Follow-up Story: The talented marching bands, pep and cheer squads and drill teams from the Whittier Union High School District’s five comprehensive high schools gave rousing performances to a packed house Nov. 3 at California High School for the annual Band Jamboree. Close to 2,500 spectators were treated to outstanding performances from all student groups. Cheer and song squads performed inside the school’s gym while the marching bands and color guards performed in the stadium. The event serves as a major fundraiser for their respective programs, as well as the District Instrumental Music Program.
Photos are available.
Follow-up Story: Associated Student Body (ASB) members from each of the Whittier Union High School District’s comprehensive high schools held their annual ASB Social/Dinner Tuesday, Oct. 28 in the Sierra Education Center Gymnasium. The event provided an opportunity for the student leaders to get to know one another, share ideas, build District unity and just have fun. The event also gave ASB students a chance to meet the Board of Trustees over dinner and attend a Board meeting to learn how the district is governed.
Photos are available.
Students at the Whittier Union High School District continue to raise the bar for college- and career-readiness, with the latest state data showing more students than ever taking Advanced Placement exams, passing the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) and narrowing the achievement gap. Media contact: Juliette Funes, 909-447-2404 (office)
Follow-up Story: Friendly competition always brews between sisters and fellow Pioneer High School students Leslie, Annai and Valeria Jimenez when it comes to sports and academics. This year, that competitive spirit is bringing them closer than ever. Leslie, a senior, Annai, a junior, and Valeria, a sophomore, are all playing together on Pioneer High’s Varsity Volleyball team. And while each sister has her own unique quirks, they all agree that being teammates has strengthened their sisterhood.
Pioneer High Welcomes New Assistant Principal as Whittier Union Brings on 30 New Teachers
Pioneer High School recently hired Steve Rodriguez – a former administrator at El Rancho Unified with more than 16 years in education – as the new Assistant Principal of Curriculum. Rodriguez, a native of Pico Rivera who now lives in Whittier, said his goal is to improve the learning experience for students and help them achieve their goals. In addition to Rodriguez, Whittier Union kicked off the new school year with more than 30 new hires. This is the largest number of teachers the District has hired in a single school year since 2007, ensuring that it meets its commitment to reducing class sizes and adding more sections. Media contact: Juliette Funes, 909-447-2404 (office)
Follow-up Story: More than 2,000 students met with 60-plus college representatives and attended workshops on college preparedness Sept. 25, when La Serna High School hosted the Whittier Union High School District College Fair. Topics covered included admission requirements and financial aid.
Photos are available.
Whittier High School threw a Welcome Back celebration for student Mason Tellez, who will be returning to school next week after months of therapy and recovery due to a collapse he had while training with the school’s cross country/long distance track team in March. The Whittier Union High School District and Tellez’s peers have rallied behind him in the months that followed, visiting him in the hospital, wearing T-shirts with supportive messages and organizing a run from the school to the hospital where he was recuperating. The Aug. 29 celebration, which included hundreds of students, included Tellez walking out on stage with his dad’s help.
Whittier High School celebrated the grand opening of its Whole Child office at the Whittier High School campus on Aug. 21, marking the launch of the Whittier Union High School District’s Student Well-Being initiative. The Whole Child, a Whittier-based nonprofit, provides on-site mental health services to more than two dozen schools in the community, including Whittier High, where the office, dubbed “The Gallery,” will provide comprehensive mental health services to students on a full-time basis. The district plans to expand services to its other high school sites. Congresswoman Linda Sanchez was a special guest. Photos of the event are available.
Follow-up Story: The Whittier Union High School District celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Horizons Program, which launched in 1964 in effort to close the opportunity gap and catapult students, particularly Latino Americans, to success. The Horizons program offers academic support, career and college-prep advisement, and numerous enrichment services to ensure that every student in the community is given equal opportunity to pursue college and career and flourish in a 21st century world. The program, which started at Whittier High School, found success in its student achievement and was eventually expanded to the District’s four other comprehensive high schools – Pioneer, Santa Fe, California and La Serna – under the name Expanded Horizons. The celebration, held on Sept. 16 recognized the program’s founder, Dr. Henry M. Ramirez, as well as former directors, parents and students who have directly benefited from the program.
Follow-up Story: The Whittier High School community came together on Friday, Aug. 1 to honor former coach and teacher Donald Wade Kelly, who died on July 13. The memorial service was held at the school where he dedicated nearly 60 years of his life. Clad in red attire and gathered in the Vic Lopez Auditorium, former students, colleagues, athletes and family members laughed and cried as they told stories of Kelly, who died at the age of 86. Fondly known as the “Voice of the Cardinals,” Kelly was a longtime football coach, track and field coach and game announcer throughout his decades-long career at Whittier High. Photos of the memorial are available. Media Contact Juliette Funes, 909-447-2404 (Office)
