Fontana Unified School District announced the promotion of Lee J. Powell to Fontana School Police Department chief. Powell has served as a lieutenant in the school police department since 2017 and has 33 years of experience in law enforcement. Powell succeeds Martin Sissac, who retired as chief in November 2019 after four years in the post.
Fontana Unified School District, in partnership with the Lewis Library and Technology Center, held an Epic STEAM Takeover event for middle school students on Jan. 29. Middle school students engaged in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics activities, including a STEAM escape room, coding with Ozobots, building pulleys, creating slime and more.
Two Fontana Unified continuation schools are celebrating the early graduation of nearly 30 students, many of whom came to campus behind in credits. Thirteen Eric Birch High School students and 16 Citrus High School graduates worked hard to complete their graduation requirements one semester early and have plans to attend college.
Nine students from Fontana Unified’s Citrus High School are one step closer to mastering a trade after completing the school’s Residential and Commercial Construction career tech pathway and earning a core certification from the National Center for Construction Education and Research. Students completed hands-on construction projects, in which they employed safety strategies, used hand and power tools and applied mathematics and measurement skills.
Summit High School will advance its two JV Ethical Hacking teams to the CyberPatriot XII National Youth Cyber Defense Competition semifinals on Friday, Jan. 24, after scoring in the top 25% of their Gold tier in the state competition.
Jurupa Hills High School senior Maya Martinez will pursue her dream of attending an elite Ivy League college thanks to a four-year QuestBridge National College Match scholarship to Brown University, where she will study mathematics. Martinez, who has a 4.4 GPA, was one of 1,127 students nationwide to receive a full-ride QuestBridge scholarship. She is the first Jurupa Hills student in four years to be selected for the honor.
Six members of the Henry J. Kaiser High School Catamount Pride Band and Color Guard, a member of the Jurupa Hills High School Marching Spartans Band, a Wayne Ruble Middle School student and three Southridge Tech Middle School students have been selected to perform at the San Bernardino Basin Honor Band Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at the University of Redlands Memorial Chapel, 1220 E. Colton Ave., Redlands.
Fontana Unified will conclude its 22nd annual Fontana Santas Toy Drive with the District’s third annual holiday breakfast and community event on Saturday, Dec. 21 at Henry J. Kaiser High School, 11155 Almond Ave., Fontana. Families will enjoy a pancake breakfast, family-friendly games and pictures with Santa. Fontana Santas is an effort by Fontana Unified, Fontana School police and community partners to provide gifts to FUSD families in need.
Jurupa Hills High School senior Maya Martinez will pursue her dream of attending an elite Ivy League college thanks to a four-year QuestBridge National College Match scholarship to Brown University, where she will study mathematics. Martinez, who has a 4.4 GPA, was one of 1,127 students nationwide to receive a full-ride QuestBridge scholarship, and the first Jurupa Hills student in four years to be selected for the honor.
Summit High School student programs and clubs collected 525 toy donations during the inaugural Swinging for Presents tournament on Dec. 11. The softball tournament featured players from Summit’s baseball and softball teams, ASB, cheer and TV production program. The toys will be contributed to Fontana Santas, the District’s toy drive for families in need.