Bonita Unified’s Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting Dec. 11, selecting new leaders for the coming year. The board chose Glenn Creiman as president, Matthew Lyons as vice president and Chuck Coyne as clerk. Derek Bahmanou and Diane Koach round out the board.
Bonita Unified School District is being recognized by the Inland News Group as one of 2019’s Top 35 Workplaces in the Inland Empire. Over 1,200 survey responses from more than 600 employees at all 13 Bonita Unified schools reflected a positive culture at Bonita, with faculty and staff relishing the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students and help them realize their potential, the camaraderie of co-workers and being rewarded for good work. The Bonita Unified Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association Bonita Chapter said that they were proud to see Bonita recognized and that they are appreciative of everyone who made the recognition possible.
Students, parents, staff and community members from Bonita Unified will hold a reception at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 to dedicate the recently completed District Office, 115 W. Allen Ave., San Dimas. Superintendent Carl J. Coles will present the District’s mission, vision and core values. The District Office building represents the final project completed with funds from bond measures C and AB.
Bonita Unified students are scoring among the highest in the state on standardized tests, boosting scores by as much as 33 percent over five years and achieving proficiency levels in excess of 70 percent in English language arts (ELA) and 60 percent in math. Scores for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) released this week for tests taken in spring 2019 place Bonita Unified among the top 10 percent of unified school districts in California.
The fourth annual Parent Partnership Academy, a free one-day conference for all parents and guardians of Bonita Unified students, will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 at Lone Hill Middle School, 700 S. Lone Hill Ave., San Dimas. Over 20 workshops and sessions taught by Bonita Unified educators and local experts will provide training, support and demonstrations on a wide range of topics from classroom technology to individualized services for students with special needs.
In a ceremony at the 47th Annual Smudge Pot game on Sept. 14, Bonita Unified Superintendent Carl J. Coles and a representative from the Marine Corps presented awards to a senior from each football team for their outstanding academics. Jacob Horne, Bonita Bearcats wide receiver, carries a 4.4 GPA. San Dimas Saints lineman Nicholas “Nicco” Guerra was honored for maintaining a 4.2 GPA, representing San Dimas High at Boys State and serving as a Link Crew member. Both students exemplify Bonita Unified’s focus on academics, athletics, activities and arts.
Business and community leaders from La Verne and San Dimas will tour all 13 Bonita Unified schools from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24. The event, sponsored by the La Verne and San Dimas Chambers of Commerce, will offer an inside glimpse of each school, opportunities for partnerships, discuss workforce development training demands and explore ways to bridge the gap between the needs of educators and business leaders. An optional tour of Bonita Center for the Arts will be provided from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Oak Mesa Elementary School second-graders learned how government laws and regulations aim to ensure community safety during a week of mini-civics lessons from City of La Verne leaders. La Verne City Councilmember Tim Hepburn, La Verne police Cpl. Mark Gutierrez and La Verne fire Cpt. Kevin Wilton visited Oak Mesa second-grade classrooms to augment curriculum introducing students to basic facets of American government.
In partnership with Soroptimist International of San Dimas/La Verne, Bonita Unified teachers and administrators treated 70 students to a back-to-school shopping spree at the La Verne Target. In addition to receiving backpacks and school supplies, each student received an $80 clothing budget and a shopping assistant from among 50 volunteers from the Bonita Unified school board, police department, fire department and other local organizations. The “Bonita Children’s Shopping Day” has provided the shopping experience to students annually since 1995.
Associated Student Body leaders at Bonita and San Dimas high schools are busy gathering supplies for brightly colored spirit signs and planning events for spirit week, while their bands are practicing pep tunes and half-time shows and cheerleaders are rehearsing routines and chants to keep the crowds pumped during the annual Smudge Pot football game at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14. The San Dimas Saints will vie to recapture the trophy from the Bonita Bearcats, who claimed it last year in a 28-14 victory. The game will be held at Citrus College Stadium, 1000 W. Foothill Blvd., Glendora.