Local Student Achieves Top ACT Score

AMITA STOWITTS, daughter of Paul and Shweta Stowitts and a Junior at San Dimas High School, earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36. On average, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score. In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2016, only 2,235 out of nearly 2.1 million graduates who took the ACT earned a composite score of 36.

The ACT consists of tests in English, Mathematics, Reading and Science, each scored on a scale of 1–36. A student's composite score is the average of the four test scores. Some students also take the optional ACT writing test, but the score for that test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.

In a letter to the student recognizing this exceptional achievement, ACT Chief Executive Officer Marten Roorda stated, “Your achievement on the ACT is significant and rare. While test scores are just one of multiple criteria that most colleges consider when making admission decisions, your exceptional ACT composite score should prove helpful as you pursue your education and career goals.”

ACT test scores are accepted by all major U.S. colleges. Exceptional scores of 36 provide colleges with evidence of student readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.

Board of Education Seeking Applications for Board member Vacany

The Bonita Unified School District Board of Education is seeking applications from interested residents within the school district’s boundaries to serve as an appointed member of the Governing Board. A vacancy will occur due to the resignation of Board Member Jim Elliot who tendered his resignation October 6, 2017, effective December 6, 2017. Elliot was reelected to office in 2015, and his term was to run through 2019.  Due to the California Voter Participation Rights Act (SB 415), Governing Board Member elections were changed from odd years to even years, extending the terms of office of all current elected officeholders by one year. The person appointed to fill this vacancy will serve the remaining term of Elliot’s seat to December 2020.

Interested individuals who wish to be considered for appointment to this vacancy, may obtain an application by contacting the Superintendent’s Office at (909) 971-8200, extension 5101, or by visiting the District’s website at http://do.bonita.k12.ca.us. Application materials must be received in the Superintendent’s Office not later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2017.

San Dimas High School

San Dimas High School

The San Dimas High School Saints Off to a Great Start
There were many exciting events to begin the 2017-2018 school year. A highlight was winning the Smudgepot football game 19-8 against rival, the Bonita Bearcats! The first week of school began with a spirit week for Smudgepot that had over 300 students and over 80 staff members participating. To promote school spirit, staff and students are using a new mobile device app called “5 Star” that helps track participation and students can receive notifications about school spirit points and activities. Many classes participated in activities related to the solar eclipse that occurred on the first day of school.

Photo 1:  San Dimas band students warm up for Smudgepot

Curriculum Preparation

San Dimas math teachers received a new curriculum called CPM. It is an inquiry based math learning program where students are assigned roles in groups to practice solving real-life problems. Math teachers had several days of training and are receiving ongoing support from District math coaches.  Math courses offered this school year are:

Integrated Math I                    Integrated Math II

Algebra 2                                Advanced Math

            AP Calculus AB                     AP Calculus BC

AP Statistics

Social science teachers will receive training on writing strategies to support the California English Language Arts (ELA) Standards.

San Dimas High School English department is off to a strong start with both new faces and returning ones. Staff members continue to collaborate on units and common assessments to improve student learning. The department hopes to continue momentum from the 2016-17 surge in ELA test scores.

San Dimas High School science teachers were accepted into the Metropolitan Water District’s Solar Boat competition and will be looking for team members and volunteers soon.

The social science department added a new AP Geography class that is going great, and this adds to the growing list of college-level courses offered at San Dimas High School.

Hands-on, practical, educational technology is increasingly becoming a commonplace in social science. Digital lessons are developed to be engaging, relevant, cross-curricular, and addresses the 4 Cs in order to help our kids be career-college ready.

Personalized Learning Communities (PLC) & Digital Collaboration (via Twitter & Google Classroom) have increased cohesiveness and effectiveness.

The continued and increasing use of Common Core elements blend English Language Arts historical skills: primary source writings, photographs, raw data, graphs/charts, etc. They are evaluated for reliability/legitimacy, analyzed, interpreted, and connected to our respective historical content.

Photo 2:  SDHS Teacher Mrs. Luevand pictured left with science students on a lab.

The specialized services department has all graduation requirement classes offered in a co-teaching setting:  English at each grade level, Integrated Math 1, Integrated Math 2, Biology, US History, World History and Government/Economics. Teachers collaborate through a quarterly “Think Tank” to ensure student support and learning. Additional study skills classes are being offered this year in the areas of English and math.

The third annual Smudgepin Bowling contest scheduled for Friday, September 29, features students from the FAST and ASDI classes competing against students from Bonita High School at Chaparral Lanes.

SDHS Media Center Modernization

The modernization of the SDHS Media Center is in full swing with the transformation of the Media Center into the focal center of campus where students want to go to for resources, to collaborate, and create.

The modernization process will be in phases based upon three designated spaces within the Media Center: A quiet/study zone, a collaboration and community zone, and a Commons area. The Commons area is an appealing space to welcome students with plenty of soft-seating, coffee tables, group tables, and chairs to provide an area for study and a place for students to meet. Changing the color scheme, purchasing a green screen, creating a giant chalkboard on a wall, and putting together a giant magnet word wall will be exciting additions to the new space.

Students enrolled in the new elective, Student Technology and Innovation, are helping with the modernization of the library. One of their first projects will be to create a book display with reviews using virtual reality. A main goal this year will be to explore different means of acquiring funding to make our vision a reality.

Photo 3:   SDHS Media Center - a blank slate waiting to be transformed

Ramona Middle School

Ramona Middle School

Students at the LA County Fair

Ramona students were excited to be part of La Verne Day at the Fair on Sept 13^th.  Members of ASB and our WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) programs rode floats and showed their school spirit in the city parade.  The Ramona band took the stage in the community performance hall with a wonderful set performing a medley celebrating our armed forces.

Ramona has 9 New Teachers and a New Principal

Ramona welcomed nine new teachers and a new principal in the 2017-18 school year.  The science department has added John Madunich, Matt Pogan, and Jessica Wade. We have two new PE teachers with Rachel Powers and Cynthia Acedo. Our Specialized Services Department welcomes Shan Abkarian, Alma Amado, and Julie McKissick. Cuyler McDonald has taken over the Ramona Band.  We have also had a change in school leadership with James Ellis as the new principal at Ramona, who took over after Anne Neal’s ten-year tenure at RMS when she moved to the Bonita USD District Office as a Director of Curriculum and Instruction.  Congratulations to all of the new Viking Staff!

 

Photo 1 & 2:  Ramona ASB and WEB students enjoyed La Verne Day at the Fair

New Ramona Gym

The month of October will go down in the record books for Ramona Middle School as the PE department and students are moving into our new gymnasium. The gymnasium is a result of Bonita Unified community support of Bond Measure AB that made our 10,000 square foot gym a reality.  The gym boasts seating for nearly 1,400 and has two full-size regulation basketball courts. The gym is scheduled to be completed October 2017 with our volleyball team getting the honor of being our first team to compete!  Go Vikings!

Photo 3:  Ramona Middle School gymnasium a reality thanks to community support

Welcome Sixth Graders

Before the school year began, the Ramona WEB students welcomed our new sixth graders onto campus.  Throughout the year, WEB leaders will work with their sixth-grade buddies to help them acclimate to the middle school campus and connect them to school activities and resources. To kick things off right, sixth graders were invited to campus for fun games and activities that helped them learn more about the school.  Our sixth-grade Vikings are already doing great in class, and we look forward to seeing what they can achieve over the year! 

Photo 4:  Ramona Middle School Sixth Graders

Bonita USD Board Member Elliot to Retire

Bonita USD Board Member Elliot to Retire

September 14, 2017 (San Dimas, CA) – Bonita Unified School District fourteen-year board veteran Jim Elliot, announced his upcoming retirement plans last week.  During the September 6 Board meeting, Elliot said, “As I look to the future, and as I explore new ways to serve my community, I want to thank my Board colleagues, staff, parents, and community members for their support, confidence, and for the high-privilege of allowing me to serve as a Board member for the past 14 years.”

Elliot served 3-1/2 terms having been first elected in 2003 and ran unopposed in the last 2015 election. He with his wife Susie have been San Dimas residents since 1988, and both of their children, Steven and Lisa, attended Bonita USD schools.

The Board will convene their next regularly scheduled meeting on October 11 to discuss options to fill Elliot’s vacancy.

September is Attendance Awareness Month

September is Attendance Awareness Month

September 7, 2017 (San Dimas, CA) – Bonita USD is joining with school districts across the country to celebrate September as Attendance Awareness Month.

As students start back to school in the fall, it’s important to remind parents and our community how important regular attendance is for our kids. Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. When our schools, parents and community join together to promote consistent, on-time attendance for students of all ages, our students will be on the road to success!

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school— regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically.  A child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent—which means missing 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year. Research shows:    

·        Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1^st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3^rd grade.  

·        By 6^th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.  

·        By 9^th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8^th grade test scores.  

Being on time is also important.  Children can miss crucial parts of the school day if they are late.  Late-arriving students are also disruptive to class routines.  Start a lifelong habit of arriving at school on time.

Here are a few practical tips to help families support regular attendance:

·        Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.

·        Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.

·        Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick

·        Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.

·        Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.

·        Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up.  Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.

We hope to see your child on time, every day at school.  Attendance counts!

More tips for families and communities can be found at www.attendanceworks.org

For more information, contact Susan Cross Hume at 909-971-8200 or Hume@bonita.k12.ca.us

Bonita Unified School District Promotes Two Curriculum Experts

Bonita Unified School District Promotes Two Curriculum Experts

Bonita Unified School District announced the promotions of Chris Ann Horsley and Anne Neal as the Senior Directors of Curriculum and Instruction at their July 5th Board of Education meeting.

Horsley and Neal will be based out of the Educational Services Department and will focus on ensuring the students of Bonita Unified School District continue to receive a first rate education, while exploring additional opportunities to bring in Personalized Learning.  “Both come into their new roles with a proven record of increasing student achievement, and we are thrilled to have them lead our District in curriculum and instruction for the coming years,” stated Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Matt Wien.

Chris Ann Horsley was the principal at Arma J. Shull Elementary school for the past 17 years, where she worked with staff and the community to continually focus on reading by the end of third grade for all of our students. Horsley looks forward to sharing her passion for reading and working with all of our schools across the district.

Anne Neal has been the principal of Ramona Middle School for the past ten years. Neal’s specialty has been providing a rigorous academic program while balancing it with the social emotional needs of our middle school age students. Neal looks forward to working alongside the rest of the schools as they continue to innovate in education. 

New Faces in Bonita Unified

New Faces in Bonita Unified

With the recent retirements and promotions within Bonita Unified School District, many of our sites and departments will have new faces.

Leslie Sandoval is the epitome of Bonita Unified through and through.  She grew up attending Shull, Lone Hill, and San Dimas High Schools.  Her husband, Jason Sandoval, works for Bonita Unified in the Computer Information Services department, and their two daughters, Sophia and Sarah attend Bonita schools. 

After 16 years at Lone Hill Middle School as a science teacher and ASB director, Sandoval is excited to transition from being a Lion to a proud Roynon Raccoon as Assistant Principal at Roynon Elementary. “Leslie is a wonderful addition to Roynon.  She brings extensive knowledge of the local community with her, as well as first-hand experience with the social and academic skills necessary to prepare Roynon students for the next level,” says Principal DiGrazia.

Dan Gribbon is the new Dean of Students for the Ed Jones Educational Center. Gribbon comes to Chaparral-Vista with extensive experience in administration and alternative education. What made him stand out among a very competitive field during the hiring process, is his passion for the work and his demonstrated commitment to kids and their academic and personal growth.  In 2013, he was awarded the ACSA Continuation Administrator of the Year for the state of California.  Principal Chris Black says, “ Dan shares our vision, which is to provide a rigorous and personalized educational program that prepares our students for success in college or their chosen career.  We are excited to welcome Dan to the Bulldog team; he will be a tremendous addition and asset to our school community.”

Bonita Unified School District Back to School Challenge

Back to School Bonita Unified School District Challenge

The days of summer are coming to a close as the staff, students and community are gearing up for the first day of school in Bonita Unified School District on August 21, 2017.

Back to school means looking for all the “right deals” to ensure students have the supplies they need to be successful in the upcoming school year. Every year, some of our students don’t receive the same opportunities. We are asking our community to please consider volunteering or donating to our La Verne-San Dimas Educational Foundation (LVSDEF) who provide funds and support throughout the year with teacher mini grants, Ed Jones Acts of Kindness awards and Perseverance awards. Volunteer opportunities and donations can be made at www.lvsdef.com. 

District Honors Career/Tech Student Achievement

Career/Technical Education Students Recognized

with Awards and Scholarships

 On May 4, 2017, the Board of Education, school principals, teachers, and District administrators gathered at Lone Hill Middle School to recognize outstanding students in the Career/Technical Education (CTE) Program. Twenty-eight students were identified by their teachers for outstanding performance in their respective classes. Seven students were awarded college scholarships.

$500   Aidan Ferguson

$500   Aleksandre Howes

$300   Madison Chillas

$300   Mikayala Mitchell

$300   Makenzie Bentson

$300   Kristi Faro

$300   Charisma Manriquez

The students recognized at this event represented outstanding performance in 28 different classes from seven industry sectors, including Arts & Media, Information Technology, Health & Medical Science, Transportation, Hospitality & Tourism, Public Services, and Product Development. Each year, students in these courses develop specialized skill sets oriented toward a specific career. The annual ceremony is a unique celebration of the accomplishments and creations of these students.

"Shrek the Musical" Opens at Ramona Middle School April 19!

Beauty is in the eye of the ogre in Shrek the Musical jr., based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and fantastic Broadway musical. 

It's a "big bright beautiful world" as everyone's favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance.  Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek the Musical is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family. 

Ramona Middle School Drama is proud to bring to you our version of Shrek the Musical (jr).  Come enjoy an entertaining evening with Shrek and the entire cast. 

Dinner Theater at San Dimas HS Presents "Cabaret" April 19-22

San Dimas High School Drama is proud to present the Sainted Players performance of Cabaret, an entertaining, yet harrowing look at our world at the brink of Hitler’s regime.

Check out the troupe's Eventbrite page at sdhscabaret.eventbrite.com to make a complimentary reservation for this delightful dinner theatre event.

Dinner will be served by the SDHS Hospitality class. 

Math Field Day Winners Advance to Regional Competition

Winning Math Field Day Teams Advance to LACOE Competition

Fourth through eighth grade students at eight elementary schools and two middle schools competed in the 8th Annual Math Field Day at Lone Hill Middle School on March 25, 2017. Teams that won first place (listed below) advance to the LA County Office of Education’s (LACOE) Math Field Day on April 29, 2017.

4th Grade: Oak Mesa Elementary School

5th Grade: Roynon Elementary School

6th Grade: Lone Hill Middle School

7th Grade: Lone Hill Middle School

8th Grade: Lone Hill Middle School

“A big thank you to all of our coaches,” La Verne Heights Principal Patrick McKee said.  “They did an amazing job working with their teams. Also, thank you Principals Jason Coss (Lone Hill), Derek Bub (Bonita High School), and James Ellis (Gladstone) for proctoring and the District’s Director of Educational Technology Kris Boneman for helping us to go digital. I truly appreciate all of your support.”

The competition consists of three rounds including Conceptual Understanding, Problem Solving, and Computational/Procedural. Scores are calculated from a combination of the results in all three rounds. While students waited for calculations, students from San Dimas High School presented a Science Fair for the competitors and their families.

“We have an amazing group of coaches who work hard behind the scenes helping to make this event a success,” La Verne Heights Principal Patrick McKee said. “They collaborate monthly as a coaching committee, sharing ideas and resources. They truly believe in the spirit of collaboration because we want all teams to be prepared and successful. We truly believe we are Bonita ‘Unified,’ and we unify to create the best teams to move forward to represent us at the county level.”

New State Accountability Dashboard Launched by CDE

Out with the API, in with the California School Dashboard

In February, the California Department of Education (CDE) gave school districts their first look at the new state accountability tool, the California School Dashboard. Instead of measuring only standardized test scores and ranking schools from high to low as the Academic Performance Index (API) did, the new system is based on the State’s eight educational priorities and gives schools insight into how they are doing in six key areas: standardized test scores in mathematics and English language arts, English Learner progress, suspension rate, graduation rate, and college/career preparedness.

The Dashboard is an online tool that parents, teachers, and administrators can use to see the status of performance in the areas mentioned above. Each area is measured both by “Status,” or the current school year’s score, and “Growth,” or improvement since the prior school year. A visual system of shapes and colors shows the school’s performance. Bonita Unified’s Dashboard was made available to the public March 15.

Two of the measures included in the Dashboard are student performance on standardized test scores in mathematics and English language arts. The test used for this measure, the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), is in its third year of implementation in the State. This year’s CAASPP testing window for Bonita Unified School District opens the second week of April and runs for two or three weeks at each school. The CAASPP includes computer adaptive tests in English language arts and mathematics as well as  a new online pilot assessment for science.

For more information on the California School Dashboard, watch this video on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ2SHzt6PPo&feature=youtu.be.

Foundation: Golf Tournament and Mini Grants

Notes from the La Verne / San Dimas Ed Foundation

2017 Golf Tournament

The 12th Annual Ed Jones Memorial Golf Tournament presented by the La Verne / San Dimas Education Foundation will be held on Friday, April 28 at the beautiful San Dimas Canyon Golf Course nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Proceeds benefit the Ed Foundation that supports teachers and students of Bonita Unified School District. All Tournament details and registration information can be found at: http://www.lvsdefgolftournament.com/.

Ed Foundation Mini Grants Awarded for 2017

At the March 1 Board of Education meeting, Ed Foundation President Alta Skinner with the Ed Foundation Board members awarded mini grants to teachers of the Bonita Unified School District. The mini-grants totaled over $5,000 ranging from $100 to $400 intended to address specific needs identified by teachers, such as yoga mats, wobble chairs, bouncy bands, balance disks, Snap Circuits Discovery kits, geometric shapes building sets, a circle tool for woodworking, Google virtual reality cardboard viewers, and Be Nice posters for an anti-bullying program. Grants have also been used to assist in funding field trips and small programs for students.

To learn more about The Ed Foundation visit the website at http://www.lvsdef.com/www/ and to make a donation, please visit http://www.lvsdef.com/www/donations/.

Encouragement from the Parent Partnership Academy

Bonita's Specialized Services Hosts Parent Partnership Academy at BCA

Parents, it's normal to feel shame and embarrassment about imperfect parenting and challenging relationships with teenagers. In fact, it's pretty common to feel primarily regret for mistakes of the past and fear about how your kids will turn out in the future. But it's that regret and fear that often keep us from experiencing the small joys in the now.

Tyler Durman, a Bonita Unified favorite, spoke at the Parent Partnership Academy at the Bonita Center for the Arts on February 4, 2017, encouraging parents with his empathy and insights. "We make choices in our parenting based on what we think will get us to our goal," Durman said. "The problem is that we haven't changed our goal since our kids were two years old."

Babies need two basic functions from their parents--protection and provision (first pie chart below). But as they grow, they need a third, critical function in order to become independent. They need to be prepared...and parenting with that goal in mind can be the key to more harmonious relationships and more successful outcomes.

 

The event started with a performance by the students in the Functional Academic Skills Training (FAST) class at Allen Avenue Elementary. Each of the children had a role in demonstrating their knowledge of core words. As the students left stage, one turned to his classmates and cheered, "We did it!"

Director of Specialized Services Carl Coles praised the students for their courage in coming on stage. "We are here to celebrate what these students can do, and what they can't do yet," Coles said.

After Durman's address, parents attended multiple break out sessions to collaborate and learn.

Many thanks to the Parent Partnership Academy Committee:
Carl Coles, Kris Boneman, Alicia Cantwell, Sheri Dill, Liberty Grammer, Marissa Little, Margaret McDonald, Kenny Ritchie, Melissa Vercautren, Dolores Vigneault, and Danielle Walker

Thanks to the following volunteers:
Best Buddies from both Bonita High School and San Dimas High School, Bonita Unified Workability Students, FAST classes from Allen Avenue Elementary, Lone Hill Middle School Leadership, and Ramona Jazz Band

Thanks to the following contributors/Vendors:
Autism Spectrum Athletics
Dr. Justin Shuffer
ESGV SELPA Community Advisory Committee
Law Office of Christopher A. Poulos
National Alliance on Mental Health
Parent's Place
Pathways at UCLA Extension
Red Dragon Karate
Wayfinder Program/Fresno State University
Bonita Unified School District Workability Program

Bonita Unified State of District Address at Hillcrest Home in La Verne

Chambers of Commerce and Rotary Clubs Host State of the District Address

The Bonita Unified School District invites the public to the State of the District Address on February 23, 2017, at The Meeting House at Hillcrest, 2705 Mountain View Drive, La Verne. Superintendent Christina Goennier, Ed.D. will speak about the District’s successes and challenges encountered in 2016 from the perspective of the schools, the students, and the District as a whole.

Attendees will be entertained by the Bonita High School Jazz Band and the 4th and 5th grade choir from Gladstone Elementary School. A soloist from Bonita High School will sing the National Anthem and a student board representative from Chaparral High School will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

The event is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs and Chambers of Commerce of both San Dimas and La Verne and includes a $23 buffet lunch. Reservations are required for the meal and must be received by February 18. Check-in begins at 11:15 AM, followed by the meal at 11:30. The program begins at 12:30. Attendance without lunch is free after 12:15 PM.

To purchase tickets for lunch, call Hillcrest at 909-392-4362.

For more information about the State of the District Address, contact Dr. Christina Goennier at 909-971-8200 or Goennier@bonita.k12.ca.us.

Guaranteed Access to College for Bonita Students

Bonita Unified Partners with University of La Verne and 11 Additional Districts to Provide Guaranteed Access to College

Students in the Bonita Unified School District now have guaranteed access to college acceptance at the University of La Verne thanks to the Partnership for Access to College Education (PACE). Area school districts have partnered with ULV to provide the following for their students:

• Access to college preparatory courses
• Guaranteed college admission
• Guaranteed financial aid of at least $10,000 per year
• Application fee waivers
• And a range of programs to assist with college readiness and the application process

University of La Verne, 12 Public School Districts Partner to Guarantee College Access for Students (University of La Verne Magazine, VOICE)

Bonita Unified Superintendent Christina Goennier and University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman sign the partnership agreement to provide guaranteed access to college.