Since igniting on Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Eaton fire in Altadena has destroyed thousands of structures and displaced tens of thousands of residents — including more than 350 students from the California School of the Arts — San Gabriel Valley.
When staff and students at Los Alamitos High School heard about the critical needs of their sister school community, they quickly sprang into action. On Sunday, Jan. 12, more than 75 students and 50 community members came together to collect and pack essentials for those who lost their homes or were left without stable housing.
Los Alamitos High School teacher Brandon Hart, who organized the drive, said the outpouring of generosity was so overwhelming that volunteers eventually had to turn away donations they received from their community and beyond.
“We are a collective without borders and boundaries, and the care that our community expressed on Sunday has made our seemingly invisible connections tangible,” said Hart.
Volunteers helped to organize tons of donations that included medicines, hygiene products, school supplies, food, water, clothing, bedding and even toys.
By the end of the day, the donations filled three full 26-foot U-Haul trucks. A group of Los Alamitos teachers volunteered to deliver four loads of supplies to staff from California School of the Arts — San Gabriel Valley.
From setting up the space to organizing and packaging donations, event organizers said students, parents and school staff all played a vital role in the drive’s success.
“I am overwhelmed with pride for our Griffin family’s generosity and compassion,” said Los Alamitos Principal Christiana Kraus. “Thanks to your kindness, we’ve brought comfort and hope to families facing unimaginable challenges. This is what makes our community so special.”
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- The OCDE Newsroom has posted some common questions and answers about the governor’s spending plan for 2025-26 and its effects on funding K-12 schools and community colleges.
- Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College were recently awarded for promoting students’ civic engagement and voter registration through their participation in the California University and College Ballot Bowl.
- Amid the damage done to thousands of schools and homes from the fires in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Gov. Newsom issued an executive order on Tuesday allowing displaced students to attend schools outside their home districts while removing penalties for missed instructional days.
- As part of Johns Hopkins University’s Global Health Leaders Conference, five Orange County high schoolers presented lectures last summer on health-related issues like susceptibility to infectious diseases and rising healthcare costs.
- A new year welcomes a new academic event season for students to showcase their skills and knowledge in a plethora of subjects. The OCDE Newsroom has created a chronological guide to this year’s academic competitions through June.
- In a recent conversation with Parenting OC, Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean spoke about OCDE’s goals for supporting local school districts through the implementation of its 5-3-1 Strategic Plan.
- Volunteers of all ages are invited to join OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors program in cleaning up and restoring Upper Newport Bay — one of California’s last coastal wetlands — during the annual MLK Day of Service on Jan. 25.
- Former Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Al Mijares, who died Friday after battling cancer, was remembered by former colleagues for his lengthy career uplifting local school districts and championing student achievement.
- As Southern California recovers from the devastation left by the Eaton and Palisades fires, thousands of students and staff have been displaced from their homes and school campuses.
- On Wednesday, students in the Los Angeles Unified School District returned to school or to modified learning environments on neighboring campuses — with the exception of seven schools that will remain closed. The Pasadena Unified School District also plans to reopen schools in phases starting next week.
- Through a partnership between State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and Airbnb, more than 1,300 Pasadena Unified staff will receive free emergency housing since being displaced from evacuation orders from the Eaton fire.
- In order to further support the communities affected by the fires, the deadline for financial aid applications has been extended for high school students in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
- Marching band members from the Fountain Valley High School royal regiment recently celebrated their Southern California division title in the California State Band Championships.
- Since classes were canceled at La Purisima Catholic School in Orange due to planned power outages for potential fire risk, educators at St. Barbara Catholic School in Santa Ana have opened their doors to more than 120 students to offer in-person learning on their campus.
- A record number of school districts in California — 205, to be exact — will receive over $45 billion in local construction bonds to upgrade their campus facilities.
- Two students from Brea Canyon High School in the Brea-Olinda Unified School District suffered major injuries after their e-bike crashed Tuesday.
- On Thursday, the Department of Education announced that more than $600 million of students loans would be forgiven for 4,550 borrowers as part of President Biden’s last round of student debt relief.
- Former Woodbridge High School football standout Connor McBride has returned to coach at his alma mater this season, becoming the fourth head coach in program history.
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