Isabella "Izzy" Nunez, a California High School senior, overcame incredible odds to excel in sports despite being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis during her freshman year. Her journey began with severe joint pain, but with the support of coach Brian Bordier, she fought back, ultimately playing four years of varsity soccer, three years of varsity lacrosse, and serving as kicker for the Cal High football team, all while maintaining a 4.6 GPA – becoming one of Cal High’s top scholar-athletes, as well as a health and wellness advocate. Nunez was recognized for her resiliency and inspirational story by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees, who honored her with an Award of Merit during an April 9 Board meeting.
Santa Fe High School's Student Leadership Class has earned the school its 24th Outstanding Leadership Program Award (OLPA) from the California Association of Student Leaders (CASL), which recognized the class for continuing to spearhead engaging activities and events, and fostering inclusivity and school spirit among students. OLPA is a distinguished award that is presented to schools in California that display strong student leadership programs that allow students to grow as ethical, responsible, and servant-minded individuals. Through Santa Fe’s Student Leadership Class, students are empowered to explore leadership roles and gain invaluable hands-on experience.
Whittier High School senior Erik Villa rarely stops to catch his breath. Between his schoolwork, mentoring classmates in the school’s Cardinal Academy of Technology (CAT), volunteer work for the Whittier Chamber of Commerce, and managing a Whittier juice bar, Villa goes nonstop from sunup to sundown with a goal of helping anybody who needs his assistance. An unsuspecting Villa was sitting with his CAT classmates when a representative from Edison International came into the class with a surprise announcement – Villa had been named a 2024 Edison Scholarship winner, an honor that comes with $50,000 in tuition support for students pursuing a major in a STEM field. Following the announcement, Villa’s classmates erupted in applause. Villa is one of just 30 Southern California high school students to receive the award.
Cal-Hi Auto Academy students Hunter Nolasco and James Chairez recently participated in the Automotive Technology Competition at Cerritos College and are one of only two teams in the state that qualified to attend a national competition in New York in April. Photos are available. Contact: Laura Flores, 562-668-7833 (office)
Whittier Union’s Santa Fe High School has been re-selected as one of only 140 AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) National Demonstration Schools in the nation. AVID is a K-12 through postsecondary college-readiness system designed to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges. Santa Fe High serves as a model for schools that are implementing or refining AVID programs. Photos are available. Contact: Laura Flores, 562-668-7833 (office)
The State Board of Education (SBE) will hear a final debate and then vote on the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) regulations and Local Control Accountability Plan template at its Jan. 16 meeting. The Whittier Union High School District has been asked to present to the State Board on the importance of providing local control to school districts in the allocation of new state funding in order to better serve all students. Whittier Union is committed to furthering its successful efforts in narrowing the achievement gap through local control and flexibility and will demonstrate that the missions are not mutually exclusive. Contact: Laura Flores, 562-668-7833 (office)
The new Local Control Funding Formula gives local school boards control over how to use state funds. Whittier Union is seeking input from parents and interested community members on its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) that will guide the expenditure of these funds. Meetings will be held at 6 p.m. in the Board of Trustees meeting room on Thursday, Jan. 23; Thursday, Feb. 13; Thursday, March 20; and Wednesday, April 9. Contact: Laura Flores, 562-668-7833 (office)
Santa Fe High School students will be making and donating blankets to Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital. PIH officials will be on hand to accept the hand-made blankets at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11. Contact: Laura Flores (562) 668-7833 (office)
Pioneer High School’s Leo Club will hold its annual tamale-making event to raise money to purchase food for Holiday Food Baskets to be given to local families in need on Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14. Food Baskets will be distributed privately to the families. Contact: Laura Flores (562) 668-7833 (office)
Santa Fe High will receive a Golden Bell Award this weekend for its cutting-edge mental health services to students. Photos of the ceremony will be available. Contact: Laura Flores (562) 668-7833 (office)
The Whittier Union High School District will hold its annual Holiday Choral Concert at Whittier College on Nov. 21. Students from California, La Serna, Pioneer, Santa Fe and Whittier high schools will perform classical works to popular Christmas favorites during the district’s holiday festival. Contact: Laura Flores, 562-668-7833 (office)
Whittier Union High School District’s five comprehensive high schools come together for the district’s spectacular annual marching band and cheer exhibition from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4 at California High School. The cheer exhibition will take place in the gym at 6:30 p.m. The band exhibition will start at 7:15 p.m. in the football field. Contact: Laura Flores, 562-668-7833 (office)
"Lost Boy of the Sudan" Alephonsion Deng and author and refugee activist Judy Bernstein will speak to La Serna High School's AP Human Geography class about the book they have read based on Deng's experiences as a refugee. Teacher Lisa McCollum and parents raised donations for the visit, taking place Tuesday, Oct. 15. The media is invited to attend the book signing at noon. Contact Laura Flores, 562-668-7833 (office)