Follow-up Story: The Whittier Union Board of Trustees on June 22 adopted a 2016-19 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) that invests $123 million – including $18.7 million in funds for high-needs students – to increase student access to technology, provide training and empowerment workshops for English learners and their parents, reduce Advanced Placement test fees and expand PSAT/SAT test opportunities. The LCAP, a requirement of the state’s school funding system, guides District efforts to improve student learning. It identifies goals for each year, strategies to achieve those goals and funding sources. With widespread input from District stakeholders, many programs are developed to target all students, while others focus on the state’s three high-needs groups: economically disadvantaged students, foster children and English learners. The Board also adopted a balanced 2016-17 budget based on the LCAP.
A drawing by a La Serna High School student will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year after taking the top prize in the 38th District for the 2016 Congressional Art Competition, a national contest that recognizes and encourages artistic talent among high school students. Elise Martinez, a rising senior at La Serna High, was awarded best overall work for her drawing, titled “Great Egg in the Sky,” in the 38th Congressional District by U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez and a panel of local art teachers and professors. Martinez and her family will attend an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. later this month.
Cal High Teacher Earns National Board Certification
California High School English teacher Mark Quintero has earned National Board Certification, the most respected professional certification available in education, demonstrating advanced knowledge, skills and practices required of an outstanding educator. There are now 27 National Board certified teachers at Whittier Union, accounting for 5 percent of its teaching staff – significantly above the state average of 1.6 percent and national average of 3 percent.
Follow-up Story: Whittier Union High School District held graduation celebrations for four of its five comprehensive high schools at the new Dick Torres Memorial Stadium at Pioneer High School. La Serna and California high schools held their ceremonies on June 1, followed by Whittier and Pioneer high schools on June 2. Frontier High School held its commencement on June 1 at First Family Church and Santa Fe High School held its ceremony on June 2 at Cerritos College. Photos are available
First Whittier High School Cardinal Headed to MIT
Whittier High School student Dylan Carranza is the first Cardinal in the school’s recent history to be accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Carranza, one of six valedictorians this year, will attend the prestigious university on a full-ride scholarship and explore his passions in science and math. Other valedictorians include Andrea Pelayo, who will attend UC Berkeley; Chastity Baeder, who will attend Biola University; and Matteo Munoz, Yulissa Serrato and Pavle Pejovski, who will all attend UCLA.
Whittier Union Teacher Earns National Board Certification
California High School English teacher Mark Quintero has earned National Board Certification, the most respected professional certification available in education, demonstrating advanced knowledge, skills and practices required of an outstanding educator. There are now 27 National Board certified teachers at Whittier Union, accounting for 5 percent of its teaching staff – significantly above the state average of 1.6 percent and national average of 3 percent.
The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees has appointed three veteran District educators as principals of Pioneer, Santa Fe and Whittier high schools. Pioneer High’s new principal will be Lilia Bozigian, who serves as the school’s assistant principal of guidance and counseling. Santa Fe High will be led by Craig Campbell, the school’s assistant principal of curriculum and instruction. Whittier High will be helmed by Timothy Liggett, now the assistant principal of curriculum and instruction. Bozigian and Campbell will replace principals Monica Oviedo and Kevin Jamero, respectively; the latter two have been appointed assistant superintendents of Whittier Union. Liggett will replace Principal Lori Eshilian, who is retiring in June. All roles will go into effect July 1.
Academy Award-winning filmmaker and Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter recently returned to his old stomping grounds to be inducted into the Whittier High School Alumni Hall of Fame – an honor he shares with such Cardinal grads as President Richard Nixon and his wife, Pat, and NFL star Bob Chandler. Lasseter, who graduated in 1975, was among five alums to receive the honor during the Whittier High School Alumni Association and Educational Foundation’s 17th annual Hall of Fame dinner on April 17, when $13,000 in scholarships was awarded to 12 graduating seniors. Launched in 2000, the Hall of Fame honors Whittier High graduates or staff members who have made a local, state, national or international impact.
Follow-up Story: Hundreds of Santa Fe High School students on April 21 showcased artistic creations, drawings and sculptures, modeled fashionable works of art on a lit runway and put their individualism on display during the Visual and Performing Arts Department’s 13th annual Art and Fashion Show. The Santa Fe High gym teemed with artistic displays encompassing the event's theme, “American Volcano,” which celebrated diversity and cultural pluralism of the arts, ethnicity, gender, politics and contemporary society. The event inspired students to erupt in a creative flow of paintings, dress designs, dance performances and much more during the day’s three shows, including an evening extravaganza open to the community. Photos are available.
It takes some professional ballerinas a lifetime to gain recognition for their skill, musicality and grace. For Whittier High School student Madeline Czekaj, it took just one year of formal dance training. In January, Czekaj, 15, competed against more than 180 dancers to tie for third place in the San Diego Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) classical senior division, qualifying her for the YAGP finals in New York City on April 22-29 and the chance to win a scholarship to one of the world’s 30 leading dance academies. Czekaj is among the group of 486 soloists and 789 ensembles from 36 countries to make it to the YAGP finals, one of the most prestigious ballet competitions in the nation.
