Fontana Unified High School Theater Troupe Sets Sail with ‘Moana’
Looking to draw on their success at the recent California Educational Theater Association High School Festival, the award-winning Jurupa Hills High School Players of the Palace theater group will set sail on a wondrous journey across the high seas during its spring production of the Disney musical “Moana JR.” Performances are set for Friday, March 10 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 11 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday, March 16 at 7 p.m.; Friday, March 17 at 7 p.m.; and Saturday March 18 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $15 and can be purchased online. Jurupa Hills High is located at 10700 Oleander Ave., Fontana.
Fontana Unified School to Hold Black History Month Celebration
Southridge Tech Middle School will hold a Black History celebration for the community from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The event, held in honor of Black History Month, will feature cheer, dance, choir and Casa Del Tambor performances from Southridge Tech students, as well as poetry readings, arts and crafts, and food. Southridge Tech Middle School is located at 14500 Live Oak Ave., Fontana.
Citrus High School has been named a 2023 Model Continuation High School by the California Department of Education (CDE), recognizing its holistic approach to supporting student success and social-emotional wellness on the path to graduation. Citrus High is among just 37 continuation schools to receive the award this year, which were celebrated for providing exemplary instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, and guidance and counseling services to “at-promise” students through an alternative educational program.
Fontana Unified School District Board of Education unanimously voted in favor of A.B. Miller High School retaining the current “Rebel” likeness as its mascot during the Feb. 1 Board meeting, acknowledging community feedback following an exploratory rebranding process. The consideration of a rebranded mascot began in June 2020, following an online petition created by students and staff that called for the selection of a new mascot that would better represent the community and school. A.B. Miller High School discontinued the use of the Rebel image, instead using a large letter “M,” while it solicited input from the school community and developed a rebranding committee composed of students, alumni, certificated and classified staff, administrators and parents.
Jurupa Hills High School senior Jesse Juarez’s talent as a photographer was first recognized when he posted photos on Instagram in middle school. At Jurupa Hills, Juarez began honing his skills under the guidance of photography teacher Rebecca Cauchon, who encouraged him to expand his horizons and consider a career in visual and digital arts. Juarez is one of five Jurupa Hills students whose work was recognized for excellence by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, with Juarez winning a coveted Gold Key Award at the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing West Coast Region Awards for his photo collage “Many Me.” The collage will be featured as part of the Alliance’s annual National Exhibition, to be held in New York City in the spring. Juarez was joined by seniors Rosemary Atkins and Roxana Silva, who received Silver Key Awards. Jurupa Hills senior Anita Rodriguez and junior Sam Aguba received Honorable Mentions for their work.
Fontana Unified Appoints Alumna as New Superintendent
Following a nationwide search and a lengthy process of gathering input from District employees and community members the Fontana Unified School District Board of Education appointed Miki Inbody as the District’s next superintendent during the Feb. 1 Board meeting. Inbody has deep ties to Fontana Unified, having attended schools in and previously working for the District.
Fontana Unified School District has named Tim Yelin, a proven leader with extensive classroom experience, to serve as the new principal of North Tamarind Elementary School. Yelin brings 17 years of educational experience – all spent in Fontana Unified – to his role as North Tamarind’s top administrator. Throughout his career, Yelin taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels, before stepping into an administrative role as assistant principal at A.B. Miller High School.
The Kaiser High School Artistic and Theatrical Society (KATS) wowed judges and won numerous accolades for their repertory fall stage performances, earning a main stage invitation to the California Educational Theater Association (CETA) 2022-23 High School Theater Festival, to be held Jan. 13 to 15 at Los Osos High School. After staging two separate plays on alternate nights, the CETA judges rewarded the KATS actors and crew members for their hard work, selecting both plays to be performed in their entirety at the festival, with “Mojada, a Medea in Los Angeles” earning a second-place finish and a spot on the festival’s main stage. The second play, “Lazarus Rising,” earned a ninth-place finish and will perform on the festival’s second stage. Additionally, every KATS member who participated received a CETA certificate of merit, a first for Kaiser High School.
Fontana Unified Receives Federal Grant for Mental Health Training
Recognizing a need to increase mental health awareness throughout the school district and community, Fontana Unified will begin a comprehensive mental health and wellness training initiative after being awarded a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services worth more than $400,000. The SAMSHA grant, which will be split over four years, will go to the District’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports department to fund specialized training in detecting the signs of mental illness so that District staff can respond in a timely manner to avert a mental health crisis. Training will also be provided to the community so that families can better identify early warning signs of mental illness.
Fontana Unified Selects Finalist Candidate for Superintendent
Following a nationwide search and a lengthy process of gathering input from District employees and community members, which included the review of 21 applicants recruited by Leadership Associates, the Fontana Unified District Board of Education has selected Miki Inbody as the finalist candidate for District superintendent. Inbody has deep ties to Fontana Unified, having attended schools and working as an administrator in the District. The Fontana Unified Board of Education will consider an offer of employment and contract at its Board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Inbody is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Education Support Services at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools.
