Citrus College wins Marketing and PR Awards

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, was recently awarded top honors from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 6. NCMPR is a professional organization for individuals involved in marketing, communications, public relations and enrollment management at community, junior and technical colleges.

The college's office of communications and external relations was presented with five Medallion Awards during the organization's District 6 Conference in Park City, Utah, in late September. The awards recognize outstanding achievement and excellence in design and communication, with winners receiving gold, silver and bronze designations. Citrus received gold, silver and bronze in the outdoor media category; gold in the postcard category; and silver in the social media category.

Melissa Utsuki, executive director of communications and external relations, said, "It is rewarding to be recognized for the great work we do for Citrus College."

Also, Doug Schultz, Citrus's communications supervisor, was named the District 6 "Rising Star" recipient for 2019. This award recognizes newcomers who have demonstrated special creativity or ability in marketing and public relations, and who show evidence of a promising future in the field.

- Brad Haugaard

Plymouth Elementary School Students Display Coding Skills

Plymouth Elementary students demonstrated how they created animated characters for digital stories and video games during the school's annual Epic Build Showcase on Nov. 15, an event that celebrated the school's computer science immersion program, Code to the Future.

"Our Epic Build Showcase gives our community the opportunity to not just see pockets of excellence in a few classes, but witness displays of learning in every classroom with the opportunity of every student learning computer science at a high level," Principal Dr. Greg Gero said.

Through Code to the Future, students work with block-based coding and JavaScript and engage in hands-on programming, robotics, and analog activities. Beginning in transitional kindergarten, students apply the logic of computer science by creating loops, sequences, and animations. By second grade, students begin building video games; by fifth grade, students skillfully combine coding with integrated stories.

"At Monrovia Unified, preparing our students for college, career and beyond is at the forefront of everything we do," Board President Ed Gililland said. "Our students are learning how to problem solve and think critically, and develop technological literacy, on which they can expand throughout their educational experience at Monrovia Unified."

At Plymouth Elementary, coding can become a second language for students and, for its Mandarin Dual Language Immersion students, coding can become a third language.

The school focuses on educational skills composed of the four Cs: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. Gero explained that the showcase was not just a celebration of coding, but a celebration of the skills students are developing, which prepare them for college and career success.

"Plymouth's Epic Build showcase gives our students the opportunity to not only engage with one another, but with parents and community members as well," Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian said. "Through our coding curriculum, our students, at an early age, develop the knowledge and skills they need to pursue science and technology career paths in the future."

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

Loss Ends Wildcats Shot at CIF Championship :-(

A 24-20 loss to the Newport Harbor Sailors in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Playoff ended the Wildcats chance for a CIF championship. https://is.gd/zw8j7E

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Again Honored as Good School for Hispanic Students

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, is one of the top colleges and universities in the nation for Hispanic students, according to an annual list published by the Hispanic Outlook on Education.

Earlier this fall the magazine ranked Citrus in the top 10 in two categories: sixth in the nation for awarding English language and literature degrees to Hispanic students, and seventh for awarding social science degrees to Hispanic students.

- Brad Haugaard

A Message from Monrovia Unified School District Regarding Saugus High School Tragedy

Dear Monrovia Unified Community,

In reflecting upon the tragic unfolding of events at Saugus High School, I am angered that children today must endure such horrific acts of cowardice and heartbroken for the children and families who lost loved ones.

School safety is our first priority. Teaching and learning can only occur in a safe environment, and Monrovia Unified takes clear steps to establish and maintain safe schools.

The District does this by:
• Developing an integrated safety plan for each school, tailored to its unique needs and population.
• Reviewing these plans yearly with our partners, Monrovia Police Department.
• Conducting monthly drills at each school.
• Initiating anti-bullying programs on every campus.
• Providing counseling services at every school.

We also are continually seeking new avenues through which to promote safety.

Monrovia Unified Board of Education passed a gun safety resolution during its regular board meeting on Nov. 13, intended to disseminate gun safety protocols.

We do not take chances with the safety of our students or staff, and encourage all members of our community to immediately contact authorities – on campus or local law enforcement – if you hear or see something of concern.

Posting potential threats on social media tends to interfere with law enforcement and will cause undue panic.

We also encourage our families to have an open dialogue with their children about their challenges.

The National Association of School Psychologists offer helpful resources for talking to children about violence: https://bit.ly/2OcpM37.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katherine Thorossian
Superintendent

Bradoaks Transitioning to Science-Emphasis School - Holds Moon Party

Bradoaks Elementary second-grader Brendon Rose held onto the lens of a powerful telescope and searched the stars for a glimpse of Saturn, Jupiter and Venus during a “Telescopes in the Sky” Moon Party family event that celebrated the school's effort to transition to a science emphasis school.

“I always thought that Jupiter was one of the smallest planets in the solar system,” Rose said. “I actually learned that Jupiter is the biggest planet when I looked at it through the telescope.”

Clifton Middle School science teacher Tom Traeger is a member of the Monrovia Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers, which partnered with Bradoaks Elementary to host the Nov. 7 event.

“Our members come from all walks of life; I am a teacher, some of our members are scientists, some are engineers, some are retired and some are people who just have a love of the night sky,” Traeger said. “The purpose of the event is to give the Bradoaks community an evening where they can learn about astronomical objects like Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon that are in the evening sky.”

Refreshments were provided while students and their families looked at the night sky through four telescopes provided by the Sidewalk Astronomers.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our students and parents to learn and explore together,” Board of Education President Ed Gililland said. “Monrovia Unified is dedicated to the academic and personal growth of our students, and events like this shine a light on that focus.”

“Telescopes in the Sky” is just one example of the many science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) focused events that Bradoaks Elementary plans to implement as it transitions to a science emphasis school.

“Transitioning to a science emphasis school will foster a love of STEM education in our students and prepare them for pathways in engineering, computer science, math and much more," Principal Jayne Nickles said. “We are grateful to our community partners who help us put on these special events for our students and their families.”

“Monrovia Unified wants to expand the lens through which our students see the world, and what better way than by providing them with a glimpse of the world beyond the terrestrial?” Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian said. “Thank you to our teachers, community partners and families for supporting memorable enrichment opportunities.”

Source: Monrovia Schools press release

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Architecture Program

By Mrs. Joanne Montgomery
Citrus College Governing Board Member

Anna Ortega is a Citrus College freshman and Monrovia resident currently enrolled in the college's highly successful architecture program. As part of the career, technical and continuing education division at Citrus College, the architecture program offers students a structured pathway to careers in architecture, interior design, project management, urban planning and contracting, among others.

For Anna, the program was a perfect fit. Wanting to become an interior designer, Anna also had aspirations of designing buildings, an endeavor that would require a license in architecture. Trying to decide what career path she favored was stressful, until she spoke with Dr. Richard Fernandes, a full-time faculty member in the college's architecture program.

Dr. Fernandes, a former Disney Imagineer, explained that obtaining a degree in architecture would qualify Anna to accomplish both goals. No separate training would be required: interior design would simply be Anna's focus within architecture once she transferred to a university. Excited about her future, Anna is now working on a special project in Dr. Fernandes' Introduction to Architecture course that requires students to research, write and present about a piece of cultural architecture in the greater Los Angeles area.

As Anna continues taking challenging courses each semester, she will be in the same position as Citrus College student Kenneth Morales in a year and a half.

Preparing to graduate in June 2020, Kenneth is working on a digital modeling of acclaimed architect Frank Lloyd Wright's Ennis House - a project that necessitates competency in Autodesk Maya, a 3D computer graphics application used by industry experts in architecture, film and videogame design. Dr. Fernandes is among a small group of architects within California licensed to teach Autodesk Maya. This specialized training gives Citrus College students a competitive edge when applying to universities.

"Our transfer connections to universities, such as Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Baptist University, are incredibly strong," said Dr. Fernandes. "These institutions know that when they accept an architecture student from Citrus College, they are gaining an individual who has received a stellar education and possesses an advanced understanding of drafting, 3D imaging, physics and other architecture fundamentals."

Citrus College's Architecture program enjoys such a solid reputation with these universities that Citrus College students are consistently placed a year above applicants transferring from other colleges. This reduces the standard five-year route to an architecture degree to four years for students transferring to Cal Poly Pomona or Cal Baptist University. Upon graduation, students who began their journeys at Citrus College will have saved time and money compared to their peers, and they will be thoroughly equipped to enter the workforce.

As Monrovia's representative on the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees, I am incredibly proud of the college's architecture program. Many of its alumni have gone on to successful careers as preservationist architects, urban planners and award-winning modern architects. They have contributed to the construction and preservation of some of the most celebrated structures and areas in the world, including Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Orlando, Florida, and the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris.

For college students seeking to build a bright and promising future, I would strongly recommend the Citrus College Architecture program.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia 41-0 Over Santa Fe in Playoffs

Monrovia shuts out Santa Fe with a 41-0 win in the first round of the playoffs Friday night. https://is.gd/ByeDZo

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to Focus on Gun Safety; Etc.

At its next meeting the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Consider updating the schools safety plan to include information on gun safety, and send a letter home to parents emphasizing safe gun storage and parents' legal obligations to protect minors from negligent gun storage. The letter will be included in annual registration materials at each school site, and will require a parental signature. https://is.gd/NCunEi

~ Review the agreement with its PR agency, VMA Communications of Claremont, which is being paid up to $135,385 for the period from this last July through June 30 of 2020. https://is.gd/B9oGwg

~ Consider adopting the Los Angeles County Office of Education Plan for Expelled Students. https://is.gd/F1K6z4


- Brad Haugaard

Dr. Thorossian's October Superintendent Update

By Superintendent Dr. Katherine Thorossian

Monrovia Unified's mission focuses on providing World-Class Schools for World-Class Students, an effort which is emphasized and supported through community partnerships and enrichment programs such as coding, robotics, dual-language immersion, career technical education, and early college courses.

In October, the District celebrated student success with the 2019-20 State of the Schools Address, which offered an in-depth overview of the District's mission, teacher and staff support, nurturing at the elementary level, middle school instruction, and preparation of students for college and careers.

I would like to thank Monrovia Unified's Board of Education and our District team who contributed not only to the event, but also who work tirelessly every day on behalf of all of our students. Their expertise and commitment fuel our programs and inspire our students.

Our District's Extended School Program finished off the month on a high note with a Lights on Afterschool event. The event celebrated the impact that after-school programs have on our students and families.

Throughout October, our students have continued to impress us with their achievements and academic success. Through our strong academic programs, our students are gaining the knowledge and skills they need for life after high school.

Thank you to our committed educators who play a vital role in preparing our students for college, career, and beyond. With only two months left of the fall semester, I encourage our students to continue working hard, while having fun and exploring their interests.

- Brad Haugaard

School District Asks Legislature to Restrict Marketing Vaping to School Age Children

The Monrovia School District has passed a resolution (https://is.gd/a5iN1u) asking the California State Legislature to "champion the health of our youth by supporting legislation that restricts marketing of vaping products to school age children."

The resolution cites a study published in the journal, Yale Medicine, citing the dangers of vaping, and concludes: "We respectfully ask you to champion this issue by submitting a bill before Governor Newsom banning the online and retail sales of all flavored e-cigarette and vaping products to school age children, launching an informative campaign telling the truth about these products, and finally, assisting school districts with funding to bring awareness to the youth of California."

Comment: The study published in Yale Medicine (https://is.gd/HqxfDA) and another article at the Johns Hopkins Medicine website (https://is.gd/L6ZCAT) seem to indicate that the main concern with vaping is that many vaping juices contain nicotine, so students are getting hooked on nicotine and may not even know it. The concern is with what is in some vaping juices, not with the vaping device itself. Perhaps legislation should simply prohibit sales of juices laced with nicotine to minors, which would be a logical extension of cigarette laws.

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Honored for Transfer Degrees

The Campaign for College Opportunity has for the fourth consecutive year recognized Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, as a state leader in producing transfer degrees.  The award is for  California community colleges and California State University campuses that have demonstrated success in implementing the state's associate degree for transfer pathway.

Citrus College is one of only 12 community colleges in the state to be named a 2019 Champion of Higher Education.

- Brad Haugaard

Number of Monrovia Students Slightly Higher than Expected

At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/FyFFoJ) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

~ Get an enrollment report that shows the number of students is 5,407, actually a bit higher than the 5,350 projected eaarlier. https://is.gd/d2E6iQ

~ Consider buying a Paxton/Patterson Learning
System for Santa Fe Computer Science Magnet School for $81,877. https://is.gd/LaOraI

~ Participate in the clinical training of University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine students in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (https://is.gd/swbzIs), and in the clinical training of New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development students in the field of Speech-Language Pathology (https://is.gd/Ed1irm).

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High's Homecoming Game Tonight Will be Broadcast

If you can't make it to Monrovia's homecoming game against South Pas this evening, it will be broadcast here: https://is.gd/mZCM0X

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High's Coffee Roaster Program Makes Evening News

Here's an ABC7 video report on Monrovia High School's Roasters coffee cart program where special education students learn skills that could get them jobs. https://is.gd/aNbg6t

- Brad Haugaard

Professional Video of Monrovia Schools Programs

A professional video description of Monrovia schools' programs.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Schools vs. Vaping

At its Tuesday meeting (agenda: https://shrtm.nu/F2jc  the Monrovia School Board will consider passing a resolution encouraging stronger laws against selling vaping products to minors. 

It will also consider creating a new class called, “Introduction to Administration of Justice, open to students in the Early College Program.

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Schools Roasters Program on Radio

On School News Radio Monrovia High School WorkAbility and Transition Program Partnership Coordinator Kymberly Hirst discusses the school’s Roasters coffee cart program, which teaches independence and life skills to students in special education. https://shrtm.nu/C40E

- Brad Haugaard 

Superintendent Thorossian's September Schools Update

Dear Monrovia Unified School District community,

Monrovia Unified is committed to providing our students with opportunities to be successful academically and in their personal pursuits. Through our array of programs, our students are able to grow their skill sets and discover new passions.

Over the last month, our elementary students have been busy learning new coding components, advancing in their Dual-Language Immersion programs, and learning what it means to be part of a bully-free campus.

Our high school athletes have been enjoying their new Wildcat Stadium field and track, renovated this summer and celebrated with a grand re-opening on Aug. 30. We are excited for our students and community to have this new, upgraded field that they can use for 10 to 15 more years!

On Sept. 20, students from Monroe Elementary School participated in a march to express their opposition to bullying. Students marched and pledged to be bully-free and to continue the school’s dynamic of kindness and positive peer relationships. The event was publicized by Telemundo, which celebrated the school’s bullying prevention efforts! I am proud of our students and commend them for helping promote kindness not just at their school, but across the District.

At Monrovia High School, the WorkAbility and Transition Partnership programs have given our students with disabilities a wonderful opportunity! Students are now taking part in the Monrovia High Roasters program, which has allowed them to learn the responsibilities of being employed, all while selling hot beverages to our wonderful faculty and staff.

Lastly, I would like to thank our partner, Monrovia Reads, for continuing to provide our students with the opportunity to foster a love of reading and promoting literacy across our District!

The start of the school year has been productive and busy for our students, teachers, staff, and administrators and these wonderful programs for our students would not be possible without the amazing people who lead them. I look forward to hearing about our students’ success and achievements this year!

Monrovia Unified’s mission is to provide world-class schools for world-class students, and we invite our community to learn more about our extraordinary programs from the Board of Education during our State of the Schools Address on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Monrovia High School’s Performing Arts Center, 845 W. Colorado Blvd., Monrovia.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katherine Thorossian
Superintendent


Source: Monrovia Schools

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to Consider Contract With Learning Genie

At its next meeting (https://is.gd/nay35z) the Monrovia Board of Education will consider approving a $2,200 contract (through June 2020) with Learning Genie, an online software system that provides a "flexible portfolio and assessment rating tools for child development observation, documentation, and assessment rating." It also lets teachers share what they're teaching with parents. https://is.gd/BHsxAQ

- Brad Haugaard