An arena full of family and friends cheered as colorful streamers fluttered through the air, marking the milestone achievement as Fontana Unified’s Class of 2022 graduates turned their tassels during spirited commencement ceremonies, held at Toyota Arena in Ontario from May 25 to 27. Fontana Unified honored graduates from its five comprehensive high schools, two continuation schools and adult school with energetic ceremonies, featuring passionate speeches from standout students, joyful renditions of the schools’ alma maters, and fist bumps and hugs as graduates thanked their teachers. The Class of 2022 includes high-performing students who are headed to prestigious institutions across the country – including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UC Berkeley, UCLA and Cornell University – as well as graduates enlisting in the armed forces and entering the professional world. Photos are available.
Almeria Middle School eighth-grade student Alejandro Irineo waited two years for the chance to showcase his archery skills at the national level. Taking advantage of his opportunity, Irineo shot his way to a sixth-place finish in the middle school boys division of the 2022 Olympic Archery in Schools (OAS) National Championship. Facing off against dozens of highly skilled competitors from California and Florida at the April 23 championship, Irineo started strong, hitting a bullseye on his first shot, and ended stronger, making 11 of his 19 bullseyes in the final five rounds of the 12-round competition. Irineo finished with 342 total points, only 18 points shy of a perfect score.
Fontana Unified to Celebrate Class of 2022 with Graduation Ceremonies
Fontana Unified School District will honor the Class of 2022 – a group of high-achieving students headed to institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UC Berkeley, UCLA, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and more – with lively commencement ceremonies at the Toyota Arena, 4000 Ontario Center, Ontario, concluding with two final ceremonies on Friday, May 27. Jurupa Hills High School will celebrate its commencement at 3 p.m., while Summit High School will honor its graduates at 7 p.m.
Fontana Unified high school students filled the stands of A.B. Miller High School’s football stadium on May 12, each eagerly wishing to hear their name called and claim the grand prize – a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox – at the District’s Perfect Attendance Spells Success (PASS) event. Held for high school students who have maintained a 94 percent attendance rate, have a GPA of 2.7 or higher, and have not received any out-of-school suspensions, PASS celebrates students’ commitment to their education and highlights the importance of attending school. Nearly 60 prizes, ranging from $250 scholarships to televisions, were awarded to students in a random drawing; ultimately, Jurupa Hills High School senior Martin Aguilar took home the top prize, donated by Rotolo Chevrolet.
Family means everything to Jurupa Hills High School senior Alejandro De La Torre, who routinely rises at 5 a.m. so he can better balance his studies and cross country training, while also making time to work at his father’s auto repair shop and serving as chief nutritionist and caretaker for his parents. De La Torre, who feels he can best serve his family and community by learning more about e-commerce and pursuing a law career, will attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison to pursue his goals, thanks to a full-ride Posse Foundation scholarship. De La Torre, an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme candidate ranked first in his class with a 4.72 GPA, is one of 10 Los Angeles Posse Scholars selected to attend the school.
Fontana Unified has selected Dr. Douglas F. Staine, an established leader with more than 30 years of experience in education, to serve as its new associate superintendent of people services. Staine’s contract was approved by the Fontana Unified Board of Education during an April 20 meeting. Staine has served in a variety of roles in school districts across California, from teacher, counselor and school psychologist to overseeing special education, student services and human resources.
Henry J. Kaiser High School theater students are enjoying their time in the spotlight after taking top honors in two recent drama competitions and, in a separate competition, qualifying to participate in a national thespian festival. Kaiser High seniors Caitlin Porter and Giselle Albavera Burgette were recognized as superior monologists at the California Educational Theater Association Thespian Festival in early April, and will advance to the International Thespian Festival in June. Burgette was also named a state finalist at the English-Speaking Union High School Shakespeare Monologue Competition, held virtually in February. Additionally, seven Kaiser teams advanced to the semifinals at the recent Drama Teachers Association of Southern California Shakespeare Festival, with five Kaiser teams ultimately ranking in the top 10 and winning honorable mentions.
Dolores Huerta International Academy sixth-grade Spanish dual-language immersion teacher Ashley Silva is constantly looking for new approaches to blend STEAM concepts into the school’s transdisciplinary International Baccalaureate curriculum. Silva, who models herself after Ms. Frizzle from “The Magic School Bus” TV series, will have the opportunity to expand her teaching skills after being accepted to the Teacher Innovator Institute professional development program, to be held in July at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. She is among just 10 teachers in the U.S. accepted to the program this year.
Henry J. Kaiser High School senior Amitoj Lobana – an exceptional 16-year-old student-athlete with a passion for helping others – has been recognized as a 2022 Gates Scholar. The honor comes with an all-expense-paid scholarship and is awarded to 300 students in the nation each year. Lobana, who skipped ahead two grade levels prior to entering Kaiser High, has also earned a full scholarship to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He plans to study computer science and pursue his goal of bringing a better quality of life to underrepresented communities.
A tight-knit group of Fontana High School MCJROTC cadets are making a name for themselves as marksmen after taking top honors at two regional air rifle competitions in Arizona and Utah and qualifying for two national championship contests. FOHI veteran cadets made a clean sweep at the inaugural Arizona 3-Position (3-P) Air Rifle State Championship in April. The cadets took first and second place in team events and placed first through sixth among individuals, qualifying four cadets to advance to the NRA 3P Air Rifle National Championship in July. The entire FOHI veteran marksmanship team qualified for the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Nationals and Junior Olympics with a sixth-place finish at the CMP Western Regionals.
