Follow-up Story: A love of art and a determination to succeed has brought Frontier High School senior Meiling Clavesilla from the brink of expulsion to the top of her class, with enough credits to graduate a year ahead of schedule. Clavesilla’s success came after a rocky freshman year, during which she transferred to three Whittier Union schools before landing at Frontier High, a model continuation school that put her on the path to success. Whittier Union High School District’s Board of Trustees has presented her with an Award of Merit. Photos are available
Twelve Whittier Union High students are perfecting their marching band and musical skills as they prepare to perform in the 129th Tournament of Roses Parade on Monday, Jan 1, 2018. Seven marching band and five color guard members will join more than 160 high school musicians from across Southern California to represent their schools in the Tournament of Roses Honor Band. Performers are: (California High) Edith Garcia, Lauren Hernandez, Jennifer Nieto and Maricruz Villalobos, color guard; and Rocio Vega, trombone; (La Serna) Avery Smith, saxophone, and John Ye Lee, baritone; (Santa Fe) Carlo Bonelli and Jose Salcedo, both on trombone; and (Whittier High) Jacob Cortes, baritone; Nina Roa, flute; and Ava Sanchez, color guard.
Follow-up Story: Four students from Whittier Union High School District won cash, ribbons and certificates at the eighth annual Harmony Center Fine Art and Craft Fair’s High School Art Contest. La Serna High senior Elizabeth Isla won first-place in the landscape and still life category. Santa Fe High senior Krishne Khan Nguyen won first-place awards in the abstract and human portrait categories. Pioneer High sophomore Ismael Mora took second place in the 3-D category. La Serna senior Jennifer Pena won third in the landscape and still life category.
Follow-up Story: Pioneer High School celebrated staff who have served in the armed forces and remembered members of the Titan family who died while serving their country during the school’s annual Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 9. The ceremony featured remarks from school officials and students, performances by the school choir and band, the lighting of the Titan Torch by veterans, and a placing of a wreath at the school’s memorial.
Follow-up Story: Three Whittier Union High School District seniors who have shown resiliency in their academics and commitment to their community are among 24 students in California recognized with the Puente Statewide Academic and Leadership Award. The Puente Project, sponsored by the University of California, is a national award-winning college preparatory program designed to boost the number of underrepresented high school students who enroll in four-year universities, earn degrees and return to the community as leaders. The program is at Whittier, California and La Serna high schools. Scholarship recipients will be announced in spring.
The Whittier Union High School District will celebrate student musical and dance performances at its 2017 Band Jamboree, an annual community event that features the District’s five comprehensive high school marching bands, cheer squads and drill teams. The Band Jamboree – which marks the end of the band and color guard field show season – will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6 at Sandra Sanchez Thorstenson Stadium at California High School, 9800 Mills Ave., Whittier. Tickets for adults are $8 and $5 for students with ID. Children under age 5 are free.
Follow-up Story: Whittier Union High School District’s culture of collaboration, support and inclusiveness has inspired dozens of alumni to return as teachers and provide new generations of students with the same great experience they received during their journeys through high school. Over the past three years, 21 percent of the District’s certificated hires, or 14 of 65 teachers, have been Whittier Union graduates. Photos are available
Follow-up Story: When Pioneer High School student Alyssa Cayetano’s father was diagnosed with cancer during her sophomore year, the former middle school valedictorian and math enthusiast struggled to find a balance between her studies and support for her father, who passed away last year. Now a senior, Cayetano’s resolve in the wake of personal loss has helped shape her dreams for the future, looking to a career as a pharmaceutical chemist developing treatments aimed at curing cancer. Cayetano, who will study chemistry at UC San Diego, was presented with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees on Oct. 10. Photos are available
After scoring a perfect 1520 score on his PSAT, La Serna High School senior Kyle Lien has been named one of 16,000 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists for 2018, placing him in an elite group of students who constitute less than 1 percent of seniors in the nation who received the highest scores in their state. National Merit Scholarship participants are selected based on how they score on their Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores, generally taken in junior year. Of the 1.6 million students who took the exam for a chance to win the prestigious $2,500 scholarship, 34,000 top scorers received a commendation and 16,000 were selected as semifinalists.
Pioneer High Homecoming Festivities to Feature Elvis Performance
Pioneer High School will host homecoming festivities at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 at Torres Memorial Stadium, 10800 Benavon St., Whittier. Themed “Fabulous Las Vegas,” the event will include a tailgate and concert featuring DJ Charles Boogie, an Elvis tribute artist, a balloon artist, food booths sponsored by Pioneer pepsters, a dessert table and a jumper. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. A queen will be crowned at halftime, which includes a firework show.
