La Verne Heights Elementary School third-grade students spent a day learning the ABCs of finance and received valuable lessons in money management and entrepreneurship when the school hosted its Third Grade Business Day, held in December. With business names like “Mya and Esmay’s BFF Shop” nascent La Verne Heights business owners enthusiastically hawked their merchandise, which included stress balls, dog treats, lava lamps, snow globes, mini stuffed animals and mystery boxes. The event is designed to let students apply finance knowledge they have learned since the beginning of the school year and spend “play money” earned by completing assignments on time, scoring 100% on a test and helping others.
Bonita Unified School District will host its 2023-24 State of the District Address for local business partners, community leaders and families, in which Superintendent Matt Wien will provide an update on the District’s accomplishments, highlight academic, arts, athletic and extracurricular programs, and discuss BUSD’s vision and mission. In addition to Wien’s keynote address, the event will include refreshments prepared by the District’s culinary students and choral performances from Bonita and San Dimas high schools.
Bonita Unified teachers received a welcome boost from the Rotary Club of La Verne when the service organization continued its annual tradition of awarding District educators mini-grants to promote learning during the Jan. 17 Board of Education meeting. Rotary Club president Diana Laguna, joined by members Craig Rubin, Steven Johnson and Deborah Deacy, distributed $3,200 in mini-grants to 10 Bonita Unified teachers. The grants, which are worth up to $500 each, will help fund projects and resources that include a two-person tricycle for preschoolers, dramatic play centers, a sensory light table and an assistive technology library. Two Grace Miller Elementary School teachers are ready to implement their projects. Transitional kindergarten teacher Gayle Cervantes will use her grant to install a sensory light table in her classroom, to better enhance her student’s learning experience.
Bonita Unified Diving Prodigy Seeks to Qualify for Summer Olympics
Arroyo High School alumnus and girls basketball coach Mike Gorball is celebrating multiple achievements during his 34th season at Arroyo High, after becoming the first girls basketball coach in San Gabriel Valley history and only the 12th coach in CIF Southern Section history to earn 500 victories. Gorball completed the milestone when Arroyo defeated Schurr High School 40-22 in December 2023. The El Monte Union Board of Trustees will honor Gorball during a meeting in February.
Bonita Unified to Showcase Successes During State of the District
Bonita Unified School District will host its 2023-24 State of the District Address for local business partners, community leaders and families at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8. Superintendent Matt Wien will provide an update on the District’s accomplishments; highlight academic, arts, athletic and extracurricular programs; and discuss BUSD’s vision and mission. In addition to Wien’s keynote address, the event will include refreshments prepared by District staff and choral performances from Bonita and San Dimas high schools. The free event will be held at the Bonita Center for the Arts, located at 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas.
When Bonita High School senior Randy Gershman received an email inviting him to perform in the London New Year’s Day Parade, he doubted its legitimacy. His skepticism turned to surprise, then joy, upon learning this rare opportunity was real, earned after his success at the California State Drum Major Championships earlier this year. Gershman will march in the parade through the West End of London on Jan. 1, 2024, performing a routine with four other drum majors.
Bonita Unified Board of Education Reorganizes Officers for 2024
Bonita Unified School District’s Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on Dec. 13, voting members into new leadership roles. The Board selected Greg Palatto as president, Chris Ann Horsley as vice president and Derek Bahmanou as clerk. Members Glenn Creiman and Jim Elliot round out the Board.
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.
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.
