Fontana Unified School District students will compete in a high-energy SoCal Design-Build competition, where teams race against the clock to construct a fully functional structure while demonstrating real-world construction, engineering, and teamwork skills. A collaborative team made up of 10 Fontana High School students and five Eric Birch High School students will compete against other groups across Southern California to design and complete construction of an 80-square-foot shed, which includes its framing, a window, door, and electrical components.
Under a sunny sky and with cheers of families echoing from the stands, Bonita Unified School District brought together students with special needs from across the District for its fourth annual Sports Festival on March 27, a day celebrating ability and inclusion. The event welcomed students to Saints Stadium at San Dimas High School for a day of track-and-field-style activities, including relays, long jump, ball toss and pool noodle javelin. The day began with an opening ceremony parade for each school participating. Students smiled and waved to families filling the stands, setting the tone for a day of spirited and friendly competition.
South Hills High School junior Denise Lee has spent the last two years volunteering in her community, developing innovative technology, launching a small business, and strengthening her athletic skills, efforts that have earned her the highest honor the U.S. Congress bestows upon young Americans, the Congressional Award Gold Medal. To earn the Gold Medal, Lee completed 400 hours of Voluntary Public Service, 200 hours of Personal Development, and 200 hours of Physical Fitness, along with a five-day, four-night exploration of a new environment or culture.
Whittier Union High School District welcomed top female student leaders from across its campuses to the Young Women’s Leadership Breakfast, held April 10 at the Azar Event Center, for a morning of connection, mentorship, and meaningful dialogue. The event brought together students and professional women from a variety of career fields — including law enforcement, public affairs, business ownership and entrepreneurship, therapy, higher education and more — creating an interactive space where students led conversations and explored future pathways. Seated at tables with industry professionals, students asked thoughtful questions about career journeys, personal growth and overcoming challenges, gaining insight into the experiences that have shaped each speaker’s path.
McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas is strengthening student belonging through Caring Campus, creating an environment where every student feels welcomed and empowered to succeed from the moment they step onto campus.Through a dedication to the Caring Campus behavioral commitments, intentionality during the first week of school, and small but meaningful strategies which show students that employees care, McLennan is creating a culture where every student can thrive. Known at the college as McLennan Always Cares, this work reflects a campuswide commitment to fostering connection and belonging for every student.
Lynwood Unified School District has been named one of 12 school districts in the nation to receive the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) K–12 Student Agency Award, a national recognition honoring districts leading thoughtful, ethical and student-centered approaches to AI in education. The award was presented at the Student and Community Voice AI Summit, held in March in Anaheim, where educators, students and school leaders from across the country gathered to discuss the future of AI in schools.
A.B. Miller High School has been recognized as a 2026 California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education (CDE), highlighting its commitment to academic achievement and closing achievement gaps. The CDE selects California Distinguished Schools based on data reported on the California Dashboard, recognizing schools that show significant progress in academic performance, student engagement, and school culture and climate, using state indicators such as English language arts and math performance, graduation rates, and suspension rates.
In celebration of Earth Day, Cypress Elementary School will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its newly revitalized campus garden. The restoration was a community effort between Fontana Unified School District families and staff, SoCalGas, Kellogg, and Lowe’s, each of whom donated time and resources to transform the space into an outdoor learning area. The garden will provide students with opportunities to explore sustainability, learn about the stages of food production, and develop an understanding of where their food comes from.
Bonita Unified School District’s two middle schools – Lone Hill and Ramona – have been designated as 2026 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education (CDE) for their efforts to narrow the achievement gap and provide equity in education for every student.
Both Ramona and Lone Hill middle schools, which are among 408 middle and high schools recognized by the CDE this year, have previously earned the Distinguished School designation. The program recognizes schools that are among the highest in the state for academic achievement; successful in closing the achievement gap; or serving rural and Title I communities and demonstrating exceptional outcomes. Eligibility for the honor was determined using metrics from the 2025 California School Dashboard data.
Las Palmas Middle School students are developing bilingual, biliteracy, and bicultural skills in the school’s Spanish Dual Immersion program, opening doors to expanded opportunities in higher education and future careers. The dual immersion journey begins early at Manzanita Elementary School, where students enter the program in transitional kindergarten. By the time they arrive at Las Palmas, students are already multilingual and ready for a more rigorous, in-depth curriculum taught in Spanish. The program continues into Northview High School, where students further refine their skills and ultimately graduate with the Seal of Biliteracy.
