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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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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.

Whittier Union Adult School Hosts Inaugural Job Fair

The Whittier Union Adult School hosted its first-ever Career and Job Fair on Oct. 23, attracting over 500 community members and students from the Adult School, Frontier High School and Sierra Vista High School. The event featured nearly two dozen local employers, including Whittier Union High School District, the Census Bureau, Starbucks, Fed Ex and Defense International, among others, who conducted on-site interviews. Many employers have committed to hiring Whittier Union students. The Census Bureau, for instance, plans to hire 80 students at $20 an hour. Fifteen students were hired on the spot and 50 students scored second interviews.

8 Whittier Union Musicians to Perform in Tournament of Roses Parade

Eight Whittier Union students have been selected to perform in the 2020 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade Honor Band on New Year’s Day. The students won coveted spots in the nearly 250-member Honor Band after a rigorous audition process that included hundreds of high school musicians from throughout Southern California. From California High School, they are Kaelee Chavez (clarinet), Seth Diaz (tenor sax), Mark Gonzalez (trombone), Roberto Haro (trumpet), Myriam Hernandez (color guard/tall flag), Erica Leal (color guard/banner) and Chloe Martin (color guard/banner). Trumpet player Hector Torres will represent Santa Fe High School.

Whittier Union Recognized for Beating the Odds in Stanford Study

Whittier Union has been identified as one of 167 California school districts to excel at supporting the learning of all students, particularly Hispanics, at higher-than-expected levels on the state’s new, more rigorous math and reading assessments in a “Positive Outliers: Districts Beating the Odds” study. Whittier Union ranked at 65 in the study, which was released earlier this year by the Learning Policy Institute out of Stanford University. The Institute is headed by Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the California Board of Education. Whittier Union’s earned reputation for attaining and sustaining substantial academic progress has been over two decades the making.

Whittier Union Students Explore College Options at Annual Fair

The Whittier High School quad was filled with hundreds of students and their families eager to explore their post-secondary options and forge a path to their future during the 2022 Whittier Union College Fair, held Sept. 21. Long lines formed as students spoke with representatives from more than 50 colleges from across the country and participated in workshops geared toward navigating the college application process. Information on social services were provided by local vendors. The College Fair was presented in-person for the first time since the 2019-20 school year.    

Whittier Union to Host Annual District College Fair on Sept. 18

Whittier Union High School District will host its annual District College Fair at La Serna High School from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, allowing students and parents to meet with dozens of college representatives and get first-hand information about the college systems and financial aid. Students from all of the District’s high schools are invited to participate in the event, taking place at 15301 Youngwood Drive, Whittier.

Whittier Union Schools to Hold Back to School Nights

Whittier Union High School District’s five comprehensive high schools are inviting parents and students to their Back to School Night events, taking place as follows: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Whittier High School, 12417 E. Philadelphia St.; 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Pioneer High School, 10800 E. Benavon St.; 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 at Santa Fe High School, 10400 S. Orr & Day Road; and 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 at California High School, 9800 S. Mills Ave. La Serna High School has held its event.