Whittier Union Mentoring Group Inspires Male Students
At California High School, a group of sophomores are bonding over meals, conversations and hobbies while they navigate life in high school and prepare for their post-graduation opportunities through the school’s Fresh Air Mentoring (FAM) group. Cal High counselors Humberto Solorio and Matthew Tremper started the FAM group in 2019 to connect with male students who were otherwise disconnected from campus life. The counselors saw an opportunity for these students to connect with one another by spending quality time outdoors and bonding over a love of food and community. Since its launch, FAM has quickly turned into a group of brothers and mentors. Now with the second cohort of FAM members – consisting of 26 sophomores – counselors Tremper and Solorio are creating an ecosystem of support.
Whittier Union Students Improve Social-Emotional Wellbeing
Frontier High School students are improving their social-emotional wellbeing and engaging in physical exercise by participating in Feet First, a cardio boxing program that builds character, confidence, and coping skills. More than 20 Frontier High students meet weekly for a one-hour session that includes a cardio boxing workout session and a lesson on topics including managing stress, motivation, emotional intelligence, and healthy self-regulation, led by local Feet First boxing coaches. Frontier High launched the program in Dec. 2023 and will continue hosting the program through the remainder of the 2023-24 school year.
Santa Fe High School senior Ezra Tetteh learned how to advocate for herself at an early age. Born in Gabon, Africa, Tetteh moved with her family to the United States in 2015, settling in Houston, Texas. As a native French speaker with no English language skills, Tetteh realized that she would need to stay focused if she wanted to earn an education, as her family continually relocated over the next several years. Coming to Santa Fe High as a freshman, Tetteh began taking intermediate classes in English, quickly moving on to Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses in her sophomore year. With a 3.31 GPA, Tetteh is on track to complete her A-G course requirements and attend a four-year university in the fall. For her resilience and ability to overcome adversity, Tetteh was presented with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees during its Jan. 16 meeting.
Whittier Union High School District is starting off the new year with a reorganized Board of Trustees, including Trustee Gary Mendez filling his new role as President and Trustee Josefina E. Canchola stepping into the role of Vice President, as the Board members collectively continue to pursue their mission “To Achieve and Maintain Excellence.” The Board also selected Trustee Irma Rodríguez Moisa to serve the Board as Clerk. Outgoing Board president Jaime López and Dr. Russell Castañeda Calleros close out the Board, serving the community as members. Under their new roles, members will continue to ensure that all Whittier Union students have access to the opportunities and resources that they need to succeed.
On a festive afternoon that saw Whittier High School embracing the wonder of literature, junior Julia Rae Rodriguez read selections from her recently published first book of poetry to a packed library filled with friends, classmates and teachers, the feature presentation during a ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring Whittier High alumni authors on Dec. 6. Rodriguez joined Whittier High School Alumni Association Board Member Rob West and WHS history teacher Dean Myers to officially unveil a commemorative display case containing books written by Whitter High grads, including former President Richard Nixon, best-selling thriller writer John Saul and lawyer/author William C. Gordon, whom the library is dedicated to. After the ribbon-cutting, Rodriguez placed her new book, “Dried Lavender & Sage: Poems as I Grow,” inside the display case, joining the alumni authors.
Pioneer High School’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program provides students with innovative resources, activities and opportunities to help them thrive in college and careers, earning the school revalidation as an AVID National Demonstration School. The school was first granted this status in 2017 and, after revalidation processes were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, was redesignated for the first time this year. Only 203 schools nationwide, and 66 in California, receive this prestigious status, highlighting Pioneer High for its exemplary model of the AVID College Readiness System.
Whittier High School senior Julia Rae Rodriguez will be the featured reader during a spoken word event that will honor Cardinal alumni who have gone on to become published writers, to be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday Dec. 6, in the campus library. Rodriguez will read from her recently released first collection of poems, Dried Lavender & Sage. After Rodriguez’s reading, the school will unveil a display case honoring authors who have graduated from Whittier High, including best-selling thriller writer John Saul. The display case will hold one book from nearly two dozen writers, including Rodriguez’s book of poems. Whittier High School is located at 12417 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier.
California High School’s Academic Commitment to Excellence (ACE) students took a journey through their unique high school experiences and stories while connecting with Hillview Middle School eighth graders during an event that aimed to encourage students to apply for ACE, a program that provides support, encouragement and resources to at-promise students. The ACE program provides students with additional help in making the transition from middle to high school, particularly in the subjects of math and English. In addition to the extra support students receive in these areas, the program coordinates guest speakers, college visits and enrichment activities to complement the curricula.
Before Frontier High School senior David Arias could pursue an academic journey of self-realization and dedication, he had to confront his biggest nemesis – procrastination. Failure to follow through on his class assignments at his home school put Arias a full year behind his peers, jeopardizing his chances to graduate. Transferring to Frontier as a sophomore, Arias found that the school’s smaller class sizes inspired him to work harder and more efficiently, and he earned more credits in his first semester at Frontier than he had in his first three semesters at his home school. Establishing a positive connection with teachers, Arias found a love for writing and storytelling. In his junior year, Arias submitted an essay to the statewide California Continuation Education Association (CCEA) conference, earning second place in the state. Reading his essay before family, Frontier staff and educators from across California at the conference, Arias received a standing ovation.
La Serna High School students received a crash course in money management during “Bite of Reality,” an event held on Nov. 8 as part of the school’s Financial Wellness Program that saw nearly 250 La Serna students participate in an interactive financial education simulation designed to teach them how to budget their money as adults. Using the Bite of Reality phone app, students were randomly assigned virtual personas, which provided them jobs, salaries and families, as well as debts from sources such as student loans and credit cards. Students then went “shopping” to find out how much various necessities – like housing, clothing, food and daycare – would cost them annually. The goal for students was to finish their assignment with zero debt. Bite of Reality is a service provided by CU SoCal’s Business and Community Development department.
