The Pioneer High School Leo Club is putting together Christmas food baskets from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 for delivery on Saturday, Dec. 19 to 200 Whittier-area families in need as part of an annual charity program. Over the last 11 years, students in the Leo Club, sponsored by the Santa Fe Springs Lions Club, have sold and made thousands of tamales to fund the holiday baskets, which include fresh produce, bread, dry goods and canned goods, as well as toys. Students delivered the tamales earlier this week. Pioneer High School is at 10800 Benavon St., Whittier.
Whittier Union senior Sarahi Garza, an English learner while in elementary school, has risen to the top of her Santa Fe High School class with the encouragement of her parents and ongoing support from her Chieftain family. Garza has earned a 4.43 GPA by juggling a rigorous academic schedule that includes several honors and Advanced Placement classes and community volunteer projects. Upon graduation, Garza will have completed 18 AP or honors classes. In recognition of her achievements and impressive successes, the aspiring neonatal pediatrician was recently honored with the Award of Merit from the Whittier Union Board of Trustees.
The Pioneer High School baseball team will deliver an immersive baseball experience at the Pioneer Titan Youth Baseball Camp from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21 to Wednesday, Dec. 23. Open to children ages 7 to 13, the three-day camp will be held at Pioneer Titan Baseball Field. Cost is $75 per child. Sign-ups will be held the day of the camp. The camp is run by Pioneer baseball Coach Bobby Ramirez – who was named the 2012 Daily Breeze Coach of the Year while at San Pedro High School – and his staff, along with college and Pioneer varsity baseball players. They will teach the finer points of the game with an emphasis on offensive and defensive skills. Pioneer High is at 10800 Benavon St., Whittier. For information, call Ramirez at (951) 751-0080 or Coach John Gandara at (626) 824-4285.
Whittier High School will hold a candlelight vigil 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 for 2010 graduate Nohemi Gonzalez, a student at California State University, Long Beach who was killed during the terrorist attacks in Paris on Nov. 13. Gonzalez, 23, from El Monte, was a senior studying design at Strate College of Design during a semester abroad program. At Whittier High School, Gonzalez was an outstanding student-athlete, excelling in her studies while a member of the Del Rio League Champions for Girls Varsity Cross Country team. Whittier High will hold a vigil to memorialize Gonzalez and provide a space for the community to grieve her loss and the loss of the victims of the attacks. The school is at Whittier High School, 12417 Philadelphia St., Whittier.
Following a donation of $130,000 to fund new technology for the Whittier High School library, William C. Gordon, one of the school's most distinguished alumni, has donated $100,000 more to be used at the school's discretion. Gordon’s second donation comes less than two months after Whittier High celebrated the opening of its 21st century library, named the William C. Gordon Library in honor of the Class of 1955 graduate and former student body president. The school hopes to use the donation to buy more laptop carts for classrooms, as well as fund murals and banners that will celebrate and illustrate the school’s core values and school spirit.
Nearly a dozen marching band and color guard members from the Whittier Union High School District will proudly represent their schools and exhibit their talents when they perform in the 127th Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. The Tournament of Roses Honor Band, which has marched in every Tournament of Roses Parade since 1930, chose for its 2016 band seven students from California High School, two students from La Serna High School and two students from Whittier High School. Photos are available.
It was five years ago that Whittier High School launched its Academic Mentor Program, a strategic intervention tool that provides in-class academic support to at-risk students with guidance from peers. The program’s success rates have been showcased by vastly improving student test scores and GPAs. The program caught the eye of education leaders from the California School Boards Association (CSBA), which is honoring Whittier High School with a Golden Bell, a recognition earned by California school districts for outstanding educational programs and practices that boost student achievement. Whittier High – a two-time Golden Bell Award-winning school – will receive the award on Saturday, Dec. 5 at CSBA’s Education Conference in San Diego.
The Whittier Union High School District's annual Band Jamboree celebration, which involves performances from the District’s five comprehensive high schools’ marching bands, cheer squads and drill teams, has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 at the Dick Torres Memorial Stadium at Pioneer High School, 10800 Benavon St., Whittier. (Originally planned for Nov. 2, the event was rescheduled due to rain.) The event is a culmination for the District’s bands, color guards, pep and cheer squads and drill teams. The Jamboree gives schools the opportunity to raise funds for their music and cheer programs. The event also benefits the District Instrumental Music Program, providing funding to cover the guest conductor fee for the District Honor Band Program in the spring and the purchase of music for the concert. Admission price at the gate is $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and children ages 12 and younger. Gates open at 6:10 p.m.
Follow-up Story: About 130 La Serna High School students participated in the school’s annual TRUE (Tolerance, Respect, Unity, Equality) conference, which featured workshops on gender, racism, self-motivation and social media responsibility. Founded in 2001, the conference unites the diverse student communities within the larger school community to increase student safety and maintain a positive school climate. By giving students the knowledge to boost tolerance of and respect for the many differences among their peers, TRUE heightens the spirit of unity among the students. Photos are available
Follow-up Story: Marilynn Littlefield has been at the helm of Pioneer High School’s award- and championship-winning Dance/Drill Team for more than 50 years, bringing prestige to the Titan campus and instilling pride among her students and peers. To preserve her legendary status and recognize her numerous contributions, Pioneer named its small gym, where the Drill Team spends countless hours perfecting its routines, after Littlefield during a dedication ceremony on Oct. 20. Littlefield was joined at the ceremony by current drill team students and generations of program alums. Photos are Available
