Members from across the Fontana Unified community, including staff, students and elected dignitaries, gathered at Randall Pepper Elementary on Dec. 15 for the dedication of the O’Day Short Family Unity Garden that will serve as a living symbol of the District’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The O’Day Short Family Unity Garden commemorates the lives of O’Day, Helen, Carol Ann and Barry Short. The family is remembered for breaking Fontana’s color barrier in 1945. All four members of the African American family died after their house burst into flames on Dec. 16, 1945, and Randall Pepper Elementary was later built on the site in 1950.
Fontana Unified students, staff and community members loaded up cars with gifts of toys, food and information on community resources during the District’s annual Fontana Santas event on Dec. 16. Fontana Santas began in 1997 when the Fontana School Police Department learned a Fontana boy ran away from home after Christmas because he did not receive any presents. Since then, the Fontana School Police Department and Fontana Unified employees have collected toys and donations from local organizations and delivered them to families in need during the holidays, creating a treasured tradition that has provided toys to thousands of Fontana Unified students over the last 26 years.
More than 60 Fontana High School students across a variety of campus clubs and organizations made the less than one-mile walk across Citrus Avenue, with many carrying gifts or dressed ready to perform for the residents at Citrus Nursing Center (CNC) on Dec. 13. Students in FOHI’s Steelers for Christ, a religious club on campus, ballet folklórico, choir and nursing programs paused their busy schedules during Fontana Unified School District’s finals week to visit with the CNC residents, with the school’s Madrigals choir and ballet folklórico programs putting on vibrant song and dance performances, while other students delivered gifts throughout the 99-bed skilled nursing facility.
Four Fontana Unified high schools were recognized by the College Board as Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Roll schools, highlighting the District’s commitment to fostering a college-going culture across its campuses, based on data compiled from the schools’ Class of 2023 graduates. Summit High School earned a Silver Award, while Fontana, A.B Miller and Henry J. Kaiser high schools were honored with Bronze Awards. Summit, Fontana and Kaiser also earned the AP Access Award, which recognizes the schools for providing underrepresented students access to advanced coursework. Of the three Honor Roll data sets, Fontana Unified schools scored the most impressive marks in college optimization, with Summit earning platinum status, Kaiser gold, A.B. Miller silver and Fontana High bronze.
Fontana Unified Jurupa Hills Football Team to Play for CIF State Title
Jurupa Hills High School football will look to add to its trophy case in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division 4-AA State Championship Bowl Game against Soquel High School at Pasadena City College’s Robinson Stadium at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8. The Spartans have already won the CIF Southern Section Division 8 and CIF State Division 4-AA Southern California Regional championships this season. Jurupa Hills is one of 30 high school teams still playing football across California, and carry a 9-6 record into its final of the game of the year against a 12-2 Soquel squad. Robinson Stadium is located at 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.
Fontana High School students will visit the Citrus Nursing Center (CNC) to spread holiday cheer to residents. Students in Fontana High’s Steelers for Christ (SFC), a religious club on campus, ballet folklórico, cheerleading, choir and nursing programs will put on performances and deliver gifts to residents. SFC has been organizing and gathering donations of stuffed animals and other gifts for CNC residents before the District heads into winter break. Fontana High’s choir and ballet folklórico students will also put on performances for the residents.
More than 580 Fontana Unified School District seniors who are set to earn the California State Seal of Biliteracy for a high level of proficiency in bilingualism and biliteracy were recognized by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools during a recent ceremony. Seniors from all seven Fontana Unified high schools – Fontana, A.B. Miller, Henry J. Kaiser, Summit, Jurupa Hills, Citrus and Eric Birch – were honored at the ceremony and received a certificate and medal from the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools on Nov. 1. The nearly 600 Fontana Unified seniors honored this year marked a more than 200% increase over the last two years, when 180 Fontana Unified seniors were recognized at the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools event in 2021.
Fontana Unified School District’s tradition of sharing holiday cheer with local families will continue with its 26th annual Fontana Santas Toy Distribution. The Fontana Santas Toy Drive will culminate with a drive-thru event, to be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16 at the District office where families in need identified by schools will enjoy a festive holiday celebration as they receive age-appropriate gifts. Donations of unwrapped toys and gift cards can be dropped off at the Fontana School Police Department, located at the District Office, 9680 Citrus Ave., Building 9, Fontana.
Four Fontana Unified School District high school students have distinguished themselves as some of the best high school musicians across Southern California, earning spots in Pasadena City College’s 2024 Tournament of Roses Honor Band. Henry J. Kaiser High School senior David Mireles (marching snare drum), sophomore Liliana Lobo (euphonium) and Jurupa Hills High School senior Antonio De La Torre (baritone sax) and sophomore Diego Muro (clarinet) all qualified to march with the Tournament of Roses Honor Band in the 135th edition of the iconic Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.
Fontana Unified School District will host a dedication ceremony of the O’Day Short Family Unity Garden to commemorate the lives of O’Day, Helen, Carol Ann and Barry Short. The unity garden will also serve as a symbol of an ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion by Randall Pepper Elementary School and the greater Fontana Unified community. The Short family is remembered for breaking Fontana’s color barrier in 1945. All four members of the African-American family died after their house burst into flames on Dec. 16, 1945. The Short family purchased and began building a home on a vacant, five-acre lot at Randall Avenue and Pepper Avenue in Fontana at a time when African-Americans were forbidden to live south of Baseline Avenue. The Short family received threats of violence and offers from the Chamber of Commerce to buy back the property before their house was set ablaze. An arson investigator hired by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) determined the fire was deliberately set from the exterior, according to a 2016 article from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Randall Pepper Elementary School was later built on the site in 1950.
