A team of 20 Fullerton School District students clinched a champion title for the fifth consecutive year at this summer’s National Speech and Debate Tournament.
Representing Parks Junior High along with the district’s four remaining junior high campuses, the sixth- to eighth-grade squad delivered speeches, crafted arguments and engaged in debates that earned them honors as an Overall School of Excellence in Speech and Debate — an award granted to just three schools at this year’s competition. The students were recently recognized for their achievement by the Fullerton School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 20.
Held in Des Moines, Iowa, the national tournament welcomed nearly 800 students from 170 middle schools and high schools across 36 states to demonstrate their public speaking skills in multiple competitive speaking categories.
Among the individual award winners, three Fullerton students were named national champions in the following categories: Natalie Hong for program oral interpretation, Annette Lee for original oratory and Apollo Meneses for humorous interpretation.
“Public speaking is an invaluable skill that will serve our students in their personal and professional endeavors for the rest of their lives,” said Hilda Sugarman, vice president for the district board of trustees.
The Fullerton School District Speech and Debate program is open to all students fourth through eighth grade across the district’s 20 campuses.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors will celebrate 50 years of nurturing students’ connection with nature through its environmental education programs this October.
- A local Girl Scouts troop used their cookie sales earnings to donate a vending machine of books to their peers at Newport Elementary School.
- On Wednesday, College and Career Preparatory Academy showcased its new facilities at OCDE’s Harbor Learning Center South while promoting the services offered to help young adults receive their high school diplomas.
- At the second annual Mental Health Summit hosted by OCDE, over 400 district leaders and school professionals gathered to learn how to build effective support systems while expanding access to wellness resources.
- While the Huntington Beach City School District prepares for its school year to start on Sept. 3, staff from Seacliff and Smith elementary schools have begun incorporating more Apple technology into their classrooms as part of a districtwide initiative.
- The Rancho Santiago Community College District is aiming to make college education and job training accessible to the broader community through programs that prioritize student success and support.
- The Orange County Music and Arts Administrators program is seeking nominations — starting Sept. 6 — to honor teachers, administrators and community advocates who have positively impacted arts education at their schools.
- The third annual STEAM Race to Space Reading Challenge will launch in November, inviting students from TK to 12th grade to strengthen their reading skills while exploring career paths in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.
- On Tuesday, school was back in session for the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District as students returned to campus with warm welcomes from school staff and fellow classmates.
- The Huntington Beach Union High School District, Orange Unified School District and Ocean View School District held their first days of school Wednesday, greeting students for a new year of learning and extracurricular activities.
- As all 29 Orange County school districts welcome students back to campus, the OCDE Newsroom has compiled a roundup of social media posts to capture the vibrant and heartfelt festivities that have kicked off the first day of school.
- Students at the Ocean View School District’s Mesa View Middle School spent their first day back on a newly-renovated campus, thanks to district funding for facility repairs. Meanwhile, the Daily Pilot reported that a district advisory group has recommended the sale of two of its retail properties.
- EdSource reported that two nationally-known Jewish legal groups are asking a state court to override four ethnic studies courses currently in development with the Santa Ana Unified School District.
- Cristo Rey Orange County High School recently hosted a draft day at Angels Stadium for more than 140 students to gain hands-on experiences through its work study program.
- A new state program plans to distribute $500 million to help California schools implement all-electric school bus fleets by 2035.
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.