Fullerton students join park renovation effort, TK students are exempt from English proficiency test and more – OCDE Newsroom

Inspired to increase their own cleanup efforts, a teacher and students at Fullerton Union High School embarked on a mission this summer to preserve and restore Coyote Hills Tree Park, a 3.64-acre public space known for picnics and peaceful walks.

Under the guidance of Danika Perez, AP Environmental Science teacher and Environmental Science Club advisor, high school students undertake hands-on conservation efforts, focusing on removing invasive plants to restore the native coastal sage ecosystem found in the park.

Through the program, students learn from local biologists and Friends of Coyote Hills volunteers the importance of increasing biodiversity and local ecology.

“We often overlook the beauty around us, but when you take action to improve an area, you develop a sense of ownership,” Perez said. “Even if it’s a small effort, it contributes to the well-being of the community. My goal is to see our community blossom into a beautiful, thriving place.”

With support from the city of Fullerton, Perez and her students plan to expand their activities at the park during the 2024-25 school year. The class plans to spread seeds and grow native plants in the fall, hoping to attract pollinators by next spring.

During the past school year, the teacher, who has worked at Fullerton Union for 10 years (five of which she worked at Fullerton Union), has helped campus clubs organize several cleanups. They also participated in an event organized by Inside the Outdoors, an Orange County Department of Education program that aims to beautify Newport Back Bay by picking up trash.

Here are other stories we followed this week:

• Starting in 2027-28, California high school students must complete a stand-alone personal finance course. A new law, backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, aims to teach skills like budgeting and avoiding scams.

• Orange County students distinguished themselves in the National History Day competition, winning four of California’s eight medals, and several finalists and one special award winner helped California earn the most medals among more than 2,600 students from all 50 states.

• Educators and community members are celebrating Dr. Al Mijares’ 12-year tenure as superintendent of Orange County schools with tributes that highlight his legacy of kindness and leadership as he prepares to retire on June 30.

• Tim Floyd, a 16-year veteran of the Huntington Beach Union High School District, has been named principal of Marina High School, replacing Dr. Morgan Smith, who is currently the district’s director of certified human resources.

• The Early College Academy at Orange High School, a partnership with the Orange Unified School District and Santiago Canyon College, allows students to graduate with more than 45 college credits. The program allows them to enter college in their sophomore or junior year, saving on future tuition costs and providing a significant head start on their higher education.

• After intense debate, California lawmakers sent a bill to Governor Newsom that would prohibit schools from requiring teachers to notify parents of changes in a student’s gender identity.

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