Southridge Tech Middle School seventh-grader Cyrus Moss has been honored as a 2024 “30 Under 30” recipient by 50th Congressional District Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes in recognition of his leadership in the successful effort to rename Fontana Unified’s Randall Pepper Elementary School to O’Day Short Elementary, commemorating the family who broke Fontana’s color barrier in 1945. Moss’ courage and dedication to justice were celebrated during Reyes’ annual “30 Under 30” celebration on Oct. 30. The recognition honors 30 residents under the age of 30 from California’s 50th District, which includes Fontana, for their dedication, innovation, and service.
In an effort to promote cultural awareness and understanding, Fontana Unified School District’s Board of Education, during its Oct. 2 meeting, unanimously approved making a standalone, yearlong ethnic studies course a graduation requirement for high school students beginning with the Class of 2028-29. In 2021, California became the first state to require all students to pass a semester-long ethnic studies course to earn a high school diploma starting with the Class of 2029-30. Fontana Unified went above and beyond the state’s directive to make its ethnic studies requirement a standalone, yearlong course starting with next year’s freshmen class.
The Fontana School Police Department (FSPD) has received a $34,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to launch an initiative that will help improve road safety for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the Fontana Unified School District. The FSPD will use the grant to bolster community-focused programming designed to reduce road accidents. By focusing on education and prevention, the Department will promote best practices and encourage community members to take extra precautions on the road to ensure everyone’s safety.
Forty-one students spread across all five Fontana Unified comprehensive high schools earned awards from the College Board National Recognition Program for their demonstrated academic achievement and strong performance on college-preparatory exams, including 32 students set to become first-generation college students. Fontana Unified students were honored by four of the College Board’s five programs, including the National First-Generation Recognition Program Award (NFGRPA), which debuted this year. National College Board recognition helps distinguish students during the application process for college scholarships or admissions.
Cyrus Sapien, a Fontana High School senior, boarded a bus to make the 10-mile trek to the 2024 Regional College and Career Fair, cohosted by Fontana Unified and Chaffey Joint Union High School districts at the Ontario Convention Center on Oct. 9. Sapien was on a fact-finding mission, looking to narrow down his short list of colleges and decide if he would attend college in or out of state. He knew he wanted to study industrial engineering and pursue a career in a blue-collar trade but was uncertain about which college was right for him.
For the third time and second year in a row, Southridge Tech Middle School has been recognized as a trailblazer in educational innovation and for transforming the foundations of teaching, learning, and preparing students for lifelong success with a redesignation as a Microsoft Showcase School for the 2024-25 school year. Southridge Tech was first named a Microsoft Showcase School in 2018, then again in 2023, and has since been applauded for bridging the technology gap and providing students access to digital platforms that enhance learning. The school will receive a Showcase badge, an educator community team, an invitation to the Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert & Showcase School Welcome, and more.
Thirty-one Fontana Unified schools secured prestigious California Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Coalition Awards for their dedication to creating and maintaining supportive and inclusive cultures that foster student success during the 2023-24 school year. This marks the fourth year in a row FUSD has set a District record for total and platinum PBIS awards, with 11 schools securing the highest honor from PBIS, for its commitment to promoting positive behaviors through the comprehensive PBIS framework. All 31 FUSD schools will be honored at the 2024 California PBIS Coalition Conference from Wednesday, Oct. 9 to Friday, Oct. 11 in Sacramento.
Thousands of students and families from Fontana Unified will map their futures for college and career at the Regional College and Career Fair, a one-stop-shop opportunity for students to gather the resources and tools to achieve their goals. Fontana Unified hosts the event annually in partnership with the Chaffey Joint Union High School District. An estimated 65,000 students across both districts will be in attendance to explore the endless possibilities waiting for them after graduation. Students will have the chance to connect with potential employers and network with colleges and universities to gain insight into numerous academic institutions and career fields. The event is part of Fontana Unified’s commitment to boosting college and career readiness by removing barriers and increasing access to information and financial support.
Zahra Razi has always had the heart of a teacher and can trace her passion for computer science back to her high school years in Iran, where she was born and raised. Those two characteristics helped bring her to Wayne Ruble Middle School, where she has taught for more than a decade. Over the past five years, Razi has used the Amazon Future Engineer program to share her enthusiasm for computer science with her students. Now, she’s one of 50 educators nationwide selected for a two-year, paid fellowship as a teacher ambassador for the program, aiming to expand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and tech opportunities for students.
