Amid school closures and concerns over COVID-19, Fontana Unified is tackling the challenge of keeping students well-fed through its “Grab and Go” meal distribution program, which provides breakfast and lunch meals for children ages 18 and under. Meal distribution began on March 16; each weekday, Food Services staff and District employees prepare and deliver meals curbside to families at 10 FUSD schools. To date, the District has served up to 8,600 meals on a single day.
Fontana Unified Elementary Unveils New STEAM Classroom
SPARK-E, an animatronic robot dressed in a Fontana sports jersey, greeted guests on Feb. 27 as Cypress Elementary School unveiled a classroom dedicated to instruction in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) topics. Students eagerly showcased homemade Piper computers and whirling Ozobot robots they built and programmed for the unveiling, held concurrently with a Family STEAM Night.
Fontana Unified Elementary to Hold 2019-20 State of the District Event
The Fontana Public Schools Education Foundation will host Fontana Unified’s 2019-20 State of the District breakfast at 8 a.m. Thursday, March 20, providing community members and District partners with insight into the District’s successes and culture of innovation. Superintendent Randal S. Bassett will deliver the keynote address at the event, held at the Center Stage Theater, 8463 Sierra Ave., Fontana.
Fontana Unified to Hold Parent Meetings Spanish Dual-Language Program
Fontana Unified School District will hold virtual information meetings for its Spanish Dual-Language Immersion (DLI) program on Tuesday, April 6 and Thursday, April 8. The District is accepting 2021-22 enrollment applications for the program, which begins in kindergarten and is offered at Redwood Elementary School and Dolores Huerta International Academy, and will hold a lottery on Thursday, April 29. The DLI program aims to foster bilingualism and biliteracy, sociocultural competency and high levels of academic achievement. For meeting times, language options and links, visit the FUSD website.
Fontana Unified students and families performed CPR on manikins, programmed robots, recorded broadcast news segments and learned to pilot a Cessna 172 – all within the two stories of the Lewis Library and Technology Center on Feb. 27. The hands-on demonstrations were among many offered at the District’s inaugural Career Pathway Showcase, which highlighted the array of career technical education (CTE) programs available in FUSD high schools. Such demonstrations included a lesson on pneumatic systems from Jehad Abdallah, a sophomore enrolled in Summit’s mechatronics/automations pathway.
Fontana Unified Elementary Unveils STEAM Room during Family Night
Cypress Elementary unveiled its science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) classroom to the community during its annual Family STEAM Night on Feb. 27. Attendees were welcomed by Spark-E, a robot programmed by students to give greetings, and jazz music performed by the Jurupa Hills High School band. The event featured stations with various family-friendly STEAM activities, including robotics and a mobile planetarium.
Fontana Unified Elementary School to Commemorate 70th Anniversary
Fontana Unified’s Redwood Elementary School invites families and the community to celebrate its 70th anniversary from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8. The event will feature family-friendly activities, concessions and more. Redwood, one of Fontana Unified’s two Spanish dual language immersion schools, is at 8570 Redwood Ave., Fontana.
Fontana Unified will continue efforts to reduce air pollution and transportation energy costs with 10 new electric school buses, thanks in part to a $3.9 million grant from the California Energy Commission. The grant will help fund the replacement of 10 diesel buses with 10 electric, zero-emission buses, as well as an electric bus charging infrastructure. The California Energy Commission announced the grant in 2018 to replace old, public school buses with electric-powered vehicles.
Fontana Unified School District is aiming to narrow the achievement gap with the launch of a 1:1 device initiative that will equip every student with a laptop to foster digital literacy. The first phase of the initiative rollout – which provides over 11,000 high school students with a Dell Latitude 3190 laptop, stylus, protective case and earbuds – began in January at Jurupa Hills High School, followed by Fontana, A.B. Miller and Summit high schools. Rollout at Henry J. Kaiser, Eric Birch and Citrus high schools will run from late February through mid-March. Middle schools are expected to receive devices in 2020-21, followed by elementary schools in 2021-22.
Fontana Unified will hold its inaugural Career Pathway Showcase from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, giving families the opportunity to learn about the array of career technical education (CTE) programs available in FUSD schools. Attendees can watch demonstrations, speak to CTE students and instructors, and explore the pathways available at Fontana Unified high schools. Pathways include mechatronics, TV production, renewable energy, aviation, automotive technology, Certified Nursing Assistant, fire technology and emergency medical response. The showcase will be held at the Lewis Library and Technology Center, 8437 Sierra Ave., Fontana.
