Chaparral-Vista High School Dean of Students Kendra Lewis has been recognized by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) as its 2026 Region 15 Promising Administrator of the Year, highlighting her leadership, innovation, and deep commitment to equity in education and student success. Lewis is now in her third year at Chaparral-Vista High, after serving more than 10 years as a math and AVID teacher in another district. Lewis turned to administration because she wanted to make an even bigger impact on student success.
Bonita High School continues its annual tradition of providing IRS-certified accountants-in-training to help local taxpayers with incomes below $69,000, through its no-cost Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Bonita High’s VITA program has assisted families in filing their tax returns for more than 20 years, hosting monthly Tax Days dedicated to the services, as well as individual appointments throughout tax season.
The Rotary Club of San Dimas continued its annual tradition of supporting Bonita Unified teachers by awarding mini-grants to help fund special projects and classroom learning. Rotary Club president Mike Wallace and secretary Steve Scott presented mini-grants totaling $3,200 to seven teachers during the Feb. 4 Board of Education meeting.
With nerves buzzing and mental dictionaries ready, Bonita Unified students took center stage for the District’s 20th Annual Spelling Bee on Feb. 2, transforming the Bonita Center for the Arts into a high-stakes arena of vocabulary and composure where 56 students battled one by one, ready to spell their way to victory. The competition unfolded over multiple rounds with the field narrowing word by word. In the end, Ally Abad, a fifth-grader from Gladstone Elementary School, claimed first place, followed by fellow Gladstone fifth-grader Maddox Macias in second, and Shull Elementary fourth-grader Sophia Salvador in third place. The win marked the fourth consecutive time a Gladstone student captured the Bonita Unified School District Spelling Bee title.
Bonita Unified School District Superintendent Matt Wien will speak directly to the District community about the tremendous successes seen throughout BUSD in academics, art, athletics, and more during the 2026 State of the District address. Wien will highlight areas of growth within the District and share his vision for Bonita Unified’s future.
Wearing golden crowns and gathering among shelves of storybooks, Shull Elementary School families were transported to lands far, far away in January for the first Family Reading Night of the 2026, an event designed to strengthen literacy skills while reinforcing the school’s culture of family partnership and academic excellence. Shull’s Family Reading Nights are intended to bring families into the learning process, reinforcing reading as a shared responsibility extending beyond the classroom. By creating opportunities for families to engage with books, educators and one another, the event encourages building literacy habits at home that complement daily instruction at school.
When San Dimas High School junior and athletic standout Tiffany Villegas was just four years old, she joined her brother’s Little League T-Ball team, getting her first taste of competition on a baseball diamond. Switching to softball as a kindergartner, Villegas quickly developed into a five-tool prospect, moving to travel softball at 10 years old. Now, Villegas is set to fulfill her dream of playing softball for an elite university, as well as attend an Ivy League school, after committing to the application process at Harvard University for the 2027-28 school year. Villegas, who has a 4.5 GPA, plans to major in biology on her way to medical school and is interested in a career as an anesthesiologist.
Lone Hill Middle School’s Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program is strengthening campus culture by helping sixth graders transition into middle school and providing eighth-grade students with meaningful leadership opportunities. Now in her third year overseeing the program, adviser Katryna Estrada has developed WEB as a key driver of inclusivity and student connection on campus.
San Dimas High School junior Jacqueline Chen first displayed her athletic prowess at nine years old, when she took a 15-foot dive off a cliff in Cancun, Mexico. Since then, her athleticism has taken her across the globe to international competitions, where she has won numerous medals. Soon she will make another big jump, to the Ivy League, after verbally committing to Harvard University. It has been a whirlwind year for Chen, who recently qualified, along with her sister, San Dimas freshman Barbara Chen, for the 2026 Asian Games, where they will represent Chinese Taipei. The Chen sisters earned a bronze medal in the Women’s Synchronized 3M Final competition at the Asian Aquatics Championships, held in India in September.
Sleigh bells will be ringing on Christmas Eve for the Bonita High School Chamber Singers as they deck the halls for the 66th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration, to be held at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, a festive night that showcases the artistry, talent, and cultural traditions of nearly two dozen Southern California-based artists at the storied concert venue. Bonita’s 32-member Chamber Singers will share the stage with a diverse cross-section of L.A. County’s finest performance acts, including singers, dancers, puppeteers, and brass bands. Each act will perform for five minutes during a live in-person show that will be broadcast live on PBS SoCal on Wednesday, Dec. 24 from 3 to 6 p.m. The Chamber Singers will perform during between 5 to 6 p.m.
