Frontier High School has been recognized by the California Department of Education as a Model Continuation High School for providing an academically rigorous program that helped close the achievement gap among student groups taking the California High School Exit Exam and which gives at-risk students the environment they need to flourish. This is the sixth time Frontier has been honored with the designation. The school will be recognized at the 2015 California Continuation Education Association State Conference, set for May 1-3 in Burlingame.
Pioneer High School senior Aneliza Ruiz has received a $1,000 scholarship and been named keynote speaker for the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Conference and Awards Banquet after a victory March 4 in the ACSA Region 15 Student Oratory Contest. Aneliza, who has been on the Pioneer Speech and Debate Team for three years, credits her love of the arts, culture and theater, a knack for memorization and ability to think on her feet for consistent victories in speech and debate competitions. Aneliza is one of six students selected for scholarships after the March 4 contest, which featured 26 master speakers. She will deliver her winning speech as the keynote address at ACSA’s banquet on Wednesday, April 29.
Follow-up Story: About 300 California High School students packed the school’s gymnasium on March 11 to hear Holocaust survivor Peter Daniels share the story of his horrific ordeal through a Skype session organized by the Museum of Tolerance and by world civilization teacher Tim Woolston. Students were able to ask Daniels questions about his experiences and about how he kept hope in the concentration camps.
Music industry veteran and former Motown Records Vice President Iris Gordy, famed Motown session drummer Ollie Brown and renowned alto saxophonist Alvin McKinney will attend La Serna High School’s “Motown Experience” fundraiser to benefit the school’s Touchdown Club and families of police officers who have died in the line of duty. The dancing and lip-syncing extravaganza will feature numerous hits from the Motown songbook as interpreted by La Serna High students. The event will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, March 20 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21 in the school gymnasium, 15301 Youngwood Drive, Whittier.
Whittier Union High School District teachers, students and administrators will showcase classes and programs with eighth-graders and their parents at a series of Future Frosh Night events held Thursday, March 12. The events will be at: California High School, 9800 S. Mills Ave., 6 p.m., in the main gym; La Serna High School, 15301 Youngwood Drive, 6 p.m., in the Locke gym; Pioneer High School, 10800 Benavon St., 6 p.m., in the main gym; Santa Fe High School, 10400 S. Orr & Day Road, Santa Fe Springs, 6 p.m., in the Mendez gym; and Whittier High School, 12417 E. Philadelphia St., 5:45 p.m., in the gym. For information, call 562-698-8121.
Graduate of Whittier Union’s Frontier High Perseveres, Enrolls at USC
Continuation high school students often face significant challenges in their quest to graduate. But former Frontier High School student Kathy Orozco has been able to weather many unlikely twists and turns in her life to successfully take on the challenge, and is now attending an elite four-year university. Orozco – who graduated from the Whittier Union continuation school in 2013 – began her first year at USC Marshall School of Business this January after making a tough decision to switch her career trajectory, a choice she made after guidance she received at Frontier: “Something that you love is easier to learn.” Orozco credits Frontier High for helping her develop leadership skills and providing her the motivation to continue her education. Photos are available.
The Whittier Union High School District is one of four California school districts selected to participate in a three-year case study administered by one of the world’s leading education researchers and reform advocates, who will observe the District’s successful use of collaboration to boost student achievement. Michael Fullan, former dean of the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, chose Whittier Union for the project, which builds on his studies into how collaborative cultures support teachers and student achievement. Fullan and his team will collect data via interviews with teachers, focus groups and observation of classroom and teacher professional learning activities on Monday, Feb. 23 and Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Follow-up Story: In conjunction with Edison International and the Great Minds in STEM organization, Whittier High School hosted a Viva Technology assembly for students interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) on Feb. 23. The assembly included interactive activities such as STEM Jeopardy and special guests who spoke to students about the importance of science education. Viva Technology is a national K-12 education program designed to engage students, teachers and parents with STEM challenges that stimulate their interest in the application of technology and provide STEM-focused career pathways. The program creates awareness, supplies STEM resources and provides access to STEM career pathways. Photos are available.
Whittier Union’s California High School is set to celebrate the opening of its new Culinary Academy classroom facility during an open House at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20. The first-rate industrial culinary facility includes new appliances, cabinetry, tile floor and more. The program trains students to enter the hospitality industry directly after graduation or to continue culinary studies with a complete knowledge of the latest high-tech culinary equipment. The open house will include a tour, light dinner with dessert and a silent auction. The last day to buy the $25 tickets is Tuesday, Feb. 16. Proceeds will go toward scholarships for seniors. For ticket information, contact Susan Sones at susan.sones@wuhsd.org. California High is at 9800 S. Mills Ave., Whittier.
Stephan Kudlacek, who graduated from Whittier Union’s La Serna High School in 2008, is part of a UC Irvine biochemistry research team that recently made the groundbreaking discovery of how to “unboil” a hard-boiled egg. The technique could have positive implications for cancer research, as well as for food manufacturers. The team published its results in the publication “ChemBioChem” last month. Kudlacek has plans to study chemical biology in graduate school. The now-Internet sensation said he was inspired to pursue chemistry while at La Serna, where his younger brother, Clark, is a student and aspires to be a user interface designer.
