Three recent Bonita Unified graduates looking to learn more about protecting the environment and the importance of processing recycling materials and organic waste spent the summer as interns for Waste Management (WM), assisting the Baldwin Park-based company in its efforts to ensure corporations and businesses are complying with green waste mandates issued by the state of California. San Dimas High School Class of 2025 graduates Jacob Hidalgo and Krishna Ramnani teamed up with Bonita High School Class of 2025 graduate Isabel Rodriguez for the one-month internship, working with Waste Management representatives to canvass areas and contact companies that have failed to comply with Senate Bill (SB) 1383, which requires all residents and entities to put green waste – such as fruits, vegetables, and coffee grounds – in yard waste containers.
Covina High School junior Gatsbee Gumban, known by his teammates as “The Great Gatsbee,” has been named the Sports Illustrated National High School Boys Athlete of the Week for Aug. 18-24, a recognition that highlights his extraordinary football performance. In a game against La Puente High School on Aug. 21, Gumban rushed for 337 yards and scored four touchdowns, powering the Colts to a 49-35 victory and earning him the national recognition. Beyond his athletic ability, Gumban is known for his kindness and humility both on and off the field, consistently supporting his teammates, classmates, and school community.
Fontana Unified School District once again set a benchmark as 33 of its schools received California Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Coalition Awards for their dedication to fostering inclusive, supportive school environments that promote student success during the 2024-25 school year. This is the fifth consecutive year Fontana Unified has increased the number of schools recognized, highlighting the District’s ongoing commitment to building social-emotional skills and providing educators with strategies to enhance student outcomes. All 33 schools will be recognized at the 2025 California PBIS Coalition Conference, held Oct. 8-10 in Sacramento.
For the first time, Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) will host the annual Regional College and Career Fair on a District campus Jurupa Hills High School. Presented in partnership with Chaffey Joint Union High School District (CJUHSD), the fair will serve as a one-stop shop where thousands of K-12 students and families can connect with more than 70 colleges, universities, and employers to explore post-graduation pathways. The Regional College and Career Fair is part of Fontana Unified’s ongoing commitment to boosting college and career readiness by removing barriers and increasing access to information and financial support.
The Bonita Bearcats and San Dimas Saints will compete for the coveted silver Smudge Pot, an oil-burning tool once used to protect fruit trees from frost and a nod to the cities’ roots in the Southern California citrus industry. Overall, the Bearcats have a 27-24-1 lifetime record against the Saints. A complete history of the rivalry game, including scores, records, and archival photographs, can be found at .
Whittier Union High School District’s five comprehensive high schools have been ranked in the top 20% of public high schools nationwide and the top third in California by U.S. News & World Report, reflecting the District’s commitment to doing Whatever It Takes to prepare students for college, careers, and life. The rankings are based on six factors: college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.
In an emotional tribute to three community leaders whose vision and dedication transformed the lives of generations of students, the El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) officially dedicated the newly renovated multi-purpose building and gymnasium at Fernando R. Ledesma High School (FRLHS), renaming it the Freddy and Bernie Arteaga and Frank Ogaz Center on Aug. 27. The evening ceremony brought together families, staff, alumni, and community members to honor the Arteaga brothers and the late Frank Ogaz for their decades of service to students. The celebration featured heartfelt speeches, special recognitions, a ceremonial unveiling and ribbon-cutting, and a community taco dinner.
The El Monte Union High School District will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of construction for Mountain View High School’s (MVHS) Modernization Project. The project features enhancements to the entire campus, including classrooms, redesigned landscaping and outdoor seating, softball/baseball field improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and more. The event will include a welcome reception, student performances, and speeches.
Bonita Unified ProStart culinary students and alumni continued to make delectable gains during summer break after a successful appearance at the 14th annual California Restaurant Foundation (CRF) Culinary Clash, as they designed gourmet meals while collaborating with industry professionals and making connections. The Culinary Clash, which raised more than $95,000 for high school culinary programs at this year’s event, pairs ProStart students, who serve as sous chefs, with restaurant executives for a three-month CRF mentorship. Beginning with original ideas brought by the students, teams work to create a dazzling menu item, using certain required ingredients, then plate their creations at a festive outdoor tasting event, where attendees sample and then vote for their favorite student/industry combinations.
Bossier Parish Community College in Louisiana has made caring an institutional priority – embedding the word directly into its mission statement to reflect a commitment that runs through every corner of campus. That focus is felt daily by students, employees, and the community, who all experience Bossier Parish’s dedication to creating a welcoming, connected environment. This fall, the college is taking that commitment to the next level. More than 70 faculty, staff, and administrators will participate in the Caring Campus Academy (CCA) – enough to bring a Caring Campus coach directly to their campus. The CCA will unite every participant around a shared set of behavioral commitments designed to foster belonging and student success, and institutions nationwide can sign up for the fall cohort, launching at the end of September, to bring these commitments to their own campuses. Data shows that when students feel cared about, they persist and succeed at higher rates.
