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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Senior Receives Award of Merit for Leadership, Vision and Innovation

    Wendy Carcamo is praised as a community leader and visionary as a senior on Whittier High School’s campus. A first-generation Latina who is the youngest of five siblings, Carcamo has faced personal challenges with remarkable resilience as she actively seeks out environments that foster her growth and align with her core values. As a member of Whittier High’s Puente Program, Carcamo has demonstrated deep-rooted values and a steadfast desire to make a positive impact on society. As a second-year academic mentor, she is known for supporting and uplifting her peers. Additionally, as president of the Cardinal Academy of Technology (CAT), Carcamo is laying the groundwork for a career of technological advancement and innovation.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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Whittier Union Bands Unite to Perform at Annual Christmas Parade

Whittier Union High School District’s comprehensive high school marching bands – composed of over 400 students – will perform as one for the first time ever during the 66th annual Uptown Whittier Christmas Parade, taking place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 14. The parade, which attracts over 15,000 visitors from Whittier and surrounding communities, will start at Hadley Street and Greenleaf Avenue and end at the Whittier Community Center.

Whittier Union Choirs to Gather for Annual Choral Festival

Whittier Union High School District students will ring in the holidays, singing traditional songs and holiday favorites as part of the annual Choral Festival at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Whittier College Memorial Chapel, 13406 Philadelphia St., Whittier. Choral groups from California, La Serna, Santa Fe and Whittier high schools will receive evaluations from this year’s adjudicator, Joseph Modica, interim associate dean of the University of Redlands College of Arts and Sciences and director of the School of Music.

Cal High Senior and Future Businesswoman Recognized for Leadership Skills

By the time California High senior Denisse Palominos arrives to campus for zero period at 7:20 a.m., she has already prepared her three younger siblings for school while her mother departs for work in Downtown Los Angeles at 6 a.m. For Palominos – who maintains a 4.1 GPA and is captain the Cal High volleyball team – taking responsibility for the care of others while balancing a full schedule of classes and extracurricular activities comes naturally, earning her respect from classmates, teachers and administrators alike for her cheerful demeanor and leadership skills.

Whittier Union Senior, Future Businesswoman Recognized for Leadership

By the time California High School senior Denisse Palominos arrives at campus for zero period at 7:20 a.m., she has already prepared her three younger siblings for school. For Palominos – who maintains a 4.1 GPA and is captain the Cal High volleyball team – taking responsibility for others while balancing a full schedule of classes and extracurricular activities comes naturally, earning her respect from classmates, teachers and administrators alike. She was recognized with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees on Nov. 12.

Credit Union Endows Whittier Union Program with $50,000

The Credit Union of Southern California, a longtime supporter of La Serna High School’s life-changing intervention program, OASIS, has launched a $50,000 endowment to ensure students in the program find enduring success after graduation. CEO Dave Gunderson and Executive Vice President Eric Day have provided thousands of dollars in scholarships over the years to students in La Serna’s Organized Academic Support in School (OASIS) program, which motivates students who are underperforming to earn higher GPAs and graduate high school. They will regularly contribute to the endowment, with the funds going toward scholarships as well as tools to ensure OASIS students have the support necessary for successful futures.

Whittier Union Golfer Wins National Essay Contest, Meets Elite Female Athletes at NYC Gala

California High School freshman and girls golf team member Sophia Martinez was honored by the Women’s Sports Foundation for her essay, “What Inspires Me to Keep Playing,” during the foundation’s 40th Annual Salute to Women in Sports gala, held Oct. 16 in New York City. Martinez, a member of the Southern California Golf Association junior program, was one of three winners of the WSF national essay contest, allowing her the chance to meet some of America’s elite female athletes, including Women’s World Cup star Megan Rapinoe and WSF founder and tennis star Billie Jean King.

La Serna Students Learn Challenges of Living on a Budget during Bite of Reality Simulation

Close to 300 La Serna High School students were given the freedom to make their own financial decisions – and learn the unpleasant consequences of spending beyond their means – during Bite of Reality, an interactive simulation that tests students on real-world financial challenges. Sponsored by the Credit Union of Southern California, the financial literacy event, held Nov. 14, assigned students in the school’s Guided Studies, OASIS, HAVEN and Read 180 academic intervention programs, their mentors and consumer math students a fictional occupation, salary, spouse and family, student loan debt, credit card debt and medical insurance payments.

Credit Union Sponsors Whittier Union Program with $50,000 Endowment

The Credit Union of Southern California, a longtime supporter of La Serna High School’s award-winning and life-changing intervention program, OASIS, has launched a $50,000 endowment to ensure students in the program find enduring success after graduation. CEO Dave Gunderson and Executive Vice President Eric Day have provided thousands of dollars in scholarships over the years to students in La Serna’s Organized Academic Support in School (OASIS) program, which motivates students who are underperforming to earn higher GPAs and graduate high school. They will regularly contribute to the endowment, with the funds going toward scholarships as well as other methods of support to ensure OASIS students have the support necessary for successful futures.

Whittier Union to Celebrate Music and Cheer at Annual Jamboree Nov. 4

Whittier Union will celebrate student musical and dance performances at its 2019 Whittier Union High School District Band, Color Guard and Pepster Jamboree, an annual community event that features the District’s five comprehensive high school marching bands, color guards, cheer squads, song and drill team. The showcase marks the ending of the band and color guard field show season. It will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4 at the Sandra Sanchez Thorstenson Stadium at California High School, 9800 Mills Ave., Whittier.

Whittier Union Seniors Named National Merit Commended Scholars

Five Whittier Union High School District students have been recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars for being among the top 34,000 students in the nation to receive high scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). The nationally recognized students are seniors Cole Aedo, Ian Brennan, Kelvin Chong and Katelyn Nye from La Serna High School and senior Julia Casas from Whittier High School.