Kiwanis Club gives socks, shoes to Rowland kids

Katherine Rodriguez helps Edgar Hernandez  put on his new shoes.  (Photo Correspondent by Shilah Montiel/

Katherine Rodriguez helps Edgar Hernandez put on his new shoes. (Photo Correspondent by Shilah Montiel/

The Kiwanis Club showed a lot of Heart and Sole on Friday during its fourth annual shoe giveway. The Hacienda Heights club gave more than 100 pairs of new shoes to students in the Rowland Unified School District.

The Kiwanis set up camp at the new Family Resource Center in La Puente. There, they greeted the families as they arrived for their special treats.

“This year, we’ve helping 106 students who have been preselected by the school district,” said Kiwanian Dave Malkin. “Much of the money was raised by the Rowland Heights Senior Pathfinders group. Ashika Shoes also helped a lot.”

After registering, children moved over to a large book case, where they got to pick out a free book.

Little 4-year-old Brianna Cazun chose a colorful children’s book, while her mom picked out another for older daughter, Janeli, who attends Telesis Academy.

Another 4-year-old, Edgar Fernandez, finally decided on an alphabet book. The colorful pages were full of everyday items that began with a letter in the alphabet.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story SHOES.

Public invited to see Rowland’s Family Resource Center

The community is invited to the grand opening celebration of the Rowland Unified School District’s new Family Resource Center and Children’s Medical and Dental Clinic today from 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

The new 3,200 square foot wellness center was built with more than $750,000 in grants from state and federal agencies to replace the prior aging portable building.

The center is located next to Northam Elementary School in La Puente (17800 E. Renault Street, La Puente 91744). The celebration will feature a ribbon cutting and presentations by dignitaries, tours of the new building, children’s activities, student entertainment by the District’s Elementary Mariachi Group, and resource booths.

(Booths include information on all of the services provided by the Family Resource Center and Children’s Clinic and its history, the American Red Cross, fingerprinting for children from the California Highway Patrol, eye vision services from Ideal Vision, East Valley Health Clinic, and Costco.)

Elected Officials in Attendance Include: Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, City of La Puente Mayor Viola Lewis and Mayor Pro Tem Dan Holloway, City of Walnut Council Member Mary Su, along with field representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, Congressman Ed Royce, Assemblyman Roger Hernandez, Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang, and the entire RUSD Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Julie Mitchell. Also in attendance will be key founders and community partners of the Family Resource Center and Children’s Dental and Medical Clinic.

BACKGROUND: The Family Resource Center offers a variety of no-cost, low-cost programs and services to children, youth and families who reside in the communities served by the Rowland Unified School District (Rowland Heights, La Puente, Walnut, West Covina and Industry). It first opened in the Rowland Unified School District (RUSD) in 1995.

Families receive health-related information, referrals, health-insurance and local resources in a variety of basic need areas. All work is done in collaboration with numerous agencies. The Family Resource Center is open from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.www.familyresroucecenter-rowlandusd.org

The Children’s Medical Clinic provides free medical care on a walk-in basis for uninsured, low-income children 3 to 18 years old. It also provides free immunizations and Tdap Shots for qualifying students entering 7th Grade. It opened in RUSD in 1978.

The hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. The SSG Children’s Dental and Outreach Project started in RUSD in a WWII trailer in 1974! It is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment only from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and dental treatment is free or low-cost for uninsured, low-income RUSD children 5 to 18 years old. To contact the Children’s Clinic & Dental Services the community can call (626)964-4798.                                   

 

Rowland Unified wants local reserve cap repealed

The Rowland Unified School Board wants the state legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown to repeal the local reserves cap, saying SB 858 could force the 1,000 districts in the state to spend their $5 billion to $14 billion in reserves and that schools can’t survive another downturn without these savings.

“Personal finance experts recommend having enough cash in savings to cover six months of living expenses for a rainy day,” said Josephine Lucy, president of the California School Board Association. “Under the reserve cap, most districts will not even be able to cover one full week’s worth of payroll when cash flow is stressed,”

When voters approved Prop. 2, the Rainy Day Fund, it was tied to SB 858, which limits school reserves to two times the minimum allowed for economic uncertainties. Rowland officials say 3 percent is their minimum, but it currently maintains a reserve of $15 million — about 10 percent of its $155 million unrestricted budget.

“This really ties ours hands. It’s a significant reduction in our reserves, and it would only take another recession or emergency to get us into trouble,” said board member Heidi Gallegos. “How would we make our payroll or pay for the lights and water in our schools?”

Lucy said school districts will have to spend the money they saved for school repairs, as well as retiree and employee benefits.

Rowland officials note it could take many years for California to build up the Public School System Stabilization Account.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story RESERVES.

Rowland Unified opens new Family Resource Center

The Family Resource Center staff used to warn visitors about holes in the floor of its old building in La Puente. Today, both the holes and the old center are gone and Rowland Unified is ready to open a new $800,000 building.

The dental clinic has certainly come a long way since opening in an old World War II Army trailer. “We don’t miss the old World War II dental chairs,” said Coordinator Jennifer Kottke.

Kottke showed off the new family center opening next Wednesday. Residents are invited to the opening from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 17800 E. Renault St., next to Northam Elementary School.

In March, the school district broke ground for the 3,200-square-foot building. The prefabricated building was delivered in sections, then a crane assembled the center.

• VIDEO: Coordinator Jennifer Kottke — We’ll be able to take better care of families

• VIDEO: The dental clinic has one new chair and hopes to get another

• VIDEO: Nurse practitioner Llona Mearig says staff is thrilled with new facility

Staff members have dreamed about getting a new building for 35 years. Kottke and Nurse Practitioner Llona Mearig worked tirelessly to obtain federal and state grants totalling more than $750,000.

For more detail, read Rich Irwin’s story RESOURCE

Hollingworth celebrates 50th with family festival in West Covina

Hollingworth Elementary will celebrate its 50th anniversary today with a Golden Harvest Celebration from 4:30 to 7 p.m. today in West Covina.

Rowland Unified families and alumni, as well as community members, are invited to enjoy food trucks, games, music and a petting zoo.

Parking is available on surrounding streets and at Telesis Academy.

Business leaders help students connect to future

Business and community leaders will help high school senior students learn how to “network” and practice their presentations skills tomorrow at the unique “Connections to the Future” luncheon event.

Organized and facilitated by senior students in the Career Certification Program at both Nogales and Rowland High Schools, the event teaches students professional networking and employment skills as they interact with business leaders.

Community participants enjoy a complimentary luncheon and will hear from keynote speaker Henry DiCarlo, Meteorologist for the KTLA-TV Morning News.

The theme of the event will be “It’s All About Communication.”  The event is tomorrowNovember 6 from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Rowland High School. The Connections to the Future event highlights the award-winningCareer Certification Program of the Rowland Unified School District.

The program prepares high school students for college and the workforce with real-world experience in six different industry pathways: Arts & Communications, Business, Family & Consumer Sciences, Health & Medical Services, Public & Human Services, and Technology. Students complete courses and an internship in their field of interest. For more information, visit http://careerpathways.rowland.k12.ca.us

For more information about Rowland Unified, the community can download the free Mobile App for iOS and Android phones/devices that has news, school calendars, a safety Tip Line, high school sports news for Nogales and Rowland High Schools, and helpful parent and District resources. Visitwww.RowlandSchools.org or call (626) 965-2541.

 

Rowland High plans 50th anniversary celebration

Rowland High’s  50th Anniversary takes place on Sept. 26. They opened their doors in 1964 and now they’re inviting all past, current, and future Rowland Raiders as well as our Rowland community to attend a fun-filled community jubilee.

They have a link so that you can see a fun U-tube video every day (different video each day) starting today regarding RHS and the Jubilee. Go to: Raiders

Special events will be held from 3:15 – 6:30, with a presentation before the 7 p.m. homecoming game. We will have free entertainment, game booths, photo booth, memory lane displays and tours of the new facilities.
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Get to meet and greet our former and current faculty & staff members including every principal in Rowland High’s history. Homecoming Football Game admission is $6 adults, $3 for Pre-High School kids.

Check our website for continued updated information:www.rowlandhs.org<http://www.rowlandhs.org>

Community library opens today at Nogales High School

The Nogales High School Community Library hours opens today to serve the community with a variety of programs and resources for all ages. The community may park in the school lot, enter through the “H” building pass way, to the library located on the left. (Nogales High School is located at 401 S. Nogales Street, La Puente, CA 91744).

  • Free homework help 3 pm – 5 pm for students grades k-6 (parents must accompany students)
  • Free computer lab (all ages)
  • Check out books (all ages)
  • Story Time / Activity Thursdays 4 pm – 5 pm
  • Quiet places to meet, work or conduct small events

Hours :    MondayFriday, 3 pm – 7 pm (except school holidays)

For more information, call Louise Garnica (626) 965-3437 ext. 3666