Bonita Unified Culinary Students Get Personal Tour of Porto’s Bakery
A group of Bonita Unified culinary students visited Porto's Bakery and Cafe in West Covina on March 27, receiving a behind-the-scenes look at the facility and learning about the family business from vice president Beatriz Porto. Culinary instructors Nick and Laurie Brandler, who teach at San Dimas High and Bonita High, respectively, arrange field trips at a variety of culinary establishments throughout the school year, providing students with insight into the industry and the opportunity to network with professionals.
Whittier Union High School District’s Santa Fe High School hosted an “Every 15 Minutes” program, a two-day event featuring a simulated car crash, rescue efforts, and the dramatized deaths of students. The program consisted of a mock funeral that aimed to emphasize the dangers of operating a vehicle while under the influence. “Every 15 Minutes” is a national campaign that focuses on high school juniors and seniors and aims to challenge students to think about the dangers of drunken driving. The campaign also encourages students to think about the impact that their decisions can have on their family, friends, and community.
Gladstone Elementary School students gasped, clapped, and cheered with delight as they watched their stories come to life – and learned about the essential elements of storytelling – during a March 28 performance by The Imagination Machine. Formed in 1981 by a classroom teacher, The Imagination Machine selects stories written by students and performs them in the form of school assemblies, with the goal of encouraging students to explore their imagination through creative writing. The Imagination Machine assemblies have been a treasured tradition at Gladstone Elementary for more than 20 years. This year, six stories were selected by The Imagination Machine and performed for Gladstone students.
Two Fontana Unified School District schools, Sequoia Middle and Fontana High, have been honored for their success in boosting student achievement and fostering college and career readiness. Fontana High and Sequoia Middle schools were both re-designated as Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) National Demonstration Schools, retaining statuses held since 2016 and 2019 respectively, that reflect the site’s implementation of AVID instruction school-wide. Sequoia had even more reason to celebrate when it was also redesignated a 2024 California Middle School to Watch on March 8.
Fontana Unified Schools to Observe Upcoming Solar Eclipse
All 30 Fontana Unified School District elementary schools will use the upcoming solar eclipse on Monday, April 8 as an opportunity to spark curiosity and a love for science among its students. Each District elementary school has been provided with solar eclipse viewing kits, including safety-certified eclipse glasses, to ensure students can safely observe the natural phenomenon. Teachers will integrate the eclipse into their science curriculum throughout the day, turning this natural phenomenon into a hands-on learning experience. Students will also take educational materials home with them, giving them a chance to discuss the significant astronomical event at home.
Santa Fe High School's Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, known for its commitment to preparing students for college, careers, and beyond, has secured revalidation as an AVID National Demonstration School, affirming its dedication to academic excellence and student success. With its revalidation, Santa Fe High serves as a model for other schools looking to improve their AVID programs by hosting showcases, conducting AVID trainings, offering classroom visitations, and more. Since 2001, Santa Fe High School has been recognized as an AVID National Demonstration site, showcasing its commitment to the AVID College Readiness System. More than 380 students are enrolled in Santa Fe High’s AVID program. Students in the program boast high A-G course completion rates, with more than 90% of AVID seniors on track to graduate and to be accepted into universities.
All 30 Fontana Unified School District elementary schools will use the upcoming solar eclipse as an opportunity to spark curiosity and a love for science among its students. Each FUSD elementary school will hold observations and classroom lessons about the upcoming solar eclipse. Teachers will integrate the eclipse into their science curriculum throughout the day, turning this natural phenomenon into a hands-on learning experience.
Fontana Unified School District students will showcase their art during the District’s second annual Film Festival, featuring an evening of standout pieces that illustrate the growth of FUSD’s Career Technical Education (CTE) TV Production pathways. Awards will be presented in categories ranging from Avant Garde to screenwriting and from live-action dramas to news story packages.
Lynwood Unified School District students embraced girl power during the second annual Girl Empowerment Summit on March 28, where they heard from influential female community leaders and participated in breakout sessions and discussions designed to educate and inspire them to chase their dreams fearlessly. The Summit – organized by students from the Girl Empowerment Clubs at Lynwood and Firebaugh high schools – served as an inspiring conclusion to Women’s History Month celebrations across the District, with Hosler and Cesar Chavez middle school students finding the courage to break barriers and carve a path toward powerful journeys.
Santa Fe High School students will witness the dangerous consequences of driving while under the influence during a staging of the “Every 15 Minutes” program, a two-day presentation that features a simulated car crash scene, staged rescue efforts and dramatized student deaths. The event will conclude with a mock funeral to highlight the lasting impacts of impaired driving.
