Tag Archives: Chino Valley Unified School District

Chino: Be Their Parents, Not Their Friends!

By Nicole Leiva

CHINO-On Oct. 22, the Chino Valley Unified School District hosted a Parent Information Forum, in the Chino Hills High theatre. This forum had about 100 parents in attendance and it covered a wide range of issues that are affecting our millennial’s in the Chino Unified School District.

Those issues range from drug trends, social media use, cell phones, privacy, teen driver laws, and knowing your rights as a parent.

Chino Police Officer’s and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s led the event by sharing their experience and knowledge about the issues at the forefront of junior high and high school students across the district. The law enforcement officers talked about teens as young as 12 are trying the gateway drug marijuana. They also spoke about the issue with the new trend of vapors and teens using the vapors to smoke marijuana. In addition teens are experimenting with mixing two different drugs together, which can be very dangerous.

Social media use is an extremely important topic because with the internet and texting, teens can connect with anyone or any subject of their choice. Teens use their phones to share nude photos with each other, which can be considered child pornography. Some teens communicate via text with codes referring to drugs, parties or sex. So if parents check their phones they won’t know what they are talking about.

The officers also spoke about teens using social media to meet strangers on websites that are looking for relationships with minors or terrorist groups like ISIS looking to recruit youth. Worst of all teens are using social media for bullying, which can cause stress, anxiety and lead to suicide.

The presenters wrapped up the forum with addressing teen driver laws and the importance of parents and teens knowing and applying those laws when teens begin to drive.

In the end, law enforcement made a strong plea to the parents, “Be the parent, not their friend! Know your rights as a parent.”

Officers also told the forum to maintain regular communication with their children and to discipline their children accordingly.

Your children do not have the right to privacy when it comes to their bedrooms, phones, or cars, because the parents are the providers to these priviliges and they can take away these priviliges when necessary to keep their children safe, officers said.

The parents in attendace were very pleased with the forum. After speaking to several parents, they all responded with a sense of great appreciation to the district and law enforcement for providing this eye-opening information. Some said they were hopeful. Chino Hills High School Principal Isabel Brenes was very pleased with the parent attedance and the positive response from the parents.

Chino Valley Unified Students Become Fair Heroes

Courtesy of CVUSD

Chino Valley – Two Chino Valley Unified School District students have been named Young Adult Community Heroes for the Los Angeles County Fair, currently underway through Sept. 27, in Pomona.

Kayla Jones of Chino Hills High is the Chino Hills Young Adult Hero.  She was honored with Adult Community Hero, Laura Montegue, on Chino Hills Day at the Fair, Fri., Sept. 18.  Montegue is known for reuniting lost pets with their owners and finds homes for stray dogs.

Brianna Cabrera of Don Lugo High is the Chino Young Adult Hero.  She will be recognized with Adult Community Hero, Augustine Tapia, on Chino Day at the Fair on Wed., Sept. 23. Tapia served on the Chino Valley Unified School District Board of Education in from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s. He is currently president of the Chino Valley Historical Society.

Jones is a junior at Chino Hills High School, an honors student, and a participant in the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) college preparation program. She is active in the Black Student Union, and competes in track and field at Chino Hills High. She is a member of the high school ministry at Inland Hills Church in Chino, and works with preschoolers as a children’s church volunteer leader. Jones also assists in the weekly bingo games at Chino American Legion Post 299, and has worked on fundraisers for the Chino Hills Dog Park Committee. She has adopted a trail for litter removal at Soquel Canyon Parkway and Pipeline Avenue, and participates in the Walk Against Human Trafficking and Relay for Life fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society.   Jones plans to earn a master’s degree in gerontology and pursue a degree in law.

Cabrera attends Don Lugo High in Chino. She started a Best Buddies program chapter for Don Lugo during the 2014-15 school year. Best Buddies was founded in 1989 to help create friendships for students with intellectual disabilities. Cabrera is also a member of Don Lugo’s Associated Student Body leadership, and on the school’s varsity track team. She is raising a black Labrador Retriever puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The dog, Quinn, is a regular at Don Lugo, where he is learning socialization skills. For the last ten years, Cabrera has been involved in gymnastics. She is in her third year as a cheerleader with CheerForce Orange County, where she is a member of the Level 4 team, Kryptonite, which won USA Nationals in March.

Photo Courtesy: CVUSD

Photo Courtesy: CVUSD
Kayla Jones and Brianna Cabrera

Photo Courtesy: CVUSD

Photo Courtesy: CVUSD

Chino: CVUSD Non-Teaching Employees To Receive 3% Pay Raise

Chino Valley Unified School District

(Photo Courtesy: Google Images)

Staff Reports

Chino Valley – The Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) non-teaching employees will receive a three percent raise this year and a two percent raise next year, under a tentative agreement approved by the Union and the District on March 18.

Under this tentative agreement, a three percent raise for the 2013-14 school year will be retroactive to July 1, 2013. The additional two percent increase will become effective for this fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014. As part of this proposal, there will be an increase in the annual cap for District employees’ health benefits by 10 percent. This will increase the amount the district pays for health benefits to $9,422, up from $8,565.

The Classified School Employees Association (CSEA) is expected to vote on this agreement on March 26. Members from CHAMP (a group representing management employees) have also agreed to the tentative contract.

These pay raises for the non-teaching CVUSD employees come on the heels of many California teachers finally beginning to see pay raises, bonuses, and benefits in contract negations, due to the fruits of voter-approved school funding increases. With $6.1 billion in new funds headed for California Schools this year due to Proposition 30 (a temporary income and sales tax hike), many school officials have rescinded layoffs and added days back to the school calendars.

School Districts such as Montebello Unified were able to give teachers a five percent pay increase and about $2,400 more per person for health insurance. Depending on whether the district actually receives all of the funds it expects, part of the salary increase will continue into next year as well.

However, while this issue seems to move forward and many school districts continue to raise teachers’ pay, negotiations between the Teachers Union, Associated Chino Teachers (ACT) and the District have stalled, after an impasse in negations was declared by Todd Hancock, ACT President, on March 5.

Chino Hills: Program Allowing Young Adults To “Move Forward”

STAFF REPORTS

Chino Hills – The Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) has created a program called “Move Forward” to help disconnected youth adults succeed.

“Together, as a school district and as a community, we have worked in the lives of many students and their families.” said Cathy Toole, CVUSD “Move Forward” Program Coordinator. “As a result, we are aware of many disconnected young adults and we have the power to bring hope of individual success by encouraging them to “Move Forward” in their lives in order to be productive citizens within their communities, “added Toole.

The CVUSD “Move Forward” Program is 100% federally funded and provided by the Workforce Development Department (WDD) with the County of San Bernardino. The WIA and @LIKE Programs will provide the following services to eligible youth, ages 19-24:

  • Cost to complete GED and/or vocational training
  • Appropriate clothing for interview and work
  • Paid work experience, job shadowing, internship
  • Career Interest Assessments
  • Opportunity to earn the NRC (National Readiness Certificate) recognized by businesses as possessing the skills necessary for entry level employment.
  • One-on-One mentoring for a MINIMUM of 12 months
  • Life coaching
  • Goal setting
  • Assistance applying for community college, vocational training and F.A.F.S.A.
  • And many more services based on individual need

However, in order for this program to provide these services to our disconnected youth, the school district is asking for the community to help identify youth that would want to “move forward” towards success in their lives. If you are aware of young adults, ages 19-24, that have been disconnected from both employment and school for the past 90 days, please refer them to Toole via email, Cathy_Toole@chino.k12.ca.us, or phone, (909) 628-1201 Ext. 5353.

In addition to being disconnected from work and school for the past 90 days, young adults are only eligible if they are U.S. Citizens and reside within the County of San Bernardino.

If you are also aware of businesses that may be willing to invest in providing a on the job paid or unpaid work experience, please have them call Toole.  “Many of the businesses that we currently use will hire the youth at the end of the program funded paid work experience based on their performance during the training,” said Toole.

“We definitely need your partnership to continuously provide successful outcomes of these youth participants.”

CVUSD is located at 15650 Pipeline Ave., Chino Hills, CA 91709. Their phone number is (909) 628-1201.