school on Tuesday/Wednesday and Thursday/Fridays, respectively. Students and teachers continue to follow strict health and safety protocols such as participating in a daily health screening, wearing face coverings, social distancing from one another, and following directional signs and floor markers throughout campuses.
Aspiring to attend an elite university, Pioneer High School senior Genessa Frondarina never dreamed she would continue her education alongside her older sisters – Pioneer High Class of 2019 graduate Alyssa Suarez and Pioneer High Class of 2020 graduate Lanessa Frondarina – who are both attending UCLA. Frondarina, who has a 4.41 GPA, will become the third member of her family to wear the blue and gold after being accepted to UCLA. Frondarina plans to major in international affairs.
School Psychology Club students organized the Gratitude Project, distributing goodie bags full of snacks and a handwritten letter of appreciation to nurses at Kaiser Permanente in Downey. Santa Fe’s Psychology Club, led by Santa Fe seniors Elizabeth Serna and Jessika Suos and guided by AP Psychology teacher Michele Jones, has flourished into a community for students who have a passion for serving others, providing a fun environment where they can talk about a broad range of psychology-related matters.
Whittier Union High School District’s Class of 2021 will be celebrated during in-person commencement ceremonies at District stadiums, held from Tuesday, June 1 to Thursday June 3. Capacity will be limited, and health and safety measures will be enforced. Face coverings and social distancing will be required during the duration of the ceremonies, and directional signs and floor markers will be in place to ensure proper management of movement in the stadiums. The District will share more information regarding capacity and ceremony logistics as it becomes available.
Whittier Union to Offer In-Person Instruction Two Days a Week
The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees approved a move to Stage Three reopening – with students receiving in-person instruction two days a week – beginning Monday, April 27. Under Stage Three, students in Cohorts A1 and A2 will be combined and attend school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Students in Cohorts B1 and B2 will be combined and attend school on Thursdays and Fridays. Families have the option of continuing 100% remote learning for the remainder of the school year. Students and staff will continue participating in daily health screenings and temperature checks.
California High School senior Bryant Mendez Melchor is one step closer to fulfilling his dream of attending an elite university after receiving a $40,000 College Board Opportunity Scholarship, awarded to just 25 students from across the country. Bryant Mendez, a high-achieving scholar with a 4.55 GPA, will attend Stanford University and major in computer science. As a first-generation American, Mendez’s determination to succeed is inspired by his family and a deep compassion for helping others.
Whittier Union High School District students, carrying colorful posters with messages of encouragement, returned to campus beginning on April 6 and continuing throughout the week, marking the beginning of the District’s reopening for in-person instruction. Students, lined up six feet apart, were excitedly greeted by teachers, administrators, and staff, many of whom were meeting their students for the first time. Students underwent health screenings and temperature checks prior to entering campus.
Whittier Union High School District announced the first phase of scheduled facilities upgrades and improvements from the $183 million Measure AA bond, passed by voters last November, providing structural relief and security enhancement for each of the District’s comprehensive high schools. Roughly one-third of the bonds issued – $50 million – has been earmarked for 16 projects designed to modernize schools and District structures, improve energy efficiency, and provide increased access to technology. The initial round of improvements and construction, which began in January, is slated to proceed through June 2025.
Whittier Union High School District’s Puente Program celebrated the birthday and legacy of Cesar Chavez during a virtual event on March 31. Keynote speaker Anthony Chavez, grandson of Cesar Chavez, addressed Puente students and fielded questions on the legacy of Chavez, community service and the fight for social justice. The event kicked off the Cesar Chavez Day of Service, where students were encouraged to create a service project through art or writing and become eligible to win the Spirit of Cesar Chavez College Scholarship.
Pioneer High School senior Idaly Iturralde has been recognized as a 2021 Dell Scholar by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, receiving a $20,000 scholarship spread over four years as she pursues her college and career goals. As a Dell Scholar, Iturralde will also receive a laptop and access to Dell Scholars Connect, a mentoring program which offers support from other Dell Scholars.
