On Wednesday, Darth Vader and his stormtroopers left their TIE fighters at home.
Instead, the menacing Star Wars characters imperial-marched their way to the Santa Ana Unified School District’s McFadden Institute of Technology alongside students and families taking part in International Walk to School Day.
The local volunteers were joined by McGruff the Crime Dog, officers from the Santa Ana Police Department, student musicians and school districts leaders on a celebratory stroll to the Santa Ana campus — no tractor beams were needed — before a brief assembly was staged.
A photographer from the Orange County Register captured the morning’s mood with a handful of photos.
Walk to School Day started in 1997 as a one-day event but has since expanded into a global campaign that encourages healthy habits, including walking or biking to school. It’s also used to promote safe routes to school, and it’s a good excuse for families to enjoy a little extra time together on the first Wednesday of October.
Today, of course, is the second Friday of October, and here are some of this week’s top education news stories:
- Governor Newsom’s recently announced mandate calling for in-person K-12 students to get the COVID-19 vaccine once its formally approved for children has generated strong feelings from critics and supporters, the Register reported.
- Meanwhile, Pfizer has asked the federal Food and Drug Administration to green-light its COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.
- California’s new COVID-19 vaccination mandate allows students and staff to opt out for religious or personal reasons. But lawmakers have expressed concerns that allowing broad exemptions may undermine the intent of the mandate. One key lawmaker says he may seek legislation.
- Fewer OC districts dispatch school buses to transport children, and those that do typically charge families for the service. In California, busing is mandated only for students whose Individualized Educational Plans, or IEPs, require it.
- A new book tells the story of how two immigrant families intersected on the path to desegregating public schools in Orange County.
- OCDE is hosting multiple College and Career Discovery Fairs to help local students and families explore options for their post-secondary journeys. The fairs are free to attend, and families can choose to participate in one or more days.
- Schools and districts are bearing much of the brunt of public anger over mask and vaccine mandates. In some instances, the backlash has escalated to intimidation, violence and even death threats. According to Politico, federal law enforcement authorities are discussing strategies with local and state leaders to ensure peaceful public exchanges.
- Survey data shows that less than 4 percent of California students are enrolled in independent study programs this year. Some have higher risks associated with COVID-19, while others say they thrived with distance learning last year.
- New pandemic-era federal guidance for students with disabilities covers everything from mask guidance and mental health to IEP meetings and instructional technology.
- California’s multilingual education programs are producing long-term academic gains while creating greater cultural awareness. A number of organizations are also promoting cultural exchange by teaching kids about customs, art and cuisine.
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.