Cheered on by family, friends and community members, re-elected Fontana Unified Board of Education members Adam Perez, Mary Sandoval and Marcelino “Mars” Serna took the oath of office during the Board’s organizational meeting on Dec. 14. The District participated in its first by-trustee area election in 2022, which saw the community vote to keep intact the Board of Education that has served Fontana Unified since 2020. The Board of Education also held its annual organization of officers during the meeting, selecting Serna to serve as president and Perez as its vice president/clerk for 2023. Fontana Unified alumni Dr. Jennifer Quezada and Joe Armendarez complete the Board of Education.
Almeria Middle School Principal Felix Jones was named the IACUE 2022-23 Administrator of the Year, celebrating his vision to provide equity and social justice to all students through technology. Jones will receive his award during the IACUE Reimagine EDU Conference in January 2023. Jones, who grew up in Fontana and became Almeria’s principal in 2021, is an advocate of blended learning – a combination of in-person and computer-based learning – and making educators the facilitators of the learning experience. For Jones, the IACUE award reflects the hard work and dedication of the Almeria faculty and staff.
Canyon Crest Elementary School has been awarded a $9,200 Cultivating Innovation in STEM Schools (CISS) grant by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ Alliance for Education, which will enable the school to add virtual reality to the STEM learning opportunities available in its Innovation Space. Canyon Crest Elementary is one of just 10 schools in the county to receive the grant. The CISS project, supported by funding from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, provided the grants to elementary schools to help them create or enhance a STEM learning space that strengthens STEM instruction at the K-6 grade levels, as well as promote STEM career exploration.
Fontana Unified Celebrates 25th Annual ‘Fontana Santas’ Toy Drive
Fontana Unified School District is celebrating 25 years of bringing holiday cheer to local families in need with the kickoff of the annual Fontana Santas Toy Drive. Donations of unwrapped toys and gift cards can be dropped off at the Fontana School Police Department, 9680 Citrus Ave., Building 9, Fontana. The Fontana Santas Toy Drive will culminate with a drive-thru distribution event, to be held on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the District Office. There, families in need identified by school sites will enjoy the sights and sounds of cheerful holiday decorations, festively dressed volunteers and classic holiday music as they receive age-appropriate gifts.
Fontana Unified School District has named Dr. Kimberly Moyer, an accomplished leader dedicated to innovation in education, as the new principal of Palmetto Elementary School. Moyer has 15 years of experience in education and has served in a variety of positions in Fontana Unified in recent years. She brings with her a passion for rigorous instructional experiences, educational technology, wellness in schools, and college and career readiness at the elementary level.
Fontana High School’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (MCJROTC) Raider teams and Drill teams delivered showstopping performances during the fifth annual Santiago High School Raiders and seventh annual Santiago Drill competition on Nov. 5, continuing the program’s successful streak as it seeks to capture a national championship. Fontana High School’s two Raider teams earned the first-place overall award, as well as first place for the circuit physical fitness challenge, first- and second-place trophies for the speed orienteering challenge, first place for the top female physical fitness event, first- and second-place awards for the litter carry challenge, and second place for the single rope bridge. The Drill team, consisting of 10 students, brought home first place for the Unarmed Regulation Drill and second place for the Unarmed Inspection.
Four Fontana Unified schools received donations and food gift cards from Northgate Gonzalez Market during a grand opening celebration and special VIP reception on Nov. 29. Harry Truman Middle School and Cypress and Randall Pepper elementary schools received $1,500 each. Fontana High School received $2,500 to put toward the FOHI choir and ballet folklórico programs, as well as $3,000 to support families in need and student scholarships. Cypress Elementary will invest the donation in student, staff and parent incentives; Randall Pepper will use the funds for Northgate Market gift cards for families to spend over the holidays and school year; Truman Middle also will use the funds for food gift cards to help students’ families enjoy the winter season.
A.B. Miller High School senior Damien Herrera has always had an interest in flying – one that turned into a passion through the school’s aviation career technical education (CTE) pathway. Now, Herrera will have the opportunity to turn that passion into a career, aided by a $10,000 scholarship from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Herrera, who was surprised with the scholarship on Nov. 11, is the second A.B. Miller aviation student to receive a scholarship this year. Fellow senior Nathan Aguilar also secured one in June 2022 from the EAA, a community of engaged aviation enthusiasts dedicated to growing participation in aviation.
Former A.B. Miller High School media teacher Leo Rivas was named a San Bernardino County 2023 Teacher of the Year, a fitting final tribute for the popular teacher who inspired scores of A.B. Miller students to develop a passion for TV and film production before leaving the District to work for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Rivas, who was previously recognized as the Fontana Unified 2021-22 Teacher of the Year, helped create a three-year media production pathway at A.B. Miller, teaching beginning and advanced concepts of TV and film production, giving students a chance to earn college credits, and paving the way for the acclaimed student-produced news program ABTV and the annual A.B. Miller Film Festival. He is one of four educators to be honored as a San Bernardino County Teacher of the Year.
Citrus Elementary School fifth-grade students held flags and banners aloft, waved blue and yellow pompoms and shouted “U-C-L-A, fight, fight, fight!” in honor of their adopted homeroom university during a college day rally designed to encourage Citrus students to plan their future in higher education. The monthly rallies are just one element of Citrus Elementary’s schoolwide College Bound initiative that includes instruction provided by the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) college-prep program. Every Citrus class, from kindergarten to grade six, employs AVID strategies that help students organize their tools, time and thought to spur student achievement and inspire students to think of college as their destiny.
