OCDE Newsroom

Students building a Viking shop at Marina High

Marina High students tackle ultimate woodworking project with handcrafted viking ship (video)

Ian Hanigan January 11, 2016

In October, we read an intriguing story about an ambitious project over at Marina High School, home of the Vikings. Students at the Huntington Beach campus, led by their enterprising wood shop teacher Bob Meade, were building a full-scale Viking ship -- and planning to launch it in Huntington Harbour. Naturally we had to check the thing out for ourselves. [...]

Orange County student chosen to represent California in the U.S. Senate Youth Program

Ian Hanigan December 10, 2015

An Orange County School of the Arts student with aspirations of public service and a very impressive resume will represent California in the 54th annual United States Senate Youth Program. Zena Meyer of Irvine secured the prestigious appointment following a rigorous review process and the high school junior will travel to Washington, D.C. in March to study the federal government as a guest of the U.S. Senate. [...]

State Superintendent Torlakson lauds Laguna Beach as a leading digital district (video)

Ian Hanigan December 9, 2015

How’s this for recognition? State Superintendent Tom Torlakson recently cited the Laguna Beach Unified School District as one of the three leading digital districts in California. “These bright spots serve as lights of encouragement and guidance for our state,” Torlakson wrote in this letter to district leaders about technology and equity. [...]

In the news: Flipped teaching, upgrades at Katella, promoting kindness and more

Ian Hanigan November 20, 2015

It’s the last Friday before Thanksgiving, and we've got a feast of local education stories you might have missed. Click through for this week's headlines.

Oral family history project aims to capture a generation of stories over Thanksgiving holiday

Staff reports November 5, 2015

High school students have an opportunity to discover and share their life and family histories over the upcoming holiday via the ambitious Great Thanksgiving Listen initiative, sponsored by StoryCorps. The goal is to offer participants a chance to discover the history in their own families and lives while honoring their elders through the act of listening. [...]

Students at the National History Day competition in Maryland

Three student projects from OC earn medals at National History Day Contest in Maryland

Ian Hanigan June 18, 2015

Of the seven California entries to earn medals at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest in Maryland, no fewer than three were from schools in Orange County. Click through to see which schools produced this year's top NHD submissions.

Education advisor Fullan calls for collaboration and capacity-building at OCDE conference

Ian Hanigan May 22, 2015

Education reform expert Michael Fullan was the keynote speaker at OCDE’s “Equipping an Emerging Generation” conference, which drew more than 400 educators and business leaders to the Hyatt Regency Orange County. Hosted by County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Al Mijares, the event also featured Trevor Packer, senior vice president for the College Board. [...]

Student participants in National History Day

Fifteen OC students invited to compete at the National History Day competition in Maryland

Ian Hanigan May 15, 2015

California will send 36 of its best National History Day projects to Maryland next month for a final showdown on the national stage, and eight of those entries will travel from schools right here in Orange County. Also expected to make the trip: The 15 local students who created them. [...]

Helena Modjeska Historic House and Gardens

Inside the Outdoors living history field trips move learning out of the classroom (video)

Staff reports May 1, 2015

We recently caught up with one of our Inside the Outdoor programs leading a field trip for third- and fourth-grade...

An image of a student displaying her National History Day project

Top performers from National History Day-OC competition now headed to state finals

Ian Hanigan March 20, 2015

The results are in from the 2015 National History Day-Orange County competition. Capping months of research and preparation, student projects were displayed and judged at OCDE’s main campus on March 14, and an awards ceremony followed two days later. A breakdown of all the medalists by division and category has since been published on OCDE’s National History Day webpage. [...]