Fontana High School (FOHI) has been recognized with a Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association for its transformative College Application Submit Day (CASD), a celebratory event that honors students as they submit their college applications and has reshaped college readiness at FOHI, across Fontana Unified, and beyond. This year, FOHI will celebrate both the recognition and its ongoing commitment to student success during its ninth annual CASD on Thursday, Nov. 20, when students actively submit their college applications to qualifying universities. The day features on-the-spot admissions from local universities – including the University of Redlands, Cal Baptist University, University of La Verne, Azusa Pacific University, and direct admission to Cal State University San Bernardino – along with photobooths, “I Applied to College” stickers, college t-shirts, and a family reception. Each year, more than 400 FOHI families participate in the event, with over 2,400 applications submitted in a single day.
For the eighth year in a row, Southridge Tech Middle School has been recognized as a Microsoft Showcase School for the 2025-26 academic year in recognition of its ongoing commitment to educational innovation and use of digital tools to support student success. Southridge Tech was first welcomed into the global network of Microsoft Showcase Schools in 2018, joining campuses across six continents recognized for their forward-thinking integration of technology to improve student outcomes and promote inclusive learning. Only 32 schools across North America – and just three in California – received this honor this year.
More than 500 families gathered at Jessie Turner Park this fall for Fontana Unified’s 10th annual Early Education Family Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Night, an interactive, outdoor, community event designed to strengthen family engagement and spark curiosity in STEAM among the District’s youngest learners. Summit High School volunteers, alongside the Early Education instructional teams, guided families with children ages 2 to 5 in a range of play-based, hands-on activities that celebrated creativity and exploration. Organized in partnership with the District’s State preschool, transitional kindergarten, and special education preschool programs, the evening featured various stations that introduced STEAM concepts, including participating in sensory activities, observing color changes by mixing food dye, building catapults, constructing block structures from blueprints, and learning gardening skills.
Fontana High School’s (FOHI) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MCJROTC) marksmanship team has begun the 2025 National Sporter Air Rifle League season with precision and focus, securing four consecutive wins and maintaining its standing among the nation’s leading teams. Guided by coach LtCol Denny Meelarp, Fontana MCJROTC has earned a reputation for consistent excellence, qualifying for the national championships four years in a row and routinely placing among the top seven teams nationwide. The program emphasizes discipline, technique, and student independence, with Meelarp encouraging cadets to take ownership of their training.
The Fontana High School Marching Steelers brought their energy and precision to Palm Desert Civic Center Park on Oct. 5, performing for one of their own—Blink-182 drummer and Fontana High alumnus Travis Barker. As the runners laced up for the “Run Travis Run” 5K charity event, the Marching Steelers performed pep tunes on Barker’s arrival and rallying the crowd at the start and finish lines. The event, part of Barker’s “Hit The Pavement” wellness tour, benefitted the nonprofit Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE), which supports disaster response and community resilience around the world.
Fontana High School’s dedication to ensure students thrive after graduation has been recognized through their Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, with the school being named as one of four finalists for the college prep program’s inaugural AVID Global Achievement Site Team of the Year award. The winner will be announced at the AVID 2025 National Conference in December.
Fontana Unified School District’s robotics team from Redwood Elementary School competed in the World Robot Olympiad (WRO), Asia Pacific Open Championships in Manila, Philippines in September, going up against student groups from Asia, Europe, and Africa while serving as United States ambassadors. Redwood Elementary School sixth-grader Dalayza Ponce and fifth-graders Isabella Ruiz and Kylie Moorefield – collectively known as Two Bunny Robots – embarked on the international trip after their top five finish in the WRO National Tournament in July. With a 13th place finish in Manila, the international experience helped equip the Redwood Elementary students with the confidence to continue pursuing their passions.
Jurupa Hills High School opened its doors to nearly 3,000 students and families from across the Inland Empire on Oct. 8 as Fontana Unified School District hosted the annual Regional College and Career Fair for the first time on a District campus. Presented in partnership with Chaffey Joint Union High School District, the fair connected attendees with more than 70 colleges, universities, employers, and career programs from across the country, offering a one-stop shop to explore post-secondary pathways and kept the event local and accessible for students and their families.
The Fontana High School Marching Steelers band will pump up the volume, hoping to inspire runners and music fans to put forth their best effort when they join Blink-182 drummer and FOHI alum Travis Barker for his “Run Travis Run” 5K race in Palm Desert. FOHI’s marching band will entertain participants in the runup to the race, and greet the racers as they finish. In June, the FOHI band joined in a civic celebration for Barker, a former Marching Steeler who was born in Fontana and graduated from FOHI in 1993, when he received a key to the city in a dedication ceremony for the newly renamed “Travis Barker Way.” Barker briefly joined the band, strapping on a snare drum and playing a solo, then giving the Marching Steelers a shout out during his dedication speech.
From performing in the United States capital to playing for a national audience in Pasadena, the Henry J. Kaiser High School Music Department has earned recognition and invitations to perform at several prestigious events. Now, Kaiser High’s celebrated String Orchestra and Wind Ensemble are preparing for another historic performance – this time at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall during the National Band and Orchestra Festival in April 2026. Kaiser is the second Fontana Unified school, joining Summit High School’s Fortepiano String Orchestra, to be selected to perform at the invitation-only 2026 National Band and Orchestra Festival.
