History of Ramona Junior High School

 During the 1962-63 school year, I taught Common Learning in the West Hall of Chino Junior High School located on Riverside Drive. The school was overcrowded and the West Hall was soon to be condemned. 

 In 1963-64, I taught Physical Education in the Chino Junior High School gym (which is now the DES Hall). 

Ramona Junior High on Walnut and Ramona opened December 2, 1963 with the south side of the campus finished. The cafeteria was not completed yet, nor the north end of the campus. Half of the students from Chino Junior High School were bused to the Ramona campus for half of their day, then they were bused back to Chino Junior High and the rest of the students were transported to Ramona for their half day.   Students at Ramona were served boxed lunches prepared at the CJHS cafeteria. 

 The Ramona campus was built by the Barry Construction Company. The school was built for 864 students but I believe we had more students than that the first year we opened. 

The Ramona Indian name came because we were the feeder school for Chino High School who were the Chino Cowboys so we became the Ramona Indians. We had the same blue and white colors that Chino High School had. 

Our first principal was John Kropp and the second principal was Ken Bekkedahl. Both these early principals served twice. 

 The Dedication of Ramona Junior High School was in 1965 after the completion of the building of the school. I believe the Superintendent of the California Department of Education spoke at the dedication. 

 After Magnolia Junior High opened in the late 60s, they became the feeder school for Chino High and we became the feeder school for the new Don Lugo High School.