Baile folklórico dancers from Centralia Elementary School twirled to traditional music in brightly colored dresses, while Danbrook Elementary’s drumline energized the crowd with bucket drums at the 45th annual OC Black History Month Parade and Unity Festival on Feb. 1.
Students marched along Anaheim Boulevard, celebrating culture and community through music and movement. The groups are part of the Centralia Elementary School District’s Expanded Learning Program, which provides music and arts opportunities outside of regular school hours.
“The arts have always been a medium for self-expression and for connections with our own cultures and those around us,” Norma Martinez, superintendent of the Centralia Elementary School District, said. “By having our district participate in the OC Black History Parade, we are able to honor the legacy, achievements and contributions of Black leaders while fostering unity, education and cultural appreciation.”
The superintendent noted that parents were proud to see their children perform and appreciated the opportunity to celebrate diversity and cultural awareness.
Centralia offers a diverse visual and performing arts program, encompassing choir, percussion, strings, piano, band, music production and various dance styles. These opportunities are designed to foster creativity and keep students engaged in the arts.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- More than 500 middle school students from Anaheim, Fullerton and Santa Ana attended the third annual “Know More, Do Better” youth conference in Costa Mesa, where educators, law enforcement and survivor advocates — alongside partners like the Orange County Department of Education — shared strategies to recognize and prevent human trafficking.
- Fountain Valley High School will pilot the College Board’s new AP Cybersecurity career pathway next school year, offering two courses through the AP Career Kickstart initiative to prepare students for high-demand career fields.
- Approximately 40 Orange County students were among the more than 800 winners recognized with distinction by the national YoungArts program for their talents in disciplines such as music, writing and visual arts.
- Educators and school counseling professionals convened at the 11th annual Orange County Counselor Symposium on Feb. 5 to collaborate on student support strategies and recognize leaders in the field.
- School districts across Orange County are providing guidance and resources to support immigrant families amid concerns about federal immigration enforcement policies, according to the OC Register.
- More than 12,000 students and educators from 150 local schools gathered at Honda Center for the Anaheim Ducks’ 24th annual First Flight Field Trip, where OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors program joined partners in supporting STEM-focused lessons on the science behind hockey.
- The Santa Ana Unified School District trustees voted 4-1 to approve layoffs affecting 286 employees due to declining enrollment and a $180 million budget deficit.
- La Quinta High School students celebrated Lunar New Year with traditional dances, a dragon dance and a lion dance, marking the Year of the Snake and the upcoming 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon.
- President Donald Trump is preparing executive orders to dismantle the U.S. Education Department and restrict participation in women’s and girls’ sports to individuals assigned female at birth, according to the Associated Press.
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta reaffirmed the state’s commitment to protecting educators and ensuring that all students, including immigrant and LGBTQ+ students, feel safe and supported in schools. He emphasized that California’s education laws remain in place and stated that his office is prepared to address any legal challenges that may arise.
- Former NFL receiver Matthew Hatchette has been hired as Huntington Beach High’s next head football coach pending board approval, bringing nearly 15 years of coaching experience, including his recent role as offensive coordinator at Loyola High.
- Hundreds of high school students across Los Angeles staged a walkout Tuesday to protest federal immigration policies, as district officials reported a sharp drop in attendance driven by both activism and fear.
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, Twitter and Instagram.