As we move into the second semester, it is good to take a few minutes and reflect on a few of the many good things that are happening at our school. While we continue to monitor the economic crisis affecting our State and its effect on education, here at Bonita High School things are going well, and our students and staff are accomplishing great things. Here are some of the events happenings around school.

Welcome back to another outstanding year at Bonita High School. The year is off to a great start with good news to celebrate and new programs to discuss.

Outstanding Academic Performance

Our students demonstrated their academic strength in the state testing program again last year. California schools’ performances are measured on the Academic Performance Index (API) which incorporates data from the STAR testing program as well as from the CAHSEE. Bonita’s API grew by 10 points this year moving the school from a score of 828 in 2008 to a score of 838 in 2009. Only a select handful of high schools score in the 800’s. If you consider the 40 comprehensive public high schools in the area with the boundaries of the mountains on the north, Fontana on the east, Orange County on the south and the 605 Freeway on the west, Bonita scores among the top three schools. I would like to congratulate the students and staff for the outstanding job they did on these tests last year.

Enrollment up Again This Year

As we planned for this year we anticipated that our regular education enrollment would be around 1880 which is down a little from last year. Our actual enrollment is even larger than anticipated with 1992 students enrolled as of mid October. We are fortunate that we still are not seeing the declining enrollment that has hit many of the other schools in the District and through out the area. The increase in enrollment was particularly good news this year because it allowed us to bring back the five Bonita teachers who received layoff notices last spring.

Campus Improvements - Planning for a New Gym

With the passage of Proposition AB last year, planning is now well under way for the construction of a new gymnasium on our campus. Everyone on campus is very excited about the new building which will be built on the lawn area facing D Street with home and visitor seating for approximately 1100 people. Our goal is to finalize plans for submission to the Department of State Architect in January and we hope that construction will begin in January of 2011. The new facility will create additional practices space for volleyball, basketball as well as wrestling. By moving wrestling practice from the Student Union we will also make this space more available to other groups on campus.

In a separate campus improvement project we are planning the installation of a shade structure near the cafeteria. The structure will be 20’ by 40’ and look similar to the structure near the boys’ locker room. Construction was paid for through several beautification fundraisers and the sale of pavers and should take place around Thanksgiving. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this project over the years.

AIM Program Strengthened

As you know we implemented our Academic Intervention and Mentoring Program (AIM) last year. The program provides a study hall for student who had difficulty with grade, standardized tests or citizenship in class as well as an extended lunch for students who are doing well in these areas. This year Ms Halberg, our AIM coordinator has added an orientation program for incoming ninth graders. She has organized nearly a hundred juniors and seniors into Freshman Transition Teams. The teams meet once a month with a small group of freshman and once a month as a large group to provide information on high school and conduct orientation actives for the ninth graders. The goal is to make the ninth graders transition to high school as smooth and successful as possible.

Bob Ketterling

Principal

It has been a great year for us at Bonita, a year in which we have received outstanding support from our parents and the whole community. We are moving through our annual STAR and AP testing programs and headed towards graduation and the end of the year. Here is a little news about things that are happening around school.

Miramonte Five

Recently our school had the opportunity to honor five of our seniors who excel in academics, athletics and as leaders at a banquet sponsored by our league. The students were selected by the staff as exemplifying excellence in a number of areas of student life. Here are our choices for this award with a brief description of where they plan to go after high school. Kaitlin McClure – will attend UCLA and prepare to go to medical school. Thomas Munson – will attend Cornell University and study economics and finance. Kristen Iwanicki – will attend UC Santa Barbara and study psychology and math. Scott McGrath – will attend Brigham Young University. Jeff Gelalich – will attend UCLA on a baseball scholarship and study to be a physical therapist.

New Leagues Forming