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Bonita Unified School District

  • Bonita Unified Honors Reclassified English Learners with District Celebration

    In a festive atmosphere that embraced the coming of autumn, favoring tranquil shades of orange that reflected throughout the Bonita Center for the Arts, Bonita Unified celebrated its newest group of English learners (EL) eligible to be reclassified after passing their English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) exams during a Districtwide ceremony on Oct. 1. All BUSD schools with reclassified ELs were recognized at the same time, with 81 K-12 students eligible to participate in the ceremony, where they received a medal, certificate, and goody bag, while their families cheered them on.

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  • Bonita Unified High Schools Recognized Among Nation’s Best by U.S. News & World Report

    Bonita Unified School District’s comprehensive high schools, Bonita High and San Dimas High, have been named among the top 16 percent of public high schools nationwide in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report “Best High Schools” rankings, recognizing the schools’ commitment to academic excellence and college readiness. Bonita High School placed in the top 11% of public high schools nationwide and in the top nine percent of schools statewide. San Dimas High School ranked in the top 16% nationwide and in the top 15% of California schools. Both schools achieved graduation rates of 94% or higher.

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  • Bonita Unified’s 53rd Smudge Pot Game Unites Generations of Students in Display of Friendly Rivalry, School Spirit

    For more than half a century, the Smudge Pot has been more than just a football game in Bonita Unified – it has been a showcase of community pride, student talent, and family tradition. On Sept. 13, that legacy continued as Bonita and San Dimas high schools brought their rivalry to Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) for the 53rd annual matchup. This year marked the first time the storied contest was played at Mt. SAC’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium, where Bonita High secured its seventh consecutive Smudge Pot victory with a 28-14 win. Beyond the scoreboard, the annual Smudge Pot tradition has long been a celebration of the entire Bonita Unified community, District students’ talents in athletics and the arts. Students on both sidelines kept the energy high throughout the game; San Dimas High and Bonita High Associated Student Body (ASB) leaders led their sections in chants, while cheer and dance teams from both schools performed.

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Bonita Unified Drama Students to Stage ‘Legally Blonde’ Production

Bonita High School’s drama department will stage a production of “Legally Blonde The Musical” as its annual spring musical with three performances at the Bonita Center for the Arts on Thursday, April 27, Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.bonitacenterforthearts.com/. The Bonita Center for the Arts is located at 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas.

Bonita Unified Honors Students for Helping Community Member in Need

The Bonita Unified Board of Education honored San Dimas High School students Steven Moran, Sergio Robles, Robert Smith and Steven Rosales during its March 1 Board meeting, recognizing the students for their recent act of service in assisting a man who was in medical distress while they were having lunch off-campus. The students called 911 and assisted the man in moving to a safe space while waiting for first responders to arrive.

Bonita Unified Adult Transition Students Welcomed at University of La Verne

Bonita Unified Adult Transition Program students are entering a new phase in their lives, splitting time between the San Dimas High School campus and the University of La Verne (ULV) through a partnership that allows students ages 18 to 22 with moderate to severe disabilities to connect with students their own age as they work toward transitioning into adult life with full functionality. The program, which debuted in mid-January, places the students at ULV for two days a week, then switches back to San Dimas High for the remainder of the school week. Bonita Unified Adult Transition students receive full access to ULV facilities, including the library, gym, campus center and dining hall.

Bonita Unified Alumnus, Pro Golfer Returns to Make Dedication to Former Coach

On his first day of practice as a member of the San Dimas High golf team, Class of 2008 graduate J.J. Spaun met the man who would help propel him to a career as a professional golfer on the PGA Tour, Saints coach Doug Shultz. From Spaun’s first practice as a freshman until his final putt as a senior, leading the Saints to their fourth consecutive league championship, Shultz was there to guide him. Spaun returned to campus on Feb. 22 to dedicate a memorial bench to the late Shultz, honoring the man who devoted so much time to his players in more than 20 years as a coach.

Bonita Unified Cheer Team Concludes Season with Championship Titles

San Dimas High School’s cheer team celebrated a successful competition season by ringing the bell in the school’s iconic bell tower on Feb. 8, a coveted privilege awarded for outstanding student achievements. The Saints’ cheer team won its third CIF Southern Section Division 2A Championship, followed by the Cheer Pros state champion title in tumbling and small varsity intermediate categories. San Dimas High students Maddison Arochi, Giselle Baeza, Melissa Rayas and Nailey Ornelas were also named to the All-State cheer team.

Bonita Unified Middle School to Stage ‘Little Mermaid’ Musical

Ramona Middle School’s Drama Society will stage a production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” as its annual musical at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1 and Thursday, March 2 at the Bonita Center for the Arts. Ramona offers drama as a sixth- and seventh-grade elective – as well as in an afterschool club open to all grade levels – as part of the District’s robust visual and performing arts program. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.bonitacenterforthearts.com/. The Bonita Center for the Arts is located at 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas.

Bonita Unified’s Oak Mesa Elementary Honored as a 2023 California Distinguished School

Oak Mesa Elementary School has been named a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education (CDE) for the fourth time, celebrating the school’s excellence in closing the achievement gap and achieving exceptional student performance. Oak Mesa, which is among 356 elementary schools honored by the CDE this year, was previously named a California Distinguished School in 2008, 2012 and 2020. Schools were selected by analyzing data from the 2021-22 school year reported on the California School Dashboard, including assessment results, chronic absenteeism, suspension rates and socioeconomic data.

Bonita Unified Board of Education Appoints Matt Wien as Superintendent

The Bonita Unified Board of Education unanimously approved Matt Wien to serve as the District’s superintendent during its Feb. 1 meeting, a decision met with deafening cheers and a standing ovation from a packed room of District teachers, staff, community leaders and families. The approval of Wien’s three-year contract for superintendent follows his success as acting and interim superintendent over nearly six months, during which he continued to serve in his previous position as assistant superintendent of educational services.

Bonita Unified Accounting Students Offer Free Tax Filing Services

Students in Bonita High School’s accounting class are putting their knowledge into practice by filing free tax returns for students, as well as local taxpayers with income below $60,000, through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service, the VITA program has provided free tax assistance for more than 50 years. Under the supervision of Bonita High accounting teacher Madhu Sekhri, students will be available to assist their peers and community members with their tax returns from 11:35 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, contact Sekhri at m.sekhri@bonita.k12.ca.us or call (909) 971-8220.

Bonita Unified Board Approves Matt Wien as Superintendent

The Bonita Unified School District’s Board of Education unanimously approved Matt Wien as superintendent during its Feb. 1 meeting, earning deafening cheers and a standing ovation from a packed room of District teachers, staff, community leaders and families. The approval of Wien’s three-year contract for superintendent follows his success as acting and interim superintendent over nearly six months, during which he continued to serve in his previous position as assistant superintendent of educational services. Wien has more than 20 years of experience in education, nearly 13 of which have been spent in Bonita Unified.