Weekly roundup: Westminster High students celebrate Vietnamese culture at Rose Parade, Orange County monitors winds and fire risks, and more

Vicky Nguyen
  • Westminster High School Rose Parade 1
    Students from Westminster High School’s Vietnamese American Culture Club march alongside the “Journey of Dreams” float during the 2025 Rose Parade on Jan. 1 in Pasadena. (Photos courtesy of the Huntington Beach Union High School District)
  • Mai-Khanh Cong-Huyen, Westminster High School’s Vietnamese language teacher, poses with student lion dancers before their performance at the 2025 Rose Parade on Jan. 1.
    Mai-Khanh Cong-Huyen, Westminster High School’s Vietnamese language teacher, poses with student lion dancers before their performance at the 2025 Rose Parade on Jan. 1.
  • Westminster High School students pose for a group photo after performing at the 2025 Rose Parade in Pasadena.
    Westminster High School students pose for a group photo after performing at the 2025 Rose Parade in Pasadena.

Westminster High School’s Vietnamese American Culture Club brought their mission of promoting pride in Vietnamese culture to the national stage by performing at the 2025 Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1.

The club’s lion dance team joined the “Journey of Dreams” float, presented by the nonprofit Love2Yêu, which celebrated cultural heritage and marked just the second representation of Vietnam’s traditions in the parade’s history, following a float in 2002.

Fifteen students and three staff members from the Huntington Beach Union High School District participated, including Vietnamese language teacher Mai-Khanh Cong-Huyen, science teacher Khang Bao and health student teacher Derek Truong. The lion dance team collaborated with Thiên Ân Performing Arts, showcasing a traditional art form central to the club’s mission of preserving and sharing the Vietnamese culture.

“This was all of our first time attending the Rose Parade in person, and it was unforgettable to know we were also participants,” said Cong-Huyen, who co-advises the club. “The energy from the crowd made the 5.5-mile route worthwhile, as spectators cheered, waved, and shared words of encouragement.”

The float also featured prominent figures, including Amanda Nguyen, who will be the first Vietnamese woman to fly to space, and Kieu Chinh, an actress known for her roles in “M*A*S*H” and “The Joy Luck Club.”

Cong-Huyen said the event offered students a chance to showcase their skills and share their heritage with a national audience.

“Through this public celebration of their heritage, the students recognized the power of cultural expression to unite and inspire,” said Cong-Huyen. “This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all involved.”

Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:

  • Orange County Department of Education staff continue to monitor wind updates, fire warnings, and safety recommendations, sharing this information through OCDE Newsroom and directly with districts to support preparedness.
  • Dr. Al Mijares, a longtime educational leader and Orange County’s 11th superintendent of schools, died Thursday at age 71 following a battle with ampullary cancer, his family announced.
Hmong families say goodbye to loved ones boarding a bus at a refugee camp in Thailand, reflecting both sorrow and hope as they prepare to journey to the United States. (Image created by Boon Ma Yang for the Hmong History and Cultural Studies Model Curriculum)
  • OCDE will host two conferences in February and May to help K-12 educators learn a new model curriculum on the histories, cultures and refugee experiences of Hmong Americans.
  • The Los Angeles Unified School District closed campuses Thursday and Friday due to ongoing wildfires, poor air quality and power outages, with resources such as food distribution and remote learning options provided.
  • The OC Pathways Showcase on Feb. 27 at the OC Fairgrounds will feature student-led exhibits, interactive activities and networking opportunities to highlight career pathways and workforce development in Orange County.
  • The Orange County Department of Education and the County of Orange Social Services Agency partnered to redesign spaces at the Orangewood Children and Family Center, using trauma-informed and biophilic design to create calming, supportive environments for youth recovering from abuse, neglect or exploitation.
  • The Orange County Register’s 125 Most Influential People of 2024 list recognized educators, students and leaders — including Sylvia Mendez — for their significant contributions to education, innovation and community impact in Orange County and beyond.
Collection of story features from 2024
  • OCDE Newsroom staff reflected on 2024’s biggest storylines, highlighting leadership transitions, the integration of artificial intelligence, national and state school recognitions, and 50 years of environmental education through Inside the Outdoors.
  • California issued 14,636 teaching credentials in the 2022-23 school year — nearly 2,000 fewer than the prior year — as enrollment in teacher preparation programs declined by 12%.
  • The California Department of Education, in partnership with SupplyBank.org Disaster Relief Fund, is providing resources to support school communities impacted by Southern California wildfires that have closed 335 campuses and affected over 211,000 students.
  • Fullerton Union High School’s “Indians” nickname is facing retirement by 2026 under the California Racial Mascots Act, prompting alumni and students to propose alternatives to honor local history.
  • Laguna Beach Unified’s new school board majority faces allegations of violating the Brown Act during the hiring process for an interim superintendent, according the Voice of OC.

This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.