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.
Whittier Union High School District’s five comprehensive high schools are inviting parents and students to their Back to School Night events, during which they will have the opportunity to learn about the school’s academic and extra-curricular programs and how to ensure student success. Parents can meet teachers and administrators, learn about the curriculum for their students’ courses, discover volunteer and engagement opportunities on campus, and learn more about upcoming events that will contribute to their children’s academic progress.
Across Whittier Union, 2,727 members of the Class of 2023 participated in Freshman First Day activities that are hosted annually by student Link Crew teams at each school in an effort to build connections with freshmen and ease their transition into high school. The program is now in its 15th year. Overall, the District welcomed over 11,100 students to its campuses.
Nearly 750 incoming ninth-graders at California High School will preview classes, meet teachers, make new friends and learn more about the Condor campus – their home for the next four years – on Tuesday, Aug. 13 as part of Whittier Union High School District’s Freshman First Day program. This year, Whittier Union will welcome over 2,700 freshmen and over 11,000 overall. The first day of school for all students is Wednesday, Aug. 14.
Pioneer High School math teacher Carolina DeHart has been selected Whittier Union's 2019-20 Teacher of the Year. DeHart has spent nearly 30 years making a positive impact on Pioneer students as a teacher and tutor, instilling high expectations while pushing students to attend college and pursue their dream careers. She was hired as a calculus teacher at Pioneer in 1989. Over the years, she has taught every math class at Pioneer, from algebra and geometry to trigonometry and math analysis. In addition, she tutors three afternoons a week as part of Pioneer’s Prep Program.
Hundreds of friends and family members cheered as over 500 students were awarded certificates on July 18 for completing the 29th annual Pioneer High School Summer Math Academy, an accelerated six-week mathematics program inspired by renowned educator Jaime Escalante.
Three longtime Whittier Union High School District educators will transition into new administrative roles for the 2019-20 school year, bringing years of veteran leadership and knowledge to essential managerial positions. The three administrators – all hired by the District in 2004 – are Kristin Kooiman, Director of Personnel Services; Lilia Vasquez, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Santa Fe High School; and Diana Salazar Baez, Assistant Principal of Business Activities at Whittier High School.
In its ongoing efforts to improve student learning and achievement, Whittier Union will continue to offer an after-school credit recovery program and provide additional support classes during the school day to ensure students master the standards and content the first time they take a course to successfully meet college entrance requirements.
Whittier Union Approves 2019-20 Spending Plan
Whittier Union will continue to offer an after-school credit recovery program and provide additional support classes during the school day as part of its 2019-20 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and budget. The LCAP aims to ensure students master the standards and content the first time they take a course to successfully meet college entrance requirements. For 2019-20, Whittier Union will invest $24 million to develop programs specifically targeting its high-needs groups: economically disadvantaged students, foster youth and English learners.
Whittier High School will host a Celebration of Life memorial service in honor of one of its most distinguished Cardinals, William C. Gordon, a Class of 1955 graduate and donor to the campus who passed away in March. He was 82. The celebration will take place at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29 in the William C. Gordon Library at Whittier High School, 12417 Philadelphia St., Whittier.
