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Bonita Unified School District

  • Bonita Unified Choir Students Celebrate Selection to SCVA Junior High Honor Choir

    Now in her 12th year, Ramona Middle School music teacher Caitlin Shaw has provided the crucial link between elementary school novice singers and Bonita High School’s prestigious Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. With more than 270 students in her program, Shaw teaches singers how to harmonize, read music, and prepare for auditions and live performances. Channeling Shaw’s mentorship and guidance, 11 Ramona music students, along with three Bonita High School freshmen, have been selected to join the Southern California Vocal Association’s (SCVA) 2025 Junior High Honor Choir, underscoring the hard work and dedication that epitomize Bonita Unified’s successful and award-winning Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) programs. Ramona placed more students in the honor choir than any other Southern California school. The SCVA Junior High Honor Choir 2025 spring performance will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 at Portola High School in Irvine.

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  • Bonita Unified Middle School Theater Performances Receive Awards, Accolades

    The Ramona Middle School Drama Society is celebrating another season of outstanding performances, earning awards and accolades at prestigious theater festivals across California in February, then returning home to stage its showstopping annual musical, “Shrek Jr.” for three performances, including a sold-out, standing-room-only show on the final night. A touring group of 24 Ramona Drama Society students traveled to Sacramento for the 2025 Junior Theatre Festival – the world’s biggest theatre festival – featuring drama programs from across the United States, as well as Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, China, and Australia. Ramona Drama Society members performed a 15-minute section from their 2024 production of “Annie, Jr.,” earning an exclusive Excellence in Ensemble award, presented to only five groups in the 55-team field. Not to be outdone, a group of 11 Ramona Drama Society students attended the Junior Thespian Festival at the Orange County School of the Arts, with seven students competing in the Solo Musical or Duet Musical categories. Ramona eighth-graders Lillian Krane and Tia Kaldas received “Superior” rankings and Judges Choice Awards in the Duet Musical category, while eighth-grader Peyton Lokar received a “Superior” ranking in the Solo Musical category.

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  • Bonita Unified Students Celebrate Black History Month with BCA Art Exhibit

    Energized by the pioneering legacy of Black and African American artists, San Dimas High School art students have created work in a diverse range of styles, themes, media, and cultural influences, assembling them for the exhibit, “Inspired by Black: Student Reflections on African American Artistry,” currently on display at the Bonita Center for the Arts (BCA). Curated by San Dimas High visual and performing arts chair and art teacher Dominic Black, the exhibit features drawings, paintings, sculptures, and mixed media pieces from dozens of art students, who engage and reflect on the work of Black or African American historic and contemporary artists.

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Bonita Unified’s Annual Smudge Pot Game Celebrates Athletics, Arts through Friendly Rivalry

Bedecked in Bearcat green and Saints blue, Bonita Unified community members filled the stands of Covina District Field for the annual Smudge Pot game on Sept. 11, enjoying an energetic display of athletics, arts and activities from Bonita and San Dimas high schools. The battle for the iconic silver Smudge Pot trophy – an oil-burning tool used to shield fruit trees from frost and a symbol of the two cities’ roots in the regional citrus industry – was accompanied by demonstrations of artistic skill and athletic prowess on the sidelines from the schools’ marching bands, dance teams, and spirit squads. Bonita High School retained the Smudge Pot for another year after a 28-14 win over San Dimas High School.

Bonita Unified Offers COVID-19 Testing at Ramona Middle School

Bonita Unified School District is offering a free drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic to students, parents, employees, and community members, held 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at Ramona Middle School, 3490 Ramona Ave., La Verne. The next scheduled clinic is Saturday, Oct. 16. The clinic will run through Saturday, Oct. 30. Appointments are not necessary to receive the PCR test, but every participant must complete a patient test request form.

Bonita Unified 2021-22 School Year to Include In-Person, Online Learning

Bonita Unified School District will welcome students back to campus for the 2021-22 school year on Monday, Aug. 23, providing in-person instruction five days a week. Bonita Unified will continue offering online learning for students who choose not to return to in-person learning.

Bonita Unified Honors Girls Basketball Coach on 300th Career Win

Bonita Unified School District honored San Dimas High School girls basketball coach Gary Jackson on his 300th career win, which came during a thrilling season that saw the San Dimas team reach the 2021 CIF Southern California Girls Basketball Championship tournament. Jackson has been head coach for 21 years, as well as San Dimas’ head track and field coach and assistant volleyball coach. BUSD honored Jackson with a certificate of recognition and Challenge Coin.

Bonita Unified Celebrates Class of 2021 with In-Person Graduation Ceremonies

Bonita Unified School District celebrated the Class of 2021 with spirited and emotional in-person graduation ceremonies for San Dimas, Bonita and Chaparral high schools, held June 8-10, that featured laughs and tears, inspirational music, and fireworks. Family members cheered as the graduates received their diplomas, turned their tassels and sang their alma mater for the last time. San Dimas High graduate Molly Gonzales played guitar and sang “Somewhere Only We Know” while the Bonita High Chamber Singers sang the Bill Withers classic, “Lean on Me.” Chaparral High graduates wrote personalized notes about their high school journey, which were read aloud when they received their diplomas.

Bonita Unified to Honor Seniors with In-Person Commencement Ceremonies

Bonita Unified School District will host three separate in-person commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021, allowing seniors to end the year celebrating with family, friends and teachers. San Dimas High School will host its commencement at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 8 at the San Dimas High Stadium; Chaparral-Vista High School holds its ceremony at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 9 at Bonita High Stadium; and Bonita High holds its ceremony at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 10 at Bonita High Stadium. Tickets are required for in-person admission. All ceremonies will be livestreamed.

Bonita Unified Teacher Receives Surprise from SoCal Honda Dealers

Andrea Castaneda, a teacher for the Autism Spectrum Disorders Intermediate (ASD-I) classroom at Lone Hill Middle School, received a surprise visit from the SoCal Helpful Honda Dealers on May 7, bestowing her with a variety of tools and equipment, including an iPad charging cart; Hokki stools, which provide flexible seating for students with sensory needs; books; and desk fidget bands, which allow students to move their feet and legs while they sit. Photos are available.

Bonita Unified Honors Food Services Department for Dedication to School Community

Bonita Unified School District presented members of its Food Services Department with the Purpose Award during an April 7 Board of Education meeting, celebrating their exemplary commitment to students and families throughout the pandemic. The Bonita Unified Food Services team has provided its community with more than 750,000 free meals via curbside pick-up since the closure of schools in March 2020. On average, the District serves more than 1,700 breakfast and lunch meals daily.

Bonita Unified School District Refinances Bonds, Saves Taxpayers More Than $5.5 Million

Bonita Unified School District locked in savings of more than $5.5 million for local taxpayers by refinancing existing general obligation bonds, which will lower property tax bills. Combined with previous bond refinancing from 2012, 2014 and 2016, the District has saved taxpayers more than $18.8 million. Prior to the bond sale, the District received an ‘AA-’ credit rating from S&P Global Ratings, an American credit rating agency that publishes financial research and analysis on stocks, bonds and commodities.