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.
Almeria Middle School eighth-grade science teacher Jean Yoo was one of 13 science educators nationwide to be recognized as a 2023-24 Society for Science Lead Advocate, reflecting her commitment to science education and passion for encouraging young students to be problem solvers and critical thinkers. The honor comes with a $5,000 stipend, which will go toward facilitating Almeria science projects and acquiring the necessary materials that will allow students to succeed.
Fontana Unified will showcase student talents throughout the event by displaying student art that centers around their celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and through cultural performances from nine different schools. Students from Hemlock Elementary, Dolores Huerta International Academy and Summit High School will provide musical performances, while students from Redwood Elementary; Fontana and Southridge Tech middle Schools; and Fontana, Jurupa Hills and Henry J. Kaiser high schools will perform dances. Local group Mariachi Tierra Caliente will also perform during the event. Fontana Unified’s Global Studies Department provides students with opportunities to explore the contributions, opinions, stories and daily lives of people from diverse backgrounds throughout history year-round. The District hosts celebrations for Native American Indigenous Peoples Month in November, Black History Month in February, Arab American Heritage Month in April and Asian American-Native Hawaiian-Pacific Island Heritage Month in May.
Fontana Unified Named Semifinalist in National Career Z Challenge
Fontana Unified School District’s plan to expand its work-based learning opportunities through the Future Shapers Academy (FSA) secured it a semifinalist spot in the U.S. Department of Education’s Career Z Challenge. Fontana Unified is one of two school districts in California and 81 nationwide to be named a semifinalist in the $2.5 million multi-phase prize competition. The District will receive assistance and a monetary prize from the federal government for launching the FSA, a systemic work-based learning ecosystem within its career technical education program, in 2023-24.
