Fontana Unified School District was recognized as a state leader in the field of cybersecurity education during the inaugural Inland Empire (IE) Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Symposium, held virtually on May 24. The symposium brought together local leaders from IE business and academic sectors to pledge support for an apprenticeship initiative that can be replicated in regions across the state. Summit High School junior Gabriel Navarro spoke to business and academic leaders about the importance of building a skilled local workforce through apprenticeships. As an integral member of Summit’s cybersecurity team, Navarro has helped lead the team to gold medals in events such as the Mayor’s Cup and SkillsUSA.
Fontana Unified School District is welcoming families to ParentSquare, a secure, all-in-one communications tool that will keep them more connected than ever to their children’s teachers, schools and District announcements. ParentSquare, which will fully launch in Fontana Unified at the start of the 2021-22 year, will support District efforts to streamline communication. The platform will provide employees and families with a single platform for all updates from the District, schools, classrooms and school activity groups.
Summit High School sister duo Vanessa and Victoria Reyes will represent Fontana Unified at the International Thespian Festival this summer, following dynamic, highly honored theatrical performances during the California State Thespian Festival. Vanessa and Victoria – in their junior and senior years at Summit, respectively – diligently crafted virtual performances that earned superior markings from the judges during the state competition, exceeding all requirements and performing at an “above standard” quality. Vanessa and Victoria share a love of the arts that has flourished at Summit High School, inspiring Victoria to remain involved in local theater after graduation and Vanessa to pursue a career as a voice actor.
Two Fontana High School seniors enrolled in the college-prep elective Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) received scholarships worth $1,500 to ease their transition into higher education, thanks to the Riverside Inyo Mono San Bernardino (RIMS) AVID Scholarship Program. Fatima Kamara and Michelle Navarrete Vega are first-generation college students who joined Fontana High’s AVID program as freshmen, using the program to develop study skills, learn about the college application process, access scholarship opportunities, and immerse themselves in a college-going culture. Kamara will attend Yale University and study political science, and Navarrete Vega will attend UCLA and major in computer science.
Fontana Unified’s five comprehensive high schools have been listed among the top-performing public high schools in the state and country, according to the 2021 Best High Schools rankings by U.S. News and World Report. A.B. Miller, Fontana, Henry J. Kaiser, Jurupa Hills, and Summit high schools earned high rankings among approximately 1,675 high schools in California, celebrating their strong academic performance and college-prep programs. Each high school celebrated a graduation rate of 91% or higher. Fontana Unified offers a Districtwide college and career readiness program, providing students with rigorous courses and hands-on learning experiences that increase access to post-secondary education and employment opportunities.
National Leadership and Skills Conference in June after earning gold medals during the California SkillsUSA finals, leading an effort that saw 13 Summit competitors win gold, silver or bronze medals. During the state finals, held virtually in April, Summit senior Christian Magana and junior Vincent Caudillo took gold medals in Cybersecurity, an event that saw Summit teams sweep the top four positions. Summit juniors Harsh Patel and Elijah Walker took gold in Robotics and Automation Technology. The winning teams were forged from two of Summit’s signature CTE pathways, Mechatronics and Ethical Hacking.
Twenty-three Fontana Unified students were honored for their excellence and commitment to furthering their education during the annual Upward Bound banquet, held virtually this year on May 7. Fontana Unified offers the Upward Bound program in partnership with Chaffey College, aiming to increase the rate of students who complete high school and enroll in and graduate from college. When enrolled in Upward Bound, students from A.B. Miller and Fontana high schools benefit from resources and services that include: one-on-one advising and support in academics, college and career planning; weekly tutoring from current Chaffey College students; detailed guidance during their senior year on college applications, financial aid, scholarships and college housing; and more.
Jurupa Hills High School senior Joy Anyiam is passionate about the English language and civil rights. With a dream to become a lawyer and bring justice to underrepresented groups, Anyiam faced a tough choice after being accepted by nearly a dozen elite universities across the country, including Stanford and Columbia. Anyiam, a high-achieving scholar with a 4.64 GPA, chose to attend Harvard University, and is the first Jurupa Hills student to be accepted to the storied Ivy League campus. Throughout her senior year, Anyiam paid close attention to issues of social justice; these conflicts, combined with the rigor of an International Baccalaureate education, have inspired Anyiam to pursue a career in law.
Taking on powerful subjects such as suicide prevention, mental illness, and systemic racism, nearly a dozen Jurupa Hills High School student filmmakers were recognized by the Directing Change Film Project for excellence in producing 60-second public service announcements. Jurupa Hills sophomore Kashmir Garnica won a regional first place award for her suicide prevention film, “Keep an Eye Out,” and will advance to the Directing Change state finals. Junior Kimberly Do earned an honorable mention in the Directing Change statewide Hope and Justice category for her film, “Racism is the Real Virus.” Six other Jurupa Hills-produced films received regional honorable mentions.
Drawing on her passion for advocacy and community betterment, Fontana High School junior Miranda Ordoñez will provide a voice for Fontana Unified students and serve as the Board of Education student representative in 2021-22. Ordoñez was selected from a pool of five finalists following a virtual interview during the April 28 Board of Education special meeting. As a first-generation, college-bound Latina, Ordoñez takes her education seriously and has made the most of the learning and extracurricular opportunities in Fontana Unified. She is a high-achieving scholar at the top of her class, balancing Advanced Placement classes with clubs and activities and an array of volunteer roles.
