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Whittier Union High School District

  • Whittier Union Students Receive Powerful Lesson During DUI Car Crash Simulation

    Pioneer High School students received an opportunity to see how the real-life consequences of driving drunk, distracted, or impaired can have devastating and tragic results for their friends, family, and community during an “Every 15 Minutes” demonstration held in front of the school on March 18. The staged simulation for Pioneer High juniors and seniors – featuring the participation of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Los Angeles County Sheriff, City of Whittier Police Dept., Los Angeles County Fire Dept., first responders, and Funeraria de Angel Pico Rivera mortuary – took the students through an entire DUI car crash scenario – the initial 911 call, the rescue of victims, a sobriety test, and the subsequent arrest of the driver.

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  • California High School Senior Recovers from Debilitating Illness, Receives Award of Merit

    As an incoming freshman, California High School senior Viridian “Viv” Gonzalez got off to a flying start, earning straight A’s in her first semester, with a challenging schedule that included several Honors classes. Her future looked bright; then calamity struck. Gonzalez fell ill during her second semester and was hospitalized for months, missing a considerable amount of school. When Gonzalez returned to Cal High for her sophomore year, she was still very weak and wheelchair bound but determined to pick up where she left off. Enrolling in Cal High’s Health Academy pathway and with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to guide her, Gonzalez persevered despite her limited mobility, excelling in all her classes and slowly regaining her health. As a senior with a 3.5 GPA and improved health, Gonzalez said she is looking forward to taking the Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) exam this spring.

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  • Pioneer High Football Makes History with CIF Titles, Launches Fundraiser for Championship Rings

    The Pioneer High School football team made history in the fall 2024 season, taking home the school’s first-ever CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) title, followed by a regional title – an achievement that has ignited school spirit and set the stage for future generations of athletic excellence. While the team fell to Balboa High School in the CIF State Championship game on Dec. 14, their journey united the school and community in a milestone season. To commemorate this achievement, Pioneer High’s football team is raising funds for championship rings, a lasting tribute to their historic season. Contributions can be made through the school’s dedicated fundraising page or directly at Pioneer’s Business & Activities Office.

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Whittier Union Celebrates Día De Los Muertos with Community Event

Whittier Union High School District students, teachers, staff and families took part in a day of remembrance during La Serna High School’s Día De Los Muertos Community Event on Nov. 1. The event saw attendees dressed as La Catrina – a female skeleton commonly depicted wearing a fancy dress. Students and families also enjoyed live entertainment, food vendors, painting stations, crafts and activities such as flower making.

Whittier Union Adult School Citizenship Class Teachers Help Students Achieve Their Dreams

Whittier Union Adult School Citizenship class teachers are known for continually showering their students with care, support, devotion and celebrations as they navigate the steps of becoming a U.S. citizen, accomplishing what is a lifelong dream for many. Teachers Jesus DeLaTorre and Katherine Herrick provide their students with application assistance and help refine their grammar, pronunciation, dictation and reading skills in preparation for their citizenship interview. DeLaTorre and Herrick also provide instruction in American history and government to further prepare students for the citizenship test.

California High School Academic Mentors Learn Courage, Teamwork at Orange County Ropes Course

California High School’s Academic Mentors embarked on a thrilling adventure at the Orange County Ropes Course, where they were pushed out of their comfort zones and taught valuable lessons in teamwork, courage and risk-taking. The Orange County Ropes Course is an elaborate network of above-ground obstacles, climbing structures and a final zipline that are each designed to test a person’s physical and mental abilities. The Academic Mentors faced the rope course on Oct. 5, building a strong mentality of overcoming obstacles that they will now bring to their mentoring sessions in the classroom. The Cal High Academic Mentors are a group of juniors and seniors who help support teachers by working in small groups or one-on-one with mentees in classes that are designed to provide extra support to at-promise students.

Whittier Union High Schools Placed on Advanced Placement Honor Roll by College Board

Three Whittier Union high schools were recognized by the College Board as Advanced Placement Honor Roll schools, reflecting a commitment to increasing a college-going culture on campus and providing opportunities for students to earn college credit and maximize college readiness, based on data compiled from the schools’ Class of 2023 graduates. La Serna High School earned a Silver Award, while Pioneer and Santa Fe high schools were honored with Bronze Awards. Additionally, La Serna and Santa Fe each earned the AP Access Award, recognizing the schools for providing underrepresented students access to advanced coursework. The College Board places schools on its Honor Roll after evaluating three separate data sets representing college culture (students taking at least one AP exam), college credit (students scoring a “3” or higher on an AP exam) and college optimization (students taking five or more AP exams).

Whittier Union Adult School Citizenship Students Achieve Their Dreams

Whittier Union Adult School Citizenship class teachers are known for continually showering their students with care, support, devotion and celebrations as they navigate the steps of becoming a U.S. citizen, accomplishing what is a lifelong dream for many. Teachers Jesus DeLaTorre and Katherine Herrick provide their students with application assistance and help refine their grammar, pronunciation, dictation and reading skills in preparation for their citizenship interview. DeLaTorre and Herrick also provide instruction in American history and government to further prepare students for the citizenship test.

Whittier Union Maintenance Worker Celebrates Chicano Culture in Award-Winning Documentary

History will be made when the California Museum screens “The Great American Lowrider Tradition,” an award-winning car culture documentary created and produced by Pioneer High School maintenance custodian Martin Torrez, as part of the museum’s Fall programming celebrating the rich history, artistry and impact of low rider culture. The film will be screened on Saturday, Oct. 21, followed by a Q&A with Torrez and documentary subjects from the film. The screening will be the first time a movie exploring American car culture will be presented at the museum and represents a major advancement in telling the first-hand stories of lowrider enthusiasts who endured decades-long racial discrimination for pursuing their passions and celebrating their Chicano heritage.

Whittier Union Students Participate in Prestigious Scholars Program, Aim to Gain Admission to Top-Tier Universities

Three Whittier High School seniors have taken a significant step towards achieving their dreams of attending a top-tier university after high school by securing coveted spots in the prestigious and highly-selective University of Southern California’s (USC) Bovard Scholars program. Whittier High seniors Diana Nguyen, Fabiola Ramirez and Cynthia Flores participated in a three-week intensive program this summer that began with a week of online preparation, followed by two weeks on USC’s campus free of charge. The USC Bovard Scholars program connects underrepresented, first-generation students with higher education resources and coaching opportunities, helping them to gain admission and succeed at the nation’s top universities.

Whittier Union Intervention Specialist Honored with Extra Yard for Teachers Award

La Serna High School intervention specialist Lisa Barnes received the surprise of a lifetime on Sept. 19, when a routine meeting with La Serna principal Griselda Castro turned into a celebration for the popular instructor, who was named a 2023 Extra Yard for Teachers recipient by the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and the Pac-12 football conference. UCLA assistant director of marketing Bri Hutchings virtually presented Barnes with a $1,000 donors gift card. The Extra Yard for Teachers program was initiated by the CFP Foundation to reward teachers and elevate the teaching profession by implementing and supporting activities related to resources, recognition, recruitment and professional development.

Whittier Union Senior Honored with Award of Merit for Outstanding Leadership, Perseverance

Pioneer High School senior Christian Figueroa has always valued the importance of in-person connections, which motivated him to become a highly involved student and participate in multiple extracurricular activities and sports – all while maintaining a 4.41 GPA. During his time at Pioneer High, Figueroa has excelled academically, taking seven honors courses, 10 Advanced Placement classes and a dual-enrollment course at Río Hondo College. For his academic accomplishments and his commitment to learning, Figueroa was honored with an Award of Merit by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees during a meeting on Sept. 12.