Alder Middle School sixth-grader Xavi Hernandez felt like he was soaring through the air as he sat in a state-of-the-art cockpit simulator inside a mobile 36-foot flight simulator lab located in the middle of his campus. It was part of Fontana Unified School District’s (FUSD) Career Technical Education (CTE) partnership with NextUp Aviation, which brought the world of aviation directly to Alder Middle School students on Nov. 21. The event was designed to help students explore and foster an early interest in diverse career pathways within the aviation and aerospace industry.
Fontana Unified School District’s headquarters will once again transform into a Southern California winter wonderland as it continues its tradition of spreading holiday cheer to local families in need during its 27th annual Fontana Santas toy distribution. Throughout the event, District families – who are identified by school sites – will enjoy a festive holiday celebration and receive age-appropriate gifts during a drive-through gift. Donations of unwrapped toys and gift cards can be dropped off at the Fontana School Police Department (9680 Citrus Avenue, Building 9, Fontana).
A.B. Miller High School students continue to reach new heights as they explore future career opportunities through the school’s Aviation Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway, with three students recently passing written exams in pursuit of their private pilot licenses. Jesse Cuba, Xavier Gonzalez, and Christopher Hernandez became the most recent A.B. Miller students to pass the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Private Pilot Certificate written exam this school year, continuing a legacy of excellence in the school’s CTE program. The two-year pathway serves as a flight training school and includes a pilot training class, an airline mechanic class, and a flight simulator lab.
It was far from an ordinary day at Fontana High School (FOHI) as a large portion of campus was carved out for the school’s annual, award-winning College Application Day on Nov. 14, which promotes college readiness throughout the community and dates back to 2014. Hundreds of FOHI seniors, with many surrounded by family members, patiently waited for their opportunity to take a large step toward their goal of postsecondary education during the seven-plus hour event. Students collectively submitted more than 2,450 applications to four-year colleges and universities – an event record. Fontana High seniors Ana Porras and Iris Martinez said they had looked forward to the day for years after their older siblings took part in the event.
Nine Fontana Unified School District students achieved one of the greatest feats high school musicians and color guard performers can obtain after being selected to showcase their talents on a national stage when they march down Colorado Boulevard in the 136th edition of the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. Each year, hundreds of high school students from across Southern California audition for one of the coveted spots in the elite Pasadena City College (PCC) Tournament of Roses Honor Band and Color Guard, which has performed through the Rose Parade’s six-mile trek since 1930. Eight Henry J. Kaiser High School students and a Jurupa Hills High student separated themselves from the rest and will represent Fontana Unified in PCC’s prestigious group this year. Kaiser High will be represented by seniors Alec Franco (Herald Snare) and Kimberly Gomez (color guard/banners) and juniors Anabelle Escobedo (flute), Maximo Franco (trumpet), Achilles Jauregui (trombone), Liliana Lobo (euphonium), Jhiana Magalong (bells/xylophone), and Marcos Perez (bass trombone) in the PCC Tournament of Roses Honor Band, along with Jurupa Hills High junior Diego Muro (clarinet).
Fontana Unified School District’s more than 32,000 students and their families are set to benefit from modernized school facilities and expanded programming designed to support the educational future of District students through the passing of Measure I, the District’s School Facilities Improvement Bond Measure on the November ballot. More than 65% of District voters approved Measure I, Fontana Unified’s first bond in nearly 20 years, which required 55% of the vote to pass. Measure I will provide FUSD with $408 million in bond funds for school facilities improvements and classroom modernizations, expansion of the District career and technical education (CTE) training programs, and infrastructure upgrades to ensure safe, accessible learning environments.
Hundreds of Fontana High School (FOHI) seniors will collectively submit more than an estimated 2,000 applications to four-year colleges and universities over seven hours during the school’s award-winning College Application Day. School and District counselors, faculty, staff, and families will be on hand to help students complete the college application process. FOHI earned the Riverside Inyo Mono San Bernardino (RIMS) Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Impact Award for the annual event at an Oct. 29 ceremony. School staff and student leaders will track the number of college applications submitted during the event, which will include a complimentary lunch. Representatives from four-year colleges and universities, including Azusa Pacific, the University of La Verne, University of Redlands, California Baptist University, Grand Canyon University, Whittier College, and California State University, San Bernardino, will also be in attendance to meet with students and discuss preparing for the transition to college.
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.
