Middle schools

An image of the Cerro Villa Middle School STEM lab

Classroom of the future at Orange’s Cerro Villa Middle School boosts career exploration in STEM fields

Staff reports
Students at Cerro Villa Middle School in Orange have the opportunity to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through a hands-on elective course that began in March and takes place in the school’s new on-site STEM lab. Utilizing the Paxton ActionLABS program, the lab contains 16 stations stocked with hardware, software, tools and instructional materials that students can leverage to conduct hands-on experiments in the STEM fields through project-based lessons. [...]
A flier for the Equipping an Emerging Generation conference

OCDE conference to feature education experts Michael Fullan and Trevor Packer

Ian Hanigan
Closing the rigor gap, increasing graduation rates, reducing college remediation and fortifying the American workforce will be the focus of a special conference for Orange County educators next month. Hosted by the Orange County Department of Education and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Al Mijares, “Equipping an Emerging Generation” will feature presentations by renowned academic experts Michael Fullan and Trevor Packer. The conference will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County. [...]
A photo of students looking through telescope

STEM and the Arts Career Showcase connects student talents to future jobs

Staff reports
More than 4,000 students and families from middle school through college will learn about careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts at the 2015 STEM and the Arts Career Showcase April 24-26. Organizers say the goal is to help students see how their interests and passions align with real-world jobs – and to motivate them to pursue higher levels of education. [...]
An image of McPherson Magnet students displaying a technology project

Five O.C. teams selected to showcase technology projects at the CUE 2015 Annual Conference

Staff reports
Congratulations are in order for the talented young scientists, inventors and engineers selected to participate in the Student Technology Showcase at the CUE 2015 Annual Conference, which is the largest and oldest education technology conference in the state. This year’s showcase will again feature the best curriculum-aligned student technology projects from across California. Here are the representative Orange County teams [...]
An image of the 2015 Orange County Spelling Bee winners

OC’s champion speller headed to Washington D.C. to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee

Staff reports
“Foreordained” – meaning to dispose or appoint in advance – was the final word that officially clinched the title of Orange County Spelling Bee champion for 12-year-old Sarika Rau, a seventh-grade student from Sierra Vista Middle School in the Irvine Unified School District. After four hours and 18 rounds of intense competition on Saturday, Rau walked away with a large trophy and a copy of Webster’s Third New International Dictionary. She also earned a bid to compete in the 88th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will take place in Washington, D.C. in May. [...]

Orange County teens to stage ‘Reality Party’ to spotlight the dangers of underage drinking

Ian Hanigan
Local prevention organizations are joining forces to raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking by staging a “Reality Party for Parents” in Lake Forest this Saturday. Teen actors from the Santiago de Compostela Church Youth Ministry’s Friday Night Live chapter plan to portray typical party scenes exposing the perils of underage alcohol consumption, as well as the culture of binge-drinking. Participants will also voice concerns about adults who host drinking parties for minors. [...]