More than 60 Fontana High School students across a variety of campus clubs and organizations made the less than one-mile walk across Citrus Avenue, with many carrying gifts or dressed ready to perform for the residents at Citrus Nursing Center (CNC) on Dec. 13. Students in FOHI’s Steelers for Christ, a religious club on campus, ballet folklórico, choir and nursing programs paused their busy schedules during Fontana Unified School District’s finals week to visit with the CNC residents, with the school’s Madrigals choir and ballet folklórico programs putting on vibrant song and dance performances, while other students delivered gifts throughout the 99-bed skilled nursing facility.
Covina-Valley Unified School District Board of Education members assumed their new roles during the Board reorganization meeting on Dec. 11, preparing for another year of exemplary leadership, uplifting and supporting students across the District to achieve their academic goals. Maria E. Cruz will take the helm as the Board President, Sue L. Maulucci will serve as Vice President, Maria M. Caceres will take on the position of Clerk, and Simon Wright and Rachael Robles will continue to positively impact the District as Board Members.
On a festive afternoon that saw Whittier High School embracing the wonder of literature, junior Julia Rae Rodriguez read selections from her recently published first book of poetry to a packed library filled with friends, classmates and teachers, the feature presentation during a ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring Whittier High alumni authors on Dec. 6. Rodriguez joined Whittier High School Alumni Association Board Member Rob West and WHS history teacher Dean Myers to officially unveil a commemorative display case containing books written by Whitter High grads, including former President Richard Nixon, best-selling thriller writer John Saul and lawyer/author William C. Gordon, whom the library is dedicated to. After the ribbon-cutting, Rodriguez placed her new book, “Dried Lavender & Sage: Poems as I Grow,” inside the display case, joining the alumni authors.
Four Fontana Unified high schools were recognized by the College Board as Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Roll schools, highlighting the District’s commitment to fostering a college-going culture across its campuses, based on data compiled from the schools’ Class of 2023 graduates. Summit High School earned a Silver Award, while Fontana, A.B Miller and Henry J. Kaiser high schools were honored with Bronze Awards. Summit, Fontana and Kaiser also earned the AP Access Award, which recognizes the schools for providing underrepresented students access to advanced coursework. Of the three Honor Roll data sets, Fontana Unified schools scored the most impressive marks in college optimization, with Summit earning platinum status, Kaiser gold, A.B. Miller silver and Fontana High bronze.
Bonita Unified Students Perform in Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional
For the second year in a row, the Bonita High School Chamber Singers performed in the mass choir during the Candlelight Processional at Disneyland Resort, held Dec. 2 and 3. Following a rigorous audition process, the Chamber Singers were selected as one of just 11 school, community and college choirs to perform in the choir. The Candlelight Processional, which began in 1958, features a retelling of the story of the first Christmas, narrated this year by actress Brie Larson, along with songs performed by the Candlelight Choir.
LUSD Celebrates Computer Science Week with Cutting-Edge Curriculum
Lynwood Unified highlighted its Computer Science pathway at Firebaugh High School during Computer Science Education Week, held Dec. 4-10 to promote computer science education and inspire students to explore the world of technology. Firebaugh students can dive into the world of computer science through three specialized courses that prepare them to pursue high-paying and in-demand careers. Computer Science Education Week served as a platform to celebrate the achievements of Lynwood Unified in promoting STEM education and empowering students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in a 21st-century, technology-rich world.
3 Bonita Unified Students Named to All-State Honor Choirs
Bonita High School choral students Gage Dowdle, Ksenia Freeborn and Nathan Kwan were selected for the California Choral Directors Association 2024 All-State Honor Choirs, continuing a Bonita Unified tradition of elevating its vocal music students to perform in prestigious regional and state ensembles. Students with the top 44 percent of audition scores were accepted from each region to perform in this year’s choirs. The students will perform with the state’s top high school vocalists at the annual California All-State Music Educators Conference, to be held in February in Sacramento. Dowdle, Freeborn and Kwan are among 10 Bonita Unified students who were also selected to the Southern California Vocal Association Honor Choirs this year.
Bonita Unified will be well-represented at the 2024 Rose Parade on New Year’s Day after four District students – three from Bonita High School and one from San Dimas High School – were selected to perform in Pasadena City College’s 2024 Tournament of Roses Honor Band. Bonita High seniors Aidan Millan (trombone), Lake Ericson (cymbals) and Tatiana Arreola-Chavez (mellophone) will be joined by San Dimas High junior Anthony Bailey (clarinet). Millan will make his third consecutive appearance in the prestigious parade, while Ericson is returning for the second year in a row. Arreola-Chavez and Bailey are both making their Tournament of Roses Parade debuts.
Arroyo High School’s Band and Color Guard students cheered in triumph as they celebrated their first ever gold medal at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association 5-A Division Championships held in Long Beach on Nov. 18. This accomplishment marks the first time in Arroyo High and El Monte Union band history that a school has earned a gold medal. With a score of 92.1, Arroyo was ranked first out of 17 high school teams that competed over the past seven weeks to earn a spot to the finals. Before winning the gold medal, Arroyo earned four bronze medals in the last seven years.
Fontana Unified Jurupa Hills Football Team to Play for CIF State Title
Jurupa Hills High School football will look to add to its trophy case in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division 4-AA State Championship Bowl Game against Soquel High School at Pasadena City College’s Robinson Stadium at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8. The Spartans have already won the CIF Southern Section Division 8 and CIF State Division 4-AA Southern California Regional championships this season. Jurupa Hills is one of 30 high school teams still playing football across California, and carry a 9-6 record into its final of the game of the year against a 12-2 Soquel squad. Robinson Stadium is located at 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.
