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  • Covina-Valley Unified Senior Displays Excellence, Re...

    COVINA, CA  –  Covina High School senior Kevin Nguyen will take his studies to the East Coast in fall 2023 after applying early decision and receiving admission to New York University (NYU) for his impactful academic and personal achievements.  Nguyen is a first-generation Asian American student whose parents emigrated from Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Nguyen began learning crucial life skills at an early age, such as how to talk to insurance companies, assist in managing electric and water bills, set up doctor appointments, and translate necessary paperwork for his family at home due to his parents’ language barrier.  “Being raised in an immigrant and low-income family sculpted me to be the person I am today,” Nguyen said. “I’m a person who paves his path and isn’t afraid to stand up and raise questions.”  Nguyen has worked at his family’s nail salon since he was eight. He said this experience had given him insight into how a business operates and has inspired him to study business at NYU.  Nguyen was accepted into the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at NYU, a school where students create their own major by combining two subjects into one individualized major. Nguyen plans to integrate business and marketing with fashion and media. “I’m not specifically sure what I want to do in the future, but I look forward to utilizing NYU’s resources and internship opportunities to follow in the business sector,” Nguyen said. “NYU was my top choice because of the community’s diverse culture, its top business program, and the seemingly never-ending things to do in New York City.”  Covina High School senior Kevin Nguyen was accepted to New York University (NYU) for his academic and personal achievements. Nguyen, a first-generation Asian-American student, will bring his unique skills and life experience to his education at NYU. Aside from furthering his education, Nguyen said he is most excited about being in an ethnically diverse community, meeting new people, and participating in the many unique events that NYU hosts. “One of the events that NYU throws annually is a Strawberry Festival where everyone gathers together and helps eat a 160-foot strawberry cake,” Nguyen said. “It doesn’t get any better than that!” Nguyen is a 4.0 student and valedictorian candidate who has been deeply involved in school life at Covina High since his first year – filling his time with numerous Advanced Placement classes and extracurricular activities. He has participated in Associated Student Body all four years of high school, was the vice president of the Film Society club in his junior year, is currently president of the Fashion club, and has been involved in Interact for the past two years.  Along with his early decision acceptance to NYU, Nguyen was one of two Covina-Valley Unified students who were chosen to receive a $2,500 scholarship from Capri Deli, a local Covina business, through the Covina Rotary Club. Nguyen said he is incredibly grateful to be chosen for this honor, as it helps to relieve some of the financial burden on his family of paying for NYU and helps him feel recognized and supported by the Covina-Valley community.  “We are incredibly proud of Kevin for all that he has accomplished at Covina-Valley Unified and all that he will undoubtedly continue to accomplish at NYU,” Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer said. “Kevin is an outstanding student who exemplifies our District values and mission to provide educational excellence. We can’t wait to see what amazing things he will accomplish next!” Kevin Nguyen celebrates after receiving a $2,500 scholarship from Capri Deli, a local Covina business, through the Covina Rotary Club. Nguyen is one of two Covina-Valley Unified students to receive this scholarship due to his community service, academic achievements, and extracurricular success. This scholarship will help Nguyen further pursue his educational endeavors at New York University.

    Saturday, Jan 28 2023

  • Covina-Valley Unified Bolsters Student Care, Element...

    COVINA, CA  – Covina-Valley Unified students will benefit from additional resources and support to help them achieve success in school and life, thanks to the expansion of its Elementary Comprehensive School Counseling Program. The District’s  Elementary Comprehensive School Counseling Program   has expanded in its second year after C-VUSD increased its counseling staff for the 2022-23 school year. The program follows the  American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model  guidelines and offers elementary school students tier-level support that is data-driven and tailored to student needs in three domains: academics, social-emotional learning (SEL), and college and career readiness. “The program strengthens the connection and sense of belonging for all students, vital to increasing a positive school culture. The ultimate goal for the Elementary Comprehensive School Counseling Program is to positively impact measurable data and student outcomes such as attendance, discipline, and academic achievement,” C-VUSD Elementary School Counselor Brenda Montiel said. “The school counselor, teachers, and staff have begun to see a difference in our student's ability to regulate their emotions and behavior. Students are beginning to advocate for themselves and ask for help when needed.” From left to right: Merwin Elementary students Damien Martin, Jose Ramirez, and Malakai Suarez connect at their school’s Wellness Center. Covina-Valley Unified is bolstering its commitment to student wellness by increasing its counseling staff.  Covina-Valley Unified added five new counselors at the elementary and middle school levels, building their counseling staff for elementary and middle schools to 11 counseling professionals. Covina-Valley Unified Director of Student Services Dr. Matt Dalton said reducing the student-to-counselor ratio gives students easier access to whatever support they need. “The District understands that the essential health and welfare needs of students must be met for them to achieve and do their best,” Dr. Dalton said. “We have an outstanding health and wellness team who are making a difference in the lives of our students daily.”   Covina-Valley Unified Elementary School Counselor Brenda Montiel (right) meets with Merwin Elementary student Jesus Gutierrez at the school’s Wellness Center. The District added five new counselors at the elementary and middle school levels this school year. Elementary school counselors conduct monthly classroom SEL lessons on character traits like respect, perseverance, honesty, and kindness. Counselors also provide small group interventions for students that may need additional support in mastering SEL skills, including coping with loss and grief, stress and anxiety reduction, conflict mediation, building healthy relationships, maintaining healthy boundaries, academic support, time management, and study skills. “Our resources have been bumped up this year, which has provided another layer of support for students, as well as for teachers,” Merwin Principal Casey Stratton said. “Overall, I think the counselors have helped create a more healthy, balanced mindset that allows our students to be more successful in the classroom.”   Merwin Elementary student Sophia Rivera visits her school’s Wellness Center to learn about identifying thoughts and feelings. Elementary students across Covina-Valley Unified are benefitting from an expansion of the District’s Comprehensive School Counseling Program. Additionally, counselors are available for regular check-ins, provide one-on-one short-term counseling sessions, and refer students and their families for outside mental health support. Counselors are part of the school crisis response team and work diligently alongside the District social workers, school psychologists, and intervention specialists to ensure all students benefit from a holistic mental health support team.   “We are so thankful for the holistic care our counselors are providing across the District,” C-VUSD Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer said. “The Comprehensive Elementary School Counseling Program is a wonderful example of how Covina-Valley Unified is dedicated to the social-emotional development of its students.”   Merwin Elementary student Malakai Suarez completes a worksheet at his school’s Wellness Center. Covina-Valley Unified expanded its Elementary Comprehensive School Counseling Program and increased its number of counselors in the District.

    Friday, Jan 20 2023

  • South Hills High School Business Program Develops St...

    COVINA, CA  –  South Hills High School students are learning the unique skill sets they need to thrive in the world of business thanks to the school’s Business Management Career Technical Education pathway, which offers students the chance to learn and grow by operating as real companies. The pathway consists of four classes: Entrepreneurship, Sports Management, International Baccalaureate Business Management, and Virtual Enterprise. Virtual Enterprise, the most advanced class in the pathway, groups students into different functional departments -- including executive office, marketing, design, finance, and human resources -- and challenges them to design and develop a product of their own. Students can take the Virtual Enterprise class multiple times to gain experience in different business roles and with different business plans. “The Virtual Enterprise class allows students to find what they’re really good at and perfect those skills,” business teacher Barry Hepner said. “Operating within different departments of real companies helps them discover what they enjoy doing most while also learning and practicing real-world skills they can apply on Day One of their future careers.” One of the companies created by South Hills students this year is ReLace, a tennis shoe brand that uses recycled materials such as other shoes, clothes, and plastics to create new shoes. Students manage the entire product-development cycle, from concept to the design, finance, and marketing of their product, gaining insight into what it is really like to work in the business industry. Students then showcase their work at local and national competitions, presenting their business plans through pitches and written documents to an audience that includes business professionals and their peers. South Hills High School’s Business CTE pathway teaches students to become business professionals by creating, developing, and showcasing their own products. “I love seeing my students have that ‘a-ha!’ moment when they see all they’ve accomplished,” Hepner said. “Traveling and competing with a product that they created and worked on together really helps to show them what they are capable of in their lives.” Virtual Enterprise Chief Executive Officer (CEO) senior Saniya Tillis said she values the class so much that she has taken it three years in a row, learning something new and unique each year. Tillis was the head of the finance department in her first and second year in the class before becoming CEO for the 2022-23 school year. “The Business program has taught me a lot about leadership and how to analyze group dynamics and run a team effectively,” Tillis said. “I have also learned a lot of useful information about finance – not many students my age can say they know how to create and interpret a balance sheet!”   Tillis plans to attend a four-year university after she graduates in the spring and major in either business management or economics to further perfect the skills she has developed in the program.   “Our Business CTE pathway shines a light on our exemplary students that go above and beyond to learn the skills of real-world business professionals,” Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer said. “We are thrilled to see our students learning, creating, and competing in ways that showcase their many unique gifts.” South Hills High School Virtual Enterprise students are grouped into  departments and function as real-world companies. CEOs hold weekly board meetings with department  heads to stay connected on the company’s overall progress.

    Friday, Jan 13 2023

  • Superintendent Video Update: November/December 2022

    Dear Covina-Valley Unified School District community, We are excited to share our November/December Superintendent’s Update with all of you. In this video, Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer shares information about Northview High School’s Golden Bell Award-winning Fine Arts, Media, and Entertainment program, our new Student Board members, Showcase of Bands, and fall sports achievements. Click the VIDEO below to watch the full update! THANK YOU FOR WATCHING

    Friday, Dec 23 2022

  • Covina-Valley Unified School District Director of Sp...

    COVINA, CA  –  Covina-Valley Unified School District Director of Special Education Dr. Rene Valdes was honored by the East San Gabriel Valley (ESGV) Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) on Dec. 14 for his commitment to improving the quality of life for students with disabilities and their parents. Parent representatives of the ESGV Community Advisory Committee (CAC) awarded Dr. Valdes with the Santa’s Wishlist trophy at their annual holiday luncheon. The CAC presents the award annually to one special education director out of 15 local education agencies that went above and beyond in supporting the CAC’s goals by attending meetings, disseminating information, providing interpreters for parent trainings, and more. “I am incredibly appreciative and honored to receive this award, but it was truly a team effort,” Dr. Valdes said. “I would like to thank my team for their dedication to serving our students with exceptional needs. They deserve all the recognition and honor that comes with this trophy.” Covina-Valley Unified School District will hold the Santa’s Wishlist trophy until it is awarded again next year. Congratulations, Dr. Valdes! Covina-Valley Unified School District Director of Special Education Dr. Rene Valdes receives the East San Gabriel Valley Special Education Local Plan Areas Santa’s Wishlist trophy for his dedication to supporting students with disabilities and their families.

    Saturday, Dec 17 2022

  • Covina-Valley Unified Students Show School Pride and...

    COVINA, CA  –  Covina-Valley Unified School District students and families lined the streets of West Covina, cheering on representatives from C-VUSD schools as they participated in the Children’s Christmas Parade and Santa’s Village on Dec. 10, ushering in the Holiday season. The event kicked off at Santa’s Village, which hosted games, a petting zoo, pictures with Santa, as well as a farmer’s market, and more.  Later, the community gathered to watch the Christmas Parade hosted by the West Covina Kiwanis Club. Student council members from Mesa, Rowland Ave., Workman, and Grovecenter elementary schools, as well as student leadership and Where Everyone Belongs representatives from Traweek Middle School, participated in the parade. South Hills High School Cheer and Pomline also performed, showcasing their great pep and school pride. Thank you to everyone that attended and participated in this great event! Workman Elementary School students walk in the West Covina Christmas Parade on Dec. 10, showcasing their school pride and holiday cheer.

    Thursday, Dec 15 2022

  • Covina-Valley Unified School District Board of Educa...

    COVINA, CA  –  Covina-Valley Unified School District welcomed new Board of Education member Simon Wright and returning member Rachael Robles during the Board’s reorganization meeting on Dec. 12. Mr. Wright and Mrs. Robles took the Oath of Office during a ceremony prior to the meeting, affirming that they will fulfill the duties of a Board of Education member and uphold the values of the District throughout the next four years. Mr. Wright, a South Hills High School alumnus and former captain of the wrestling team, owns a real estate property management company in West Covina. He has three children currently attending District schools and said that helps him to understand the importance of ensuring students receive the tools and skills necessary to prepare them for life. New Covina-Valley Unified School District Board of Education member Simon Wright celebrates his swearing-in with his family on Dec. 12. Mr. Wright plans to help spread the word about the strong programs available in the District. Mr. Wright plans to use this perspective as a parent to shape his work on the Board, in particular in advocating for programs to mitigate learning loss that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Wright also looks forward to promoting strong communication between the District and the community. “I want to help establish a vision for Covina-Valley and effectively and clearly convey that story to all members of our community,” Mr. Wright said. “I look forward to working with the other Board Members and District staff to broadcast the incredible educational programs we offer.” Mrs. Robles, a Northview High School graduate, and licensed vocational nurse, now works in a Medically Fragile classroom supporting students with disabilities. “As a parent of a recent Covina High School graduate, I understand the struggles that parents often face in ensuring their children receive a quality education,” Mrs. Robles said. “I enjoy advocating for students, parents, and the community. I look forward to continuing to bring my unique perspective to the Board.” Returning Covina-Valley Unified School District Board of Education member Rachael Robles takes the Oath of Office before the Board’s reorganization meeting on Dec. 12. Mrs. Robles plans to promote the expansion of the District’s literacy and Career Technical Education programs in her next four years serving on the Board. In the next four years, Mrs. Robles said she aims to advocate for the expansion of the District’s literacy and Career Technical Education programs, while continuing to ensure that all students are adequately prepared for college and careers. During the reorganization meeting, the Board of Education selected Maria Caceres of Trustee Area 5 to serve as president. Maria Cruz, who represents Trustee Area 3, was selected as vice president and Simon Wright of Trustee Area 4 was selected as Clerk. Members Rachael Robles of Trustee Area 2 and Sue Maulucci of Trustee Area 1 complete the Board. “We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated and engaged Board of Education supporting our students and District,” Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer said. “These individuals work tirelessly to ensure that our District provides the very best possible resources and education to our students.” (From left to right) Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer, Board of Education members Rachael Robles and Simon Wright, West Covina Mayor Dario Castellanos, and West Covina Councilmember-Elect Ollie Cantos attend Covina-Valley Unified School District’s Oath of Office event on Dec. 12.

    Wednesday, Dec 14 2022

  • Covina-Valley Unified Middle School Promotes Inclusi...

    COVINA, CA  –  Las Palmas Middle School students are building lasting relationships and benefitting from a positive campus culture thanks to the Best Buddies program, which aims to foster connections between those with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Best Buddies, an international nonprofit that pairs students in one-on-one friendships, has had a home at Las Palmas for nearly five years. This school year, the program has grown to more than 50 general education students who work alongside the school’s 16 Life-Skills Education Advancement Program (LEAP) students with mild to moderate learning disabilities. “For our Las Palmas students, Best Buddies brings togetherness,” said Jessica Marshall, Las Palmas Counselor, and Best Buddies Advisor. “We really pride ourselves on inclusion on this campus and not just segregating a group. We want them to be incorporated.” The Las Palmas Best Buddies program aims to positively impact the lives of its LEAP students by creating friendships with peers. Marshall credits the program for empowering general education students to develop leadership skills and enhance the school’s culture. Las Palmas Best Buddies students connect over lunch. The club, which meets monthly to foster friendships between general education students and students with disabilities, celebrated Halloween with lunch, festivities, arts and crafts, and outdoor games. “I enjoy being in Best Buddies because it brings me a happy feeling knowing I can have a deeper connection with our LEAP students and that I can impact their outlook on life,” said AJ Sanchez, a Las Palmas eighth-grader and Best Buddies volunteer. Las Palmas started Best Buddies as a club on campus during the 2018-19 school year. Marshall said that initially, a small group of students was involved, so they started introducing it to more of the student population by collaborating with different classes in 2020-21. Today, Las Palmas students can sign up for the Best Buddies club or physical education class. At the same time, the school’s Renaissance program collaborates with Best Buddies on in-class activities. Two Best Buddies PE classes meet daily, and Renaissance students meet with their buddies every other week. Outside the classroom, the Best Buddies club meets monthly for lunch and a special activity geared to the month’s holiday theme.   “It is inspiring to see how our students at Las Palmas Middle School engage with each other through the Best Buddies program,” Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer said. “One of our values in Covina-Valley Unified is inclusion; there is so much our students can learn from each other, and this program fosters those important connections.” Students in the Las Palmas Best Buddies club get to know each other during the club’s first meeting of the 2022-23 school year. More than 50 general education students participate in Best Buddies with students with disabilities at Las Palmas. 

    Saturday, Dec 10 2022

  • Covina-Valley Unified Students Participate in the Ci...

    COVINA, CA  –  Covina-Valley Unified School District students, teachers, and families gathered to watch and participate in the City of Covina’s 71st Annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 3, celebrating this year’s theme, “The Gift of Christmas.” Students from South Hills, Northview, and Covina high schools came together to show off their school pride and showcase the District’s many extracurricular activities, including band, dance, cheer, football, Associated Student Body (ASB), and more. Northview High School ASB students also decorated a District truck, transforming it into a Christmas sleigh float for the Board of Education President Rachael Robles, Vice President Sue Maulucci, Member Maria Caceres, and Member-Elect Simon Wright to ride. Thank you to everyone that showed their support for our District at this great event! Northview High School Associated Student Body students transformed a C-VUSD truck into a Christmas sleigh for the City of Covina’s 71st Annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 3. Students from South Hills, Northview, and Covina high schools participated in the parade, showcasing their school pride.

    Thursday, Dec 08 2022

  • Northview High School’s Fine Arts, Media, and Entert...

    COVINA, CA  – Northview High School’s Fine Arts, Media, and Entertainment (FAME) pathway, which has led students to careers at KTLA, CBS, ABC, and Disney, has won the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Award for its approach to fostering student excellence in media arts and broadcast journalism. This four-year pathway, in partnership with PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs, Atlas Digital, and KQED Education, teaches students a range of essential skills such as journalism, media literacy, camera composition, editing, story development, character creation, screenwriting, interviewing, and more. “The FAME program is really unique because the students have so many opportunities, both with real-world learning and professional experience, to express themselves creatively,” FAME teacher Amy Woods said. “They are learning a skill set that is highly transferrable and can help them go into any career or college path they may choose – it’s pretty limitless.” Northview High School Fine Arts, Media, and Entertainment (FAME) program teacher Amy Woods accepts the Golden Bell Award at the annual California School Boards Association conference in San Diego. The FAME program is being recognized for its excellence in media arts and broadcast journalism. Students in the FAME program have the opportunity to produce their school’s biweekly video news program, Viking Vision. The pathway culminates with a senior-year capstone project in which students develop a story idea and execute the entire project, from pre-production to delivery, in small production teams. The various projects throughout the pathway allow students to tell stories from a youth perspective. The FAME program also provides students with professional certification opportunities, college articulation, field trips, workshops, guest speaker appearances, and professional feedback on content creation – all of which contribute to students being college and career ready after graduation. Northview senior and Viking Vision director Joshua Cortez said the FAME program allows students to grow throughout the program, both individually and as a production team.   “My favorite part of the FAME program is the togetherness of the class and the way we are able to communicate and work together to produce great content,” Cortez said. “We have the opportunity as high schoolers to work with state-of-the-art equipment that major colleges and production companies use.” Northview High School FAME students choose which jobs they are most passionate about in video production and hone those skill sets by producing the school’s Viking Vision news program. The FAME program provides professional training in media arts and was recently recognized with a Golden Bell Award for excellence.  In addition to providing students with hands-on experience, the program also gives them valuable contacts with professionals in the industry for internships and careers in journalism and entertainment. FAME alumni have gone on to work at broadcast companies and on feature films such as “Babylon,” “King Richard,” “Mank,” and more. Cortez plans to attend film school after he graduates to further the skills and connections he has made throughout the FAME program. He said he hopes to go on to direct major motion pictures that play on the big screen. Woods said winning the Golden Bell Award is a great honor and validation of all the hard work students have dedicated to the program. “Our program has gotten increasingly better over the years to meet the growing passions and needs of our students,” Woods said. “Winning the Golden Bell award will allow us to share our great program with other schools and serve as an example of all the opportunities we can give our students to help them reach their college and career goals and dreams.” Northview High School FAME students anchor the filming of a Viking Vision segment. The FAME program provides professional training in media arts and was recently recognized with a Golden Bell Award for excellence.   Woods, along with other Covina-Valley Unified School District staff, accepted the Golden Bell Award on behalf of the FAME program at a special ceremony on Dec. 1 at the annual California School Boards Association conference in San Diego. “We are incredibly proud of the great accomplishment our FAME program has achieved in winning the Golden Bell Award,” Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Eminhizer said. “This success validates our mission of providing our students with educational excellence and shines a light on just one of the many amazing programs our students have the opportunity to pursue.

    Saturday, Dec 03 2022