The Garden Grove Unified School District’s Board of eduction hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Santiago High School on June 26 to celebrate the grand opening of a new state-of-the-art athletic facility. (Courtesy of GGUSD) 
Santiago High School’s new athletic facility will allow its home team to practice and play on a nine-lane, all-weather synthetic turf track and field. (Courtesy of GGUSD) 
Santiago High’s new track and field was funded in part by Measure P, which was approved by more than 76 percent of voters in 2016. (Courtesy of GGUSD)
Santiago High School’s home and rivaling teams will have a new state-of-the-art athletic facility to play on in the next school year.
On Monday, the Garden Grove Unified School District’s Board of Education hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new nine-lane all-weather synthetic turf track and field, where Board President Walter Muneton delivered the keynote speech.
“As a graduate of Santiago High School and proud Cavalier, I always love returning to my alma matter to celebrate the success of our staff and students,” said Muneton. “Today, we are here for an extra special celebration. I am confident that this new facility will bring new excitement and energy to our outstanding athletic programs, which have dedicated coaches and hardworking players.”
As the OC Register reported, the new track and field was funded in part by Measure P, a $311 million bond measure that received a nearly 80 percent approval rate from voters in 2016. Community support allowed the district to build two other athletic stadiums at Garden Grove and Bolsa Grande high schools.
The district is also preparing to hold two ceremonies at Los Amigos and Rancho Alamitos high schools. before the 2023-24 school year, as those campuses will also have new athletic facilities.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the $310 billion 2023-24 state budget on Tuesday. As reported by EdSource, the budget will include an increase in general operating money for school districts and will also fully fund a cost of living increase.
- More than 300 students enrolled in the Orange County Department of Education’s Alternative Education program were encouraged to use their high school experience to find purpose during a commencement ceremony on Wednesday.
- Three websites and documentaries created by Irvine Unified students placed with top honors at the National History Day National Contest in Maryland.
- For the second consecutive year, a student from Orange County has been selected by Superintendent Tony Thurmond to represent California at the annual National Youth Science Camp.
- Educators from OCDE and Cal State Fullerton were named semifinalists in the 2023 Global Challenges program created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- A longtime teacher from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District created a nonprofit organization to support students with disabilities with different activities during the summer.
- Four of the six educators who were recognized by OCDE as 2024 Orange County Teachers of the Year for their dedication to student success and innovative hands-on instruction were Cal State Fullerton alums.
- Several Orange County school districts are partnering with nonprofit organizations to provide free meals all summer long for local students. As Spotlight Schools reported, Santa Ana Unified is sponsoring meals to anyone age 1 to 18.
- The Santa Ana City Council will replace the current crossing guard program in the city over the next five years with a volunteer system, which will also expand to include eight local charter schools.
- Audrey Kim from Sierra Vista Middle School in Irvine received an honorable mention for her submission in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, which invites middle school students to share original ideas using science to help solve an everyday problems.
- Bryn Stamos, a third-grade teacher from the Capistrano Unified School District, was recognized by the Dana Point City Council as its Teacher of the Year.
- Two Sunny Hills High School students will join nearly 200 young people from across the country in the American Civil Liberties Union’s annual Summer Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C.
- In a message sent to the Edison High School community Wednesday, Principal Jennifer Graves announced her transfer to the Huntington Beach Adult School, where she’ll serve as an assistant principal.
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.