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.

Winter Holiday Performances in Bonita Unified Start December 7

Vocal and instrumental music groups from the elementary, middle and high schools of Bonita Unified School District are preparing performances for the holiday season. All performances will occur at the Bonita Center for the Arts (BCA) at 822 W. Covina Blvd., San Dimas, unless otherwise listed below. Mark your calendars now and call the District Office for more information.

December 7 7:00 – 9:00 PM	Lone Hill Choral Concert, BCA
December 12 7:00 – 8:30 PM	Elementary Band (La Verne Heights, Oak Mesa, Grace Miller, Shull), BCA
December 12 & 13 7:00 – 9:00 PM	Bonita High School Choir Concert, Church of the Brethren 2425 "E" Street, La Verne
December 13 7:00 – 8:30 PM	Elementary Band (Allen, Roynon, Ekstrand, Gladstone), BCA
December 14 7:00 – 8:30 PM	Ramona Middle School Choir Concert, Church of the Brethren 2425 "E" Street, La Verne
December 14 7:00 – 9:00 PM	San Dimas High School Choral Concert, BCA
December 15 7:00 – 9:30 PM	Bonita High and Ramona Middle School Jazz Band, BCA
December 19 5:30 – 9:00 PM	Elementary Choirs (Oak Mesa and Grace Miller, 5:30 – 7:00 PM; Shull and La Verne Heights, 7:30 – 9:00 PM), BCA
December 20 5:30 – 9:00 PM	Elementary Choirs (Ekstrand and Gladstone, 5:30 – 7:00 PM; Allen and Roynon, 7:30 – 9:00 PM), BCA
December 21 7:00 – 9:00 PM	San Dimas High School and Lone Hill Middle School Beginning and Intermediate Bands, BCA
December 22 7:00 – 9:00 PM	San Dimas High School and Lone Hill Middle School Jazz and Advanced Bands, BCA

For more information, contact Kenny Ritchie at 909-971-8200 or Ritchie@bonita.k12.ca.us.

Koach, Rodgers Present Keys to Foster Youth Partnership Program to California School Boards Association

Bonita Unified School Board Member Diane Koach and Senior Director Student Services Mark Rodgers will speak at the December 2, 2016, California School Boards Association (CSBA) Annual Education Conference on caring for foster youth in a school district. Topics of discussion include forming and nurturing multi-agency partnerships, the direct and unexpected benefits of connection to partners, the role of school boards in facilitating positive outcomes, improved educational outcomes for youth in foster care, improved social success for youth in foster care, and foundations for future growth and innovation.

“Following the filming of a public awareness video, ‘Not Alone,’ the Bonita Unified foster support team was encouraged to submit a presentation to the annual conference,” Rodgers said in a memo to Dr. Christina Goennier, Superintendent. “We are pleased to say that our presentation was approved for inclusion in the conference. In addition, Bonita Unified will be represented on two additional presentations by Jill Rowland, Education Program Director at the Alliance for Children’s Rights, our primary partner in supporting foster youth.” “Not Alone” is a public service announcement video created by CSBA that featured Bonita Unified’s foster youth program.

Rodgers has been instrumental in developing connections to other agencies that support foster youth such as the Department of Children and Family Services, and has improved access to community mental health services for all students through a partnership with McKinley Children’s center.  

Partnerships with the Alliance for Children’s Rights and the McKinley Children’s Center, which will both be featured in the panel presentation at the CSBA conference, have led to numerous benefits for youth in foster care through improved procedures and deeper advocacy. Foster youth are now enrolled more quickly, get more partial credits, are more likely to graduate on time, and have higher rates of being eligible for college. Youth also receive a high level of support from the two foster liaisons to ensure that they have full access to all aspects of their education.

In addition to community partnerships, Rodgers conducts annual drives to collect needed supplies and personal items to support youth in foster homes.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to share the exciting work being done by the foster youth support team in Bonita USD, and are looking forward to state-level connections and influences that we hope will improve support for all foster youth in California,” Rodgers said.

Special Education Adapts to a New Name: Specialized Services

Bonita Unified School District has renamed the Special Education department, now calling it Specialized Services, and is using first person language when speaking about students who receive specialized services in order to promote equality in education.

“The goal of Specialized Services is to integrate services into a singular education system with equal access and support for all students,” Director of Specialized Services Carl Coles wrote in a recent memo to the Superintendent. “‘Special education’ implies there are two systems of education, ‘regular education’ and ‘special education.’ This mindset has led to two very different tracks of education throughout the state. We would like to change this mindset.”

Specialized Services will continue to serve students ages 3-22 with Specialized Academic Instruction and related services such as speech and language, occupational/physical therapy, mental health, and adaptive physical education. The language shift is in line with Superintendent Dr. Christy Goennier’s focus on personalized learning.

“Personalized learning accommodates individualized unique learning needs so all students have equal access and appropriate support in all components of school,” Coles’ memo continues. The use of first person language also supports this cultural direction. For example, instead of using “Special Education Student,” the faculty and staff are encouraged to say, “Student with an IEP.”

Specific changes in line with the department name change include the addition of five co-teaching sections, which include both a core content instructor and a specialized academic instructor, social groups that include students of all abilities, and 21st Century learning furniture that promote movement and collaboration.