he Río Hondo College Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Division will host its second annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) Festival for local elementary, middle and high school students. The free community event will allow families to conduct hands-on experiments orchestrated by Río Hondo College students, faculty and community partners in chemistry, physics, engineering, biology, arts and more. Entry and parking for the three-hour event are complimentary, but registrations are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis at this link. Participant students will get prizes for finishing STEAM activities along with free raffle prizes for a few lucky winners.
Lynwood Unified School District’s Vista High School is among 31 schools in the state recognized as a 2024 Model Continuation High School by the California Department of Education for fostering a supportive learning environment for at-promise youth and providing exemplary instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, and support services to ensure personal and academic success. Vista High School serves students in the District who require a flexible schedule due to jobs, family needs or other life circumstances. The school’s efforts to promote academic and social success for every student contributed to Vista’s recognition as a Model Continuation High School.
Cesar Chavez Middle School has earned the coveted distinction of being named a 2024 School to Watch by the California Department of Education and California League of Educators (CLE) for its exemplary performance in fostering a positive campus culture and providing an enriching curriculum that boosts student engagement and success. Cesar Chavez Middle School (CCMS) is the second Lynwood Unified School District campus to become a School to Watch, joining Hosler Middle School, which earned the distinction in 2023. District and CCMS leaders will accept the award at the CLE 2024 Annual Conference on Friday, March 8.
Cedarlane Academy, Fairgrove Academy, Mesa Robles School, and Valinda School of Academics have been named 2024 Schools to Watch by the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California League of Educators, recognizing their continued success in keeping students engaged through a critical stage in their K-12 educational journey, demonstrating social equity and helping them achieve academic excellence. The four campuses are among 16 schools to be newly designated as Schools to Watch and will be honored alongside 36 re-designated model schools at the annual California League of Schools Conference held March 8-9 in Monterey.
10 Bonita Unified Students Named to Regional Junior High Honor Choir
Four Lone Hill Middle School students were selected to perform with the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA) Junior High Honor Choir, a prestigious group that consists of students in grades six to nine selected by audition. This year’s Lone Hill honorees – Cristian Figueroa, Julian Gonzalez, Layla Lopez, and Rachel Wu – mark the largest group of Lone Hill students selected in a year. Six Bonita High School freshmen were also selected to perform in the SCVA Junior High Honor Choir this year: Harper Gaudart, Serenity Ng, Kennedy Salazar Nieves, Allison Shutts, Ava Sierra, and Bailey Zylstra. In total, 20 Bonita Unified students, from grades six to 12, were selected for SCVA Honor Choirs this school year. The SCVA Junior High Honor Choir will perform on May 4 at Portola High School in Irvine.
Hacienda La Puente Unified Middle Schools Cited as Schools to Watch
Cedarlane Academy, Fairgrove Academy, Mesa Robles School, and Valinda School of Academics have been named 2024 Schools to Watch by the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California League of Educators, recognizing their continued success in keeping students engaged through a critical stage in their K-12 educational journey, demonstrating social equity, and helping them achieve academic excellence. The four campuses are among 16 schools to be newly designated as Schools to Watch and will be honored alongside 36 re-designated model schools at the annual California League of Schools Conference held March 8-9 in Monterey.
Bonita Unified School District will be represented at the National ProStart Invitational for the second year in a row, following Bonita High School’s success at the California ProStart Cup, held Feb. 21 and 22. Bonita High School’s culinary team “Chicks” punched their ticket to nationals after winning first place in the Culinary Cup at the state contest. San Dimas High School students also excelled at the ProStart Cup; students Gabriel Costa and Austin Garcia took first and third, respectively, in the “Dress Your Dog” competition and senior Christina Jones took first place in the Loaded Idaho Potato competition – both of which tasked competitors with creating inventive toppings for their respective items. Bonita High School’s culinary team will represent California at the National ProStart Invitational, held April 26 to 28 in Baltimore. San Dimas High School’s ProStart team placed third in the restaurant management contest at the national competition in 2023.
Bonita Unified Alum, Grammy Winner to Perform with BUSD Students
Bonita High School alumnus and Grammy Award-winning jazz composer Gordon Goodwin will return to support his high school music program – which helped launch his prolific music career – when he performs with his Big Phat Band at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at the Bonita Center for the Arts. During the concert – which will benefit the San Dimas and La Verne Band Boosters – Goodwin will perform a set as a guest artist with Bonita Unified’s All-District Jazz Ensemble, featuring performers from Bonita and San Dimas high schools, before he takes the stage for a full concert with his band. The concert will also feature a tribute to the late Robin Snyder, the former Bonita High band director credited with introducing jazz into high school music education and inspiring Gordon to pursue a career in music. To purchase tickets, visit bonitacenterforthearts.com. The Bonita Center for the Arts is located at 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas.
After months of planning, Fontana Unified has launched esports teams at Fontana and Summit high schools for the 2024 seasons operating under the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Esports Initiative. The CIF Esports Initiative aims to connect video gameplay and competition to educational opportunities to make high school esports a place where students prepare for global career opportunities as well as competition. Esports is also creating stronger connections at each school site in Fontana Unified, with 33 students currently rostered on Fontana Unified’s two esports teams.
Students, staff, families, community members, and dignitaries gathered at Covina High School on Feb. 26 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the school’s new Aquatics Center – a project multiple years in the making. The project will replace the current 1950s-era pool and upgrade the aquatics facilities, ensuring students have access to modern amenities for physical education classes, water polo and swim team practices and competitions, and more.
