Fontana Unified School District’s (FUSD) headquarters parking lot once again transformed into a Southern California winter wonderland as it continued its tradition of spreading holiday cheer to local families in need during its 27th annual Fontana Santas toy distribution on Dec. 21. For hours, a steady line of cars moved through the festive event picking up gifts of school supplies, food, books, and information on readily available community resources before lastly visiting Santa and Mrs. Claus, who handed out toys near their sleigh. Volunteers of FUSD students, staff, and community members, including the entire Board of Education loaded each car up with gifts. For Elsie Avalos, who works in Maple Elementary School’s health office, it was a chance for her family to give back to the community as she volunteered alongside her daughters Joanna and Isabella.
The first full year of CIF-sanctioned high school flag football was a resounding success for Bonita Unified schools, with both Bonita and San Dimas high schools making great strides in their inaugural seasons, led by top players establishing themselves as fierce competitors and passionate coaches eager to develop their athletes as winners on and off the field. Four of the District’s standout seniors will get an opportunity to play one final high school game after being selected for the Los Angeles Rams/National Football Foundation Senior All-Star Flag Football Game, to be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21 at Simi Valley High School. Ashley Sandmark and Anelly Alba from San Dimas High will join Bonita High seniors Breanna Sandmark and Kayla Heinlein on the San Gabriel Valley/Pasadena roster. They will play against a team of San Fernando Valley/Ventura area all-stars. Bonita High head flag football coach Mike Mann will coach the SGV/Pasadena squad.
Fontana Unified School District’s (FUSD) Board of Education restructured ahead of the new year as it welcomed two new members, Danielle Holley and Angel Ramirez, and appointed new leadership during the Board’s annual election and organization meeting on Dec. 18. The meeting began with a ceremonial roll call to celebrate the first Board session featuring newly elected members Holley and Ramiez, who both participated in an oath of office ceremony surrounded by friends, family, and other elected officials. The Board also elected Adam Perez to serve as its new president, while Holley was appointed to serve as vice president during the meeting.
Schools across Pasadena Unified School District have enhanced campus safety with the installation of state-of-the-art, front-entry security systems, funded by Measure O, underscoring the District’s commitment to the safety and well-being of students and staff. To date, front-entry security systems have been installed at nine locations, including Franklin, Sierra Madre, Washington, and Willard elementary schools; Eliot Arts Magnet Academy; McKinley K-8 School; Wilson Middle School; and John Muir and Rose City high schools, with plans to complete installations at all District sites.
Students from Whittier High School’s Cardinal Academy of Technology (CAT) continued a cherished end-of-year tradition when they made their annual holiday visit to Lydia Jackson College Prep Academy to spread holiday cheer on Dec. 6, delighting dozens of Lydia Jackson second grade students. The holiday visit has been a tradition for the two schools for 20 years, with Whittier High juniors enrolled in the CAT program bearing gifts, telling stories, and singing songs to the elementary students, while also inspiring the students to consider pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects as they progress through school.
Five El Monte Union High School District seniors will see their dreams of attending top-tier universities come true after being named QuestBridge 2025 National College Match scholars, an honor that comes with early admission to their new schools and full-ride, four-year scholarships worth more than $325,000. Arroyo High School seniors Daniel Vu, Audrey Tang, and Noe Magana will join Rosemead High School seniors Aura Gallardo Muñoz and Carmen Ung as 2025 QuestBridge scholars, with their tickets stamped to attend premier universities across the country, including Pomona College, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, and Yale.
San Juan College faculty and staff in Farmington, N.M., are inspiring students like Esmeralda Garcia to celebrate their unique identities and heritage, fostering success through the transformative principles of Caring Campus. Caring Campus is a framework that coaches staff and faculty in commitments and strategies that boost student success across all demographics. Garcia, a criminal justice major, said the culture of care brought about by Caring Campus is evident across San Juan College, from staff and faculty to fellow students.
A Hacienda La Puente Unified restorative justice youth court program that promotes an innovative, proactive approach to reducing out-of-school suspensions has been recognized by the California School Boards Association (CSBA) with its prestigious Golden Bell Award. The Youth Court Program offers students in grades 6-12 a peer-driven alternative to suspension. By encouraging accountability, reflection, and understanding of their actions' impact, along with support from Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) resources, the program has contributed to a 40% decrease in out-of-school suspensions for grades 6-12 during the 2023-24 school year.
Río Hondo College (RHC) staff and community donors brought holiday joy to 140 student parents and 385 children through the Basic Needs Center’s annual Holiday Toy Distribution on Dec. 16, offering toys, food and festive activities on campus. Student parents and their children strolled through a festive celebration during the Holiday Toy Distribution. Families paused along the way for a series of activities, including holiday crafts, movies, games and food. Parents had the opportunity to browse a “shopping area” of toys arranged by age group at the event, where they could pick the perfect toy for their child before heading to a gift-wrapping station.
Río Hondo College (RHC) welcomed new Board of Trustees member Yarisma Rocha and re-elected Trustee Kristal Orozco during an oath of office ceremony that preceded the Río Hondo Community College District (RHCCD) Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 13. Rocha and Orozco were each elected to four-year terms on the RHCCD Board to represent Trustee Areas 2 and 4, respectively, during the November general election. The Board also elected Oscar Valladares as the new president, while Rosaelva Lomeli was selected to serve as vice president and Yarisma Rocha assumed the clerk position during its annual reorganization meeting.
