Fontana Unified School District’s work to increase student attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism culminated in the District’s School Attendance Review Board (SARB) being recognized as one of California’s 23 model SARBs for 2024. FUSD posted a 94% attendance rate while dropping its chronic absenteeism rate from 30% to 20% for 2023-24. Throughout the year, the District hosts campaigns to help boost its attendance and also organizes its annual Perfect Attendance Spells Success event, which celebrates and rewards students for their exceptional attendance and academic achievements.
Virginia Primrose Elementary School Kitchen Operator Nailly Salib has been recognized for her dedication to fighting child hunger and commitment to supporting school meals, earning a 2024 Hunger Hero Award from the No Kid Hungry national campaign. City of Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren and No Kid Hungry School Meals Access Manager Robin Hernandez presented the award, along with a certificate, a trophy, and goodie bags, to Salib during Primrose Elementary’s fifth-grade promotion ceremony. Warren honored Salib’s dedication to ending hunger with a speech during the event, which was also attended by Fontana Unified Superintendent Miki R. Inbody and Board of Education President Marcelino “Mars” Serna, on May 24. Every May, No Kid Hungry – a campaign of Share Our Strength, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger – celebrates school employees and programs that ensure every child has the nutrition they need to reach their full potential.
It is no secret where MaiKaley Orosco’s passion lies, as the Almeria Middle School student walks into class carrying a box stocked with a lab coat, microscope, and a binder filled with science experiments. With her sixth-grade year complete, Orosco has mapped out a 12-year plan to become a trauma physician. Orosco is already diligently working toward her goal and will be one of 32 middle school students across the country selected to attend the Joint Science and Technology Institute East summer program in Maryland, a one-week, fully-funded residential science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) research program for middle school students in July.
Fontana Unified School District’s Class of 2024 graduates marked their milestone achievement with a myriad of unique, dynamic celebrations, from business-like handshakes to fist pumps, selfies, and even dances, as they crossed the stage to accept their diplomas during their respective graduations. Over eight vibrant commencement ceremonies, FUSD honored more than 2,000 students in its Class of 2024 from seven high schools and one adult school from May 21 to 23. This year’s Fontana Unified class includes more than 580 high school seniors who will graduate with the California State Seal of Biliteracy for a high level of proficiency in bilingualism and biliteracy, marking a more than 200% increase for FUSD over the last two years.
Fontana Unified School District’s secondary school music programs demonstrated their prowess at the Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) Band & Orchestra Festival, with five school groups earning superior ratings for their talents. Twelve FUSD music ensembles across five schools earned honors at the SCSBOA Band & Orchestra Festival, which took place at Fontana High School, showcasing the exemplary programs that nurture musical talents across the region. Wayne Ruble Middle School’s orchestra secured a unanimous superior rating, while its band was also judged superior. Three Summit High groups – prep orchestra, prep orchestra, and concert band – were named superior, while Almeria Middle School’s orchestra secured superior status.
Fontana High School students in the school’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) career technical education (CTE) program handmade more than 100 posters and treated nurses at the Citrus Nursing Center to ice cream, photo opportunities, and a selection of ‘90s music, as they recognized National Nurses Week on May 13 and celebrated the hardworking healthcare professionals of the nursing center. It marked the end of a banner year for FOHI’s CNA program, which achieved outstanding testing pass rates, with a 97% pass rate for overall tests and a 100% pass rate for the skills testing.
Fontana Unified School District will celebrate the Class of 2024 with vibrant commencement ceremonies for more than 2,000 students set to graduate from the District’s seven high schools and adult school. The District will host eight ceremonies at two locations over three days starting with Fontana Adult School, Eric Birch, and Citrus high schools at the Ontario Convention Center at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m., respectively, on Tuesday, May 21. FUSD’s remaining graduations will be hosted at Toyota Arena with A.B. Miller, Jurupa Hills, and Fontana high schools at 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 8 p.m., respectively, on Wednesday, May 22, and Henry J. Kaiser and Summit high schools concluding the week at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively, on Thursday, May 23. Ontario Convention Center is located at 2000 E. Convention Center Way, Ontario. Toyota Center is located at 4000 Ontario Center, Ontario.
Henry J. Kaiser High School's Catamount Pride Band will showcase their skills before a national audience after being selected to represent Congresswoman Norma Torres at the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C. on May 27. The appearance checks off a milestone goal for Kaiser High Band Director Robert Ronquillo and adds to the group’s rich history of excellence and performing on a national stage. Kaiser’s full band played at the annual Rose Parade® in 2019, while two band members were also selected to march with the Pasadena City College’s Tournament of Roses Honor Band this January.
Almond Elementary School students and community members are benefitting from a donation of more than 400 books on behalf of the National Charity League (NCL), Foothill Chapter in recognition of the school’s dedication to fostering literacy among students. The NCL Foothill Chapter, with roots in the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley, chose Almond Elementary School for the donation to boost its Little Library initiative.
Fontana High School senior Lucia Otanez was a little nervous as she gathered with her classmates for an assembly to announce which FOHI seniors had the top-10 grade point averages, but the tension was interrupted by an Amazon delivery of a large package. After sharing a laugh about the delay with her classmates, Otanez was in for a big surprise. The deliveryman was, in fact, Amazon Community Engagement Director David Ambroz, who announced in front of the entire assembly that Otanez had been named a 2024 Amazon Future Engineer Scholar, an honor that comes with a $40,000 scholarship to pursue a degree in engineering or computer science, and an opportunity to complete a summer internship at Amazon.
