Michael McGinnis dedicated his life to protecting others as a firefighter and then empowering the next generation of public servants to do the same, playing an instrumental role in developing Fontana High School’s Fire, Medical and Emergency Response pathway as its fire technology and career technical education (CTE) instructor. The Fontana Unified School District Board of Education ensured the legacy of McGinnis, who died in 2021, will not be forgotten when they unanimously voted at a recent meeting to rename Fontana High’s Fire Technology and Emergency Services classroom to McGinnis Station 815.
A Fontana Unified School District banner reading “New Foundations, Endless Possibilities” served as a fitting backdrop as District staff, community members and dignitaries gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on a new 150,000-square-foot middle school in the north end of Fontana on Nov. 14. Construction of the new middle school, which will accommodate up to 1,200 students, is set to begin in January 2024 with an expected completion date of August 2026. Fontana Unified’s new middle school will help prevent overcrowding and ensure all students have access to small class sizes and high-quality academic instruction as the District strives to meet the growing needs of Fontana.
Fontana Unified School District commemorated the grand opening of its one-of-a-kind Innovation Empire with a pair of celebrations that included a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours of the creative learning environment, which is equipped with tools and technology to inspire curiosity, experimentation and entrepreneurship for District students of all ages. Elected officials and distinguished guests attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 7, which was followed by the center’s official grand opening for the public on Nov. 9. The Innovation Empire’s two-building complex includes a Makerspace and collaborative space that are designed to serve as a hub for students to get hands-on experience and training in machine and design software, robotics, programming and entrepreneurship.
Fontana Unified School District will host a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the start of construction on a new District middle school from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The new school, located in the north end of Fontana, will span more than 150,000 square feet and accommodate up to 1,200 students. The school is scheduled to open in August 2026. The construction site is located at Citrus Ave. and Casa Grande Ave.
Retired Fontana Unified School District coaching legend Dick Bruich stepped out under Friday night lights once again, as Fontana High School hosted a dedication ceremony to name its newly renovated sports field to Dick Bruich Field before Fontana High’s final regular-season football game on Oct. 27. Bruich was overcome with emotion as he took the microphone at the 50-yard line to address the fans, who showered him and his wife Cathy with a series of enthusiastic cheers during his acceptance speech. He was also presented with a ceremonial plaque by Fontana Unified Superintendent Miki R. Inbody, Board of Education President Marcelino “Mars” Serna and Board member Mary Sandoval.
Chaparral Academy of Technology’s excellence in implementing innovative programming to close achievement gaps in the world of Computers, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (C-STEM) has earned the school three C-STEM Awards, presented at the 13th annual C-STEM Conference at UC Davis on Oct. 20. This marks the fifth year in a row Fontana Unified School District educators have been honored by the UC Davis C-STEM Center. Chaparral Academy was honored as a C-STEM Distinguished School, while Principal Dr. Andrea McClain and teacher Alexandra Cruz were named the C-STEM Administrator and Teacher of the Year, respectively. All three awards reflect Chaparral Academy’s exceptional contributions to providing students with equitable access to integrated computing and STEM education, preparing and inspiring students to pursue further studies and careers in C-STEM fields.
Fontana Unified School District will hold a grand opening of its one-of-a-kind Innovation Empire, a creative learning environment equipped with tools and technology to inspire curiosity, experimentation and entrepreneurship for students. The Innovation Empire two-building complex includes a Makerspace and collaborative space that are designed to serve as a hub for students to get hands-on experience and training in machine and design software, robotics, programming and entrepreneurship. The Makerspace is stocked with a fleet of state-of-the-art 3D, laser and ultra-violet printers, high-powered industrial drills, water cutters and CNC mills, while the collaborative space serves as a think tank for student groups using project-based learning to spur creativity.
Fontana Unified School District will host a dedication ceremony on Friday, Oct. 27 as it officially names Fontana High School’s newly-renovated sports field at Steeler Stadium to Dick Bruich Field in honor of the school’s legendary retired coach. The dedication ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. just before the 7 p.m. kickoff of Fontana High football’s final home game of the 2023 regular season. Bruich left an indelible mark on Fontana Unified in his 30-plus year career coaching at District schools, as he guided the Steelers to a national championship, two state championships and two CIF titles, then went on to coach Henry J. Kaiser High School from 1999 to 2009, where he won a state championship and two more CIF titles. Fontana High School is located at 9452 Citrus Ave., Fontana.
Fontana Unified to Host Hispanic/Latinx Month Cultural Celebration
Fontana Unified School District will host a Hispanic/Latinx Month Cultural Celebration at Fontana High School from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 to commemorate how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large. The event will include mariachi, food trucks, guest speakers, arts and crafts, cultural performances and more. Fontana High School is located at 9453 Citrus Ave., Fontana.
Jurupa Hills and Fontana high schools both earned top positions in the California Student Aid Commission’s Race to Submit campaign for their exemplary Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) completion rates among Class of 2023 graduates, showcasing Fontana Unified School District’s dedication to promoting college readiness. Schools are divided into different levels based on their senior enrollment and are ranked by the highest percentage of completed FAFSA/CADAAs and matching GPAs. Fontana High School’s Class of 2023 ranked fourth in level six with a 92.11% completion rate and Jurupa Hills High’s Class of 2023 was sixth in level five with a 92.98% completion rate, according to the most recent data available from June 30, 2023.
