BUSD News

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The standard lives here.

Thank you to our Board of Education, students, staff, families, and community for joining us at Bellflower Unified’s State of the District. Together, we celebrated the people who make our schools special and looked ahead to the future we’re building for every student.

Known. Valued. Ready. That’s the standard we’re working toward, together.

Community members who were unable to attend in person can view a recording of the full event

via the district’s livestream:

Bellflower Unified State of the District- October 15, 2026

Photo Recap: State of the District

To view the special “Homegrown” tribute video honoring BUSD staff, please visit:

Homegrown: The Bellflower Unified Family

Bellflower Unified is proud to host our FREE 2nd Annual Cancer Walk — 6 laps around the track (1.5 miles), for hope, health, and healing. Staff, families, and neighbors- all of you are welcome.

• Saturday, October 24

• 9:00 AM

• Ron Yary Stadium, 15301 McNab Ave, Bellflower

Free resources, support, and education on site. Bring your family, friends, and someone you’re walking for.

Register here: bit.ly/busdcancerwalk

We hope to see you there—and don’t forget to wear your pink!

Financial Aid is an essential component of preparation for life after high school. Starting October 1, 2026, students and parents can complete either a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or a CA Dream Act Application (CADAA) to qualify for financial aid, including grants, loans, scholarships, & access programs.

Unsure which application is right for you or where to begin? Review the resources below to learn more.

Resources for families:

• Have general questions about Financial Aid? Review our webinar Financial Aid 101 available in English and Spanish via the BUSD YouTube Channel.

• Click here to determine which application to complete

• How to get started:

• Create an FSA ID

• What you will need to get started:

• Personal email account

• Social Security Number

• Create a CADA/CSAC ID

• What you will need to get started:

• Personal email account (do not use school email)

College & Career Centers will be hosting workshops at each comprehensive high school this Fall.

Check below for opportunities to get support with these essential applications:

• Bellflower High School:

• Thursday, November 11th, 6:00 pm Financial Aid Night with Cerritos College (available in English & Spanish, Location TBD)

• Mayfair High School:

• Monday, October 26th, 2:30 pm-4:30 pm (College and Career Center)

• Monday, November 23rd, 9 am-12 pm (College and Career Center)

• Tuesday, November 24th, 8 am-4 pm (via Zoom - by appointment)

• Thursday, February 4th, 2027, 6 pm-7:30 pm (College and Career Center)

Visit the College & Career Readiness Page to learn more about BUSD’s commitment to supporting our students' preparation for college, careers, & life.

A big shoutout to Bellflower High School senior Edward Menchú for being featured as Telemundo 52 Los Angeles’ Athlete of the Week!

Edward placed second in league singles last season, and his consistency, talent, and leadership have been key to Bellflower’s tennis program's success. Congratulations, Edward—we’re proud of you!

Bellflower Unified School District Office staff participated in the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill, practicing important safety procedures and emergency preparedness. The drill reminded everyone of the importance of staying prepared and knowing what to do in an earthquake. Safety is always a priority at BUSD!

Thursdays, October 1, 2026 - November 5, 2026, 11 - 11:30 am

Let’s get ready for school! Enjoy books, songs, rhymes, and movement while learning school readiness skills and having fun.

On October 29, please join us for an opportunity to chat with a Family Community Specialist from Alma Family Services to learn about their Child and Family Development programs available to our local community.

Attendance is limited and advance registration is required. To sign up, see library staff, or register online at Visit.LACountyLibrary.org/Events and filter by location or event date.

This program is part of Smart Start at the Library, LA County Library's collection of programs and services for early learners ages 0 - 5 and their caregivers.

For ages 2 - 5 with their parents or caregiver.

Clifton M. Brakensiek Library

9945 E. Flower St. Bellflower

562.925.5543

An accessible Halloween celebration for Adaptive Recreation participants, families, and friends. Put on your favorite costume and find your way through the maze on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 4-6 p.m. at Caruthers Park (10500 E. Flora Vista St.). Admission is free, but pre-registration is required by Oct. 26 (participants must be accompanied by an adult caregiver age 18 or older).

For more information, call (562) 804-1424, ext. 2261.

Register here

Health & Basic First Aid

Tues. Oct 20th

5-6 PM @ Teen Resource Center

21420 Pioneer Blvd.

Free

Grades 6-12 Welcome

Learn everyday health habits & basic first aid skills for real-life situations.

We have officially launched the Water Replenishment District’s student art contest for this school year. This is a great opportunity to connect art and science in the classroom, with prizes included! The contest deadline is Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm.

Program details are below for your information:

Eligibility: Students and teachers in grades K - 6 located in the WRD service area

What: Create a water-focused piece of art that matches the contest theme

Student Prize: 23 students will be selected to win a $75 gift card, be recognized at a school assembly, and be featured in our 2026 Water Awareness Calendar!

Teacher Mini Grant: The top teachers with at least 10 submissions from their class will receive a $100 gift card.

Art Lessons: Limited in-classroom art lessons are available for teachers who want to bring STEAM to their classrooms. Teachers can sign up here: https://forms.gle/RK44xcsxWLgbeZgz9

Learn more: www.wrd.org/student-art-contest

Learn more: www.wrd.org/student-art-contest

Happy National Boss’s Day to our amazing principal, Mr. Cruz! Mr. Cruz is supportive, passionate, and leads by example. We truly are fortunate to have him as our principal!

To celebrate, we put him to the test and ended this week’s staff meeting with a little game of “Guess Who’s Voice?”

Don’t forget to bring candy to feed Chompers! The monster comes out every day from 8:15-8:30 in front of the school, but you can also drop off donations to the front office throughout the day! Thank you for helping make this event amazing!

Las Flores counselor Ms. Johnson met with students to discuss the college application process and help them better understand important steps as they prepare for life after high school.

Students learned about the differences between the quarter and semester systems used by colleges and universities, as well as IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) and how general education coursework can support their college transfer goals.

We’re grateful to Ms. Johnson for helping our Leopards build the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their futures!

Las Flores student Josanna recently shared a student board report highlighting the progress our middle school Leopards are making on their California Democracy School Civic Learning Project!

Through this project, students identify issues in their school community, gather information, consider different perspectives, and develop potential solutions. Josanna’s report gave our school board a firsthand look at how students are putting civic learning into practice.

We’re proud to see our Leopards building confidence, using their voices, and learning that they can make a meaningful difference in their community!

Congratulations to Ms. Wences’s 5th grade class for winning Best Attendance for September! As their prize, they got to celebrate by water ballooning our amazing attendance clerk, Ms. Vanessa, our counselor, Ms. Serna, and Ms. Wences!

Way to show up, Rams! Who’s going to be next? Let’s keep those attendance numbers up!

We are so proud of these 8 students who will lead our group of 40+ 5th- and 6th-grade leaders!

Showing our PRIDE every single day!

¡Dale! We wrapped up Hispanic Heritage Spirit Week in style! From cultural attire celebrating our students’ and staff’s heritage to iconic Latino legends (including Mr. Worldwide himself, Pitbull!) Our campus was full of culture, pride, and school spirit! What a fun way to celebrate the rich traditions, history, and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino communities!

Congratulations to Molita Ek on an incredible achievement! Molita has officially been reclassified as English Proficient, demonstrating proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English. Her hard work, perseverance, and dedication to learning have truly paid off. We are so proud of Molita and celebrate this important milestone in her academic journey! Way to go, Molita! We are proud to call you a Woodruff Wolf!

Wrapping up NEXT STOP: COLLEGE WEEK with custom college-themed stickers created by our amazing Graphic Arts Capstone Program and college songs! We celebrated college pride and inspired future possibilities at BMHS!

Animals are such a gift to all of us. Thank you, PTSA, for sponsoring this incredible event!

Somerset students proudly showcased student creativity and craftsmanship at BUSD's State of the District event! Students displayed their custom-designed skateboards that highlighted their artistic talents, hands-on skills, and hard work. What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students' creativity and the amazing work happening at Somerset!

All Board of Education meetings are held in the Board Room of the District Administration Building, 16703 South Clark Avenue, Bellflower, CA 90706. Regular and Special Meetings are held at 6:00 PM on selected Thursdays, unless otherwise indicated below.

Meetings Now Available on YouTube: @BellflowerUSD

Food & Nutrition Services updates the menus monthly.

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