By Ethan Wang
Staff Writer
District removes Health class
Health was a standalone semester class for almost five decades. However, as of the 2026-2027 school year, Biology and Biology Honors teachers will provide students with Health education through the newly adopted Positive Prevention PLUS curriculum, following the removal of the Health course.
School administration and the district office chose to remove Health since California does not require students to take the full semester course to graduate. The decision came after former Earth Science and Health teacher Lyle Takeshita retired, leaving no teachers with a Health teaching credential. Additionally, neighboring schools, such as Arcadia and San Marino High School, allow students to meet their Health requirement without taking the full semester course.
“We’re an educational system that strives to always update our practices so we can provide students with the best possible education,” Principal Elena Li said. “Times, people and the world change—and we adjust and improve along with it.”
Positive Prevention PLUS covers topics required by the California Healthy Youth Act, which mandates sexual health and HIV prevention education in public schools. While Health covered a wide array of topics including nutrition and drugs, Positive Prevention PLUS shifts the focus to pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infections and mental health. Biology and Biology Honors teachers familiarized themselves with the new curriculum through a two-day seminar at the district office.
New Sports Medicine room
Sports Medicine students now treat athletes in a new classroom that officially opened in August 2026. Located in the sports complex, the room provides more space for teaching and training.
The facility features more equipment than the old classroom, including whirlpool tubs, treatment tables, ultrasound stimulators and heart rate monitors, along with expanded storage. A removable partition allows teachers to divide the room into a lecture classroom and hands-on training lab, or fully open the space.
“Facilities like this allow the program to grow,” Director of Facility Services and Maintenance Anthony Salazar said. “Now that there’s space, we can change the CTE programs or add other facets to Sports Medicine. We’re trying to do as much as we can to maximize every bit of space.”
The classroom places Sports Medicine closer to the outdoor athletic facilities, making it easier for students to access training equipment and service athletes. Construction for the classroom took place alongside the sports complex, with the overall project beginning in July 2024.
“The program itself has grown by leaps and bounds,” Sports Medicine teacher Anthony Garcia said. “The space is meant to have everything from a classroom to a laboratory. I’m [very] happy with it as it’s always going to change and evolve.”
“The classroom is a multi-use facility,” Sports Medicine teacher Anthony Garcia said. “It has everything from a classroom to a laboratory. Plus, we run the biggest club on campus, Skills USA, out of here and have a CPR certification program.”
“I expect it’s always going to evolve,” Sports Medicine teacher Anthony Garcia said. “I want to get this program going so that when it’s time for me to move on, someone can step right in and keep on going.”