SAN DIMAS/LA VERNE – Bonita Unified students and families looked on with anticipation as Lone Hill Middle School science teacher Kevin Amegin turned a handful of household items into a bright blue blast of “elephant toothpaste” foam that shot nearly 15 feet into the air.

Displays like this lined the Lone Hill Middle school quad as students led the inaugural Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Night in early May, inviting families and local Bonita Unified elementary school students to explore interactive demonstrations designed to make STEAM subjects feel fun and accessible.

Student volunteers, including members of Science Olympiad, Where Everybody Belongs (WEB), ASB, and California Junior Scholarship Federation helped families explore arts, robotics, physics, and chemistry through activities ranging from art booths to bike-wheel inertia experiments and gravity wells to demonstrations on surface tension, buoyancy, and bionics.

“I want science to be for everybody,” Amegin said. “Kids love learning science, especially from other kids. The leadership and initiative aspect is so good for our students to practice, but they also get to be young scientists and show younger students that science is something that’s cool and interesting.”

According to Amegin, inviting feeder elementary schools was an important part of the event, giving future Lone Hill students an opportunity to connect with the campus before entering middle school and explore different STEAM electives.

“I feel good about starting middle school because this helps tell me how fun the school is going to be and the cool events it has,” incoming Lone Hill sixth-grader Olivia Rodriguez said. “The elephant toothpaste was really cool and fun. I like math because it is sometimes difficult and I’m up for a challenge.”

Lone Hill’s STEAM Night and events like it reflect Bonita Unified’s continued emphasis on strong academic outcomes and expanded STEAM opportunities, as shown by Lone Hill Middle School being named a California Distinguished School for the 2025-26 school year and recent District success on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CASSPP). In 2024-25, 63% of students met or exceeded standards in mathematics on the statewide assessments, an all-time high for the District.

“There is something powerful about seeing families and students come together around the joy of learning,” Bonita Unified Superintendent Matt Wien said. “Events like STEAM Night remind us why we do this work: to inspire curiosity and help students see the incredible opportunities waiting for them across our District. We are proud of Lone Hill Middle School for creating a welcoming experience that bolsters the connection between our schools and our families.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS

BUSD_STEAM_NIGHT1: Lone Hill Middle School science teacher Kevin Amegin demonstrates an “elephant toothpaste” experiment during the school’s first STEAM Night, sending blue foam nearly 15 feet into the air as students and families watch.

BUSD_STEAM_NIGHT2: Lone Hill Middle School students guide families and future students through hands-on activities during the school’s first STEAM Night, which featured robotics, physics, chemistry, art and other interactive demonstrations designed to spark interest in STEAM learning.