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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 Celebrated for Academic Excellence in 2023-24 ‘Best High Schools’ Rankings

Whittier Union High School District’s commitment to academic excellence, evidenced in its Whatever It Takes philosophy, is reflected in the recent U.S. News & World Report 2023-24 high school rankings, with all five of its comprehensive schools ranked in the top half of high schools in California and the top third of high schools nationwide. The rankings, which measure school success metrics such as graduation rates and college-readiness, consider multiple factors that include AP exam pass rates, proficiency in math, reading and science, enrollment and the percentage of socio-economically disadvantaged students in the District. Whittier Union is home to two California Distinguished Schools, five California Gold Ribbon Schools, two AVID National Demonstration schools, two AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award-winning schools and a Model Continuation High School.

Whittier Union Educators Experience Living History During Visit to Poland, Auschwitz

Three Whittier Union history teachers received an up-close look at living history when they participated in the Auschwitz Legacy Program, a one-week trip to Poland in July that included tours of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and the Warsaw Ghetto, as well as access to archives of letters and personal items saved from Holocaust victims during World War II. John Bellanti of Whittier High School, Gena Arriola-Salas of Pioneer High School and MaryAnn Fajardo of Frontier High School joined a group of 30 educators and Holocaust researchers from across the United States as part of an education initiative created by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation to keep the memories of victims alive.

Whittier Union Students to Host Annual Districtwide College Fair

Whittier Union High School District students will fill the California High School quad to learn more about their post-secondary options and forge a path to their future during the 2023 Districtwide College Fair at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Students will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from more than 50 colleges – which include several UC and CSU campuses, along with private schools, community colleges, trade schools, United States Armed Forces and out-of-state universities – to gain insight to each school’s offerings and fill out registration cards for more information. California High is located at 9800 Mills Ave., Whittier.

Whittier Union Receives Top Rating for General Obligation Funds

Whittier Union was awarded an Aa1 credit rating by Moody’s Investor Service ahead of its second Measure AA bond issuance of $45.9 million, a high-grade rating that gives investors assurance that the District is financially sound and has the revenues and cash reserves to pay its debts. In awarding the top credit rating, Moody’s cited the District’s prudent fiscal practices and ability to maintain additional reserves outside of its general fund. The credit rating will help garner favorable interest rates when the District conducts its bond sale, which will lower the tax liability to property owners in the Whittier Union area.

Whittier Union Welcomes Students Back to Campuses, Embraces Growth for 2023-24 School Year

Amid an air of excitement and anticipation, more than 10,000 Whittier Union High School District students stepped onto campuses adorned with vibrant posters, balloons and red carpets on the much-awaited first day of school on Aug. 16. Across the District, students were welcomed onto campuses and greeted by energetic ASB and Link Crew members, cheer and song teams, principals and administrators. During the morning rush, band and color guard ensembles played exhilarating tunes, creating an engaging and positive campus atmosphere for students and setting the stage for a successful 2023-24 academic year. The District also hosted its annual Freshman First Day on Aug. 15 – a tradition that seeks to build camaraderie between incoming freshmen and their new school community.

Whittier Union Schools Recognized for Success in Completing A-G College Requirements

Two Whittier Union high schools have been recognized for their success in guiding students toward completing rigorous coursework required to attend a California four-year university, significantly narrowing the achievement and equity gap, and providing students an opportunity to have greater success in higher education and pursue their dream career. Santa Fe and Pioneer high school students are completing their A-G coursework at rates far above the California average, and across numerous demographic subgroups, including socioeconomically disadvantaged, Latinx, Black and English Learner. Schoolwide A-G completion rates are 76% for Pioneer High and 65% for Santa Fe High. The California completion rate average is just over 40%.

Whittier Union to Kick Off New School Year with Freshmen First Day

Whittier Union High School District’s incoming freshmen will kick off the 2023-24 school year during Freshmen First Day (FFD), held Tuesday, Aug. 15 at each of the District’s comprehensive high schools. FFD is an annual tradition that aims to ease the transition into high school for new students. FFD also helps new students build connections with one another and familiarize themselves with their new campus, teachers and administrators, ensuring they are prepared to have an impactful high school experience.

Whittier Union Partners with Highway Patrol for National Night Out

The Santa Fe High School band will perform as part of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Santa Fe Springs office’s inaugural National Night Out, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 5. The event is free to the public and will feature a bicycle rodeo, police, K-9 and motorcycle demonstrations, information booths, a bicycle helmet giveaway, and photos with Chipper the Chipmunk. The CHP Santa Fe Springs office is located at 10051 Orr and Day Rd., Santa Fe Springs.

Whittier Union Renews GoPass Program to Bring Free Public Transportation to Students

Whittier Union High School District is kicking off the 2023-24 school year with the renewal of the GoPass program, offering students consistent and reliable transportation to school by providing unlimited rides at no cost on the Metro bus and rail. The program began its pilot year in Whittier Union in October 2021 after the District was approached by City of Whittier Mayor Pro Tem and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board member Fernando Dutra. The Fareless System Initiative aims to increase student ridership, student success, and improve student health. According to Metro, students with access to public transportation have a higher rate of graduation and are also shown to be healthier due to a more active lifestyle.

Whittier Union Renews Free Public Transportation to Students

Whittier Union High School District is kicking off the 2023-24 school year with the renewal of the GoPass program, offering students consistent and reliable transportation to school by providing unlimited rides at no cost on the Metro bus and rail. The program began its pilot year in Whittier Union in October 2021 after the District was approached by City of Whittier Mayor Pro Tem and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board member Fernando Dutra. The Fareless System Initiative aims to increase student ridership, student success, and improve student health. The pass allows each student unlimited rides on Metro bus and rail, as well as bus lines including Norwalk Transit, Montebello Bus, City of Commerce, LADOT Dash, Culver City Bus and the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus.