Bonita Unified School District

  • Bonita High School Senior Receives $200,000 NROTC Scholarship

    As an elementary school student during the pandemic, Bonita High School senior James Hurwitz would often spend time between online classes viewing short history-related videos on the internet. The more he watched, the more fascinated he became with world history, dreaming of becoming a standout student with solid character and a future leader. Devoting himself to academics and leadership in high school, Hurwitz is on track to graduate with a 4.0 GPA, while building his skills through participation in the Civil Air Patrol as part of its Brackett Composite Squadron 64, and training with the Marine Delayed Entry program, where he impressed recruiters with his academic and physical capabilities, knowledge of history and enthusiasm in engaging with instructors and cadets.

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  • Bonita Unified Elementary School Celebrates Neurodiversity During Annual “Be You” Night

    Gladstone Elementary School hosted its annual “Be You” Night in April, drawing its largest turnout to date with more than 150 students and parents coming together for an evening centered on supporting neurodiverse learners. Organized by the Gladstone Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and supported by a campuswide community effort, the event continues to grow each year, bringing students and families together during Autism Acceptance Month through interactive, sensory-friendly activities.

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  • San Dimas High School Digital Art Studio Helps Create, Define Saint Spirit

    San Dimas High School’s Saint Shop Digital Art Studio has been helping to create and define Saint spirit for more than a decade, assisting students, administrators, teachers, and community groups on their design projects with expert-level technique and affordable prices. Known as the “fab lab,” the Digital Art Studio is available to all San Dimas students and staff, as well as community partners, to help design and manufacture T-shirts, stickers, banners, logos, and more, using the combined talents of the school’s Visual Communication (VisCom) pathway students, which include traditional artists, graphic artists, and printing specialists.

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Bonita Unified Elementary Students Bury Time Capsule for 2044

La Verne Heights Elementary School’s fifth-grade class and Associated Student Body celebrated the end of a memorable school year together by creating a time capsule, which was buried on campus on May 31. The time capsule included letters to future students, a yearbook, an aerial photograph of the school, and student-suggested items that are representative of 2024, such as a pair of Crocs, Stanley beverage cups, and Takis. La Verne Heights Elementary will invites its current families to return in 20 years to open the time capsule.

Bonita Unified Graduate Honored for Volunteer Work with Habitat for Humanity Award

Bonita High School Class of 2024 graduate Rishika Ravichandran never passes up an opportunity to help others. Whether she is participating in a local food drive, assisting in a National Honor Society clothing drive, or preparing incoming freshmen for high school life as Bonita’s Link Crew senior director, Ravichandran is committed to helping others in need. Ravichandran’s volunteer spirit was recently recognized by the Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity, who presented her with its Community Builder award, given to young community leaders and high-achieving students, during a ceremony held April 28 at the Fairplex Sheraton. Ravichandran, who maintained a 4.8 GPA her senior year, will attend the University of California, San Diego in the fall to study mathematics-computer science.

Bonita Unified Celebrates Accomplished Class of 2024 with Dynamic Commencement Ceremonies

Celebratory music swelled and streamers cascaded through the evening skies as nearly 800 graduates tossed their caps and shared tearful hugs during Bonita Unified School District’s commencement ceremonies, which marked the end of an award-winning year for the Class of 2024. Chaparral-Vista and San Dimas high schools kicked off the festivities on June 4, followed by Bonita High School on June 6. Each school recognized graduates for their academic, artistic, and athletic excellence, highlighting CIF champions, regional and state honors for arts and music, and nationally recognized career technical education programs. Bonita Unified’s Class of 2024 will continue their education at institutions that include Harvard University, UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University, and the California Institute of Technology; many others will enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces or enter the workforce.

Bonita Unified High School Seniors Learn Lessons in Finance During ‘Bite of Reality’

Bonita High School seniors received a taste of what their financial responsibilities will be once they leave high school during Bite of Reality, a money management app-based simulation that guides students through real-life scenarios where they must decide how much money they can spend and balance their budget without incurring significant debt. Sponsored by Chaffey Federal Credit Union, Bite of Reality, held May 23, randomly assigns students new identities, and provides them with fictional occupations, a fixed monthly income, a spouse, and a child. From there, students must decide how to spend their money and prioritize essentials such as transportation, housing, child care, and groceries.

Bonita Unified Students Honored by Educational Foundation for Perseverance, Community Impact

More than 100 Bonita Unified students received a moment in the spotlight to honor actions that often go unseen – from launching an initiative to teach senior citizens digital literacy skills to providing shelter for a peer whose family experienced hardship and ensuring they graduated with their class – during the 2023-24 La Verne/San Dimas Educational Foundation (LVSDEF) Awards.

Bonita Unified Culinary Students Take Top Prizes at LA County Fair

Bonita Unified School District’s ProStart program concluded its competition season with two awards at the 2024 LA County Fair’s Seasonal Fruits Culinary Contest, held May 12. In the 13- to 17-year-old category, Bonita High School junior Charli Padilla took first place for her orange mocha tart, and San Dimas High School student Gabriel Costa took third place for his strawberry panna cotta. The awards culminate a school year that saw Bonita Unified ProStart students take first place in the culinary competition at the California ProStart Cup, followed by a 10th place finish at the National ProStart Invitational.

Bonita Unified Alumnus Makes Big Splash as Coach of CIF Champion Swim, Water Polo Teams

When the Bonita High School boys swim team captured its first-ever CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) Division 3 championship at Mt. San Antonio College on May 3, the triumphant Bearcat athletes gave coach Dillon Unsoeld the water polo version of the traditional Gatorade victory shower, celebrating the moment by playfully pushing their mentor into the swimming pool. The swim team’s CIF championship caps off the most successful year ever for Bonita swimmers, coming on the heels of the boys water polo team’s first-ever CIF-SS Division 3 title last November. For Unsoeld, a Bonita High Class of 2010 alumnus, the twin triumphs underscore the positive energy and stability he has brought to the program since he was hired in 2016.

Bonita Unified School District to Honor Accomplished Class of 2024

Bonita Unified School District will conclude a successful academic year by celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024, which includes graduates headed to Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and Caltech, during commencement ceremonies for its two comprehensive high schools and continuation school. Chaparral High School will kick off the festivities with a 5 p.m. ceremony on Tuesday, June 4 at the Bonita Center for the Arts, 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas; San Dimas High School will follow with a spirited ceremony at 7 p.m. at the school’s stadium, 800 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas; and Bonita High School will close out the District’s commencement celebrations with a 7 p.m. ceremony on Thursday, June 6 at Glenn Davis Stadium, 3102 D St., La Verne.

Bonita Unified Appoints New Oak Mesa Elementary Principal

Bonita Unified School District announced during the May 1 Board of Education meeting that Dr. Christine Malally will serve as principal of Oak Mesa Elementary in the 2024-25 school year. Malally comes to Bonita Unified after 15 years of service in Claremont Unified, where she is currently an elementary school principal. Malally, a resident of La Verne and parent of two Bonita Unified alumni, holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Azusa Pacific University, a master’s degree from Cal State San Bernardino, and a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Pomona. She will take the helm at Oak Mesa, a California Distinguished School, following current principal Steven Patterson’s promotion to BUSD’s Senior Director of Student Services, effective July 1.

Bonita Unified Students, Teachers to Perform ’80s Hits at SD ROCKS

San Dimas High School will hold its annual SD ROCKS music festival on Saturday, June 1 at the Bonita Center for the Arts (BCA), delighting the community with a lively celebration of the music and fashion of the 1980s. First launched in 2009 as a faculty rock concert, SD ROCKS has since expanded into an all-day music festival, with two separate shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., featuring performances by the San Dimas band and choir, San Dimas jazz band, student bands, and teachers. Tickets can be purchased on the BCA website. The BCA is located at 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas.