Hello Tuesday!
Here's the latest from TheEastsiderLA.com.
Today is April 1, aka April Fool's Day. Be on the lookout for fake news (even more than usual). But no fake news here. Just certified Grade A Eastside coverage.
Now on to today's news.
— Robert Fulton
• Got a story idea or photo to share? Submit it here
• Advertise in the Eastsider newsletter
Photo by Karen Fulks
|
📷 Eastside Scene
Garvanza: This wisteria vine has gone bonkers with blooms and fragrance. "The smell is almost overwhelming, but absolutely delightful," said Karen Fulks, who shared the photo.
Go here to share your neighborhood photos or reply to this newsletter with your photo and details about the image. You can also tag your Instagram photos with #theeastsiderla.
LAUSD's cellphone ban during school hours has gone well for at least one local high school
By Monica Rodriguez
|
EL SERENO
Message received: One school's phone-free transition
By Monica Rodriguez
At Wilson High School, the hum of chatter has replaced the familiar glow of smartphone screens. Senior Alexis Jacquez says the transition to a cellphone-free school environment has been smoother than expected.
On February 18, LAUSD’s cellphone ban went into effect. With limited exceptions, students are prohibited from using cellphones, smart watches and other devices during the school day.
“Honestly, I thought it was going to be harder,” Jacquez said. “I think we all accepted (the policy). We know we have to put (the phones) away, and we’ve adapted.”
At Wilson High, students place their phones in caddies at the start of class and retrieve them at the end, Principal Gregorio Verbera said. Those caught using a phone have it “pouched” in a magnetically sealed case for the rest of the day. Repeat violators face a meeting with parents, with the strictest penalty being a month-long pouching—though it hasn’t been necessary, Verbera noted.
On the first day, about 10 students were found using their phones during the school day.
“We actually had fewer students than we anticipated not abiding” by the policy, Verbera said.
The number declined within the first week and currently, three or four students’ phones are pouched daily out of a 1,200-student body, Verbera said.
The high level of compliance pleases Jacquez.
“It feels nice we don’t have to come up with an alternative plan,” she said.
Before the policy’s implementation, Jacquez and her mom, Michelle Garcia, had some concerns of their own. Sometimes, Jacquez used her iPhone to text her mom up to three times a day, she said. Most exchanges involved schedule changes.
Now, they finalize plans before school, and if needed, Jacquez emails her mom. “We just had to get used to it,” Garcia said, adding that the adjustment took about a week.
Verbera said that since the policy’s implementation, there have been fewer distractions in class, teachers report students are more productive, and class participation has increased.
Jacquez said fellow students have noticed a difference at school.
“I’ve heard a lot students say they can concentrate on school work,” she said.
Before the policy, students tended to turn to their phones whenever they had a chance.
“Now we talk to each other,” she said.
🎒 School News
This week's school news
Charter school seeks help to continue operating
East Los Angeles: The L.A. County Board of Education is expected to decide today if the charter school KIPP Sol Academy in East L.A. will continue to operate. The school went before LAUSD officials earlier this year to have its charter renewed, but its petition was denied because it has been found to be a middle-performing school and not making sufficient progress, NBC4 reported. The school is appealing the decision to the L.A. County Board of Education.
Teachers prep for new contract
As their current contract expiration date approaches, members of United Teachers Los Angeles are gearing up to negotiate a new agreement with the LAUSD that includes a proposal seeking substantial pay increases and calls for concerted efforts to recruit and retain new educators and service providers who are people of color, multilingual, and immigrants, the L.A. Times reported.
The proposal also calls for support for the Black Student Achievement Plan and Ethnic Studies. It comes at a time when the Trump administration is taking steps to cut funding for teacher training grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI.
California Distinguished Schools announced
The State Superintendent of Public Instruction recently announced 336 elementary schools as 2025 California Distinguished Schools. More than a dozen are Eastside schools.
According to the California Department of Education, schools were recognized for achievement in two categories: those that made significant advances in closing the achievement gap and those that showed exceptional student performance.
The following are the 2025 award winners from the Eastside:
- Allesandro Elementary - Elysian Valley
- Aragon Avenue Elementary - Cypress Park
- Brooklyn Avenue Elementary - East L.A.
- City Terrace Elementary - City Terrace
- Dorris Place Elementary - Elysian Valley
- Franklin Avenue Elementary - Los Feliz
- Gates Street Elementary - Lincoln Heights
- ISANA Octavia Academy - Atwater Village
- Malabar Street Elementary - Boyle Heights
- MultnomahStreet Elementary - Lincoln Heights
- Rockdale Visual & Performing Arts Magnet - Eagle Rock
- Rosemont Avenue Elementary - Historic Filipinotown
- Sierra Vista Elementary - El Sereno
- Soto Street Elementary - Boyle Heights
Middle and high schools will be recognized next year.
Summer Camp Guide - 2025
What are your kids doing this summer? Check out The Eastsider's sponsored Summer Camp Guide for 10 great day camps and programs. Go here for the guide!
Resources for Eastside Parents
🎒 Eastside Schools Directory
☀️ Eastside Summer Camp & Program Guide
⭐ Sponsor Announcements
• Alice! Live on Stage -- Catch the final performance
• Read the latest Boyle Heights Mysteries featuring P.I. Yolanda Avila
• Death Doula: Supporting you and your dying loved one
🗒️ Notebook
Changes coming to Vermont Avenue
East Hollywood: A new street configuration for Vermont Avenue has been approved by the Metro Board — without including bike lanes, LAist reported. The Vermont Transit Corridor bus project is to install a pair of dedicated side-running bus lanes running express for 12.4 miles between Hollywood Boulevard and 120th Street. Critics say, however, that the plan does not include the kind of pedestrian and bicycle safety upgrades that voters approved last year under Measure HLA.
🗓️ Things to Do
By Jennifer Rodriguez
⭐ Featured Event
"Alice: - Live on Stage: In this musical version of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, nothing is logical and rules change at a whim. Fun for the whole family! Final show Sunday, April 6. Get Tickets
Wednesday, April 2
Echo Park: Listen to rock music and support wildfire impacted neighbors at the California Wildfire Benefit: Arde Bogota at The Echo.
Silver Lake: Enjoy some mid-week comedy after work at Club Bahia for Wisecrackin Wednesdays.
Thursday, April 3
Eagle Rock: It's Opening Night of the Los Angeles Festival of Movies (April 3 - 6) at Vidiots. See the West Coast premiere of Magic Farm (2024) with director Amalia Ulman in person.
East Hollywood: Don't miss a Very Special Episode + Drunkards & Dragons at The Pack Theater.
Echo Park: Look for love or friendship at The Semi-Tropic for IRL Dating App LA. This new queer social event is bringing dates straight to you.
• Go here for more events
👋 That's it!
Thanks for reading.
—Robert Fulton
Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here for your own, free subscription.
We rely on our Reader Sponsors to help sustain and expand our staff to provide more of the community news you can't find anyplace else. You can give as little as $5.99 a month in automatic payments.
I hope we can count on you. And, if you are not ready for a monthly commitment, you can always make a one-time contribution. Thanks!
— Jesús Sanchez, Publisher
👉 Go Here to Contribute
📋 What did you think of today's newsletter?
|
