Dressed in bright red T-shirts with their mascot, the students and staff at California iInspire Academy celebrated their school’s third consecutive recognition as an Apple Distinguished School on Dec. 1.
The technology company’s program considers the academy to be one of the most innovative schools in the world. Apple believes these campuses demonstrate its vision for learning with technology — using Apple products to connect students to the world, fuel creativity, deepen collaboration and make learning personal.
The Orange Unified School District campus is one of 689 schools in 36 countries to be identified with the designation, which continues for three years. The academy earned its first award in 2017 and then won again for 2019 through 2022.
Riverdale Tech Academy in the Garden Grove Unified School District and Robert C. Fisler School and Valencia Park Elementary in the Fullerton School District also made Apple’s list of distinguished schools.
“To be recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for another three-year validation is an incredible honor,” iInspire Principal Misty Brunasso said. “It serves as a testament to the ongoing work of our students, staff, and community to exemplify what modern learning should look and feel like in schools.”
Apple Distinguished Schools are considered centers of innovation, leadership and educational excellence that use Apple products to inspire creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. The company says they showcase innovative uses of technology in learning, teaching, and the school environment and have documented results of academic accomplishment.
Here are the other stories we’ve kept up with this week:
- Bank of America is accepting applications from high school juniors and seniors to participate in its summer leadership program. The financial institution annually selects 300 students from across the country who are interested in making a difference through volunteer-based work.
- An Irvine Unified senior who already has a long list of accomplishments under her belt can add 2023 U.S. Senate Youth Program delegate to her resume after State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond selected her.
- Classified school employees who are interested in becoming classroom teachers still have time to apply for a state grant program designed to support their pathway to earning their credentials.
- In commemoration of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, the OCDE Newsroom reposted a story of two survivors who kindly agreed to commit their stories to film as a way to honor their memories and the sacrifices of their generation.
- Los Alamitos High’s school spirit was on full display for television news station KTLA 5’s morning show. The weekly segment spotlights campuses in Southern California with high levels of school pride.
- A death in the family inspired a student from the Garden Grove Unified School District to develop a small chip that could be implanted into toothbrushes to detect cancer.
- A Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy cadet who made a decision to turn her life around is planning to enlist in the military after she graduates from the program and returns to her school district.
- A local nonprofit awarded several $1,000 “mini-grants” to teachers from the Huntington Beach Union High School District to support education of the arts.
- A woman whose parents successfully challenged segregation in California public schools in 1947 stood front and center as the City of Westminster, in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education, unveiled Mendez Tribute Monument Park.
- Orange County Juvenile Hall unveiled a new multipurpose center that includes a gym, auto shop and classrooms to reflect a broader shift in the way the county Probation Department and other agencies approach the supervision of minors.
- A Newport Harbor High School student will compete for the $250,000 grand prize in the Ultimate Madden Bowl after he became the youngest EA Madden Championship Series winner in history.
- The Anaheim Elementary School District added mariachi, ballroom dancing and animal science instruction to its before- and after-school programming as part of its Expanded Learning Opportunities Program.
- Counselors from the Fountain Valley School District visited campuses to meet with grieving students and employees following the death of a longtime principal. Chris Christensen, 51, served in public education for 22 years.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.