The Board of Directors of the Chaffey High School Alumni Association is pleased to announce that Michael Dean “Mickey” Moneta, M.D., Class of 1974, has been selected as the 2019 Tiger of the Year. Mickey was nominated by his classmate Jim Brulte ’74 and 1997 Tiger of the Year. Mickey will deliver an inspirational message to the CHS Class of 2019 at its Baccalaureate Service on May 19, 2019. This will be followed by a reception in his honor on campus.

While at Chaffey, Mickey participated in student government, was a CHS athlete and an academic leader. His brother Gregory Moneta ‘72 is also a doctor, specializing in vascular surgery. Since high school, Mickey has had a lifelong passion for running.

Mickey attended college at Claremont McKenna for his undergraduate studies and joined the U.S. Army Reserves in May 1981 while a student at George Washington University Medical School. After graduation from medical school in 1985, he interned at William Beaumont Army Medical Center while on active duty in the Army. In 1989 he completed a residency in anesthesiology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and was assigned to Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii as a staff anesthesiologist. He is a member of the American Board of Anesthesiology.

CHS Principal Christina Martinez (right) with football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz ’76 in North Hall.

CHS has a new principal — its 18th in the school’s 107-year history and the third woman in the position. Before being named principal, Christina Martinez served CHS first as assistant principal of achievement, and most recently as assistant principal of instruction. She was named principal in June 2018. Christina replaces Dr. George Matamala, who served from 2015 to 2018. George stepped down in June for personal reasons and is now vice-principal of Valley View High School.

Previous principals of CHS include Jefferson Taylor, who served from 1901, when the City of Ontario formed a school district to establish Ontario High School as the successor to the defunct Chaffey College of Agriculture, to 1911 when Ontario HS was renamed Chaffey HS to accommodate the wishes of Upland students who were scheduled to begin attending.

Merton E. Hill served from 1911-1931 as both CHS principal and superintendent of the Chaffey Union High School District. Merton E. Hill Auditorium in Tower Hall is named in his honor.

Gardiner W. Spring served from 1931 to 1931 before being named superintendent of the Chaffey Union High School District. He oversaw reconstruction of CHS campus buildings following the 1932 Long Beach earthquake. The main auditorium on campus is named in his honor.

Ernest W. Fischer is the longest-serving principal (1932-1950). He was followed by Ernest A. Payne (1950-1967), a 1922 graduate of CHS and 1985 CHSAA Tiger of the Year. Payne Field for baseball and soccer are named in his honor.

Cleo D. Martin served from 1967-1972 and was followed by Dr. Fred C. Adams (1972-1984. Dr. Adams founded CHSAA in 1974. Other principals include Dr. David O. Stine (1984-1988); Karen B. Dunn (1988-1990), the first female principal; Dr. Barry W. Cadwallader (1990-1993) who left CHS to become superintendent of CHJUSD; Dr. Glen C. England (1993-199a7); Jim Brodie (1997-2001; Dennis O’Connell (2001-2005); Dr. Tim Ward (2005-2009); Thomas O. Mitchell (2009-2012); Dawn Buboltz (2012-2015), and Dr George Matamala (2015-2018).

If you live locally and like the direction CHSAA is taking, you are invited to get in on the action by becoming a volunteer. You can choose how active you want to be and what projects interest you – we’ve very flexible!

  • History Project: Tom ‘65 and Vickee Duncan can use volunteers. Duties include cataloging museum items, logging donors, writing thank you notes to donors and helping decide what to display. An added bonus: you get to look at, read, and enjoy the many items already part of the museum + get a preview of new donations. Vickee and Tom provide ample instructions and training and are always available to answer questions. You can tailor your volunteer hours to suit your schedule. To join this group, contact Tom and Vickee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 909-518-0914 (Tom cell) or 909-985-3451 (home).
  • Special Events Committee: Cindy Martinez Beck ’76 and Vickee Duncan organize special events on campus such as the twice-yearly faculty appreciation breakfast and Tiger of the Year reception. They also respond to one-time requests from the principal or counseling staff (an example is support for this year’s College Application Program or CAP). Most events involve refreshments, so duties include setting up and breaking down tables, setting out and keeping food and drink replenished. May also include shopping for supplies like paper plates and cups (all expenditures are reimbursed). Time commitment varies for each event. The benefit: being on campus again, perhaps seeing buildings you haven’t been in for decades. To join this group, contact Cindy Beck at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 909-538-5700 (cell).

We’ll keep posting opportunities for volunteers as they become available.

Built in 1932 at Fifth Street and Euclid Avenue, Tower Hall is the oldest building on the Chaffey campus and is built in Mission Revival style. The tower rises an estimated 120 feet and contains a clock face on all four sides and chimes.

CHS alumni remember that the clock and chimes were operating in the 1960s, but at some time – perhaps in the 1980s – stopped functioning. Attempts over the years to fix the clocks and chimes were unsuccessful until June 2016 when the clock and chime assembly was replaced with a new, digital model.

The clock now keeps accurate time on all four faces, and Westminster chimes ring every hour from 7 am to 6 pm.