Dr. Vincent Tinto, one of the nation’s most influential scholars on student success and belonging in higher education, will keynote the inaugural Caring Campus Conference: Building a National Culture of Care this November in San Diego. As Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at Syracuse University and former Chair of the Higher Education Program, Tinto has dedicated his career to advancing research on student persistence and the power of connection to transform college experiences and improve student outcomes. In distilling the research on college retention, Tinto found student success could be captured by two simple thoughts: students must want to persist – that is, be motivated to persist – and they must have or acquire the ability to persist.
Upland Unified School District’s StepUp Preschool prepares its youngest learners for school and life through an inclusive introduction to education. With approximately 150 spaces available each year, StepUp offers an innovative learning environment where children with special needs and their neurotypical peers learn side by side. StepUp Preschool is designed for three-year-olds and serves as a bridge into California’s universal transitional kindergarten for four-year-olds. Students are eligible to begin on their third birthday, and families may choose between morning (8:30 to 11:30 a.m.) or afternoon (noon to 3:30 p.m.) sessions, Monday through Thursday.
For more than half a century, the Smudge Pot has been more than just a football game in Bonita Unified – it has been a showcase of community pride, student talent, and family tradition. On Sept. 13, that legacy continued as Bonita and San Dimas high schools brought their rivalry to Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) for the 53rd annual matchup. This year marked the first time the storied contest was played at Mt. SAC’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium, where Bonita High secured its seventh consecutive Smudge Pot victory with a 28-14 win. Beyond the scoreboard, the annual Smudge Pot tradition has long been a celebration of the entire Bonita Unified community, District students’ talents in athletics and the arts. Students on both sidelines kept the energy high throughout the game; San Dimas High and Bonita High Associated Student Body (ASB) leaders led their sections in chants, while cheer and dance teams from both schools performed.
Pioneer High School senior Nydia Palacios is known as a natural leader and an academic role model who loves to challenge herself, acquiring both high school and college credits at a lightning pace while enjoying as many extracurricular activities as she can fit into one day. Palacios, who boasts a 4.05 GPA, entered her senior year with 286 credits, which far exceeds the traditional 220 credits needed to graduate. Palacios has also gotten a start on higher education, having completed seven community college dual enrollment courses, in addition to her myriad campus leadership positions and musical and athletic pursuits as a member of the PHS Jazz Band, track & field, and girl’s cross-country teams. Palacios’ love of volunteering has seen her devote countless hours to help serve those in need, whether she is engaging in afterschool tutoring for the Boys and Girls Club, or serving as a Youth Leader for her church. Palacios has also emerged as a campus leader. She is currently president of Pioneer’s PTSA Club and as a junior was vice president of the school site council.
Whittier Union students are getting a head start on their college education through a free dual enrollment partnership between the District and Río Hondo College (RHC), which allows students to take after-school courses for credit that are transferable to University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) schools. Beginning in their freshman year, Whittier Union students at all seven high schools can take one dual enrollment class per semester, plus summer school, and earn up to 30 college credits by the time they graduate. Students are encouraged to take courses that will qualify them for RHC’s Honors Transfer Program, which is designed to increase students’ chances of attending a four-year university.
Four more community colleges nationwide have achieved Caring Campus Certification, a distinction honoring institutions that exemplify what it means to lead with care while advancing student persistence, retention, and success. Patrick & Henry Community College in Virginia has made Caring Campus history as the first institution to earn gold certification, while Northeast Lakeview College in Texas, along with West Los Angeles College (WLAC) and Yuba College in California, have each earned silver certification – demonstrating their deep commitment to fostering connection, belonging, and opportunity for all students.
From performing in the United States capital to playing for a national audience in Pasadena, the Henry J. Kaiser High School Music Department has earned recognition and invitations to perform at several prestigious events. Now, Kaiser High’s celebrated String Orchestra and Wind Ensemble are preparing for another historic performance – this time at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall during the National Band and Orchestra Festival in April 2026. Kaiser is the second Fontana Unified school, joining Summit High School’s Fortepiano String Orchestra, to be selected to perform at the invitation-only 2026 National Band and Orchestra Festival.
Ten recent Bonita Unified graduates are ready to begin new careers in healthcare after receiving their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) diplomas during a commencement celebration held Aug. 30 at the Village in Pomona, as part of a career technical education (CTE) partnership between the District, America’s Job Center of California (AJCC), and Prestige Career College. The former Bonita Unified students received their diplomas after completing the rigorous five-week course and passing the California CNA certification exam. As CNAs, the students will assist nurses and healthcare providers in the field, at hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities, providing, among many essential tasks, basic bedside care and personal hygiene while serving as patient advocates.
All three comprehensive high schools in Covina-Valley Unified School District have been ranked among the top 25% of public high schools nationwide and the top 35% in California by U.S. News & World Report, underscoring the District’s unwavering commitment to student success. U.S. News evaluates schools based on six key indicators of achievement and quality: college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.
Mountain View High School students, staff, and the El Monte Union community celebrated the completion of the school’s Modernization Project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 9. The event highlighted major campus upgrades including classrooms, athletic facilities, redesigned landscaping and outdoor seating, and infrastructure improvements. The ceremony featured speeches from Principal Jose Bañas, Associated Student Body President Heidi Scanlan, El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees President Florencio Briones, and Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga, followed by a taco dinner for the community.
