This year's second High School Voter Education Week will take place Sept. 15 through Sept. 26. The statewide initiative encourages students to learn about elections and preregister to vote, with resources available through the Secretary of State and the California Department of Education.
Cypress High School senior Parsmi Rajput and teacher Shelley Hawkins have been named 2025 Bezos Scholars, joining a cohort of just 17 student-educator teams worldwide. Their Community Change Project will focus on creating a resource hub to connect students and families with critical services.
OCDE’s School-Based Mental Health Summit united hundreds of counselors, psychologists and other professionals to prepare for the year ahead, spotlighting the vital role of wellness in student success.
Fender, in partnership with Orange County Music & Dance, Arts Orange County and OCDE, will host a free songwriting workshop Sept. 20 in Irvine for high school students. The daylong program will cover guitar, bass and ukulele, guiding participants through the songwriting process and ending with original recordings.
At OC Pathways’ Student Leadership Day, high school students stepped into leadership roles, guiding peers through workshops on topics from apprenticeships to networking. The event brought together student ambassadors from 15 districts to share their experiences and build connections for future careers.
