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.
Eighteen Summit High students qualified for medalist honors, including three golds, at the 57th annual California State SkillsUSA Championships, which put the state’s most highly skilled career technical education students in head-to-head competition from April 4 to 7. A total of five Summit High students combined to win three gold medals at state to punch their tickets to the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference from June 19 to 23 in Atlanta.
When Eduardo Lopez first picked up a film camera in his Jurupa Hills High School TV/Film Production class, he immediately knew he wanted to become a professional filmmaker. Lopez can be found filming with a camera nearly every day as he assists with all of Jurupa Hills High’s productions in the school’s TV/Film career technical education (CTE) pathway, including Spartan TV News – a weekly studio show produced by students – in any way he can. He gained technical and leadership skills that are greatly respected by his Spartan classmates, establishing himself as a solid crew member with a knack for finding the right angle and lighting for a shot.
Fontana Unified School District showcased its Future Shapers Academy (FSA) and the creative and innovative projects developed by more than 30 students on May 8. The event served as a celebration as FSA wrapped up its inaugural year and provided employers with an opportunity to learn about the Academy’s work firsthand. Throughout the 2023-24 school year, the FSA was tasked with reimagining downtown Fontana as students designed an entertainment center through a series of design challenges.
Fontana Unified to Showcase Future Shapers Academy
Fontana Unified School District will display the creative and innovative projects developed by more than 30 students enrolled in the District’s Future Shapers Academy from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8 at the Jessie Turner Health & Fitness Community Center. The event will provide employers an opportunity to hear about these ideas firsthand and explore opportunities to collaborate for the benefit of Fontana’s entertainment and recreation industry. Jessie Turner Health & Fitness Community Center is located at 15556 Summit Ave., Fontana.
Fontana Unified School District celebrated its achievements in preparing students for success in life, all while showcasing the wide range of student talent during its first State of the District event in five years, held on April 24. Themed “Believing in Every Student: Fostering Future and Fueling Dreams,” the event highlighted FUSD’s work in four areas targeted for innovation and growth: academic excellence, safe and inclusive learning environments, community engagement, and financial stewardship. The presentation also provided a glimpse into the District’s promising future and unveiled a refreshed District logo.
Fontana High School ensured the legacy of Michael McGinnis, founder of the school’s Fire Technology Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway, will forever burn bright as it dedicated its campus fire station in his honor, officially naming it McGinnis Station 815 during an April 17 ceremony. Fontana High’s campus fire station is a hub of hands-on learning where students enrolled in the school’s Fire Technology and Emergency Services CTE pathways explore careers in firefighting or emergency medical industries. It is a living tribute to McGinnis, who died in 2021 and is remembered for how he inspired Fontana High students to pursue careers in public service.
