Students at South Jr. High receive their State Civic Learning Award of Excellence from Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero on Sept. 28. (Photos courtesy of Anaheim Union High School District) 
California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero presents the 2026 State Civic Learning Award of Excellence to South Jr. High Principal Yolanda Mejia and teacher Jason Collar. 
Anaheim Union High School District students, teachers, board trustees and leadership proudly display their new Civic Learning Award of Excellence alongside Chief Justice Guerrero.
Last year, students at South Junior High School in Anaheim advocated for filtered water fountains across their campus, identifying a need in their school community and working toward a solution.
Now, the Anaheim Union High School District campus has received statewide recognition for that same student-led civic engagement — for the second time.
South Junior High was recently selected for one of the 2026 State Civic Learning Awards of Excellence, presented by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero during a campus visit. The honor recognizes the school’s efforts to make civic learning an integral part of the student experience.
“The fact that South has earned this distinction twice, it speaks to something important about who we are,” Principal Yolanda Mejia said. “Civic learning is not an isolated program or something that happens in one classroom. It is part of the fabric of our school.”
During her visit, Guerrero administered the oath of office to 40 students joining the school’s South Senate. The student representatives then discussed issues affecting their peers and selected a new priority for the school year: advocating for air conditioning in the campus gym.
Students also demonstrated their latest civic learning project, a course called Civic Design in Minecraft Education that was developed with teacher Jason Collar. Using the popular video game as a learning tool, students have formed virtual communities and explored ways to address real-world challenges.
That same approach will soon reach students beyond South Junior High. The Orange County Department of Education is preparing to host its Battle of the Counties e-sports competition in 2027, bringing together student teams from across California to design solutions to community challenges through Minecraft Education.
The competition will offer students another opportunity to turn their creativity into civic action, much like the students at South Junior High have done on their own campus.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Students from Otto Fischer School students shared personal reflections, future goals and messages of hope through their writing and artistry in the ninth annual Juvenile Hall Essay and Visual Arts Contest hosted by the Orange County Probation Department with support from OCDE’s ACCESS alternative education program.
- Former Irvine Unified School District Superintendent Terry Walker sat down with County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean to discuss the adaptability quotient and explore how educators and leaders can use it to navigate unexpected challenges on the latest episode of the FutureCurrent podcast.
- Before the Milwaukee Brewers claimed the 2026 World Series title on Wednesday, the OCDE Newsroom spotlighted four Orange County high school baseball alumni who helped lead the team to its first-ever championship.
- Five Huntington Beach Union High School District employees including Superintendent Dr. Carolee Ogata and members of the Nutrition Services team, are promoting student nutrition education through a local Got Milk? campaign in partnership with the Dairy Council of California.
- With Halloween just around the corner, the OCDE Newsroom is revisiting a couple seasonal stories, including safety tips to help families enjoy a safe and fun night of trick-or-treating, and the unexpected education connection between the Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education and the 1996 horror classic, “Scream.”
- In conversation with students from the Orange County Juvenile Hall and Youth Guidance Center, actor Esai Morales reflected on lessons about personal growth and perseverance to achieve success durig a virtual visit hosted by OCDE staff at ACCESS Area 4 schools.
- Four Garden Grove Unified School District campuses are expanding student access to music education through grants from the Philharmonic Society of Orange County’s Strike Up the Band program. This year’s awardees received new instruments and funding for music programs at 13 school campuses across the county.
- Two Fullerton School District campuses — Robert C. Fisler School and Beechwood School — have earned spots among California’s top 100 middle schools in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.
- New analysis of California’s 2026 Smarter Balanced assessment results offers a closer look at student performance across the state, finding that only about one in five school districts had a majority of students meet or exceed math standards.
- California schools are seeing a sharp decline in enrollment among newly arrived immigrant students, prompting some districts to scale back specialized newcomer programs and reassign staff.
- A new statewide database from EdSource examines how California school districts are using their Proposition 28 arts and music education funding, including how much money remains unspent.
- Strong relationships with students and families may be among the most effective ways schools can address chronic absenteeism, according to new research from Johns Hopkins University.
- Students pursuing career-focused training could soon have another way to pay for their education through Workforce Pell Grants, a federal expansion of the Pell Grant program.
- Six Corona del Mar High School girls’ tennis players advanced to the CIF Southern Section Individuals tournament after sweeping the Sunset League finals.
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.