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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Honors Class of 2025 Graduates During Spirited Commencement Ceremonies

    Cheers and celebration filled the air across Whittier Union High School District as more than 2,100 graduates from the Class of 2025 turned their tassels and stepped boldly into the future during spirited commencement ceremonies held June 2 through 4. Seniors from the District’s five comprehensive high schools, two alternative campuses, and adult school were joined by proud families, friends, and dedicated school staff, all united in honoring the resilience, growth, and accomplishments of Whittier Union’s newest alumni. Santa Fe, Sierra Vista, and Frontier high schools, along with Whittier Union Adult School, kicked off the three days of celebration during commencement ceremonies on June 2, followed by La Serna High School and Whittier High School on June 3. California and Pioneer high schools concluded the festivities with ceremonies on June 4.

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  • Whittier Union Class of 2025 Earn National Scholarships for Ivy League, State Universities

    Whittier Union High School District seniors are preparing to take their next steps this fall, heading to colleges and universities across the country, with many leaving lasting legacies through academic achievement, leadership, and national recognition. Across Whittier Union, students are earning prestigious scholarships and acceptances to top-tier universities. Pioneer High School’s Olivia Jimenez was awarded the $50,000 Edison Scholarship and will attend Harvard University this fall. California High School’s Jonas Sanchez is heading to West Point, La Serna High School’s Aidan Reyes will attend Princeton University, and Whittier High School’s Edward Navarro will join Stanford University.

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  • Service-Minded California High Health Academy Lead Named Whittier Union’s 2025 Teacher of the Year

    California High School Health Academy coordinator and science teacher Laurie Thomas has devoted four decades of her life to inspiring students through hands-on learning, critical thinking, and unwavering support – earning her the title of Whittier Union High School District’s (WUHSD) 2025 Teacher of the Year. Thomas has taught at WUHSD for 25 years, beginning her journey at California High as a physics teacher. Motivated by a desire to help a friend in need, she briefly stepped away from the classroom to attend nursing school, becoming a registered nurse in 2006. When she returned to Whittier Union, Thomas was invited to lead the school’s Health Academy.

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Whitter Union Wellness Collaborative Supports Students, Families, Staff

Whittier Union High School District has created a Social/Emotional Collaborative team to develop class lessons, tools and videos to support students, staff and parents who have experienced stress, difficulties and trauma due to the COVID-19 pandemic and help ease their transition to the 2020-21 school year. The social/emotional supports address a plethora of issues confronting students and families, including the effects of trauma on student learning, time management strategies, practicing mindfulness, the benefits of taking breaks from social media, coping strategies and the benefits of optimism, gratitude and resilience.

Whittier Union Celebrates Class of 2020 with Pomp and Circumstance

Whittier Union rolled out the red carpet and gave over 2,700 members of the Class of 2020 the star treatment during one-of-a-kind drive-up graduations that saw students walk across grand stages on their campuses and collect diplomas as families, sounding air horns and holding custom big-head cutouts, cheered from decorated vehicles, limousines and party buses. Every day during the week of July 20, each Whittier Union campus hosted socially distanced graduation ceremonies that provided students and families safe venues in which to celebrate after traditional ceremonies were canceled due to public health restrictions.

Whittier Union to Begin 2020-21 Fall Semester with 100% Distance Learning

Whittier Union High School District will begin the 2020-21 school year with a 100% distance learning schedule, converting the fall semester into a quarter system in which students will take three online classes in each of two nine-week periods starting Wednesday, Aug. 12. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the 3x9 instructional model and launching the school year in Stage 1 of the District’s four-stage reopening plan during a July 28 virtual board meeting.

Whittier Union Develops Flexible Learning Plan for Fall 2020

Whittier Union High School District is exploring adopting a quarter system for the fall semester of the 2020-21 school year, which begins Aug. 12. The instructional model is part of a four-stage teaching and learning plan that is adaptable to the continuously changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the recommended instructional model and one of the four stages in which schools will reopen, which range from 100% online to 100% in-person, during a special meeting Tuesday, July 28, when health conditions will be clearer.

Harvard-bound Whittier Union Valedictorian Partners with PIH Health for COVID-19 Awareness Campaign

Before spending the next four years studying biomedical engineering at Harvard University, Whittier High School graduate Julia Casas is dedicating her summer to working with PIH Health Whittier Hospital to develop a volunteer social network and raise awareness of COVID-19 and the available health services in the community. Casas, who is one of Whittier High’s seven valedictorians for the Class of 2020, is working with PIH Health volunteer services and health marketing administrators to compile a large volunteer database; create a volunteer website, social media accounts and weekly newsletter; coordinate donations of personal protective equipment; and organize online fundraisers.

Whittier Union Develops Flexible Back-to-School Learning Plan for Fall 2020

Whittier Union High School District is exploring adopting a quarter system for the fall semester of the 2020-21 school year, which begins Aug. 12. The instructional model is part of a four-stage teaching and learning plan that is adaptable to the continuously changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the recommended instructional model and one of the four stages in which schools will reopen, which range from 100% online to 100% in-person, during a special meeting Tuesday, July 28, when health conditions will be clearer.

Whittier Union to Host Socially Distanced Drive-thru Graduations

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. California High will hold its ceremony from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 20; La Serna will hold its ceremony from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 21; Santa Fe High will hold its ceremony from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22; Whittier High will hold its ceremony from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 23; and Pioneer High will hold its event from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 24. On Wednesday, July 22, the Transition program will honor students from 4 to 5 p.m.; Sierra Vista will celebrate students from 5 to 7 p.m.; Frontier will honor grads from 7 to 8:30 p.m.; and Whittier Union Adult School will celebrate graduates from 8:30 to 9 p.m. at the Sierra Education Center campus.

Whittier Union Develops 4-Stage Back-to-School Learning Plan that Ensures Flexibility Amid Uncertainty

Whittier Union High School District is exploring adopting a quarter system for the fall semester of the 2020-21 school year, which begins Wednesday, Aug. 12. The instructional model is part of a four-stage teaching and learning plan that is adaptable to the continuously changing environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the surge of positive coronavirus cases across the state and Los Angeles County, school districts are developing flexible back-to-school learning plans that ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff and provide robust instruction to students – whether delivered online or in-person.

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.