Students in the Anaheim Union High School District will soon learn how to play instruments while gaining music history knowledge through a new partnership with the Southern California-based nonprofit Mariachi Heritage Society.
Approved by the district’s Board of Trustees in a recent meeting, the music program will provide instruction in guitar, trumpet, violin, guitarrón and vihuela as well as vocals and ballet folklórico. Nearly 40 students will also learn about the traditions of mariachi music, such as its origins and performance attire.
The Orange County Register reported the program aims to expand music education opportunities for students as they transition into junior high and high school, building on an existing partnership between the nonprofit and Anaheim elementary schools. Starting this upcoming school year, students will be able to participate in lessons twice a week at Ball Junior High through May 31.
The afterschool ensemble will be led by Crystal Hernández, daughter of Mariachi Heritage Society founder and Grammy-nominated mariachi musician José Hernández. District officials approved more than $30,000 in funding to support the initiative.
“I know it’s not just about the music, but it’s the history, it’s the clothing, it’s the whole thing and I think it is a beautiful addition to our programs,” AUHSD board trustee Jose Magcalas told the Register.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- The Orange County Register recently featured County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean’s journey from overcoming adversity throughout his childhood to overseeing the education of 450,000 students across 28 school districts plus the county’s most vulnerable student populations.
- Marking its 10th year, OCDE’s Interpreters and Translators Conference will convene language access professionals from across the nation for three days of professional learning and collaboration focused on serving multilingual school communities.
- OCDE has announced the 2026 Outstanding STEM Educators, honoring 12 teachers and community leaders who are advancing STEM learning through innovation and hands-on instruction.
- More than 100 Garden Grove high school seniors completed six-weeklong summer internships throughout the district and at local businesses, gaining hands-on experience and building their career skills with the help of industry mentors.
- The OC Register reported that 11 more Orange County graduates have been named 2026 National Merit Scholarship winners in the program’s second round of college-sponsored awards, bringing the county’s total recipients to 22.
- San Clemente High School recently retired the No. 18 jersey of alumnus Sam Darnold and inducted the Super Bowl champion into its Triton Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his lasting impact on the program.
- Huntington Beach High School’s Jared Grindlinger was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, capping a standout season that included an Orange County Register Player of the Year honor and a regional championship.
- As the 2026-27 school year approaches, the Huntington Beach Union High School District announced a series of principal reassignments that will place new leaders at five of its six high school campuses.
- A new law just signed by Governor Newsom would require the state Board of Education to consider educating students on heat illness symptoms — meanwhile, another bill expected to roll out this month would require rules for outdoor activities when schools encounter extreme heat conditions.
- Another California law has been approved to ensure that classes in K-12 public schools will be taught by humans rather than artificial intelligence.
- On July 12, California State Fullerton held a memorial vigil to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 library shooting and pay tribute to the tragedy’s seven victims.
- The U.S. Department of Education has announced changes to the oversight of some programs, with responsibilities for areas including special education and civil rights enforcement moving to other federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, according to the Associated Press.
- California’s 2026-27 budget will include the state’s first dedicated funding to identify students experiencing homelessness in order to help schools connect eligible students with support services.
- A team of Santa Ana College STEM students advanced to the finals of NASA’s Orbit competition, where they will further develop innovative technologies for space exploration and present their project at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
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