Santa Fe High School's Student Leadership Class has earned the school its 24th Outstanding Leadership Program Award (OLPA) from the California Association of Student Leaders (CASL), which recognized the class for continuing to spearhead engaging activities and events, and fostering inclusivity and school spirit among students. OLPA is a distinguished award that is presented to schools in California that display strong student leadership programs that allow students to grow as ethical, responsible, and servant-minded individuals. Through Santa Fe’s Student Leadership Class, students are empowered to explore leadership roles and gain invaluable hands-on experience.
El Monte Union showcased its unwavering commitment to student advocacy through active participation in the 2024 Coast2Coast Federal Advocacy Trip to Washington, D.C., held April 8 to 10. Trustees and superintendents joined forces with approximately 260 other dedicated members to champion the needs of California students on Capitol Hill. During the trip, representatives from El Monte Union engaged in crucial discussions with notable figures such as Senators Laphonza Butler and Alex Padilla, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Pete Aguilar, and many more. The focus was on addressing pressing issues such as increasing special education funding, enhancing teacher recruitment and retention efforts, reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools Act, expanding broadband access, and safeguarding student data with cybersecurity resources.
Bonita Unified Middle School Band, Choir Win Gold at Heritage Festival
Lone Hill Middle School’s music program continued Bonita Unified’s winning streak at the latest WorldStrides San Diego Heritage Festival, held April 11 to 14. Lone Hill is the third Bonita Unified school to win major awards at festivals in the last month, taking home Gold ratings for Choralairs, Jazz Band and Advanced Band, Best Overall Choral Group, and the Sweepstakes Award for the best overall scores combined in band and choir, as well as Maestro Awards given to four soloists. Bonita Unified offers a robust visual and performing arts program that begins in elementary school and empowers students to develop their musical talents.
Three budding Summit High School historians, senior Alyha “Gabe” Madrigal and freshmen Nayleen Pulver and Angel Garay, competed at the National History Day California State Finals at Sacramento State from April 19 to 21. Madrigal finished runner-up as a senior individual exhibitor for his project on the Manhattan Project, while Pulver and Garay took runner-up for their senior group exhibit on the Spanish Influenza. The trio advanced to the state competition after taking first place at the San Bernardino County History Day Regionals in March.
Jurupa Hills High School junior Adriana-Rene Humber will serve as Fontana Unified’s Board of Education student representative during the 2024-25 school year, a role she will leverage to continue her passion for community service. Humber aims to use her position to ensure every student is equipped for success in their educational journey while also promoting an inclusive environment throughout the District and community. Boasting a 3.9 GPA, Humber was selected from a pool of six finalists for the position during a special Board of Education meeting on April 16.
Río Hondo College’s Dance Program will showcase the talents of its students, faculty, and guest artists during its spring 2024 concert, “Interwoven Beats: Dances of Connection.” It is the final one of two annual department concerts the program puts on each school year. Admission is free but a donation of $10 for the Dance Program is encouraged and will be accepted at the door.
Fontana High School hosted a dedication ceremony on April 17 for its campus fire station, which is used by its Fire Technology and Emergency Services career technical education (CTE) program. The station was officially named McGinnis Station 815 in honor of the first director of FOHI’s Fire Technology program Michael McGinnis, who played an instrumental role in developing the pathway before he died in 2021. The Fontana Unified School District Board of Education approved renaming the station in October 2023 to honor the legacy of McGinnis, who is remembered for how he inspired Fontana High students to pursue careers in public service and strove to provide them with the best experience possible.
Fontana Unified Schools Join Solar Eclipse Watch Party
All 30 Fontana Unified School District elementary schools used the solar eclipse on April 8 as an opportunity to spark curiosity and a love for science among its students. Each District elementary school was provided with solar eclipse viewing kits, including safety-certified eclipse glasses, to ensure students safely observed the natural phenomenon. Teachers integrated the eclipse into their science curriculum throughout the day, turning this event into a hands-on learning experience. Students also took educational materials home with them, giving them a chance to discuss the significant astronomical event at home.
El Monte High School Visual and Performing Arts students proudly unveiled a transformative mural project, bridging the realms of art and music in an innovative display of creativity and collaboration. The mural project, which incorporates both music and art, began as a modest endeavor, then blossomed into an epic installation over two years, standing as a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of El Monte High’s artistic community. The mural’s primary objective is to foster connection and inspiration among students across different artistic mediums, using symbols and inspirational quotes to ignite creativity and appreciation among their peers.
Fontana Unified Senior Surprised with $40,000 Amazon Scholarship
Fontana High School senior Lucia Otanez was surprised with a $40,000 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship during the school’s Class of 2024 assembly on April 9. Otanez was one of thousands of applicants to be chosen for the scholarship, with Amazon set to award 400 students with scholarships this year. Otanez, who hopes to attend USC or UC Berkeley, has a paid internship offer at Amazon after her freshman year of college through the scholarship. This opportunity will allow eligible scholars to gain hands-on, practical work experience with mentorship from Amazon leaders.
