Santa Fe High School has been re-validated as a National Demonstration School for AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a college-readiness system designed to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges. An AVID campus for more than 20 years and a National Demonstration School since 2001, Santa Fe serves as a model to other schools wishing to implement the college preparation program. Only the top 3 percent of AVID schools reach this status.
Pioneer High School senior Lazarus Casillas endured great emotional hardship after the death of his mother six years ago, a struggle that spurred academic instability during his formative middle school years. Since finding a home at Pioneer, he has emerged as a student leader whose resilience and maturity serve as an inspiration to his schoolmates and the Titan faculty and staff. Through his personal resolve and with copious assistance from the staff in the Student Well-Being Program – a District mental wellness program that provides students and their families with social emotional support – Casillas transformed himself into a model student. The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 14 recognized Casillas for his character and perseverance with an Award of Merit.
California High School senior Lauren Anderson received early admission to Harvard University for her academic achievements. Only 14.5 percent of early applicants – or 938 out of 6,473 students – were admitted to the Ivy League school’s class of 2021. Anderson, who holds a 4.53 GPA, achieved top five out of five scores on all six of her Advanced Placement exams while balancing her responsibilities as the school’s Model U.N. team president and a track and field athlete. Anderson was named Cal High’s class of 2017 valedictorian and hopes to pursue her passion for history and politics by studying government at Harvard this fall.
Follow-up Story: More than 550 Whittier-area middle and high school students celebrated the completion of the 27th annual Jaime Escalante Summer Math Academy at Pioneer High School at a July 20 ceremony. Students received certificates for completing the program, which allows them to get ahead on math classes and prepare for college-level courses. The six-week program included 15 classes covering Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Math Analysis and Calculus. Students who earned A's or Bs earned 10 credits that will be transferred to their transcripts, enabling them to advance one course level. Students come from each of the District's comprehensive high schools, as well as Los Nietos, East Whittier, Granada and Hillview middle schools.
Santa Fe High School counselor Cheryl Redgate was recognized Feb. 7 by U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as part of National School Counseling Week. A counselor at Santa Fe for 35 years, Redgate was celebrated for her dedicated efforts to empower students and instilling the values of selflessness and giving. The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees will recognize Redgate at the Feb. 14 board meeting.
The Soroptimist International of Whittier recently launched its Dream It, Be It career development and female empowerment program for a group of girls at Frontier High School, providing the Whittier Union teens access to professional role models, career education and the resources needed to reach their full potential. Over a six-week period, the women’s social and economic empowerment club will work in partnership with 10th-, 11th- and 12th-graders in small groups and explore topics such as career opportunities, setting and achieving goals, overcoming obstacles to success and how to move forward after setbacks or failures. This is the second year Frontier is participating in the program.
Pioneer High School is one of 24 teams to compete at the JPL Regional Science Bowl Competition from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. In a fast-paced, game-show format, students will buzz in to score points on questions at the college freshman level, covering topics in Earth and space sciences, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics and math. On Pioneer's team are Danielle Diaz, Lauren Hall, Emily Iniguez and Krystal Frith, with Fernando Ochoa serving as an alternate. The winning team will earn the opportunity to compete April 27 through May 1 at the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C.
Follow-up Story: Wearing batting helmets and fielders’ mitts, students in the special education program at Santa Fe High School swung bats, ran bases and fielded positions in the third annual Make A Difference (MAD) baseball game – a cheerful event organized by student-athletes and the school’s Associated Student Body. Guided and assisted by the student-athletes, dozens of students wearing commemorative MAD T-shirts had their names announced over a loud-speaker as they approached the field, with friends and family cheering them on in the stands.
Whittier Union High School District has launched a new electronic communication tool that will help strengthen engagement among students, parents, teachers and school administrators. Integrated into the District’s Aeries Parent Portal student information system, Loop supports one- and two-way announcements and messaging through phone calls, text messages, emails, text-to-speech and instant messaging. Loop provides an easy way to receive urgent messages, stay up to date on school activities and contact teachers.
Follow-up Story: Four-legged therapists recently soothed stressed California High School students tackling college applications ahead of the Nov. 30 deadline. In partnership with Pet Partners, a national nonprofit focused on animal-assistant therapy, Cal High invited therapy dogs in three application workshops for students applying to Cal State University and University of California campuses. During each four-hour session, students dropped in to work on applications, get questions answered by experts and de-stress with friendly pets. Organizers hope to invite the canines back next semester for senior project days and Saturday sessions for stressed AP sophomores, as well as inspire the program to expand across the District.
