On Thursday, March 21, 2024, Fillmore High School students were treated to the musical sounds of cumbia and boleros by Grammy award winning Mexican-American band La Santa Cecilia in celebration of “World Down Syndrome Day” and “Dia Del Campesino.” Above is Councilmember Christina Villaseñor, Commissioner Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez, FHS student Emi Martinez, his mom, Ana Cardenas, Field Representative Manuel Minjares, and Special Education Teacher Mr. Rockney, who came out for the fun. Photo courtesy Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez.
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On Thursday, March 21, 2024, Fillmore High School students hosted Grammy award winning Mexican-American band La Santa Cecilia in celebration of “World Down Syndrome Day” and “Dia Del Campesino.” Above are students and staff dancing and enjoying the music. Photo courtesy Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez.
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By Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez

On Thursday, March 21, Fillmore High School students were treated to the musical sounds of cumbia and boleros by Grammy award winning Mexican-American band La Santa Cecilia, all in celebration of “World Down Syndrome Day” and “Dia Del Campesino.”

This celebration brought together students, staff, city officials, and the perfect combination of history, culture, inclusion, and diversity through the power of song; Mr. Herrera, who teaches Spanish and forms part of the musical group “Hermanos Herrera,” has been very successful at using every opportunity to incorporate music into his lessons making the learning experience in his classroom an enjoyable one. La Santa Cecilia, a band that represents US bicultural identity, has a unique sound that captures their Latin American influences and Mexican heritage, music that resonates with many Fillmore students from all walks of life.

World Down Syndrome Day has been celebrated on this day every year since 2012, this year’s theme is End the Stereotypes. Mr. Rockney, a Special Education teacher at FHS, believes “students with Down Syndrome have hopes, dreams, and challenges much like any other child their age. They have a deep desire to connect with their peers and to engage in meaningful friendships. They want to show their teachers and friends what they know and what they can do.”

Supervisor Kelly Long, who had field representative Manuel Minjares present the band with a certificate of recognition, was honored to have her office present at the event, not only to celebrate Dia del Campesino “a day where we honor the immeasurable contributions from farm workers in our community,” but also to “recognize World Down Syndrome Day which seeks to bring awareness to the challenges faced by the Down Syndrome community and create change to improve their quality of life.”

Dia Del Campesino, or Farmworkers’ Day, is a celebration that was created by the Spanish Department this year. Mr. Luis Herrera and his team decided that with Cesar Chavez Day around the corner on March 31, it would be appropriate to focus on the significance of all farmworkers/campesinos as a whole. Mr. Herrera believes that “it’s important to recognize the history of struggle of campesinos and spotlight their importance within our community and society. Campesinos feed America, and their arduous work is often overlooked and dismissed.”

Councilmember Christina Villasenor, who acknowledged the band with a certificate of recognition from the City of Fillmore, is glad to see Fillmore High School students taking a moment “to show gratitude for our campesinos and celebrate them in our community.” She also agrees with Mr. Herrera, and believes farmworkers are “the backbone to our local economy, the backbone of our families and cultural fabric of our community, instilling the values of hope and hard work, perseverance and pride, strength and unity in all of us.”

Mr. Herrera has ten more musical events lined up for FHS this year, which also includes a week-long celebration for Cinco de Mayo; all festivities will have live music, including the school’s very own Mariachi Los Rayos and Johnny Tapia, who Mr. Herrera believes will be selling out arenas in the near future!

Community members and local businesses have jumped at the opportunity to support these FHS events, so a big thank you goes to Cultura Imports, Daniel’s Gourmet Foods, Lemon Tree Embroidery, Electric Remedy, Radio Lazer, The Candy Bar, La Fondita Restaurant, La Michoacana Bakery, Erika Sandoval, and Hermanos Herrera!

If any community member or local business would like to support any Fillmore High School events, please contact Mr. Luis Herrera via email at lherrera@fillmoreusd.org or through Instagram @hermanosherrera.

Christine Schieferle, Superintendent of Fillmore Unified School District

Courtesy https://www.blog.fillmoreusd.org/fillmore-unified-school-district-blog/2...

Dear FMS Families,
We want to thank you for your support as we worked closely with law enforcement Tuesday, March 19, 2024, to investigate the alleged threat to Fillmore Middle School. This morning a student notified school administration of an alleged social media threat. We immediately contacted law enforcement and implemented school safety protocols. Out of an abundance of caution, students were directed to remain in classrooms. Law enforcement determined there was no credible threat and the school resumed to normal operations.

We will continue to take all threats seriously for the safety and protection of our schools. Let’s continue to work together and if you see something, say something.

Respectfully,
Christine Schieferle
Superintendent, Fillmore Unified School District

On March 5th, 2024, Fillmore Unified School District Superintendent Christine Schieferle, Fillmore High School Principal Keith Derrick, and California State University Channel Islands President Dr. Richard Yao signed a Memorandum of Understanding that provides opportunities for Fillmore High students seeking to attend college.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes a guaranteed admission program to California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) and makes the process of preparing for and attending college more streamlined, affordable, and accessible to all Fillmore High School (FHS) students. This year alone, 41 Fillmore High seniors were accepted to CSUCI. The MOU will increase that number in the future by providing a clear path to college with more resources, guidance, and opportunities outlined in the MOU and provided by both FUSD and CSUCI.

The conversations regarding the development of a MOU began over a year ago, when Superintendent Schieferle met CSUCI President Yao. Always working to fulfill one of Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) governing board’s goals of creating more partnerships with business, colleges, and universities, Superintendent Schieferle began the process of working with President Yao, CSUCI staff, FUSD staff, FHS Principal Derrick, and FHS staff to develop this opportunity for Fillmore High students.

“This MOU and new relationship demonstrates CSUCI’s commitment to the students in Fillmore and Piru,” said FUSD Superintendent Christine Schieferle. “This commitment to the FUSD community validates to our students that CSUCI believes in them and will offer the support necessary to see them accomplish their goals. This makes college a reality for our students before they graduate from high school.”

Schieferle said the district is grateful for President Yao’s vision and FUSD is committed to providing a rigorous college preparatory program for high school students; making sure students meet CSU admission requirements; promote CSUCI programs and services to parents and students; and share data about FUSD students with CSUCI.

In addition to providing a dedicated admissions counselor, CSUCI will also offer on-the-spot admission to Fillmore High students. This means that whenever CSUCI representatives visit Fillmore High, students may bring their transcripts and could be provisionally admitted to CSUCI that same day.

FHS Principal Keith Derrick said, “Through the commitments outlined in this MOU, our graduates will have a chance to access a high-quality, affordable college education close to home. We are excited to work with CSUCI to enhance our students’ success and future options. This agreement is an important investment in the young people of our community.”
The Fillmore Unified School District will also become a California College Guidance Initiative partner institution, with a task force and dedicated point-person, who will carry out the terms agreed upon in the MOU.’

Submitted By Jan Lee

Again, this year, the first two weekends of March 2024, Fillmore High School sent a Robotics Team to the international competition at the Port of Hueneme.

The students built a robot that would perform various tasks as part of a three-robot team competing against another three-robot team. These teams rotate through 10 matches. In a timed event, the robots had to hang from a chain, pick-up as many foam rings as possible and launch them at a goal. Successful completion of the tasks earned points. The robots were designed, assembled, and programed by the students in an 8-week period. The students used many skills to be able to participate in the competition. They had to design a robot that had the apparatus to perform the designated tasks (which change every year). It must move rapidly from one part of the arena to the other. It had to pick up an object, then the arm of the robot had to throw that object (a foam ring) at a goal.

With five other robots in the arena, they had to do this as many times as possible within the 3-minute time limit. In addition, there was a chain suspended between two poles which the robot had to extend the arms and hang from the chain lifting the robot off the ground.

The students also had to write the computer program that would direct the robot to do these tasks. The robot performed for the first 45 seconds of each match without human control. The robot was controlled by the students from outside the arena for the next 2 minutes and 45 seconds. It was amazing to watch hundreds of high school students, from schools of all sizes around the world, freshman through senior, maneuvering the robots, repairing them between rounds and cheering on their teammates. The Fillmore team has been working on all this after school and weekends since January.

Mr. Jeremiah MacMahon is the FHS advisor to the team. Mentors Bob Gradias, Chi Nyguen, and David Sell taught, encouraged, advised, cheered, and guided the team. A grant from the Department of Defense and the Gene Haas Foundation made it possible for the Fillmore team to compete. The team members would tell you it was a lot of fun, a lot of work, a lot of time, a lot of learning and collaboration to be able to successfully compete in the competition. It is a exceptional accomplishment that the Fillmore team finished 26th out of a field of 50 teams.

Congratulations to the Flash Drives, the Fillmore High School Robotics Team on their successful competition. Thank you, Mr. MacMahon and mentors, for all your time, dedication and effort.

VENTURA, Calif. – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Azzan Sandhu
(DOB 01/26/96), of Fullerton, has been charged with nine felony counts related to the sexual
abuse of a 15-year-old female incarcerated at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility (VYCF), in
Camarillo, California. The charges include seven counts of committing a lewd act on a child, one
count of using a child for the creation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and one count of
communicating with a minor with the intent to commit a sex offense. Each count also carries a
special allegation that Sandhu took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the
offenses.

Sandhu was arraigned today and pled not guilty to all charges and allegations.
Sandhu is a peace officer employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
(CDCR), and was responsible for the supervision of minor inmates housed at the VYCF. He is
accused of committing sexual acts on a 15-year-old female under his supervision between
December 2022 and February 2023. Sandhu is further accused of using his cell phone to create
CSAM of the victim during the same period.

“The defendant is accused of using his position of trust and authority to sexually abuse a
vulnerable female entrusted to his care,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said. “We will continue to
vigorously prosecute any individual who is alleged to have preyed upon and sexually exploited a
minor.”

Senior Deputy District Attorney Tony Wold, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s
Office Public Integrity Unit, is prosecuting the case.
Contact: Joey Buttitta
Title: Communications Manager/PIO
Phone: (805) 767-3400
Email: Joey.Buttitta@ventura.org
Approved: SW
Date: March 20, 2024
Release No.: 24-025

Sandhu is scheduled for an early disposition conference on April 25, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in
courtroom 11 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains in custody with bail set at
$1 million.

Case: 2024006271
Defendant Information:
Azzan Sandhu (DOB 01/26/96)
Fullerton

Charged with:
• (7 counts) PC 288(c)(1) – Lewd act upon a child
• PC 288.3(a) – Luring
• PC 311.4(c) – Using minor for sex acts
Special Allegations:
• CRC 4.421(a)(3) – Victim was vulnerable
• CRC 4.421(a)(11) – The defendant took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offens

Kristian Fonseca, 25, of Fillmore, Ca

Kristian Fonseca, 25 of Fillmore, will be standing trial on murder charges connected with the death of two Santa Paula men over three years ago. Fonseca is accused of shooting Jose Estrada, 24, and Daniel Zuniga, 25 on October 24, 2020, in the 200 block of East Ventura Street, Santa Paula. A third victim was hospitalized with injuries but survived. He is also facing an attempted murder charge in a shooting in Ventura in 2019. Fonseca has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in the VC Jail on a $3 million bail.

ORIGINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASES - 10/24/2020
On Saturday, October 24th, 2020, at approximately 10:13pm, the Santa Paula Police Department received a call of shots fired with two subjects down in the 200 block of Ventura St. Upon officers’ arrival, officers located two subjects with gunshot wounds. One subject was pronounced deceased on scene and the second subject was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he is in critical condition. While officers were investigating the scene, a third victim of the shooting arrived at the Santa Paula Hospital Emergency Room. He was later taken to the Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura. There are no suspects in custody and the motive is unknown at this time.

UPDATE:

On Thursday 12/10/2020 SPPD Detectives completed the investigation into the October 24, 2020 shooting which claimed the lives of two people. During the investigation Kristian Fonseca of Fillmore was identified as a person of interest. Fonseca was arrested by SPPD Special Enforcement Officers on October 27, 2020 on an unrelated warrant. SPPD Detectives conducted the investigation and on December 10, 2020, Fonseca was charged by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder in relation to the October 24, 2020 shooting. Fonseca has been in custody since October 27, 2020 on charges unrelated to the homicide.

CONTACT PERSON: Detective Hector Ramirez

APPROVED BY: Commander Scott Varner

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced on Thursday, December 11th that Kristian Fonseca (DOB 10/07/98) of Fillmore, has been charged with the murder of Jose Estrada and Daniel Zuniga, both of Santa Paula. The complaint charges two counts of murder with a special allegation that Fonseca personally used a firearm in the commission of the crimes. Fonseca was also charged with one count of attempted murder with a special allegation that he personally used a firearm, for the shooting of Rafael Hernandez, of Santa Paula, in the same incident.

Mr. Estrada and Mr. Zuniga were fatally shot on East Ventura Street in Santa Paula in the late evening hours of October 24, 2020. Mr. Estrada died that day, while Mr. Zuniga remained on life support for two weeks before he died. Mr. Hernandez was shot several times and survived his injuries. Fonseca is currently in custody for an attempted murder that he committed in the city of Ventura in October 2019. He appeared in court on December 10, 2020, and pled not guilty to the new charges. The case is set for an early disposition conference on January 27, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. Fonseca is currently in custody at the Ventura County Jail with bail set at $3 million.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 280 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and other professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.
Follow the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office on Twitter @VenturaDAOffice