SAN DIMAS/LA VERNE – Bonita Unified School District students’ achievements in their academic, athletic, artistic and extracurricular endeavors took center stage during the 2024 State of the District address, held Feb. 8 at the Bonita Center for the Arts.

Hosted in partnership with the La Verne and San Dimas Chambers of Commerce, the State of the District brought together nearly 200 local elected officials, representatives from businesses and community organizations, residents, parents and District employees, who listened to Bonita Unified Superintendent Matt Wien reflect back on the District’s accomplishments in 2023 and share its vision for the future.

“When we talk about the accomplishments of the District, we often do so globally, as when we say that Bonita Unifed’s academic program ranks in the top 10 percent in the state of California,” Wien said in his keynote address. “But these overall honors are a result of work done with individual students. Each day, our teachers and staff are making an impact.”

Highlights during the event included a video compilation of heartfelt messages of gratitude from students addressed to teachers and staff, as well as a recap of recent accolades, including San Dimas High School’s culinary students finishing third in the ProStart Nationals, Bonita High School’s CIF Southern California Division 3 championship in boys water polo, and the District’s second consecutive No. 1 ranking on the California Reading Coalition’s California Reading Report Card.

“Even though we have had success, I want to convey that we have not been passive,” Wien said. “We have continued to augment our programs to give our students the best possible chance to succeed and live their purpose.”

Wien highlighted five areas of growth, including the District’s mental health program, which has expanded to include 59 staff members providing social-emotional support to students; its food services program, which has expanded thanks to support from the state to ensure all students can receive meals at school at no cost and resulted in more than 1.2 million meals served in 2022-23; and its transitional kindergarten program, which shifted to a fully implemented universal TK program ahead of the state timeline and now includes 22 classrooms.

Wien also noted growth in the District’s School Age Care program, which has expanded to provide free daycare to families in financial need and nearly doubled the number of students in School Age Care in just three years, and its career technical education program, which has expanded to 14 pathways.

Additionally, Wien commended Bonita Unified students, teachers and staff on the academic improvement achieved following the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing that the District earned its highest English language arts scores and second-highest math scores of all time on the 2022-23 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress.

Students also demonstrated their talents in real time throughout the event, as attendees enjoyed breakfast offerings prepared by Bonita High School’s culinary students and the musical stylings of the Chamber Singers ensembles from San Dimas High School and Bonita High School.

The event culminated with the premiere of Bonita Unified’s 2024 showcase video titled “The Bonita Way,” an uplifting reflection on the academic and co-curricular programs, dedicated employees and high-achieving students that have earned the District numerous accolades.

PHOTOS:

BUSD_STATEOFDISTRICT1: Bonita Unified Superintendent Matt Wien delivers his keynote address during the 2024 State of the District, held Feb. 8 at the Bonita Center for the Arts.

BUSD_STATEOFDISTRICT2: Students from Bonita High School’s ProStart culinary program serve breakfast to attendees before the 2024 State of the District address on Feb. 8.