Weekly roundup: Sunburst Youth Academy cadets present colors at Anaheim Ducks game, and more

Thousands of hockey fans at the Honda Center in Anaheim looked on as four cadets from Sunburst Youth Academy’s Class 35 color guard took to the ice Wednesday evening to present the American flag during the national anthem.

The March 26 performance came just before the Anaheim Ducks faced off against the Boston Bruins in a regular season National Hockey League matchup that ended in a 6-2 victory for the home team. Attendance for the game was reported at about 16,400.

Sunburst, a voluntary residential military-style school for Southern California students operated by the California National Guard in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education’s ACCESS program, was represented by Cadets Garcia, Fernandez, Rivera and Ramirez as they delivered a presentation of the colors at center ice while anthem singer Tim Kepler sang.

“It was very nerve-wracking, but I felt a sense of accomplishment when I performed,” said Cadet Enrique Ramirez, 15. “Walking into the arena, I was kind of nervous, but at the same time I felt confident that I was going to be able to do well. It felt good performing in front of so many people.”

Ramirez said he didn’t realize the team would be presenting the colors until they arrived at the arena.

“When we drove into the parking lot, I didn’t realize we were going to be performing, so it caught me off guard,” he said. “So I was really excited.”

The presentation of the colors was coordinated through the office of Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento of the Second District as part of an outreach effort. Following the ceremony, the cadets enjoyed the game and snacks provided by the City of Anaheim’s Councilmember Carlos Leon and Supervisor Sarmiento’s office.

While Sunburst cadets have presented the colors at Ducks games on occasion in the past, this marked the first time attending such an event for the current team. The experience, school officials say, is always an exciting and meaningful opportunity for students.

Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:

• Forty-four elementary schools in Orange County have been named 2025 California Distinguished Schools for demonstrating high academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps.

• OCDE’s Communications and Media Services unit produced a video to explain California’s Multi-Tiered System of Support, a statewide framework that helps schools provide academic, behavioral and social-emotional support to all students through a structured, tiered approach.

• The Association of California School Administrators has announced the 2025 Administrators of the Year for Region 17, recognizing educational leaders across Orange County for their contributions to schools and student success.

• The 49th annual Orange County Arts and Disability Festival, celebrating the talents of artists with disabilities through performances, exhibits and activities, will return to MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana on April 26.

• Inside the Outdoors, a program administered by OCDE, will offer a summer camp from July 7 to Aug. 1 at Shipley Nature Center, where children ages 6 to 12 can explore native plants and animals through hands-on science activities, arts and crafts, music and water play.

• Orange County high school teams earned more than 40 awards at the California Academic Decathlon, where students competed in 10 subject areas centered on the theme, “Our Changing Climate.”

• The Orange County School of the Arts is appealing a court ruling ordering it to pay $16 million to Santa Ana Unified for special education costs, as the two sides continue a years-long legal dispute over financial obligations under state law.

• Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified’s $1 million investment in a public sports academy has sparked debate over costs, enrollment benefits and equity, according to the LAist.

• The U.S. Department of Education is investigating California over a new law that bars schools from requiring staff to notify parents if a student identifies as transgender, while state officials defend the measure as a safeguard for student privacy and safety, according to a CalMatters report.

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.