Weekly roundup: Fullerton district targets learning loss with summer programs, student-led nonprofit offers free math tutoring, and more

This summer, Fullerton School District students are keeping mentally active through the district’s Encore Program.

Spectrum News recently featured FSD in a segment called “Life on Rosecrans,” which details the different communities that span the 27-mile street. FSD, otherwise known as the “education community,” was first on the list.

The video highlighted the district’s commitment to its students, specifically through the Encore Expanded Learning Programs. With before- and after-school programs and summer camps, these active participation opportunities aim to prevent learning loss and address educational disruptions from the COVID-19 era. 

“Kids that maybe suffered inordinately during the pandemic, that they now have access to core instruction in reading, writing and mathematics,” FSD Superintendent Dr. Bob Pletka said in an interview with Spectrum News. “And so, this is a focus of our district, this idea of equity and making sure kids get what they need.”

In addition, the district has committed to teaching its students how to code, embed and build, preparing them for the modern workplace. 

Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:

  • Add It Up, a nonprofit led by Sunny Hills High School senior Zayne Shah, offers free math tutoring in Fullerton for elementary students who might not have access to these services.

  • Senate Bill 1341, which unanimously passed in the Senate, aims to highlight electronic media such as animation and graphic design in a new comprehensive arts and music education program.

  • Fullerton School District announced the launch of its Performance Academy Sports Program, which incorporates sports training into a student’s school day.

CTE teacher Michael Poirier poses with Spyder Lab student mentors Davian, Light and Alex at OCDE’s Harbor Learning Center South Campus in Fountain Valley.

  • The Anaheim Union High School District received over 1,300 letters requesting the preservation of the county’s sole Arabic language program.

  • The state will require high schools to educate their students on the dangers of fentanyl after Gov. Newsom signed a new law this month.

  • The 15th Annual Safe Schools Conference, hosted by former California Secretary of Education Dave Long through his firm, Dave Long & Associates, in partnership with OCDE and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, kicked off on Wednesday with hundreds of education and law enforcement professionals in attendance.

  • Grace Burke, a 17-year-old Newport Beach student, recently founded Leaders4LAX, a nonprofit that organizes free lacrosse camps for girls throughout Orange County on July 31 and Aug. 1.

  • Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean appointed Dennis Cole, OCDE’s director of educational partnerships for ACCESS, as his liaison to the department’s Alternative Education program.

  • The Fullerton School District and the Anaheim Ducks have partnered to provide free hockey coaching for local students in grades three through six through the Encore Learn to Play program.

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.