Fontana Unified’s Board of Education appointed Jason O’Brien as its new president and Marcelino “Mars” Serna as vice president/clerk during its reorganization meeting on Dec. 12. Recently re-elected members Serna and Mary Sandoval, as well as newly elected member Adam Perez, were sworn in during the meeting.
Julie Bello, a counselor at Fontana Unified’s Shadow Hills and Canyon Crest elementary schools, will be recognized as one of eight 2018 Educators of the Year by Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 at the Old Schoolhouse Museum, 5493 B St., Chino.
Fontana Unified School District recognized 14 students at the Oct. 25 Board of Education meeting for earning perfect scores on the state’s 2018 English language arts (ELA) and math standardized tests. For their hard work, the students will each receive a laptop from Presidio Systems, Inc., one of Fontana Unified’s community partners. Fontana Unified students improved their overall performance on the tests, with 38.44 percent meeting or exceeding standards in ELA, up 5 percentage points over 2017, and 23.22 percent meeting or exceeding standards in math, up nearly 4 percentage points from 2017.
Live Oak Elementary School unveiled campus beautifications completed by United Way and volunteers from local businesses on Monday, Oct. 29. Live Oak is the latest of several Fontana Unified schools to receive mini makeovers in recent years, which will include new murals throughout the campus.
Fontana Unified’s Dolores Huerta International Academy received a “Random Act of Helpfulness” from Southern California Honda Dealers Association on Oct. 12. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the dual-language immersion elementary school was gifted new books – in English and Spanish – for its library.
Fontana Unified will hold a series of college application days at its five comprehensive high schools, furthering efforts to promote college and career readiness. Students will receive support as they complete college applications during the school day. The college application days will be held Thursday, Nov. 1 at A.B. Miller High; Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Fontana High; Wednesday, Nov. 14 at Summit High; Thursday, Nov. 15 at Kaiser High; and Friday, Nov. 16 at Jurupa Hills High.
Chaparral Elementary School will hold a parent information meeting on its partnership with Code to the Future, which provides rigorous, immersive computer science curricula. Parents and community members are invited to learn about the goals and benefits of Code to the Future and observe coding demonstrations from Chaparral students.
Palmetto Elementary students, parents and staff celebrated healthy living – as well as school spirit – as they participated in National Walk to School Day on Oct. 10. Dressed in tiger ears and school colors, families walked to school to promote exercise and practices for a cleaner environment. Photos are available.
Almond Elementary will hold College and Career Day from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23 to inspire students to consider future opportunities. Twenty-five guest speakers will travel from class to class, offering information on professional pathways and higher education. Parents will also receive college information, both for themselves and for their children. Almond Elementary is at 8172 Almond Ave., Fontana.
Fontana Unified is partnering with Burrtec, Inc. and Veterans Partnering with Communities, Inc. to gather donations and create care packages for active duty military members. Fontana Unified teachers, students and staff will be collecting and donating food, toiletries, entertainment items and clothing and writing letters to the military through Friday, Sept. 28. Donation drop-off sites are located throughout Fontana Unified.