fbpx

Fontana Unified School District

  • Fontana Unified to Celebrate Renaming of O’Day Short Elementary School, Honor Family’s Legacy

    Fontana Unified will host a renaming ceremony as Randall Pepper Elementary School officially transitions to O’Day Short Elementary in the 2025-26 school year, honoring the O’Day Short Family, which is remembered for breaking Fontana’s color barrier 80 years ago. District middle school student Cyrus Moss championed the renaming of O’Day Short Elementary. Moss submitted a petition with 132 signatures to rename Randall Pepper Elementary to the Fontana Unified Board of Education in March 2024. The Board unanimously voted to rename the school in September 2024 after all administrative regulations were met.

    Read More

  • Fontana Unified Aviation Program Helps Students Reach New Heights in Aerospace Careers

    From classroom simulations to real-world takeoffs, A.B. Miller High School’s career technical education (CTE) aviation program continues to soar, as students work toward earning their pilot’s licenses, complete major flight training milestones, and launch careers in the aerospace industry. Senior Jesse Cuba is set to earn his private pilot license this summer after completing a major milestone: his first solo flight. Cuba would be the fourth A.B. Miller student in the last three years to secure a private pilot license the summer of their senior year. The A.B. Miller aviation program is a two-year course offering pathways to several rewarding careers in aerospace. It serves as a flight training school and includes a pilot training class, an airline mechanic class, and a flight simulator lab.

    Read More

  • Fontana Unified Students to Compete on World Stage in International Robotics Championship

    Six Fontana Unified School District elementary and middle school students are preparing to showcase their teamwork, coding, and critical thinking skills on a world stage at the 2025 World Robot Olympiad Open Championships to be held in Panama this October. Mango Elementary School’s Luis P. and Roman H., West Randall Elementary’s Joey Santana, and Wayne Ruble Middle School’s Flora F., Angel F., and Ivanna V. all qualified to represent Team USA Robotics and the United States Engineering League (USEL) at the World Robot Olympiad. They will compete in the challenge-based “RoboMission” category in the elementary and junior divisions, respectively.

    Read More

Fontana Unified to Showcase Future Shapers Academy

Fontana Unified School District will display the creative and innovative projects developed by more than 30 students enrolled in the District’s Future Shapers Academy from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8 at the Jessie Turner Health & Fitness Community Center. The event will provide employers an opportunity to hear about these ideas firsthand and explore opportunities to collaborate for the benefit of Fontana’s entertainment and recreation industry. Jessie Turner Health & Fitness Community Center is located at 15556 Summit Ave., Fontana.

Fontana Unified Showcases District Achievements, Student Talents During State of the District Event

Fontana Unified School District celebrated its achievements in preparing students for success in life, all while showcasing the wide range of student talent during its first State of the District event in five years, held on April 24. Themed “Believing in Every Student: Fostering Future and Fueling Dreams,” the event highlighted FUSD’s work in four areas targeted for innovation and growth: academic excellence, safe and inclusive learning environments, community engagement, and financial stewardship. The presentation also provided a glimpse into the District’s promising future and unveiled a refreshed District logo.

Fontana Unified High School Dedicates Campus Fire Station in Memory of Beloved Instructor

Fontana High School ensured the legacy of Michael McGinnis, founder of the school’s Fire Technology Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway, will forever burn bright as it dedicated its campus fire station in his honor, officially naming it McGinnis Station 815 during an April 17 ceremony. Fontana High’s campus fire station is a hub of hands-on learning where students enrolled in the school’s Fire Technology and Emergency Services CTE pathways explore careers in firefighting or emergency medical industries. It is a living tribute to McGinnis, who died in 2021 and is remembered for how he inspired Fontana High students to pursue careers in public service.

Three Fontana Unified Students Triumph at County History Competition, Qualifying for State Finals

Three budding Summit High School historians, senior Alyha “Gabe” Madrigal and freshmen Nayleen Pulver and Angel Garay, competed at the National History Day California State Finals at Sacramento State from April 19 to 21. Madrigal finished runner-up as a senior individual exhibitor for his project on the Manhattan Project, while Pulver and Garay took runner-up for their senior group exhibit on the Spanish Influenza. The trio advanced to the state competition after taking first place at the San Bernardino County History Day Regionals in March.

Fontana Unified School District Appoints Student Board of Education Representative for 2024-25 School Year

Jurupa Hills High School junior Adriana-Rene Humber will serve as Fontana Unified’s Board of Education student representative during the 2024-25 school year, a role she will leverage to continue her passion for community service. Humber aims to use her position to ensure every student is equipped for success in their educational journey while also promoting an inclusive environment throughout the District and community. Boasting a 3.9 GPA, Humber was selected from a pool of six finalists for the position during a special Board of Education meeting on April 16.

Fontana Unified High School to Host Dedication, Officially Name Campus Fire Station After Beloved Instructor

Fontana High School hosted a dedication ceremony on April 17 for its campus fire station, which is used by its Fire Technology and Emergency Services career technical education (CTE) program. The station was officially named McGinnis Station 815 in honor of the first director of FOHI’s Fire Technology program Michael McGinnis, who played an instrumental role in developing the pathway before he died in 2021. The Fontana Unified School District Board of Education approved renaming the station in October 2023 to honor the legacy of McGinnis, who is remembered for how he inspired Fontana High students to pursue careers in public service and strove to provide them with the best experience possible.

Fontana Unified Schools Join Solar Eclipse Watch Party

All 30 Fontana Unified School District elementary schools used the solar eclipse on April 8 as an opportunity to spark curiosity and a love for science among its students. Each District elementary school was provided with solar eclipse viewing kits, including safety-certified eclipse glasses, to ensure students safely observed the natural phenomenon. Teachers integrated the eclipse into their science curriculum throughout the day, turning this event into a hands-on learning experience. Students also took educational materials home with them, giving them a chance to discuss the significant astronomical event at home.

Fontana Unified Senior Surprised with $40,000 Amazon Scholarship

Fontana High School senior Lucia Otanez was surprised with a $40,000 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship during the school’s Class of 2024 assembly on April 9. Otanez was one of thousands of applicants to be chosen for the scholarship, with Amazon set to award 400 students with scholarships this year. Otanez, who hopes to attend USC or UC Berkeley, has a paid internship offer at Amazon after her freshman year of college through the scholarship. This opportunity will allow eligible scholars to gain hands-on, practical work experience with mentorship from Amazon leaders.

Fontana Unified Fire Technology and Law Enforcement Pathways Receive National Certifications of Excellence

Fontana High School’s highly acclaimed Fire Technology and Law Enforcement Public Service pathways were each awarded national certification from the Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN), representing the commitment to excellence and quality of both programs. Both of FOHI’s career technical education (CTE) Public Service pathways join a prestigious cohort of secondary and post-secondary schools across the country to be named a LAPSEN National Program of Excellence (NPE). A LAPSEN national certification signifies a program has reached the apex in terms of preparing students for careers in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency management, legal studies, and related fields. Fontana High’s Fire Technology and Law Enforcement CTE pathways are hands-on electives that prepare students for jobs in the public safety sector, with more than 170 students enrolled across both pathways. The pathways fulfill a student’s A-G requirements and are dual-enrollment programs that articulate with Chaffey College, allowing students to earn both high school and college credits and putting them on a fast track for industry certifications.

Fontana Unified Expands Dual Language Immersion Program to Jurupa Hills High School in 2024-25

Fontana Unified School District will expand its Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program to Jurupa Hills High School starting in the 2024-25 school year to complete a full K-12 DLI pathway and rigorous and enriching educational experience for District students. The DLI program, a cornerstone of academic excellence within the Fontana Unified School District, has garnered widespread acclaim for its commitment to bilingual education and fostering multicultural understanding. Through a comprehensive curriculum, students have the unique opportunity to become proficient in both English and Spanish, equipping them with invaluable linguistic skills and cultural competence.