The El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) will honor the legacies of two brothers and a former EMUHSD Board of Trustees President after voting to rename the newly renovated Fernando R. Ledesma High School (FRLHS) multi-purpose building and gymnasium to the Freddy and Bernie Arteaga and Frank Ogaz Center. The Freddy and Bernie Arteaga and Frank Ogaz Center is the culmination of a shared vision that began decades ago. The Arteaga brothers, who immigrated from Mexico in the 1970s, met with Ogaz, a former EMUHSD Board President, and longtime administrator Fernando R. Ledesma to lay the groundwork for FRLHS, a high school that would go on to help at-promise youths overcome educational obstacles and put them on the path to becoming lifelong learners. Freddy and Bernie Arteaga have dedicated more than 30 years to Fernando R. Ledesma High School, starting when it was known as Valle Lindo Continuation School. Freddy, who spent 13 years as a teacher and counselor, has served as principal since 2006, while Bernie has been a counselor at the school for three decades. Valle Lindo was renamed in 2005 to honor Fernando R. Ledesma, who served the District for nearly 40 years.
San Dimas High School senior Alyssa Suarez has a dream of going to college and studying to be a civil engineer. Now in her fourth year of the college-prep elective Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Suarez and her AVID cohort are in the final stages of college and career planning, brimming with confidence and ready to take on the challenges of post-secondary education. San Dimas’ AVID program is changing the academic trajectory for dozens of students who have embraced the elective, which provides fundamental skills to bolster their college readiness, emphasizes the importance of completing A-G admissions requirements for UC and Cal State schools, assists in researching potential colleges and filling out applications, and promotes college culture.
Fontana Unified School District will modernize Fontana Middle School’s nearly century-old campus with a phased construction project that aims to enhance campus safety by demolishing and replacing the school’s two-story L Building. Fontana Middle School’s L Building has been closed for the entire 2024-25 school year after being deemed unusable due to the presence of hazardous materials in May 2024. The first half of the school’s revitalization will begin with the removal of hazardous materials from the L Building during the District’s 2024-25 winter break. Demolition of the building will start during the 2025 spring break before its completion in summer 2025, along with enhancements to the school’s entrance.
La Serna High School freshman biology students took their first steps as marine biologists, with a deep dive through the San Pedro Channel and observing the Pacific Ocean ecosystem, through a unique, immersive multimedia experience brought to campus by the Natural History Museum’s (NHM) “An Ocean Experience” Mobile Museum program. Inside the mobile museum, meticulously transformed into the submersible DSV Sea Nettle to simulate a deep-sea expedition, students received a closer look at underwater species, including squids, sea turtles, sharks, shellfish, and myriad other obscure yet vital organisms that live in the ocean. Led by NHM educator Augie VanDeVeer, who posed as captain of the DSV Sea Nettle, the submersible set off in search of an “anomaly” – in this case, a blue whale carcass lying at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean – and discussed its ecological impact and the efficient way that ocean species use organic biodegradation to keep its ecosystem thriving and robust.
Various school clubs will collaborate to create a warm, festive atmosphere for all attendees. Families will be welcomed as they enjoy the holiday spirit and receive thoughtfully chosen gifts, including skateboards, board games, toys, headphones, and much more. Guests are encouraged to open their gifts during the event. The event is funded by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and donations from the school community are organized by active-duty USMC member and Workman High School English teacher Travis Bui. District officials and administrators are invited to attend and celebrate the season of giving.
Covina High School’s student-run thrift shop, Colt Outfitters, which offers students affordable access to clothing, school supplies, backpacks, books, and toiletries, has won a Golden Bell award from the California School Boards Association, recognizing the shop’s innovation and impact on supporting students. Established in the 2021-22 school year by the school’s Interact club, Colt Outfitters offers students essentials, with most items priced at $2 or less. Colt Outfitters serves not only as a resource for students but also as a learning environment for those in the Life-Skills Education Advancement Program (LEAP), which helps special education students develop real-world skills. LEAP students assist with running the store, learning social skills that will help them succeed in future jobs and life beyond high school.
Amid the turmoil of recent hurricanes, students at Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) in Florida discovered that their college was more than just a campus – it was a lifeline. For students like Dara Gibbs, Epifanio Colon, and Rachelle Wills, the college’s unwavering commitment to care and connection as a Caring Campus transformed a time of crisis into a moment of hope, providing not only emergency relief but the stability and support needed to move forward. When Hurricane Helene struck, Gibbs faced severe flooding that damaged her home’s floors, walls, and furniture. Through PHSC’s relief efforts, she received financial assistance, food, and cleaning supplies.
When the Pioneer High School football team struggled during a mid-season slump, coach Ramon Juarez inspired his players by telling them they were on the cusp of greatness if they never stopped believing in themselves. Pioneer shook off decades of frustration and disappointment by capturing their first-ever CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) football title, after defeating San Gabriel High by a final score of 13-6 in the Division 14 championship game on Nov. 30. The game was played in front of 2,000 passionate supporters at Dick Torres Memorial Stadium, which included Titan alums from as far back as the 1960s.
Bonita Unified will continue its tradition of sending its best musicians to represent the District in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, after two students were selected to perform with the Tournament of Roses 2025 Honor Band on Jan. 1, 2025. Bonita High sophomore Logan Martinez (flute) and San Dimas High senior Andrew Ward (snare drum) were both selected for the first time. Bonita High has sent a band member to the Rose Parade for seven consecutive years, excluding the 2021 parade, which was canceled, while San Dimas High musicians are being represented at the Rose Parade for the third consecutive year.
Alder Middle School sixth-grader Xavi Hernandez felt like he was soaring through the air as he sat in a state-of-the-art cockpit simulator inside a mobile 36-foot flight simulator lab located in the middle of his campus. It was part of Fontana Unified School District’s (FUSD) Career Technical Education (CTE) partnership with NextUp Aviation, which brought the world of aviation directly to Alder Middle School students on Nov. 21. The event was designed to help students explore and foster an early interest in diverse career pathways within the aviation and aerospace industry.
