Two high schoolers from Orange County earned their place in the inaugural California Youth Climate Policy Leadership Program, following a rigorous selection process that drew over 300 applications from across the state.
12th-grade student Wendy Cao from University High School in the Irvine Unified School District and 10th-grader Kieran Beckham from Heritage Oak Private Education in Yorba Linda joined 46 other students in the program.
Established in partnership with Ten Strands, the Sierra Club and UndauntedK12, high school students implemented advocacy campaigns over a five-month period to pass school board policies supporting climate literacy and were empowered to champion climate action in their communities.
During the program, students took part in monthly skill-building workshops aimed at crafting a robust advocacy campaign, honing leadership skills and fostering networking among peers across the state.
“Through collective action, we can combat climate change,” Wendy said. “This for me is what climate leadership means — growing a just, thriving and resilient future that leaves no one behind.”
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- More than 320 people attended OC Pathways’ annual career education showcase to learn how Orange County students are gaining on-the-job experience to utilize once they enroll in college and enter the workforce.
- Three clubs at Fullerton Union High School joined forces to combat ocean pollution by organizing cleanups and promoting environmental awareness among students.
- Students from Godinez Fundamental High’s school choir sang classic tunes and brought the holiday spirit as they caroled door-to-door in a neighborhood in Santa Ana.
- Three Orange County Board of Education seats are up for grabs in the 2024 election season, with both incumbents running to retain their seats and newcomers vying to claim them.
- The preliminary review of California’s K-12 schools post-pandemic showcased year-over-year progress since the pandemic, including heightened graduation rates, significant absenteeism reduction and widespread academic advancements across numerous districts.
- Students from OCDE’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at Venado Middle School had a storybook ending as their team surpassed 27 others, earning the national champions title in the annual Battle of the Books reading competition.
- Voters within the Orange Unified School District boundary lines will decide whether to recall two board members in March.
- The Thurston Middle School community in Laguna Beach is rallying around a crossing guard who was injured on the job as he helped a group of children cross the street.
- According to the LAist, some parents with students enrolled in Tustin Unified are voicing their concerns as Heritage Elementary School and Legacy Magnet Academy welcomed children and staff back following the massive blimp hangar fire.
- More than 68,000 students have registered to attend Los Angeles Unified’s three-day winter academy, aiming to provide an opportunity for students to catch up on assignments and offer relief to parents who are struggling to find childcare during the district’s three-weeklong break.
- The OC Register released its “Orange County’s 125 most influential people” list for 2023, which included Laguna Beach High School football star Bella Rasmussen, teacher Shannon Bennett from Garden Grove Unified and teacher Leslee Milch from Buena Park School District.
- California educators and leaders are establishing a statewide behavioral health initiative by collaborating with the health system to secure consistent funding for mental health within the education system, addressing the occasional unpredictability in school budgets.
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