Fontana Unified’s Theater Conservatory returned to the stage for its final production of the school year, welcoming elementary and high school students to join the star-studded cast for the highly anticipated, “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” held April 21-23 at the historic California Theater in San Bernardino. The company was comprised of Beech Avenue Elementary and A.B Miller High School students alongside professional actors, as well as several new and seasoned Canyon Crest Elementary and Dorothy Grant Innovations Academy student cast members who recently debuted in their professional show, “School of Rock.”
Fontana Unified School District is rolling out the welcome mat for two veteran administrators who have joined the superintendent’s cabinet, bringing decades of experience in business, finance, education and fostering student achievement. Dr. Leslie Barnes, with 28 years of experience in business administration and finances, has been appointed the new Associate Superintendent of Business Services. She is joined on the cabinet by Dr. Jennifer Bourgeois, a proven leader and educator who will serve as the new Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning.
A.B. Miller High School Class of 2023 graduate Nathan Aguilar loves nothing more than soaring above the clouds. As a member of the school’s aviation career technical education pathway, Nathan quickly developed his flying skills, distinguishing himself as the first A.B. Miller student to earn his private pilot’s license.
Fontana High School is sparking students’ passion for hands-on work in manufacturing and product development through its Welding and Material Joining career technical education pathway, where they learn about the operation, standards, and current practices in welding and fabrication. Students in the pathway can earn certifications from the nonprofit American Welding Society (AWS) and test for welding certifications for advanced welding employment through Fontana High’s accredited welding testing facility. The AWS offers nine certification categories designed to address all segments of the welding and joining industry that gives students the opportunity to leverage their expanded knowledge and expertise across their future professional roles.
Summit High School students are able to reimagine the world of robotics through the school’s Mechatronics career technical education pathway, where they learn electrical and mechanical engineering principles fundamental to the creation of robotic and automated systems. The high-demand skills developed in the pathway enables students to register as a pre-apprentice with the State of California, preparing them for future careers in the industry. Nine Summit High School Class of 2023 graduates – Nathaniel Anaya, Daniel Gastelum, Derek Gutierrez, Ruddy Martin Gutierrez, Sebastian Lara, Ricardo Mendiola, Carlos Romero, Orlando Serrato and Esana Tesfaye – received registered pre-apprenticeship certificates in Mechatronics for successfully demonstrating all the industry-driven occupational competencies and essential skills required for the program.
Almond Elementary School Principal Tim McCaffrey has been a legend in Fontana Unified ever since, as an assistant principal at Sequoia Middle School, he threw himself on the gym floor during a pep rally dance-off and performed the “worm.” McCaffrey’s spontaneous energy, which earned him an ovation from students and staff, continues to resonate throughout the District. McCaffrey, now in his fourth year as Almond Elementary’s principal, was honored for his commitment to student achievement and literacy by the Association of School Administrators (ACSA), which named him the Region 12 Elementary School Principal of the Year.
Fontana Unified School District provided the Class of 2023 with an emotional sendoff during a series of commencement ceremonies, held May 23 at the Ontario Convention Center and May 24-25 at the Toyota Arena, that featured passionate speeches, joyful cheers, proud renditions of alma maters, colorful streamer cannons and loud applause from loved ones. The Class of 2023 includes high-performing students who will further their education at institutions across the country – including Columbia University, Boston College, UC Berkeley, UCLA and Stanford University – as well as graduates enlisting in the armed forces and beginning their careers with support from the District’s robust career technical education training. This year’s graduating class also featured nearly 550 State Seal of Biliteracy recipients.
Summit High School Class of 2023 graduate Sandy Thomas’ excellence in the classroom and on the court has earned him recognition from the Jordan Brand Wings Scholars Program, which awarded him a full-ride scholarship to further his education at his college of choice. Thomas – a committed student athlete who has competed at the varsity level in both basketball and swim – was awarded the scholarship in front of family, friends, coaches and school staff during a ceremony earlier this spring. Though he was also awarded a full-ride scholarship to UC Santa Cruz, Thomas has decided to attend Cal Baptist University, supported by the Jordan Brand Wings scholarship.
Fontana Unified Grad Earns Private Pilot’s License in CTE Pathway
A.B. Miller High School Class of 2023 graduate Nathan Aguilar loves nothing more than soaring above the clouds. As a member of the school’s aviation career technical education pathway, Nathan quickly developed his flying skills, distinguishing himself as the first A.B. Miller student to earn his private pilot’s license. Aguilar’s pilot’s license allows him to fly any aircraft for which he is appropriately rated and fly with friends, fly at night, take a business trip or do sight-seeing. A.B. Miller’s two-year aviation program serves as a flight training school and includes a pilot training class, an airline mechanic class and a flight simulator lab.
Nine Henry J. Kaiser High School Class of 2023 graduates will attend UC Berkeley in the fall, an achievement supported by their involvement in the school's numerous college readiness programs and resources. Daisy Alatorre-Cervantes plans to double major in business administration and management, technology, and entrepreneurship, with a minor in legal studies; Melvin Damper will major in media studies with a tentative career path in law; David Valenzuela will major in aerospace engineering; Frida Monreal will pursue public health; Fernando Martinez will study applied mathematics and computer science; Brianna Valadez will major in molecular and cellular biology to become a pediatric surgeon; Adrian Garcia will pursue political science with a focus on public policy; Jasmine Landeros will study music in pursuit of her goal of becoming a concert violinist; and Emily Lara will major in literature with the hopes of becoming a university professor. All nine students are part of Kaisers Advanced Placement program, and three are also part of the college-prep AVID program.
