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OCDE Prevention Education Coordinator Stephan Lambert speaks with an attendee during the department’s Thrive Resource Fair on Sept. 25, 2025, at the OCDE Conference Center in Costa Mesa.

Weekly roundup: OCDE staff featured in Educational Leadership article on student digital wellness, and more

Vicky Nguyen September 11, 2026
Person viewing OCDE’s redesigned website on a laptop and smartphone, showing the site’s responsive layout across desktop and mobile devices.

OCDE launches redesigned website with fresh look and improved user experience

Ian Hanigan September 10, 2026
Los Alamitos High School students work behind the microphones during the school’s first student-produced live varsity football broadcast on Sept. 4.

Los Alamitos High students take the controls for first live sports broadcast

Vicky Nguyen September 10, 2026
Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School students in the Santa Ana Unified School District earn special certificates and prizes for completing the 2025 STEAM Race to Space Reading Challenge. (Courtesy of Mendez Intermediate)

Blue Origin astronaut to help launch fifth STEAM Reading Challenge

Madeline Gray September 9, 2026
Attendees make their way to sessions during OCDE’s AI Forward Summit on Aug. 3 at the department’s Conference Center in Costa Mesa.

OCDE Connected Leadership Conference to bring district professionals together Oct. 20

Vicky Nguyen September 9, 2026
Corona Del Mar Middle School eighth-grader Sam Daniel Salhpour is named a finalist in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge for his project on renewable energy production. (Courtesy of Society for Science)

Weekly roundup: Corona del Mar eighth-grader named Junior Innovators finalist, Brea student to mark TEDx talk milestone, and more

Madeline Gray September 26, 2025
Thirty middle school students nationwide were selected as finalists in the 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge — including...

Fullerton Joint Union High School District brings together student trustees for inaugural countywide summit

Ian Hanigan September 25, 2025
Student board members from across Orange County gathered in Fullerton last week for the inaugural Student Board Member Summit, a first-of-its-kind event to connect, collaborate and build a countywide network of student leaders.
Dr. Stefan Bean speaks on stage at the SBHIP Partners Appreciation Luncheon

Orange County partners celebrate progress in student mental health

Ian Hanigan September 24, 2025
Orange County education and health leaders gathered to celebrate local progress tied to a statewide initiative that has expanded student mental health services. Speakers pointed to new wellness spaces, added clinicians and stronger referral systems, while pledging to sustain and grow these supports.
Acaciawood Preparatory Academy students Lucas Menendez, left, and Poiema Bernier at school. The pair earned the $2,000 Outstanding Middle School Project Award in the 2025 Discovery Award competition.

Orange County students earn national award for documentary on housing desegregation

Vicky Nguyen September 23, 2025
Two Acaciawood Preparatory Academy students received the $2,000 Outstanding Middle School Project Award in the 2025 Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Discovery Award competition for their documentary on Doss v. Bernal, an early Orange County case that challenged housing segregation.
A red Fender Stratocaster guitar is pictured in the foreground as high school students sit at tables in a studio during the Fender Play songwriting workshop.

OC students find their voice at Fender Play workshop as countywide songwriting contest is unveiled

Ian Hanigan September 20, 2025
More than 30 students took part in Orange County’s first free Fender Play songwriting workshop on Saturday at OC Music & Dance in Irvine. The event also launched a new competition inviting local high schoolers to write original songs in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Fullerton School District students participate in a STEM Nation competition on district-issued iPads during the 2025 FSD Fest.

Weekly roundup: Fullerton School District earns Apple Distinction status for all campuses, report shows gains at community schools, and more

Vicky Nguyen September 19, 2025
The Fullerton School District has become the only district west of Texas to have all of its campuses recognized as Apple Distinguished Schools. Apple announced that all 20 of the district’s schools earned the honor for the 2025–28 program term....
A graduate in a red cap and gown receives a medal and framed certificate on stage during CCPA’s June 2025 graduation ceremony

OCDE program offers adult learners a new pathway to a high school diploma — and it’s free

Ian Hanigan September 17, 2025
College and Career Preparatory Academy, OCDE's free charter school for students ages 16 to 25, has launched a new 155-credit graduation pathway for adult learners that maintains academic rigor while making diplomas more attainable.
The recommended reading lists for the STEAM reading challenge include picture books like "Cicada Symphony" by children's book author Sue Fliess.

Fourth STEAM Race to Space Reading Challenge adds new partners ahead of launch

Madeline Gray September 16, 2025
Before kicking off on Oct. 3, the annual S.T.E.A.M. Race to Space Reading Challenge has welcomed three new science-focused partner organizations to offer unique prizes, educational supports and new ways to inspire young readers.
Mobil phone displaying the Directory website

Check out the new digital OC Schools Directory

Ian Hanigan September 15, 2025
OCDE’s Communications and Media Services team has reimagined the Orange County Schools Directory as a continuously updated online resource. It's available at directory.ocde.us.
The new Estancia High School Performing Arts Center is unveiled to the public on Sept. 9. (Photos courtesy of Newport-Mesa Unified School District)

Weekly roundup: Estancia High debuts performing arts venue, National Merit Scholarship semifinalists named, and more

Madeline Gray September 12, 2025
Come November, Estancia High School drama students will bring Disney’s “Frozen” to life on the brand-new stage of the school’s...
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