Fontana Unified School District students have spent the last five weeks networking and exploring potential careers in healthcare through the Kaiser Permanente Internship Program at the Fontana Medical Center. Thirty-seven A.B. Miller High School Health Services Academy (HSA) seniors, who interned at Kaiser Permanente’s Fontana Medical Center in February and March, will receive a certificate of completion and letter of recommendation during a graduation ceremony at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 27 the Kaiser Fontana Medical Center. The Kaiser Permanente Internship Program serves as a capstone course for A.B. Miller’s HSA, a three-year career technical education (CTE) pathway that introduces students to a wide range of medical careers. The HSA first began in 2005 and launched internships in 2006. This internship program returned this year following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pioneer High School senior Jeremiah Parra was struggling to find his footing at school after suffering through the loss of both of his parents. Parra’s life changed when he first arrived at the Boys and Girls Club of Whittier/Pico Rivera. There, Parra rediscovered his love of learning, eventually joining the Club’s Leader in Training program as a teen tutor. For his ability to overcome adversity and commitment to bettering the lives of others, Parra was named the Boys & Girls Club of Whittier/Pico Rivera’s 2023 Youth of the Year. Parra received a trophy and certificate of recognition at the Youth of the Year presentation in early 2023.
Students in Fontana High School’s Career Connections career technical education (CTE) pathway will put their design and construction skills to the test during the 38th annual Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF) Design Build Competition. Design Build challenges students to design, plan, and construct a 96 square-foot structure that meets a set of criteria established under the advisement of industry professionals. Students also have the opportunity to network with industry professionals, earn scholarships and apprenticeships, and more.
Beatty Middle School students learned how they can train guide dogs, build advanced robots, delve into foreign languages and plan their careers when Sunny Hills and Buena Park high school representatives visited on March 7 and 8. Gordon H. Beatty Middle School students got a glimpse of their futures as Coyotes and Lancers as they spoke with students and faculty from both schools, who provided insight on how to prepare for the transition to high school in 2023-24.
U.S. Rep. Linda Sánchez delivered a $750,000 check to the City of Whittier and the Whittier Union High School District, which will help transform the athletic fields at Sierra Education Center (SEC) into a community recreation space that can be used for youth sports programs and serve more than 2,000 young people annually. Sánchez, who represents the 38th District, was joined by Superintendent Dr. Monica Oviedo, Board President Jaime Lopez, Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri and Whittier City Manager Brian Saeki for a ceremony at SEC on March 14.
Sierra Vista High School sophomore Sofia Estrada poured her passion for soccer and belief in its uniting power into an impactful essay, winning her first prize in the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Student Writing Contest and showcasing how the sport allows bilingual people to share their stories, art and dreams. In her essay, “The Universal Language That Could Change the World,” Estrada details how soccer enables people to communicate with each other without speaking the same language, tearing down barriers and uniting people from different cultures, religions and backgrounds.
Fontana High School honored 162 students who have qualified to receive the State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB), an honor that recognizes students’ proficiency in bilingualism and biliteracy. To receive the SSB, marked by a gold seal on a graduate’s diploma and notation on their transcript, students must meet requirements outlined in the California Education Code that demonstrate high levels of achievement in speaking, reading, and writing in both English and one or more partner languages. The number of SSB-eligible Fontana High students is expected to increase before the end of the year.
80 Fontana Unified Varsity Athletic Teams Achieve 3.0 GPA or Higher
Eighty varsity athletic teams across Fontana Unified’s five comprehensive high schools have earned a team GPA of 3.0 or higher, demonstrating the commitment to excellence that Fontana Unified student-athletes demonstrate in the classroom and on the field. All 20 of Summit High School’s athletic teams earned team GPAs of 3.0 or higher for the second consecutive year.
La Serna High School senior Ivonne Perez recognized the importance of being a leader and acquiring an education early in her life. Growing up in a single-parent household, Perez helped raise her two younger siblings, even as she pursued her dream career as an aerospace engineer. As a La Serna High freshman, Perez joined the college prep program Puente, which greatly enhanced her academic and leadership skills. As Perez established herself as a mentor willing to sacrifice personal time to help her classmates, she developed into one of La Serna’s top students. For her leadership skills and academic achievements, Perez was recognized by the Whittier Union Board of Trustees with an Award of Merit during its March 14 Board meeting.
The Associated Student Body (ASB) at San Dimas High School creates a community of inclusivity where every Saint feels like they belong. This service-minded leadership and encouragement of students has earned San Dimas High ASB the Outstanding Leadership Program Award (OLPA) by the California Association of Student Leaders. The OLPA is a distinguished award presented only to 5% of eligible schools whose student leadership programs demonstrate that students are growing as ethical, responsible and servant-minded leaders. San Dimas High ASB students were recognized for exhibiting their skills at adapting activities and events, providing resources, supporting staff and students, working toward creating an equitable campus and more.
