OCDE Education in the News

Thursday, May 31, 2018

OCDE NEWSROOM

Brea elementary campus to convert to computer science magnet

Fanning Elementary in Brea Olinda Unified School District will convert to a computer science magnet starting this fall where students will learn computer coding and other skills to better prepare them for current and future technology jobs. The K-6 campus is the first in the district, and one of a growing number of k-12 campuses nationally, to set computer science as a primary focus of its curriculum.

http://newsroom.ocde.us/brea-elementary-campus-to-convert-to-computer-science-magnet/

DAILY NEWS LOS ANGELES

Why a drinking fountain is such a big deal at a Woodland Hills school

The new items at CHIME Institute’s Schwarzenegger Community School are two brand-new drinking fountains and a handwashing sink. The school’s youngest students gathered around outdoor lunch tables, where the new fixtures are located, to watch the ribbon-cutting ceremony. If Bristol Farms hadn’t donated the funds, the school would have had to take money from its general fund to pay for the new fountains, instead the money can be used in the classroom, the school’s director Erin Studer said.

https://www.dailynews.com/2018/05/29/why-a-drinking-fountain-is-such-a-big-deal-at-a-woodland-hills-school/

SCE adds 1,000th electric vehicle charger, at South El Monte High School, plans phase 2 for thousands more

Ten electric vehicle owners unholstered their chargers and plugged in at the urging of El Monte Union High School District Superintendent Edward Zuniga. Volts, Leafs, Bolts, C-Maxes and Teslas powered up using brand new chargers located in the parking lot of South El Monte High School. One of them was using the 1,000th electric charger installed under Southern California Edison’s $22 million pilot program, Charge Ready.

https://www.dailynews.com/2018/05/30/sce-adds-1000th-electric-vehicle-charger-at-south-el-monte-high-school-plans-phase-2-for-thousands-more/

USA TODAY

He's read every word since 2003 until this year. Meet the voice of the Scripps Spelling Bee.

Since he took over as Scripps National Spelling Bee's official pronouncer in 2003, Jacques Bailly has never taken a break from reading out spellers' words during the competition — until this year. But in 2018, the Scripps Bee fielded its largest pool of competitors ever — 515 spellers, thanks to a new invitational program that allows for spellers who didn’t win a regional bee to qualify under certain circumstances.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/05/30/spelling-bee-jacques-bailly-voice-behind-scripps-national-spelling-bee/656460002/

PRESS-TELEGRAM LONG BEACH

72 years after he dropped out to join Navy, he’s ready to graduate from high school

Kelly Crowell, a 90-year-old Temple City man who will wear a cap and gown Thursday at 7 p.m. as he walks with the graduating class of 2018 at Rosemead High. Crowell dropped out of high school in 1946 to join the Navy just after World War II. Crowell has been a regular at the school for years. He walks from his home every day during softball season to serve as a volunteer pitching coach.

https://www.presstelegram.com/2018/05/30/72-years-after-he-dropped-out-to-join-navy-hes-ready-to-graduate-from-high-school/

SI&A CABINET REPORT

Bills tackling different sides of student safety progress to Senate

Schools will be required to include procedures to respond to active shooter situations, and school buses must have seatbelts by 2035 under a pair of bills that passed the Assembly Tuesday. Student safety has been at the forefront of legislative priorities in California this session, with a handful of lawmakers calling for stronger school security in the wake of increasing numbers of school shootings throughout the country.

https://k-12daily.org/politics-education/bills-tackling-different-sides-of-student-safety-progress-to-senate

WHITTIER DAILY NEWS

These learning gardens are helping urban schools grow young gardeners

While walking her grandchildren to Iva Meairs Elementary one day, Gladys Elliott saw a teacher and some students weeding what had been the school vegetable garden. She offered to help. Five or so years later, and Elliott – the kids call her “Miss Nana” – has transformed and expanded this large plot into a considerable garden, filling it with succulents, flowers, vegetables, fruits and herbs with the help of teachers and students from this low-income neighborhood in Garden Grove.

https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2018/05/31/these-learning-gardens-are-helping-urban-schools-grow-young-gardeners/

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