Welcome To Week #27

Week TWENTY FIVE: FEBRUARY 23 - 27, 2026

Diamond Bar High School and the Walnut Valley Unified School District are proud to recognize Women's History Month as we continue to provide our organization with resources to celebrate diversity while building equitable and inclusive practices for our community.

MONDAY 3/2

Cap & Gown Sales (USB Room) Lunch

V Boys Golf @ Clovis West 10:00am

V Baseball vs Alta Loma Home 3:00pm

JV Baseball @ Alta Loma 3:00pm

F/S Baseball @ Alta Loma 3:00pm

TUESDAY 3/3

Cap & Gown Sales (USB Room) Lunch

Class Officer Applications Available (USB Room)

HOSA General Meeting (Golden Horseshoe) Lunch

V Boys Tennis vs Troy Home 3:30pm

JV Boys Tennis @ Troy 3:30pm

V Softball @ West Covina 3:30pm

JV Softball vs West Covina Home 3:30pm

V Boys Golf vs Sunny Hills Home 2:50pm

JV Boys Golf vs Sunny Hills Home 2:50pm

WEDNESDAY 3/4 – LATE START DAY

Girls’ League General Meeting (Room 353) Lunch

FCA Club Meeting (Golden Horseshoe) Lunch

HOPE Parent Meeting (Library) 7:00pm

V Swimming & Diving vs Arcadia Home 3:30pm

V Baseball vs Temple City Home 3:30pm

JV Baseball vs Temple City Home 3:30pm

V Boys Golf vs Fullerton Home 2:50pm

THURSDAY 3/5

V Boys Tennis vs Los Osos Home 3:30pm

JV Boys Tennis @ Los Osos 3:30pm

V Badminton vs Fairmont Prep Home 3:30pm

V Baseball @ Upland 3:00pm

JV Baseball vs Upland Home 3:30pm

F/S Baseball @ Upland 3:00pm

V Boys Golf vs Cypress Home 2:30pm

JV Boys Golf vs Cypress Home 2:30pm

STUNT Tournament 3:00pm

V Softball @ Ontario Christian Tournament tba

FRIDAY 3/6 – DISTRICT-WIDE STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY – NON-PUPIL DAY

Dance Co. @ West Coast Elite Dance Nationals

STUNT Tournament 6:00pm

V Softball @ Ontario Christian Tournament tba

SATURDAY 3/7

Dance Co. @ West Coast Elite Dance Nationals

Colorguard Competition @ Mira Costa HS

Badminton Chipotle Fundraiser 4-8pm

V Softball @ Ontario Christian Tournament tba

SUNDAY 3/8

Colorguard Competition @ Mira Costa HS

V Drumline Competition @ Temescal Canyon HS

🎸 Commercial Music Spring Concert

Attention Brahmas, Game On! Tickets are now on sale for the Commercial Music Spring Concert on March 5th! This year’s theme is Video Games, featuring iconic music from Pokémon, Mario Kart, Guitar Hero, Persona, and more. This will be the most challenging show CM has ever done! Seating is general admission, and our Fall concert sold out — so grab your tickets early! (R. Jarvis)

🌸 Sabor de la Primavera – A Full Day of Culture, Cars, and Community!

Diamond Bar High School is excited to host Sabor de la Primavera on Saturday, March 28, 2026 — a full-day, family-friendly celebration for all ages!

The day begins with a Car Show from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM in the DBHS Parking Lot, proudly hosted by Parent HOPE, showcasing incredible vehicles and community pride.

The celebration continues with our Food Festival from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM in the Quad, featuring live entertainment throughout the afternoon, Latin music and performances, lotería, crafts booths, taquito plates, elotes, churros, and more!

A highlight of the afternoon is the Student HOPE–led Food Competition, featuring six categories: Salsa Roja, Salsa Verde, Chile Dishes, Mole, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole. Students, staff, and families are invited to compete and share their favorite homemade recipes.

🎟 Festival Entry: $5 per person
🍽 Food Competition Entry: $25 to compete, link to sign up

All proceeds will fund the HOPE Student Banquet, HOPE Scholarships, and Cultural Programming at DBHS.

We look forward to bringing our DBHS community together for a vibrant celebration of culture, connection, and spring spirit. We hope to see you there! (Del Muro)

💖🧠 Interested in becoming a Peer Counselor? Applications are now available for students wishing to join Peer Counseling next year. Come into the Wellness Center to scan the QR code that will take you to the Google Form to apply. We’re looking for empathetic students wishing to learn more about themselves and others in this elective class.

Students who take Peer Counseling for one year become eligible to work in the Wellness Center. Don’t wait. Apply today. (Mesdjian)

🧠🌱 Are you ready to THRIVE? The Diamond Bar High School Peer Counseling program is hosting Thrive: A Wellness Forum on Thursday, Mar 12, periods 1–4 in the gym. If you’d like to interact with a diverse group of others, learn new perspectives, and become your best self, pick up a permission slip in the Wellness Center in room 254, adjacent to the upper quad.

The first 100 students to submit a permission slip are welcome to attend. (Mesdjian)

Cap and Gown Distribution and Sales…

Moon Grad Services will be on campus, in the USB room at lunch on Monday and Tuesday

March 2 and March 3. Seniors, if you ordered your cap and gown already and have not

received your order yet you will be able to pick up at this time. If you still need to

purchase your cap, gown and tassel for graduation you may come and do this. $70 -cash

only! (Van Horn)

DIGITAL ID

💳 Your Digital Student ID is now available to use! Please take a moment to download the Minga App. https://minga.io/

Here’s how your new Digital ID card will make your life easier:
• Use your ID anytime with the Minga App on your phone, or from any browser at app.minga.io.
• Use your digital ID to get into school events and activities quickly.

• Keep up with school events and news with your personalized home feed.

• Stay updated on school events and news with your personalized home feed.

Instantly change and update stickers and badges on your ID for different activities.

Your Digital ID is ready for you!

1) Download the Minga App or go to https://app.minga.io

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/minga/id1376350263
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.minga.app.android

2) Sign in with Google Sign In (use your school email address).
3) Click Student Tools to view your ID.

Remember, the digital ID is a convenience but you should always have the physical ID issued to you at registration. In addition, screen shots of your school ID will not be accepted.

ADMISSION DECISIONS

As Twenty One Pilots sang, “Wish we could turn back time to the good old days when our mamas sang us to sleep, but now we’re stressed out.” Acceptance letters are wonderful, but they don’t define you. It’s so great to have a school recognize all of your hard work and tell you that they want you to be a part of their campus community. It’s also tremendously disappointing when a school does not accept you, BUT remember that there are an incredible number of factors going into their decision and you’ll never really know why you did or didn’t get into a particular university. Remember also that there are tons of qualified candidates out there and so many admissions officers have told me they’re frustrated by the fact that they have to say no to capable, wonderful students who they know would do really well at their school. Here’s how a retired high school counselor put it on his website aimed at lowering stress over college admissions (https://lesshighschoolstress.com/):

Over 3.6 million students graduated from American high schools in 2020. Probably at least 10% entered high school thinking they might have a chance at admission to one of the most selective colleges in the US. That’s 360,000 kids—and their parents—who might have had this picture in their minds through most or all of their time in high school.
How many seats were there at the most selective colleges for the class of 2020 for students from US high schools? After removing those who are from other countries, the eight universities in the Ivy League had around 12,100 seats, or enough for about 3.4% of the top 10% of students.

Please try to not think of it as a rejection so much as a school that just isn’t able to offer you admission – there’s a big difference in those two perspectives! Instead of looking at admission decisions as a judgment of who you are, you would be better off reflecting on the things that really define you – how you cherish your friends, how you value your family, how you pursue your passions, how you treat those less fortunate than you, how you strive to do the right thing.

Choose the school that is right for you. Hopefully you’re going to receive more than one acceptance letter, and that means you’ll have to start spending some serious time thinking about which school will work out best for you. Don’t give in to the temptation to just pick the school that has the most prestige or name recognition unless that truly is the best fit for you. In the short term, you and your parents will have the thrill of saying you’re going there, but bear in mind that you’ll be spending at least four years of your life in this place. Consider factors like the size of the student body, average class size, weather (if you’ve ever thought it’s been chilly here, wait til you face a Chicago winter wind), majors, distance from home (needing a plane to get home is very different from needing a car), and the surrounding community when deciding if a school is the one for you. Remember, there is still time to visit schools and there is no substitute for walking around a campus and speaking with students and observing classes to help you see if it’s the right school for you.
There is much more to life than the name of the university you attend – like happiness and quality of life. You may find those things at that prestigious school that accepted you, but not necessarily. Click here for a thought-provoking article about doing what we just said in the last bullet point – making a decision that’s right for you! https://www.huffpost.com/entry/asian-american-ivy-league[1]college-dropout_n_5db061eee4b0a7dbe8e28816?ncid=engmodushpmg00000006.
Time to pivot. I was speaking with another high school counselor at a conference recently, and she alluded to the idea of her students needing to “pivot” in terms of shifting their view of what universities would be acceptable or not acceptable. It reminded me that a few decades ago when I started this career (and you students weren’t born), DBHS students used to view UC Irvine as a mediocre, safety school, whereas now we all recognize UC Irvine as a highly respected first choice university with programs that contend with other top universities. What happened? We’ve had a societal pivot over the years and now recognize this university and others for what they are – great schools. Maybe it’s time for you to make a personal pivot regarding some of the schools you weren’t that excited about and recognize their great qualities and give them real consideration. Be open-minded and spend some time really trying to figure out the school that will work out best for you. And just a reminder, sometimes those financial aid offers can really make you, and your parents, pivot on a school.
You had your chance to drop classes. If you’re doing poorly in a class and you chose not to drop it when you had the opportunity, then it’s time to live up to your choice and do as well as possible. Remember – schools have the right to rescind an offer of admission because of D’s or F’s or even a lower overall performance. You don’t want to receive a letter from the school you commit to like this one a former student received from a UC: “Regretfully, I must withdraw our offer of admission because you did not meet the conditions of admission. In particular, you failed to successfully complete your senior year with satisfactory grades.”
Appeals to a UC should only occur if there is an error or “compelling new information” that will dramatically alter your application. If you didn’t get into the UC of your choice, don’t appeal just because you hope they’ll like your application better when they read it in April than they did when they read it in December. Overturning an admission decision is, according to the UC site,“extremely rare.” For example, a few years ago 1,587 students appealed to UCLA, and… one was accepted (and I have to believe that student really had “compelling new information”). Reminder: the UC’s will be notifying students between March 1st and March 31st.

FINANCIAL AID

The Cal Grant GPA Verification Form has already been electronically submitted, as we’ve told you in the last two Senior Bulletins! Please tell your friends who don’t read this to stop asking!
Make sure to look for that financial aid offer from each university who accepts you. You may hear you’ve been accepted to a university but then you’ll still have to wait a while to hear what kind of financial package you’re being offered from that university. It behooves you to wait to commit to a school until you’ve heard from the financial aid offices for each school that accepted you so you can compare offers. Sometimes a school might want you more than another university, and their financial aid offer will reflect that desire. That’s right, I said behooves.
If your family’s financial situation has changed (e.g. – a parent has lost a job, your parents have declared bankruptcy), notify the financial aid offices of the schools to which you have applied immediately. I’m sorry, that’s a tough situation for your family, but it could also alter the financial aid packages offered to you.
The Middle Class Scholarship was enacted by the California State Legislature to make college more affordable for middle class families. It began with the 2014-15 school year and is aimed at reducing CSU and UC fees by 10-40% for “families with incomes too high to qualify for existing financial aid programs but still unable to afford the fees without relying heavily on student loans.” If you haven’t filled out the FAFSA yet, go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for[1]aid/fafsa right now! The California state deadline for the FAFSA is March 2nd, 2026. If you are selected to receive a Middle Class Scholarship, you will be notified by the California Student Aid Commission, and “your UC campus financial aid office will let you know your actual scholarship amount.”
The UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan – “Most California families that earn up to $100,000 receive enough grant and scholarship funds to cover their UC tuition.” Similar to the Middle Class Scholarship, UC students are automatically considered for this program if they complete their FAFSA.
Reminder for anyone who filled out a Dream Act application: If you do fill out a Dream Act application, you must submit the “non-resident tuition exemption” to the school you’ll attend in order to qualify for in-state tuition!
See if you can opt out of the insurance plan at your university to be. At some of the UC’s, the health insurance fee can be $2,000 or more per year, but you should see if it’s possible to opt out if you’re already covered by your parent’s insurance. You’ll probably have to identify a doctor close to school, but that’s well worth 2,000 clams!
There are several other ways to cuts costs. Are you a sociable sort, able to get along with multiple people? Consider rooming in a triple instead of a double, and definitely instead of a single. Both my children chose this option, partially as a way to defray costs, but they also both liked the idea of meeting more people! The transportation budget is another place to look at cutting costs, as are book costs – you can probably find a ton of your books for used book prices (try a localoff campus store or Amazon) instead of buying them brand new at the bookstore. Renting an apartment after the first year and coming up with your own meals can also really cut costs. Many universities require living in the dorms freshman year, and that’s a wonderful, unforgettable experience, but you can save a lot of dough over the next several years by living off campus and befriending cup noodles and mac and cheese.

MT. SAC CONNECT FOUR DATES

If you are interested in joining Mt. SAC Connect Four Program it’s not too late. Email Ms. Quiroa at lquiroa@wvusd.org or visit her in the Career and College Center by the Corkrum Library and she will walk you through the process.
Mt. SAC Summer Programs are a great way to start learning how thrive as a college student. For more information about their STEP and Summer Bridge programs for first-time college students, go to https://www.mtsac.edu/summerprograms/.
We still have hours for Mt. SAC information in the Career and College Center:

Tuesday, March 10th – Account Claim/Assessment Questionnaire p. 1-6 Library
Friday, March 13th – Account/Assessment make-up p.1-6 in Library
Thursday, March 26th – Next Steps/Summer Program p. 1-6 in Library
4/14, 4/21, 4/28 – Office Hours p. 1-6 in Library

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Lisa Pacheco Girls’ League Merit Scholarship – That’s right our very own scholarship from the DBHS Girls’ League. The Girls’ League Scholarship was established in 2005 by retired DBHS English teacher and club advisor Lisa Pacheco. The Girls’ League has been fundraising all year for different charities including this $500 scholarship. Since Girls’ League is a service-based organization, community involvement is a primary factor in deciding who receives awards. These scholarships will only go to Brahmas so apply! For more information and an application, you can go here -https://dbhs.wvusd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=58879&type=d&pREC_ID=462382 – or pick one up from Mr. Desmond in 408 or Mrs. McCurry in the Guidance Office. Applications must be submitted to Mrs. Romero in room 353by Friday, March 20th, 2026.
Diamond Bar Woman’s Club Scholarship – This is a great locals-only scholarship offered by the gracious ladies of our local woman’s club, and every year they don’t get as many applications as they’d like – so apply! This year they’re offering a $1,000 scholarship to graduating seniors (male or female) from either DBHS or Diamond Ranch who will attend a community college, 4-year college, music or art college, trade school, or certificate program. Wow that means so many of you are eligible and should apply! Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA and letters of recommendation from both school and off-campus, and they must provide an autobiography. For more information and an application, go to https://www.diamondbarwomansclub.com/scholarship-application. Applications must be received no later than April 17th, 2026.
Walnut Valley Educational Foundation Scholarship – That’s Walnut Valley as in OUR district so you know this one is going to a WVUSD student - APPLY! They will award several $1000 scholarships to WVUSD students: Visual and Performing Arts, Industrial Technology, Teen Citizen (active participation in high school organizations), Ron Everett Servant Leader, and Ron Hockwalt Memorial Scholarship (active participation in tutoring or some other aspect of the educational field), and the application is DUE March 13th, 2026. You can find an application here -https://www.wvedfoundation.org/_files/ugd/cc7c31_cba3cef0f2ab461fbc852a0398639d94.pdf. The application must be signed by your GLC and needs to be received by them via mail or email at WVEFoundation@gmail.com by 3/13/26.
Walnut Valley Educators Association Scholarship – The WVEA will be offering four $500 scholarships for WVEA Members’ children, stepchildren, and grandchildren who are graduating in May and will be pursuing higher education, or who are currently enrolled in higher education and are not a previous recipient. Applications can be downloaded at https://sites.google.com/view/wvea-info/home and must be received VIA MAIL by March 20th, 2026.
Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship - The Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholarship Program awards college scholarships to childhood cancer survivors who have demonstrated the ability to overcome the difficult challenges of cancer with determination and motivation. If that’s you, way to go, I’m so happy for you and your family! Fifty college scholarships are awarded each year. For more information, go to https://www.thenccs.org/scholarship. Applications due March 31st, 2026.
Jack C. Matthews LA Federal Credit Union Scholarship – The LAFCU is offering five $2000 scholarships to seniors. For more information and an application, go to https://www.lafcu.org/scholarships.html. If nothing else, go to this page to see a picture of overwhelmingly happy people. Like seriously, these folks are going to hurt themselves with joy. Applications due April 17th, 2026.
Kim and Harold Louie Family Foundation – This one is based on personal achievements, academics, leadership, and community service, but there is “special consideration” for students with parents who didn’t attend college or parents who are military veterans. They plan on awarding about $100,000 in scholarships this year and will determine amounts later. For more information and the online application, go to http://www.louiefamilyfoundation.org/scholarship-application. Applications are due March 15th, 2026.
Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation Scholarship – If you have a childhood diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes, first off, I hope you’re able to manage it and everything is going as well as possible. Secondly, if you’ve also maintained at least a 3.0 GPA and have actively participated in an organized sport, then you’re eligible for this scholarship of up to $10,000 toward tuition and books (and this scholarship is renewable for up to four years). For more information, go to http://verplankfoundation.com/scholarships/. Applications due April 15th, 2026.
Orange County Chinese-American Chamber of Commerce Foundation – Don’t be discouraged by that “Orange County” in the name! The OCCACCF scholarship can be won by students in Los Angeles County “and other nearby cities,” as evidenced by one of our 2018 graduates winning this one. Scholarship winners need a 3.0 GPA, and they earn $5,000 a year for four years for a grand total of $20K! For more information and to apply, go to https://www.occaccf.org/e/scholarship.html. Application deadline is March 31st, 2026.
American Culinary Foundation Scholarship – Are you an aspiring chef? If so, feel free to bring practice recipes to Mr. Desmond! More importantly, this scholarship of up to $2500 is for you. Applicants must have at least a 2.75 GPA and “be currently accepted to the institution with a culinary, pastry or foodservice-related major.” For more information and to apply, go to https://www.acfchefs.org/ACF/Education/Scholarships/. Applications due April 30th, 2026.
Tzu Chi Foundation Scholarship – The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is providing a $1500 scholarship for “students with financial need, outstanding academic achievements, and community involvement.” For more information and to apply online, go to https://tzuchi.us/scholarships. Applications are due April 15th, 2026.
Hagan Scholarship - The Hagan Scholarship is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, providing recipients with the opportunity to achieve their goals and graduate college debt-free. The scholarship provides $2,000 to help pay for essential items to attend college and up to $7,500 each semester for up to 8 consecutive semesters. Free workshops, Free Schwab Brokerage Accounts, and Free Study Abroad provide recipients with a practical understanding of important life skills not typically covered in the school curriculum. Hagan Scholars have attended 637 colleges and universities located in 49 states and the District of Columbia and have studied abroad in 58 countries. Applications due March 15th, 2026 and can be found here - https://haganscholarships.org/.
Folds of Honor Scholarship – This scholarship is available for dependents of fallen or disabled US service members, and there is another for dependents of fallen or disabled first responders. Many thanks to your family for their sacrifice. For more information and to apply, go to https://foldsofhonor.org/scholarships/. Applications due March 31st, 2026.
Don’t forget that you can research scholarships on your own!

How to Use CCGI to Complete Your FAFSA

Follow these steps to complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) through CCGI (CaliforniaColleges.edu). Using CCGI connects your FAFSA directly with your high school and makes the process smoother and more secure.

Step 1: Go to the CCGI Website Visit CaliforniaColleges.edu.

Step 2: Launch FAFSA Through CCGI After logging in, launch your FAFSA application from within CCGI. Important: Do not go directly to the FAFSA website. Starting from CCGI ensures your FAFSA links correctly to your school and district, helping your counselors track completion and avoid errors.

Step 3: Sign In With Your School Email Select "Sign in with Google" and use your school-issued email address (for example,@wvusd.org). This keeps your account connected to your school and gives you access to the correct CCGI tools.

Step 4: Complete Your FAFSA Once you've launched FAFSA through CCGI, follow the instructions to fill out and submit your FAFSA. Your information will transfer securely to the FAFSA site.