Just before heading into winter recess, the Edison High School football team made history by claiming the program’s first-ever state championship title in the California Interscholastic Federation’s Division 1-A final on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The Daily Pilot reported that with 20 seconds left on the clock, Edison senior Jake Minter scored a 54-yard touchdown and launched the Chargers into victory over Fresno’s Central High School. Edison coach Jeff Grady credited the team’s collective effort to step up and play solid defense in helping them secure the big win.
“What a huge accomplishment for our program,” Grady told the Daily Pilot. “It was a defensive battle. That’s a terrific team over there, and fortunately we found a way to win at the end.”
Following the game-winning play by Minter, the Edison players and coaching staff celebrated on the sidelines before getting the chance to proudly display their program’s first CIF state championship trophy.
“It feels amazing,” Edison senior Gavin Slaughter told the Daily Pilot. “We can’t leave this school any better, so just actually getting it done feels amazing, and I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- In the spirit of the holiday season, Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean shared his gratitude in a special video message for the commitment of educators, parents and partners to supporting Orange County students.
- More than 1,000 Anaheim Elementary School District students received new bikes and toys ahead of the holiday break from district partner Lifestyle Cycles.
- On a monthly basis, OCDE processes paychecks for approximately 75,000 education professionals throughout Orange County. For an inside look at the department’s payroll operations, we sat down with OCDE’s Business Services director to learn how the team ensures employees get paid on time.
- Huntington Beach Girl Scouts helped assemble about 100 gift boxes with items like toiletries and stuffed animals before sending them to children in need at Waymakers Huntington Beach Youth Shelter.
- Every student at Ponderosa Elementary School recently home three books as part of an annual Anaheim Elementary School District event that’s held in honor of the late daughter of Principal Wendy Sales to spark a passion for reading.
- All 20 school campuses in the Fullerton School District recently received the platinum implementation award from the California Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Coalition for their dedication to fostering student success.
- Seven wards at the Orange County Juvenile Hall facility recently learned to care for animals and form better relationships through a longtime program that teaches dog training to inmates.
- The Laguna Beach Unified School District just opened its latest wellness space called “The Cove” to promote mental health resources for students at Thurston Middle School.
- On Tuesday, Gov. Newsom released a new career education framework that recommends a statewide plan for developing career pathways and amplifying workforce training.
- Five people, including two students from the Orange Unified School District, were hospitalized after a collision occurred between a school bus and an SUV on Monday.
- FOX 11 News reported the Santa Ana Unified School District board discussed potential employee layoffs at its Tuesday meeting, citing a decline in enrollment and budget cuts following the expiration of COVID-related funding.
- Local students from kindergarten through grade six are encouraged to illustrate different ways to protect the planet by taking part in the “Picturing a Better Tomorrow” Art Contest hosted by the Orange County Power Authority.
- Two Irvine students performed in “The Nutcracker” this month alongside the renowned American Ballet Theatre company at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
- Oxford Academy students from the Anaheim Union High School District recently performed a variety of songs and musical compositions for locals at the Cypress Senior Center.
- An Orange County junior from JSerra Catholic High School recently earned a perfect score on her first attempt at the ACT entrance exam.
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.