Fontana Unified School District is celebrating the success of their Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone program students, with 34 scholars earning the prestigious AP Capstone diploma during the 2024-25 school year, and six receiving an AP Seminar and Research Certificate. AP Capstone graduates demonstrate exceptional research, writing, and critical thinking skills by completing a two-year, college-level program that includes AP Seminar, AP Research, and four additional AP courses of their choice. This achievement signals to colleges and universities that these students are well prepared for rigorous, interdisciplinary work and are highly motivated scholars. Certificates are awarded to students who successfully complete AP Seminar and AP Research courses without taking the additional exams.
Fontana High School’s (FOHI) boys water polo team made history when it earned its first-ever CIF Division 5 Championship, clinching the title with a thrilling 15-11 win over Baldwin Park High School on Nov. 15. After years of dominating the San Andreas League, FOHI had its breakthrough year in CIF, led by a poised group of seniors determined to graduate with a legacy of winning. FOHI’s 2025 boys water polo team is made up almost entirely of seniors who have played together for years, inspiring a close collaboration and generating a confidence that helped them stay sharp through five tough rounds of a CIF tournament.
Sierra Vista High School senior Sophia Rivera is looking to graduate at the end of the fall semester, completing a high school journey that saw her transform from a shy, at-promise student uncomfortable in a big school environment to a campus leader looking toward college and career. For her resilience and leadership abilities, the Whittier Union Board of Trustees presented Rivera with an Award of Merit during its Nov. 18 meeting, where she thanked her school’s administrators, teachers, and her family for their constant support and encouragement.
Hundreds of Fontana Unified seniors took charge of their futures during a series of College Application Submit Days (CASD) held throughout the District, culminating with a final event at Fontana High School (FOHI) on Nov. 20. FOHI was the first to launch CASD, which was recently honored with a Golden Bell Award, and builds on the school’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) college-prep program. FOHI senior Jimena Lopez submitted eight college applications: four to University of California campuses, and four to California State universities, with plans to study either forensic psychology or psychology. She said that her passion for the field comes from advocating for those she cares about, including her family, her varsity basketball teammates, and classmates.
The Fontana Unified School District Police Department (FSPD), in partnership with San Bernardino Unified School District, will host its School Safety Symposium on Monday, Nov. 24, bringing together District and school administrators to safety protocols, share best practices, and strengthen collaboration across departments and agencies. The symposium will feature FSPD-led presentations on critical topics impacting schools, including social media and search warrants, human trafficking, fentanyl safety, and identification. The event will include a debrief from Rialto Unified School District representatives on recent emergency response testing to enhance coordination among multiple agencies to ensure a quick, streamlined response is activated during an actual incident.
Fontana Unified School District Police Department (FSPD), in partnership with San Bernardino Unified, brought together Southern California school district administrators for its Safety Symposium on Nov. 24, providing an opportunity to strengthen partnerships throughout the area and share strategies for maintaining safe and supportive learning environments. The symposium, last held in 2021, hosted 69 members of the school policing community and school district staff from Indio to La Puente and San Diego, featuring a full day of presentations covering current issues impacting schools, including social media and search warrants, human trafficking, fentanyl safety and identification, cannabis and juvenile laws, and building relationships with school administration.
Upland Unified School District’s 14 schools have been honored by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for their strong implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), highlighting the District’s ongoing work to build supportive, inclusive campuses where students feel connected and ready to thrive. This year marks the first time that 13 out of 14 schools in Upland Unified earned recognition at the gold or platinum levels. Upland Elementary and Cabrillo Elementary received platinum recognition for the second time, while Baldy View and Pepper Tree elementary schools earned platinum for the first time. Citrus Elementary and Hillside High School achieved gold recognition for the first time and Foothill Knolls, Magnolia, Sierra Vista, Sycamore, and Valencia elementary schools earned repeat gold recognition. Upland High School received a repeat silver recognition.
Whittier Union High School District Board Member Gary Mendez will step down from the Board of Trustees effective Tuesday, Dec. 9, following Board action taken in closed session on Nov. 18. After closed session, the Board reported out that it approved a settlement agreement with Mendez, in which he submitted his resignation. Mendez will offer his final remarks at the start of the Dec. 9 Board meeting.
Ben Lomond Elementary School students are strengthening their understanding of character traits and learning to put them into action through the Character Strong program, ensuring students treat one another with respect, care, and integrity every day. The Character Strong program focuses on three key outcomes: “Be Strong, Be Kind, and Be Well.” Each month, students explore a new character trait through grade-level specific lessons and songs that reinforce positive behavior, helping them develop respect, responsibility, empathy, gratitude, honesty, and more.
Nearly 200 staff, faculty, and administrators from across the country gathered in San Diego on Nov. 12-14 for three days of connection, collaboration, and fresh thinking at the inaugural Caring Campus Conference: Building a National Culture of Care. The interactive event left attendees inspired and energized, equipped with new ideas, strategies, and tools to strengthen student success efforts on their own campuses. The conference highlighted the impact of Caring Campus, which empowers staff and faculty to cultivate cultures of care that boost student persistence, retention, and success.
