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.
Grammy Award-winning jazz musician and band leader Gordon Goodwin returned to Bonita Unified with his world-famous Big Phat Band for a concert that showcased All-District Jazz Ensemble musicians and served as a tribute to longtime Bonita High music teacher Robin Snyder, who is credited with introducing jazz into Southern California school music programs in the 1960s. Goodwin, who graduated from Bonita High School in 1973, performed double duty at the March 16 Bonita Center for the Arts show, jamming with All-District players during their opening set, then leading a nearly two-hour performance with his 19-member group. In between songs, Goodwin took time to reminisce about his years at Bonita High, and how Snyder helped develop his career.
Bonita Unified to Host Career and Community Resources Fair
Students from Bonita, San Dimas, and Chaparral-Vista high schools will have the opportunity to explore local mentorship, employment and volunteer opportunities during the District’s annual Career and Community Resources Fair, to be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 18. The event brings together local organizations, colleges and universities, and businesses to connect with students and families, provide information on available resources and training opportunities, and get students thinking about their future. The fair will be held at San Dimas High School, 800 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas.
Bonita Unified School District students’ achievements in their academic, athletic, artistic and extracurricular endeavors took center stage during the 2024 State of the District address, held Feb. 8 at the Bonita Center for the Arts. Hosted in partnership with the La Verne and San Dimas Chambers of Commerce, the State of the District brought together nearly 200 local elected officials, representatives from businesses and community organizations, residents, parents and District employees, who listened to Superintendent Matt Wien reflect back on the District’s accomplishments in 2023 and share its vision for the future. The event culminated with the premiere of Bonita Unified’s 2024 showcase video titled “The Bonita Way,” an uplifting reflection on the District’s award-winning academic and co-curricular programs, dedicated employees and high-achieving students.
Bonita Unified educators will see their classroom projects come to life after receiving mini-grants from the Rotary Club of San Dimas that will support a campus wellness center, outdoor play areas and resources for math students, as the service organization continued its tradition of supporting District initiatives during the Feb. 7 Board of Education meeting. Rotary Club of San Dimas members distributed $1,500 in mini-grants to Chaparral-Vista High School counselor Val Herrera, Shull Elementary School kindergarten teacher Somer Estrada and Shull Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Susan Hsiung.
Bonita Unified elementary school students are discovering the joys of having a high school mentor and best buddy through a new career technical education partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Los Angeles, which provides mentoring specialists to lead programs for Grace Miller Elementary and La Verne Heights Elementary students who desire afterschool companionship. Big Brothers Big Sisters pairs older students, known as “Bigs,” with younger students, known as “Littles.” The Bigs consist of Bonita High School volunteer mentors who meet once a week at the elementary school campuses to connect and spend time with their Littles. The program, which debuted in Oct. 2023, will run for the rest of the 2023-24 school year.
Bonita Unified Alumna Goes Pro in National Women’s Soccer League
San Dimas High School Class of 2022 graduate Ally Lemos was drafted by the Orlando Pride in the first round of the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Draft on Jan. 12. Ally graduated early from San Dimas High School in Dec. 2021 and went on to have two stellar seasons with the UCLA women's soccer team, which included a NCAA Championship title in 2022, an ESPY Award nomination for "Best Play," and multiple selections for the U.S. U-20 Women's Youth National Team. Ally is the fourth-youngest draftee in NWSL history.
100 Bonita Unified TK-12 Students to Star in ‘Mary Poppins’ Musical
The San Dimas High School Drama Club is staging a winter production of "Mary Poppins," bringing together more than 100 TK to 12th-grade students from nine Bonita Unified schools for a heartwarming display of musical and theatrical talents. There will be two shows per day from Friday, Feb. 9 to Sunday, Feb. 11 at the Bonita Center for the Arts, 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas. For show times and tickets, visit www.bonitacenterforthearts.com.
Bonita Unified Students Explore Career Options at General Atomics
Thirty Bonita Unified students gained insight into a variety of jobs available within a corporation – from assembly work to manufacturing engineering – during a Jan. 21 field trip to General Atomics in Poway, which develops advanced technology for government and commercial applications. Students toured the facility, experienced each stage of the development of unmanned aircrafts, and learned about paid internship opportunities. The field trip is one of many offered this year as part of Bonita Unified’s increased focus on expanding work-based learning opportunities for students.
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.
