New reading buddies hold “See Marcus Grow” by Marcus Bridgewater. (Photo courtesy of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District) 
Elementary students Max, John and Mateo pose for a photo. (Photo courtesy of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District) 
Reading buddies stand in front of a student-made poster that reads, “Kraemer loves Ruby.” (Photo courtesy of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District) 
Buddies pose with “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats. (Photo courtesy of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District) 
An older student reads to a younger buddy, pointing out words as they go. (Photo courtesy of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District) 
An older student reads to a new younger buddy named Alex. (Photo courtesy of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District) 
An older student smiles with a transitional kindergarten student while working on an activity together after reading. (Photo courtesy of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District) 
Older buddies stand beside their younger partners at the art activity table. (Photo courtesy of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District) 
New buddies read “See Marcus Grow” by Marcus Bridgewater. (Photo courtesy of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District)
Students at Ruby Drive Elementary and Kraemer Middle School are proving that some of the best stories happen off the page.
The two campuses recently teamed up for the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District’s annual Read for the Record celebration, turning a day of reading into a shared chapter of connection and fun.
Now in its fifth year, the partnership between Ruby Drive and Kraemer brings together middle school and early elementary students for a reading experience built around “The Snowy Day,” a classic children’s book by Ezra Jack Keats. Throughout the day, transitional kindergarten and first-grade students paired with older reading buddies to listen to the story, create snow-themed crafts and play games designed to extend the book’s themes.
Each activity was developed to promote collaboration, fine motor skills and joyful learning, according to Ruby Drive Elementary School Principal Lisa Carmona. Younger students enjoy listening to the story and engaging with their older buddies, while older students find the experience meaningful as they serve as role models and share in the excitement that reading brings to their younger peers.
At Ruby Drive, this year’s celebration involved nearly 190 students. The schools plan to include kindergarten students next year, reinforcing the idea that reading together strengthens community connections and lays the foundation for lifelong learning.
The Read for the Record tradition extends beyond these two campuses. Valadez Middle School Academy has hosted its own event for 16 years, welcoming first-graders from Melrose and Rio Vista elementary schools to share in the experience.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- The Anaheim Elementary School District is celebrating National Family Literacy Month by unveiling free book vending machines at all 23 campuses, giving each of its 14,000 students a free book on their birthday to promote a love of reading — with support from Scholastic and Clifford the Big Red Dog.
- Dozens of Orange County elementary and middle schools earned spots in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best K-8 Schools rankings for California, recognizing strong academic performance and progress in closing opportunity gaps.
- After the U.S. Department of Education discontinued the National Blue Ribbon Schools program in 2025, California honored its 31 nominated campuses, highlighting their academic excellence despite the loss of federal recognition.
- County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean joined Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento and local leaders at the Small-Scale Housing Summit in Santa Ana, emphasizing the link between housing stability and student success while highlighting innovative efforts like Fullerton’s Tiny Home Project.
- With the Orange County Department of Education’s Innovation Funding Initiative set to launch next month, school and district leaders are encouraged to subscribe for updates on funding opportunities, deadlines and support for bold, student-centered projects. The link is ocde.us/InnovationFunding.
- The California Department of Education has named five educators from Kern, Los Angeles, Santa Clara and San Diego counties as 2026 California Teachers of the Year, recognizing their impact, innovation and dedication to student success.
- Amid growing concerns over food insecurity and delayed SNAP benefits, California schools are expanding meal programs, launching food pantries and partnering with community groups to support students and families. Nearly 63 percent of public school students now meet the criteria for free or reduced-price meals, according to a new EdSource analysis.
- Children now make up the fastest-growing group of human trafficking victims in Orange County, with minors accounting for half of all identified cases over the past two years, according to a new report from the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force.
- Orange County schools marked the 40th anniversary of Red Ribbon Week with themed activities and student-led prevention efforts, including a countywide event where youth leaders showcased peer-driven campaigns promoting healthy, drug-free choices.
- Newport-Mesa Unified teachers held a rally this week as contract negotiations reached an impasse, with discussions ongoing over salary increases, healthcare contributions and cost of living adjustments.
- The California State Board of Education has approved 64 math programs for grades K-8 to align with the state’s revised 2023 math framework, aiming to improve conceptual understanding and support diverse learners across the state.
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, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.