Dorothy Grant Innovations Academy and Wayne Ruble Middle School have been named to the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) Honor Roll in recognition of their overall performance and narrowing of the achievement gap on California standardized tests. The Fontana Unified schools were named Star Schools, a category for high-performing schools that have significant populations of students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. This is the ninth time the Dorothy Grant Innovations Academy has been named to the ERP Honor Roll and the first time for Wayne Ruble Middle School.
Fontana Unified Opens 2021-22 TK/Kindergarten Enrollment
Fontana Unified School District will conclude 2021-22 open enrollment for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten on Friday, April 2. Fontana Unified offers comprehensive early learning opportunities that include coding and robotics, dual language immersion and leadership development. Families may begin the enrollment process online; for more information, visit www.fusd.net/enrollment.
Fontana Unified to Open Applications for Dual-Language Program
Fontana Unified School District will begin accepting applications for 2021-22 enrollment in its Spanish Dual-Language Immersion (DLI) program on Monday, Feb. 1. The program begins in kindergarten and is offered at Redwood Elementary School and Dolores Huerta International Academy. The DLI program fosters bilingualism and biliteracy, sociocultural competency and high levels of academic achievement. For more information, visit www.fusd.net/enrollment.
Fontana Unified to Host Virtual Session on Parenting in the Digital World
Fontana Unified will host a virtual Parent University session from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, led by “Cyber Safety Cop” Clay Cranford, highlighting tips for keeping children safer online and how to manage students’ screen time. FUSD’s Parent University aims to build capacity for parents and empower them as vital partners in the education process. Families may register for the virtual session on the Fontana Unified website.
Fontana Unified families were greeted with cheerful holiday decorations and festively dressed volunteers, the melodies of classic holiday music and the smell of fresh Christmas trees as they collected gifts during the District’s 23rd annual Fontana Santas toy distribution. The socially distanced drive-thru event, held Dec. 19 at the District Office, bestowed families in need from Fontana Unified’s elementary schools with age-appropriate gifts, supplies for a holiday dinner, stuffed stockings and more. Middle- and high-school families received gifts earlier in the week.
Fontana Middle School math teacher Yesenia Escobar was recently named a UC Davis Center for Integrated Computing and STEM Education (C-STEM) 2020 Teacher of the Year, joining Fontana Unified Coordinator of Secondary Mathematics Kristen Sandler, who was named a UC Davis C-STEM 2020 Administrator of the Year. The awards recognize contributions by educators, schools and districts for providing excellent integrated computing and STEM education for K-12 students throughout the year and inspiring students to pursue careers and post-secondary study in C-STEM fields. Sandler and Escobar received their awards during the 10th annual UC Davis/C-STEM Conference, held Dec. 7-10, where they also served as a moderator and panelist, respectively.
Fontana High School has been designated as a Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (MCJROTC) Naval Honor School for the 14th time, recognizing the program’s continued legacy of excellence and success in cultivating young leaders. Awarded by the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Training and Education Command, the 2019-20 Naval Honor School distinction celebrates top-performing MCJROTC programs in the U.S.
Teacher recipient for bringing joy to the hearts of her graduating seniors, just one of 20 teachers nationwide to receive the award. Rojas, who hand-delivered chocolate treats and gift bags to her students after school closures disrupted their traditional prom and graduation activities, accepted her award via Zoom conference on Nov. 20, receiving a $5,000 stipend to spend on school supplies.
Five Fontana Unified seniors with dreams of helping others and uplifting communities will attend elite colleges and universities across the country, funded by full-ride QuestBridge National College Match scholarships. Fontana High School seniors Vanessa Gutierrez and Fatima Kamara matched with Scripps College and Yale University, respectively; Kaiser High School seniors David Aguilar and Marco Garcia received scholarships to Northwestern University and University of Pennsylvania, respectively; and Jurupa Hills High senior John Nino Requieron matched with Boston College. Fontana Unified’s QuestBridge Scholars are among 1,464 students who matched with a QuestBridge college partner this year, receiving early admission and four-year scholarships that cover the full cost of attendance.
Harnessing the power of film and committed to helping the mental health and well-being of their classmates and community, seven Fontana Unified film production students have been recognized for excellence in the Directing Change Film Project. Jurupa Hills High School seniors Gustavo Lopez, Christian Guerrero, Caleb Oard, Lyza Garay and juniors Brian Moreno and Alexzander Zavala, along with Summit High School senior Audrey Juarez, received honors for 60-second public service announcements touching on subjects such as social distancing, immigration rights, racism, voting and keeping a healthy daily outlook. The Directing Change Film Project is a monthly contest with two categories for high school students; The Hope & Justice category is an open submission for any film topic that encompasses social justice and equal rights issues, and the Monthly Prompt category asks for films concentrating on a single subject.
