More than 300 Lone Hill Middle School (LHMS) students, parents, and community members promoted inclusivity and acceptance as they celebrated the legacy of American civil rights icon and activist Ruby Bridges by participating in the school’s inaugural Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on Nov. 14. Students at Lone Hill gathered early in the morning, enjoying donuts as they prepared for a walk promoting inclusion and unity. Led by two students carrying a “Brave Like Ruby” banner, participants marched together in a large line, starting from two locations, holding signs that celebrated diversity and togetherness. The walk concluded with an assembly featuring speakers who highlighted the importance of acceptance and kindness as cornerstones of Lone Hill culture.
When Whittier High School junior Anika Monzon and her sister, sophomore Adelina Monzon, saw the Tournament of Roses Parade in person on New Year’s Day, they felt great pride in seeing their older brother, Whittier High Class of 2024 graduate Myles Monzon, march in the Honor Band, performing on the tenor drum. This year, it will be a Monzon family affair, as Anika and Adelina are among five Whittier Union students selected to perform at the 2025 Rose Parade as members of the Pasadena City College (PCC) Tournament of Roses Honor Band, joining Myles, currently a PCC student, who was again selected to play tenor drum.
It was far from an ordinary day at Fontana High School (FOHI) as a large portion of campus was carved out for the school’s annual, award-winning College Application Day on Nov. 14, which promotes college readiness throughout the community and dates back to 2014. Hundreds of FOHI seniors, with many surrounded by family members, patiently waited for their opportunity to take a large step toward their goal of postsecondary education during the seven-plus hour event. Students collectively submitted more than 2,450 applications to four-year colleges and universities – an event record. Fontana High seniors Ana Porras and Iris Martinez said they had looked forward to the day for years after their older siblings took part in the event.
Willard Elementary School students and staff are enjoying newly renovated first and second-floor restrooms, funded by Measure O, that bring a cleaner, more modern, and welcoming environment to the school. Construction on the second-floor restrooms finished in summer 2024, with the first-floor restrooms now also complete and open for daily use. The upgrades include new concrete flooring, modern wall and floor tiling, and updated fixtures, including sinks, toilets, partitions, and hand dryers – all necessary improvements in Willard Elementary’s historic building.
For El Monte High School (EMHS) junior and art student Michelle Garcia, Día de los Muertos is a holiday to be celebrated with vibrant colors, a special day when family and friends come together to pay tribute to loved ones, and a sacred observance rich with symbolism and traditions that evoke happiness and memories of the past. To honor Día de los Muertos, Garcia created an artwork bursting with radiant imagination, communicating the delicate dance between life and death. The piece features brightly lit marigolds, a dapper calavera in a flower-lined sombrero, nostalgic Lotería cards, and the mysterious, watchful gaze of the Día de los Muertos icon, La Catrina. Garcia’s captivating art was honored by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, winning first place in the fifth annual Día de los Muertos Art Competition, in the 14 to 18 age group. Along with the recognition, Garcia received a $2,000 scholarship, presented in partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles. Her work can be viewed online.
Nine Fontana Unified School District students achieved one of the greatest feats high school musicians and color guard performers can obtain after being selected to showcase their talents on a national stage when they march down Colorado Boulevard in the 136th edition of the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. Each year, hundreds of high school students from across Southern California audition for one of the coveted spots in the elite Pasadena City College (PCC) Tournament of Roses Honor Band and Color Guard, which has performed through the Rose Parade’s six-mile trek since 1930. Eight Henry J. Kaiser High School students and a Jurupa Hills High student separated themselves from the rest and will represent Fontana Unified in PCC’s prestigious group this year. Kaiser High will be represented by seniors Alec Franco (Herald Snare) and Kimberly Gomez (color guard/banners) and juniors Anabelle Escobedo (flute), Maximo Franco (trumpet), Achilles Jauregui (trombone), Liliana Lobo (euphonium), Jhiana Magalong (bells/xylophone), and Marcos Perez (bass trombone) in the PCC Tournament of Roses Honor Band, along with Jurupa Hills High junior Diego Muro (clarinet).
Dr. Vincent Tinto and Dr. Peter Felten, two of the nation’s foremost experts on student success, will be featured keynote speakers at the inaugural Caring Campus Conference 2025: Building a National Culture of Care, which will take place from Nov. 12-14, 2025, at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Diego. Dr. Tinto, a professor emeritus at Syracuse University and a leading authority on student retention, and Dr. Felten, executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning and assistant provost at Elon University, and co-author of “Relationship Rich Education,” will share decades of research and insights on how connection, belonging, and a culture of care can drive student persistence, retention, and success.
Fontana Unified School District’s more than 32,000 students and their families are set to benefit from modernized school facilities and expanded programming designed to support the educational future of District students through the passing of Measure I, the District’s School Facilities Improvement Bond Measure on the November ballot. More than 65% of District voters approved Measure I, Fontana Unified’s first bond in nearly 20 years, which required 55% of the vote to pass. Measure I will provide FUSD with $408 million in bond funds for school facilities improvements and classroom modernizations, expansion of the District career and technical education (CTE) training programs, and infrastructure upgrades to ensure safe, accessible learning environments.
The Bonita High School football team, fresh off an undefeated regular season and ready to compete in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs, could not contain their enthusiasm, stamping their feet and whooping it up, while watching star linebacker Noah Mikhail be presented his official Navy All-American Bowl Game jersey by principal Kenny Ritchie, capping a prep football career that established Mikhail as one of the top high school football players in the country. Mikhail, who has already committed to play collegiate ball at Texas A&M, is one of 100 players selected to play in the annual high school all-star matchup, to be held Jan. 11 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, and televised nationally on NBC. The All-American Bowl traditionally showcases the top emerging talent in college football, with nearly 600 All-American alumni drafted into the National Football League, 93 Super Bowl champions, 247 Pro Bowl selections, and 18 Heisman Trophy finalists.
Rio Hondo College (RHC) will continue expanding its academic offerings as part of its mission to remove barriers to higher education when it releases its Bachelor of Science in Electronic Digital Instrument (EDI), Performance and Production of Electronic Music in fall 2025. The launch of the new bachelor’s program will make Río Hondo College the only school in the California Community College system to offer a bachelor’s in EDI Performance and Production, according to Dr. George Wheeler, interim dean of Arts, Business, and Cultural Programs. It will also be RHC’s second baccalaureate program alongside its Automotive Technology degree, which debuted in fall 2016. RHC’s mission is to provide students with affordable, innovative programming that offers clear pathways leading to in-demand career opportunities. The College’s newest bachelor’s degree builds on its EDI Associate of Science Degree and is designed for students passionate about electronic music.
