Weekly roundup: Students construct arboretum visitor booth, Savanna High may get help redesigning mascot, and more

Students from Brea Olinda High School’s Building Industry Technology Academy were recently tasked with designing and building a new volunteer booth to welcome visitors at the Fullerton Arboretum.

Suffice to say, they did not disappoint.

New Kiosk for Fullerton Arboretum According to the Orange County Register, some 60 teenagers spent roughly 11 weeks planning and constructing a sophisticated three-person guidance kiosk, which has since been stationed at the arboretum entrance but can be rolled pretty much anywhere. The structure features a green gable roof, recessed lighting, single-hung windows and even Wi-Fi.

“I’ve learned all sorts of skills from installing drywall, to constructing siding and roofing,” senior Adrian Robles said. “I plan to build houses, so this experience is definitely a stepping stone for me.”

A handful of OC high schools have Building Industry Technology Academy programs, which help prepare young people for careers in construction. We’re told upcoming projects for Brea Olinda BITA students include rebuilding the bullpen for the baseball field and constructing an island unit cabinet for a teacher. 

And here are some other education news stories you might have missed:

  • After a decision to move on from Johnny Rebel, Savanna High may get some high-profile help to create its next mascot. Disney has reportedly reached out to the Anaheim campus with an offer to assist with the rebranding effort.
  • A Project Lead the Way biomedical science course offered at El Modena High School in Orange provides case-based scenarios and real-world, hands-on experiences to students interested in medical or biotech careers.

For more education news impacting Orange County, be sure to bookmark newsroom.ocde.us and subscribe for emailed updates.