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.
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.
