March 2011 - Rosemead Chamber of Commerce

8 Rosemead Report • March 2011
Education
News from
El Monte Union High School District
Ledesma Named a Top
Continuation High School
by Anne Donofrio-Holter
The El Monte
Union High School
District’s Fernando
R. Ledesma High
School has been
named one of 27
California Model
Continuation High
Schools by State
S u p e r i n t e n d e n t
of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell for “its
programs designed to help struggling students stay
in school.”
These schools create a culture of learning for
and provide educational continuity for students
whose lives have been challenged, said OConnell.
These model continuation high schools have
programs worth emulating. They help young
people realize that getting a good education and
earning a high school diploma is their chance
toward leading a better and more prosperous life.
“We are extremely proud of our staff, students
and families of Ledesma High School for all of
their hard work,” said superintendent Nick Salerno.
“This recognition is well deserved. We invite all
Rosemead High Senior
Semifinalist in Spotlight Awards
by Anne Donofrio-Holter
Rosemead High School senior Ayida Chan
has been selected one of 90 high school student
performing arts semifinalists for the 23rd annual
Music Center Spotlight Awards.WNearly 1,200
Southern California students auditioned in six
categories which included ballet, non-classical
dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, jazz
instrumental and Chen’s category, classical
instrumental.
During the preliminary auditions held last
October through December, students performed
before panels of expert judges and were given in
depth evaluations of their performance intended
to visit this wonderful school to see first hand the
great things that happen here every day.”
The schools recognized are accredited by the
Western Association of Schools and Colleges and
demonstrate exemplary
program effectiveness
in school management,
g u i d a n c e W a n d
counseling, curriculum,
instructional strategies
and educational climate.
Parents, students and
community members
were required to provide
written statements in
support of their school.
“At Ledesma High School we serve students
who are at risk of not graduating,” said principal
Freddy Arteaga. “We focus on intensive guidance
and counseling, along with school-to-career
education, to meet our students’ needs.”
Statewide more than 69,000 students attended
509 continuation high schools during the 2009-10
school year.
“We have a dedicated staff and also
tremendous support from all district personnel,”
added Arteaga. “We have a great plan to continue
to give students a second chance and help all our
district students achieve their academic goals with
our various programs.”
to help them improve performing and auditioning
techniques.
Judges then selected the top 15 students in
each category who now advance to the semifinals.
Chen, along with the other semifinalists, will have
a unique opportunity to attend special classes with
professional artists for insight into performance
technique, training and professional life and will
audition again this month before a new panel of
judges who will select the top two finalists in each
category.
The Music Center Spotlight Awards program
“is one of the nations most acclaimed performing
and visual arts education programs for teens,
offering training in the arts and awarding more
than $100,000 in scholarships annually to finalists,
semifinalists and participants who receive
honorable mentions.”
Rosemead School District
3907 Rosemead Blvd., Rosemead, CA 91770 • (626) 312-2900 Fax (626) 312-2906
Superintendent’s Message: - Dr. Amy Enomoto-Perez
Miller Dial Establishes Innovator
Scholarship for EMUHSD
Students
by Anne Donofrio-Holter
In an effort to support the advancement of
El Monte Union High School District students
who share its innovative spirit and determination,
manufacturing and engineering company Miller
Dial, LLC, announced the establishment of the
Miller Dial Young Innovator Scholarship.
Much of Miller Dials success during the
past 74 years has been made possible by the
talented workforce of El Monte and surrounding
communities, said Jim Kaldem, Miller Dial
president. The Miller Dial Young Innovator
Scholarship is a way to express our gratitude to
the community and support the next generation of
innovative thinkers here in Southern California.
Open to seniors in all six of the District’s
high schools, the scholarship will be awarded
on a “studentís ability to either create a project
that demonstrates innovation in the area of
sustainability and environmental improvement
or create a community service project that raises
awareness about the issue the project is addressing.”
Applicants must also write a one-page essay
describing the role innovation, as well as their
Adult School ESL Students Hold
Graduation Ceremony
by Anne Donofrio-Holter
Approximately 150 El Monte-Rosemead
Adult School students enrolled in the transitioning
English Language Learner program received their
ESL (English Second Language) completion
certificates during ceremonies they conducted
themselves. During the ceremony, students
displayed their work which included writing
portfolios, gave speeches on their struggles
adjusting to life in the United States and showed
off their various talents through multicultural
displays.
The program includes a blend of formal
transition classes and both formal and informal
transition activities and strategies that support
student transition to a higher level.
“The transition really starts in our advanced
low ESL classes where students are already being
prepared to go into the secondary education
community, has played in their development as a
student.
Students can pick up an application at their
local high school or on-line at www.emuhsd.
k12.ca.us or www.millerdial.com/scholarship.
Applications must be received by Miller Dial no
later than April 15, 2011.
Recipient must be available to receive his or
her scholarship in person, which will be presented
by Congresswoman Judy Chu, at a reception
to be hosted by Miller Dial at a date yet to be
determined.
“We are extremely appreciative of Miller
Dials support and commitment to our students
via this scholarship and look forward to a very
positive and longstanding relationship.” said
superintendent Nick Salerno. “I encourage
every one of our seniors to take advantage of this
wonderful opportunity and apply.”
Based in El Monte, “Miller Dial has been part
of Southern Californias manufacturing community
since 1937, engineering and producing products
that have been part of iconic American projects,
such as NASAs Apollo 11 Mission and Space Lab.
It is an internationally-recognized manufacturer
of graphic product identification solutions and
user interface components, including metal and
plastic nameplates, domed labels, decals, graphic
overlays, membrane switches, rubber keypads,
touch screens and LCDs.”
program,” said principal Sandra Stevens.
“Strategies include helping, preparing and
encouraging students to transition to the high
school diploma program and are reflected in the
teaching strategies, the curriculum chosen, as well
as in collaborative efforts with the high school
diploma program, which provides a transition
teacher to the advanced high ESL classes to help
students become familiar with the high school
diploma staff and practices”
Once enrolled in the high school diploma
program, students are placed in a cohort class .
“The fact that they enter the program already
a cohesive group from their ESL experience helps
them encourage and support each other as they
progress in a more academic setting,” said Stevens.
“The majority of students who finish their first
cohort class remain in the program and many of
them go on and graduate.”
In May 2009, El Monte-Rosemead Adult
Schools transitioning English Language Learner
program was rated among the top programs
nationwide.