California High School student leader Sophia Aldecoa is a homecoming princess who dreams of one day becoming a brain surgeon. But fulfilling these lifelong goals has not come easily for the 18-year-old, who once grappled with low self-esteem. During her younger years, Aldecoa took charge of caring for her younger siblings while contending with bullying and teasing at school. Still, she never wavered from the high expectations she set for herself, persevering personally and academically while at Cal High, where she has been named a Top 100 Student for four consecutive years. Now a social butterfly, she carries a 4.125 GPA and has successfully completed 16 Advanced Placement and honors classes. For her determination, Aldecoa was recently recognized with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees.
To strengthen community outreach and communication, Whittier Union High School District has launched a Facebook page, where it will distribute news about its schools, activities and initiatives. For example, followers can access a superintendent search survey, read about students like Santa Fe High senior Daisy Nahoul, who was awarded a full-ride scholarship to the University of Chicago, or learn about the rigorous professional development teachers engage in to prepare students under the new California standards.
The Whittier Union High School District Board of Trustees is seeking written and oral comments from a wide array of sources and stakeholders as part of efforts to choose a superintendent to replace Sandra Thorstenson, who will retire at the end of the school year. Members of the school community and public may submit written comments via an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/H8LV8RS through Friday, Jan. 29. The Board also will gather input from community members and stakeholders from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2 in the District board room. The Board is expected to culminate its deliberations and take action on next steps, which could include the selection of the new superintendent, during the open session of its Tuesday, Feb. 9 meeting.
A Santa Fe High School senior who was homeless the summer before her freshman year has overcome significant hardships to excel at school and win a $70,000-a-year QuestBridge Scholarship to the University of Chicago. Daisy Nahoul, 18, excelled in every Advanced Placement and honors class she’s taken at Santa Fe despite her family’s financial challenges and the need to shoulder additional responsibilities, achieving a 4.35 GPA and ranking at the top of her class. She will be the first in her family to go to college.
After a 39-year career as a teacher and administrator in the Whittier Union High School District – including over 14 years as District Superintendent – Sandra Thorstenson has announced she will retire in June 2016. Thorstenson led the transformation of the District – which serves more than 13,000 mostly Latino high school students and 7,000 adult school students – into a high-achieving district recognized across the nation as a model. Whittier Union has achieved special distinction because students at every school have demonstrated significant and ongoing increases in achievement on multiple indicators despite 69 percent of students facing socio-economic disadvantages.
Area School Districts Remain Open on Dec. 15, 2015
While there has been an action taken by Los Angeles Unified School District leaders to close schools out of an abundance of caution based on a threat made specifically to LAUSD schools, the following school districts are in session and are urging parents to send their students to school to maintain instructional continuity: Azusa Unified; Baldwin Park Unified; Bassett Unified; Bellflower Unified; Little Lake City; Lynwood Unified; Montebello Unified; Norwalk-La Mirada Unified; Pomona Unified; Santa Monica-Malibu Unified; Whittier Union High. As always, student safety is the first priority and all standard safety measures will be employed by school personnel.
Pioneer High School’s Titan Football program is among seven across the nation selected to share $100,000 in equipment grants awarded by helmet manufacturer Riddell. The selection recognizes Pioneer’s effort to build a safe football program for its student-athletes. As part of Riddell’s first-ever Smarter Football initiative, the football community was called on to join efforts to create a safer playing field by adopting the latest tools, teaching and techniques. Pioneer’s share of the award is about $15,000, which will go to buy upgraded Riddell helmets and shoulder pads for the team, which went 7-3 this season under Head Coach Chuck Willig.
Whittier Union High School Club Adopts Local Family for the Holidays
A California High School service club will seek to brighten the holidays and lift the spirits of a Whittier-area family whose 11-year-old child is battling cancer when they deliver troves of gifts as part of its annual Adopt-a-Family for Christmas event. With the help of staff, the Men’s League Board (MLB) Club, which consists of 20 male Cal High students, raised funds to buy more than $500 in gifts and gift cards for the family. Last week, the students wrapped the presents with help from members of STEPS, an all-female club on campus. This is the 10th year MLB has raised funds to provide presents to an East Whittier City School District family facing hardship. Club members will deliver the presents to the family at the East Whittier City School District Office on Friday, Dec. 18.
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.
