Fontana Unified Senior Surprised with $40,000 Amazon Scholarship
Fontana High School senior Lucia Otanez was surprised with a $40,000 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship during the school’s Class of 2024 assembly on April 9. Otanez was one of thousands of applicants to be chosen for the scholarship, with Amazon set to award 400 students with scholarships this year. Otanez, who hopes to attend USC or UC Berkeley, has a paid internship offer at Amazon after her freshman year of college through the scholarship. This opportunity will allow eligible scholars to gain hands-on, practical work experience with mentorship from Amazon leaders.
Fontana High School’s highly acclaimed Fire Technology and Law Enforcement Public Service pathways were each awarded national certification from the Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN), representing the commitment to excellence and quality of both programs. Both of FOHI’s career technical education (CTE) Public Service pathways join a prestigious cohort of secondary and post-secondary schools across the country to be named a LAPSEN National Program of Excellence (NPE). A LAPSEN national certification signifies a program has reached the apex in terms of preparing students for careers in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency management, legal studies, and related fields. Fontana High’s Fire Technology and Law Enforcement CTE pathways are hands-on electives that prepare students for jobs in the public safety sector, with more than 170 students enrolled across both pathways. The pathways fulfill a student’s A-G requirements and are dual-enrollment programs that articulate with Chaffey College, allowing students to earn both high school and college credits and putting them on a fast track for industry certifications.
Fontana Unified School District will expand its Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program to Jurupa Hills High School starting in the 2024-25 school year to complete a full K-12 DLI pathway and rigorous and enriching educational experience for District students. The DLI program, a cornerstone of academic excellence within the Fontana Unified School District, has garnered widespread acclaim for its commitment to bilingual education and fostering multicultural understanding. Through a comprehensive curriculum, students have the unique opportunity to become proficient in both English and Spanish, equipping them with invaluable linguistic skills and cultural competence.
Two Fontana Unified School District schools, Sequoia Middle and Fontana High, have been honored for their success in boosting student achievement and fostering college and career readiness. Fontana High and Sequoia Middle schools were both re-designated as Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) National Demonstration Schools, retaining statuses held since 2016 and 2019 respectively, that reflect the site’s implementation of AVID instruction school-wide. Sequoia had even more reason to celebrate when it was also redesignated a 2024 California Middle School to Watch on March 8.
Fontana Unified Schools to Observe Upcoming Solar Eclipse
All 30 Fontana Unified School District elementary schools will use the upcoming solar eclipse on Monday, April 8 as an opportunity to spark curiosity and a love for science among its students. Each District elementary school has been provided with solar eclipse viewing kits, including safety-certified eclipse glasses, to ensure students can safely observe the natural phenomenon. Teachers will integrate the eclipse into their science curriculum throughout the day, turning this natural phenomenon into a hands-on learning experience. Students will also take educational materials home with them, giving them a chance to discuss the significant astronomical event at home.
All 30 Fontana Unified School District elementary schools will use the upcoming solar eclipse as an opportunity to spark curiosity and a love for science among its students. Each FUSD elementary school will hold observations and classroom lessons about the upcoming solar eclipse. Teachers will integrate the eclipse into their science curriculum throughout the day, turning this natural phenomenon into a hands-on learning experience.
Fontana Unified School District students will showcase their art during the District’s second annual Film Festival, featuring an evening of standout pieces that illustrate the growth of FUSD’s Career Technical Education (CTE) TV Production pathways. Awards will be presented in categories ranging from Avant Garde to screenwriting and from live-action dramas to news story packages.
Fontana Unified Public Service Pathways Certified for Excellence
Fontana High School’s highly acclaimed Fire Technology and Law Enforcement Public Service pathways were each certified as National Programs of Excellence by the Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN), representing the commitment to excellence and quality of both programs. Both of FOHI’s career technical education Public Service pathways join a prestigious cohort of secondary and post-secondary schools across the country to receive the honor. The LAPSEN recognition signifies a program has reached the apex in terms of preparing students for careers in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency management, legal studies, and related fields.
Fontana Unified Set to Host Second Annual Student Film Festival
Fontana Unified School District student filmmakers will showcase their craft during the District’s second annual Film Festival at 5 p.m., Thursday, May 2, at Steelworkers’ Auditorium. The event showcases standout student films that illustrate the growth of FUSD’s career technical education TV Production pathways. Awards will be presented in categories ranging from Avant Garde to screenwriting, and feature genres including live-action dramas and news reports. Steelworkers' Auditorium is located at 8437 Sierra Ave., Fontana.
Eric Birch High School earned its first-ever Model Continuation School designation from the California Department of Education for its alternative programming designed to empower at-promise youth to pursue academic and personal success. Birch High joined an esteemed list of 31 schools to secure Model Continuation School status in 2024. Model Continuation Schools retain their designation for three years and will be formally recognized during the 2024 California Continuation Education Association Plus State Conference in Los Angeles on April 25-28.
