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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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Socially Distanced Drive-thru Ceremonies to Commemorate Whittier Union Class of 2020 Graduates

Over 2,800 members of Whittier Union’s Class of 2020 will have the opportunity to walk across a stage set up on the campuses they’ve called home for the last four years while being cheered on by families who will have a front-stage view during socially distanced drive-thru graduation ceremonies taking place the week of July 20. Due to strict public health restrictions related to COVID-19, the District postponed in-person graduation ceremonies that were originally scheduled in June. Drive-thru ceremonies are now permitted in Los Angeles County under recently updated public health guidelines.

Whittier Union Graduate Creates COVID-19 Awareness Campaign

Harvard-bound Whittier High School Class of 2020 co-valedictorian Julia Casas will partner with PIH Whittier to establish more effective communication networks in the Whittier area in an effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The effort is part of Harvard’s SPARK program, an immersive six-week public service program offered exclusively to incoming freshmen. Casas will work with PIH Whittier administrators to organize a social network of volunteers, create an online newsletter, coordinate donations of PPE and raise funds for the hospital.

Whittier Union Partners with LA County to Distribute Free Food to Community Families

Donning protective face coverings, gloves and yellow and orange safety vests, volunteers from Los Angeles County organized thousands of food boxes and loaded them into hundreds of vehicles that began lining up at 8:30 a.m. as part of a free drive-thru food giveaway at Pioneer High School. The Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, in partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Whittier Union, sponsored the July 1 event, giving enough food away to feed 2,426 families. Each car that drove through received four 20-pound boxes of groceries, including protein, dairy, non-perishables and fresh produce.

Whittier Union Class of 2020 Graduates Named UC Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholars

California High School Class of 2020 graduates Britney Galvez and Mark Gonzalez have been recognized as UC Berkeley Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholars, an honor that includes full-tuition scholarships that are offered only to the top 1% of incoming freshmen. Galvez and Gonzalez, first-generation college-goers, will receive additional benefits that include priority class enrollment, guaranteed housing, faculty mentors and automatic placement in the UC Berkeley Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholars Association, with the opportunity to network with a select group of 800 scholars and 100 supporting faculty.

Whittier Union Adult School Launches Online Summer Program

While campuses remain physically closed, Whittier Union Adult School will offer short, intensive summer courses online, providing students the flexibility and ability to continue their professional and academic development from home. Some online certificates and courses that will be offered include business communication, data science, human resources, leadership, management, training and education. Classes begin Monday, July 6.

Whittier Union to Place $183.5 Million Facilities Bond on November Ballot

The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees unanimously voted on June 9 to place a $183.5 million facilities bond on the Nov. 3, 2020 ballot to address necessary repairs and renovations, improve school safety and technology, and upgrade career education and science/computer classrooms across District facilities. Whittier Union voters previously supported Measure C in 1999 and Measure W in 2008, authorizing $173 million to transform schools into modern, state-of-the-art facilities. The District concluded its construction program in 2019.

Whittier Union Continuation School Program and Teacher Earn State Accolades for Success

Frontier High School is the recipient of the 2020 Exemplary Program Award from the California Continuation Education Association Plus (CCEA+), which is also honoring Frontier science teacher William Martin as its 2020 Teacher of the Year. CCEA+, a state organization that promotes the development of quality continuation education and schools, is honoring the Model Continuation School for its Orientation program, launched in 2014 to provide new enrollees with the skills for a successful transition into Frontier. Martin is being honored for his leadership and dedication to student achievement.

Whittier Union Schools Lead the Way for Educational Equity, Named to 2020 Top Schools List

Four Whittier Union high schools have been named to the 2020 Top Los Angeles County Public Schools for Underserved Students list for narrowing the opportunity gap for low-income students of color, particularly Latino students, in Los Angeles County and helping them thrive despite barriers. Among the 2,075 schools in Los Angeles County, 1,346 schools serve at least 43% of low-income Latino students. Of these, only 254 schools have been recognized as Top Schools for closing the gap for low-income Latino students. Whittier Union schools that are leading the way include La Serna, Pioneer, Santa Fe and Whittier high schools.

Río Hondo College Nursing Students Volunteer at El Monte City COVID-19 Testing Station

Throughout the spring, 16 students in their first year of Río Hondo College’s Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) program volunteered at the El Monte City Drive-through COVID-19 testing station, lending a hand to efforts to combat the health crisis that immobilized much of the world. Students began volunteering in April and continued throughout May, rotating through stations to work with nurses from Greater El Monte Community Hospital to instruct community members on testing, distribute testing materials, collect samples and educate patients.

Whittier Union Sends Off Class of 2020 with Cap and Gown Distribution, Virtual Recognitions

As Whittier Union seniors approach the final days of their high school career, the District’s high schools are finding ways to safely recognize 2,800 members of the Class the 2020, their accomplishments over the last four years and their ability to persevere under the most unexpected circumstances. Following social distancing guidelines and facial covering requirements, each school meticulously in May organized grab-and-go opportunities to provide seniors their graduation packages, which included caps and gowns, medals and yard signs, which were sponsored by the Whittier Union High School District Educational Foundation. Virtual awards shows were also held to celebrate students.