The Teachers Association of Norwalk-La Mirada (TANLA) will hold its second annual Caring Beyond the Classroom event to provide more than 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to students in need from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 22 at the NLMUSD offices, 12820 Pioneer Blvd., Norwalk. The District’s Health on Wheels Mobile clinic will provide free immunizations to the first 100 students. The event will include a DJ booth and free raffle items.
La Mirada High junior Lawrence Koh has been named a National Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar – the highest AP Scholar award conferred by the College Board and an honor typically earned by seniors. The College Board’s AP program gives students the opportunity to pursue college-level courses during high school. A total of 123 Norwalk-La Mirada students have been recognized for their exceptional achievement on AP exams.
Norwalk High School was recently recognized by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) with a six-year accreditation – the highest accreditation possible. Norwalk High’s high marks follow Glenn and La Mirada high schools, which also received six-year accreditations in 2012 with mid-cycle visits just completed this year. Both La Mirada and Glenn high schools earned their final three years of the accreditation term from preliminary visits in March 2012. The visiting WASC committees commended the schools for their data-based decision making and improved communication throughout their school communities to provide high-quality programs, rigorous instruction and high levels of student achievement.
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified's Dulles Elementary’s beautiful tree-lined campus has for generations brought the tight-knit community surrounding it a little closer. This spring, the end-of-year Family Picnic was even more special, a 55-year anniversary gala that brought together more than 400 past and present Dulles family members to reminisce and share good times. Dulles, a 2014 California Distinguished School, opened in 1960 during the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration and is named for prominent American statesman John Foster Dulles. The school has a loyal assemblage of alumni and staffers, with many bringing their own children to Dulles to start their academic journeys. Among the attendees were NLMUSD interim Superintendent Ginger Shattuck and Board Members Karen Morrison, Chris Pflanzer and President Jesse Urquidi, La Mirada City Council members Larry Mowles, Ed Eng and Mayor Pro Tem Steve DeRuse. Amid dancing and award presentations was a full night of erstwhile colleagues catching up.
Nearly 1,500 graduates from the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified Class of 2015 received diplomas as family members cheered their academic achievements during six commencement ceremonies held throughout the District this week. Each ceremony featured student speakers who recounted the joys and struggles that constituted their scholastic journeys, and expressed appreciation to the friends, family and instructors who kept them focused on their studies and on the path to success. Southeast Military Academy and Law Enforcement High held the first of the six commencement ceremonies on June 15, followed by John Glenn High that evening with 320 grads. On June 16, El Camino Continuation High celebrated its 91 grads and La Mirada High held a ceremony for its 510 grads. On June 17, Norwalk-La Mirada Adult School held commencement exercises for 54 grads followed by Norwalk High with 460 grads.
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified to Welcome New Superintendent on June 8
Dr. Hasmik Danielian, Norwalk-La Mirada Unified’s new superintendent, will be introduced to the community at the Monday, June 8 Board of Education meeting. The 6 p.m. meeting will be held at the NLMUSD Board Room, 12820 Pioneer Blvd., Norwalk. Bringing more than 25 years of experience to the job, Danielian will begin the post July 1. He most recently served four years as superintendent of Brawley Union High School District in Imperial County. Danielian replaces former Superintendent Ruth Perez, who resigned in September. Ginger Shattuck – who led the District from 1994 to 2009 – has served as interim superintendent since September. Board members will also recognize the top four students from each of NLMUSD’s six high schools.
More than 300 Norwalk High School students spanning every visual and performing arts division showcased their artwork at this year's “Artrageous” – the school’s annual arts celebration, open to the community. Students, family members and alumni strolled through “galleries” of avant-garde fashion designs, 3D-printed sculptures, six-foot paper mache Russian nesting dolls, along with photography and other visual arts pieces, while folkloric, steel guitar and orchestral musicians performed outside. Culinary arts students completed their final exam for the year by serving hors d'oeuvres and desserts they prepared for a VIP reception prior to the event, and students modeling gowns and costumes created in their fashion design class strutted down the runway.
Allison McMath, a Benton Middle School Visual and Performing Arts Academy eighth-grade history and media arts teacher known for her passion for her craft and skill with technology is being honored as Norwalk-La Mirada’s Teacher of the Year for 2015 with a “Star Award,” presented by the district in May. The district also honored Assistant Superintendent Wayne Shannon as District Office Administrator of the Year. Benton Middle School Principal Michael R. Gotto as Site Administrator of the Year, Technology Services Director Tim M. Scholefield as Classified Manager of the Year and Media Clerk Stacy Apodaca as Classified Employee of the Year.
The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified Board of Education on May 18 appointed veteran educator Dr. Hasmik Danielian as the new district superintendent. Known for her passion and commitment to academic excellence for all students, Danielian comes to the district after serving as superintendent of Brawley Union High School District in Imperial County for the past four years. She will begin her new post July 1. Before serving at Brawley Union, Danielian was associate superintendent and assistant superintendent of secondary schools at Hacienda La Puente Unified, which experienced significant gains in student achievement at all secondary schools during her tenure.
Norwalk-La Mirada high school students earned national recognition for their hands-on career expertise in competition with 6,000 peers during the recent SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky. Norwalk High was the sole California honoree chosen by the organization for its inaugural Chapter of Excellence award while student teams from La Mirada High scored gold and bronze medals during group competitions at the June 22-26 event.
