Students from four Orange County elementary schools showcased their newfound musical talents at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for the 11th Annual Disney Musicals in Schools Student Share celebration on Wednesday.
Organized by the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in partnership with the Disney Theatrical Group, this program annually provides classrooms from Title I Schools with the opportunity to rehearse, study and explore all the behind-the-scenes elements of theatrical production — free of charge. The performing arts initiative aims to help students build confidence and teamwork while encouraging creative expression.
This year’s participating schools included Brookhurst, Violette and Evans elementary schools in the Garden Grove Unified School District alongside Wood Canyon Elementary School in the Capistrano Unified School District.
After receiving their materials in September, students spent months staging their Disney musicals on campus for their peers. On March 12, over 200 students then performed songs and scenes from “Aladdin KIDS,” “The Lion King KIDS” and “The Jungle Book KIDS” in honor of the program’s 11th anniversary.
“The dedication, creativity and perseverance of the students, teachers and administrators in the Disney Musicals in Schools program has been truly inspiring to watch,” said Lisa Petersen, vice president of education at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Elementary schools interested in the Disney Musicals in Schools program can visit the Segerstrom Center for the Arts site.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- On Friday, nine local school employees were announced as the 2025 Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year for the vital support they provide to student learning by handling the daily operations of schools, districts and county offices of education.
- Twenty Orange County middle school students were quizzed on government laws and policies during the region’s first civics bee competition held at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum on Wednesday.
- Community members can nominate teachers who have helped to advance STEM education in Orange County through April 1 for the 2025 Outstanding STEM Educators awards.
- For the past five years, the Student Advocates for Mental Health program — led by OCDE’s Youth Development team — has trained, engaged and supported students from 22 school districts to foster campus environments that prioritize mental health.
- The Irvine Public Schools Foundation has awarded nearly $200,000 in grants to 17 Irvine school projects that support innovations such as adaptive recess equipment and updated theatrical lighting systems.
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, deadline has been extended from March 3 to April 2, giving college-bound students extra time to apply.
- On March 11, 1889, Orange County became its own separate political entity — marking a significant anniversary for the Orange County Department of Education and the region.
- OCDE’s approach to educational leadership under County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean demonstrates how policymakers and administrators can drive meaningful, lasting improvements in public education through unified governance, fiscal responsibility and student-centered decision making, writes Capistrano Unified School District board president Lisa Davis.
- A special election will be held June 10 for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s Trustee Area 5 after a petition campaign overrode a provisional appointment, according to the Daily Pilot.
- The Los Alamitos Unified School District recently invited local law enforcement and emergency response agencies to discuss school safety strategies and engage in training sessions.
- EdSource reported that on Tuesday evening, the U.S. Department of Education began sending layoff notices and expects to discharge almost half of its employees. The publication also reported that two programs that fund schools to buy food from local farmers have been called off by the Department of Agriculture.
- Young surfers from San Clemente High School recently made waves in several divisions at the 2025 National Scholastic Surfing Association championships in Cardiff, California.
- Through his nonprofit called Gear2Give, JSerra Catholic High School student Evan Brady has worked to connect communities in need with new and gently-used children’s sports equipment since 2022.
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