Raider Report - Starting Strong in 2026!

Dear Raider Families:

Happy New Year! We hope everyone enjoyed a safe, relaxing, and rejuvenating holiday season as we begin the Spring Semester. This time of year represents a fresh start and a new beginning for our students, staff, and families. It is an opportunity to reset goals, build positive habits, and start strong as we work together to make the most of every opportunity this semester. Classes begin tomorrow, January 5th, and we encourage all students to review their Aeries accounts to confirm their second-semester schedules, as some changes may have occurred. Being prepared on the first day will help set the tone for a successful semester ahead.

We are also excited to share that Open House will take place this Thursday, January 8th, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Large Gym. This event is a wonderful opportunity for prospective students and families to learn more about Sonora High School and experience the culture that makes our campus so special. Guests will have the chance to explore our outstanding academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs, meet our dedicated staff, and connect with students who truly thrive in our positive and engaging environment. Open House is perfect for families interested in experiencing the complete high school journey at the World’s Greatest High School. We look forward to welcoming our community and showcasing the pride, excellence, and opportunities that define Sonora High School.

We will see you tomorrow!

Steven A. Cazares

Principal, Sonora High School

The winter season was an especially busy and rewarding time for our band as we came off a successful competition season and continued to build momentum. Students showcased their hard work by hosting our annual Winter Concert, which proudly featured our first-ever orchestra performance, marking an exciting milestone for our program. In addition, the band had the opportunity to perform during the holiday season at the Brea Mall, providing a festive and memorable conclusion to a very full fall semester. A special thank you goes to band director Jerome Diebolt for his unwavering dedication to our students and for the tremendous growth we have seen across all of our musical performance groups. The future is bright for our music students, and we are incredibly grateful for the time, effort, and energy he continually invests in our program.

Kelly Virden is the very definition of what it means to be a Raider. She is instrumental to everything we do at Sonora, leading with integrity, heart, and an unwavering commitment to creating meaningful, inclusive experiences for all students. Every decision she makes and every task she takes on is grounded in what’s best for kids, ensuring they feel supported, valued, and connected to our school community.

Whether working tirelessly behind the scenes or leading from the front, Kelly gives her time, energy, and expertise selflessly. She consistently goes above and beyond, setting the standard through her actions, her attitude, and her genuine love for our students and school. Her positivity and dedication inspire those around her to elevate their work and stay focused on our shared purpose.

Because of Kelly, Sonora is stronger. Our programs are better, our students are more supported, and our campus culture continues to thrive as a welcoming, inclusive place for everyone. We are incredibly grateful for Kelly Virden and the lasting impact she makes every single day.

Remi Rodriguez is a true cornerstone of Sonora High School, and his hard work is felt and seen every single day. He takes incredible pride in our campus and is always eager to make Sonora look its very best. Because of Remi’s dedication, our school is welcoming, clean, and well-maintained, creating an environment where students and staff can thrive.

Remi consistently goes above and beyond in everything he does. He is always ready to help teachers and staff with a positive attitude and a solutions-first mindset, no matter the task or the time. His energy is unmatched, his motor never seems to stop, and his commitment to excellence sets the standard for what it means to serve our school community.

Sonora truly shines because of Remi. His work ethic, positivity, and heart make a lasting impact on our campus each day, and we are incredibly grateful for all that he does to support our students and school.

Girls Water Polo:

Our Lady Raiders went 2-2 over the break beating Palisades and Diamond Bar. They dropped matches vs. Summit and Walnut. Our ladies finished a tough preseason at 7-10. They will open up league play at Troy on Monday at 4pm.

Boys Basketball:

Our Boys went 3-1 in the Mt. Carmel tournament in San Diego over break. Their preseason record was 14 wins and 5 losses. Friday they opened up league play with a big win over Villa Park 79-66 at home.

Girls Basketball:

Our Lady Raiders played in the Ayala Best in the West Tournament over break and went 2-2. Their preseason schedule was 11-4. They opened up league Friday night with a tough loss to Troy 59-42.

Wrestling:

Our Varsity Boys and Girls Wrestling teams hosted and competed in the elite Tournament of Champions event at Sonora. With 42 girls teams and 77 Boys teams, Our girls placed 7th and had a strong balanced showing.

Stella 7th, Aaliyah 5th, Aryanna 7th, Ariel 7th and Chloe 7th. For the boys, Greg Ruiz placed 7th out of 77 wrestlers at 144 lbs.

Girls Soccer:

Our lady Raiders had a very successful preseason and finished 8 wins, 3 losses and 2 ties. Big wins over La Habra, La Serna and Brea secured a competitive preseason. They opened up league on Saturday vs. Yorba Linda at La Habra stadium at finished with a 0-0 tie.

Boys Soccer:

Our Boys Soccer team played in the Silver Lakes tournament over break and beat Troy 2-0. They opened up league on Friday with a convincing win over El Modena at Fred Kelly Stadium 3-1.

ALL Sports Including Cheer, Dance, JROTC, & Band Must Register

1) Go to homecampus.com/login

Please use the following Handout to help guide you through the Athletic Clearance process.
Create an account and complete all sections: Watch the VIDEO for detailed instructions.
**Very Important** Choose “Sonora” (CIF-SS)” on the list and the School Year "2023/2024".

2) You must upload Page 4 of the PHYSICAL FORM

Downloadable Physical Form

Print & Fill Out the Physical Form for your visit to the doctor.
Page 4 MUST BE COMPLETED (MEDICAL CLEARANCE STATUS MARKED AND EMERGENCY CONTACTS FILLED OUT), SIGNED, STAMPED & DATED BY A PHYSICIAN.

Only the signature from an MD, DO, or PA will be accepted. Signatures from Chiropractors and Nurse Practitioners are NOT accepted.

Page 4 of the Physical Form must then be uploaded to Home Campus.
There is no form under the signed Confirmation Page. Please skip that and go back to upload the form at the end of the process.

3) Once you have completed the signatures and uploaded the physical form on Home Campus, Print out the Confirmation Page from homecampus.com/login

Print & Complete (Both parent & student signatures are required).
Please be advised that each sport/activity must be listed at the top of the page in order to be cleared for that sport during the 2023-24 school year.
Go back into Home Campus and upload the Confirmation Page into the Signed Confirmation Page Form

You are not cleared until you receive a clearance email from Home Campus. Our Admin team must review all submissions prior to your student-athlete receiving clearance. You may follow the status of your clearance on the Home Campus website.

If you have questions, please contact Mrs, Crail, Assistant Principal, at mcrail@fjuhsd.org

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