Students from Oxford Academy High take part in forestry challenge
Seven students from Oxford Academy in Cypress participated in the 2024 San Bernardino Forestry Challenge. They were one group of a total of 102 high school students from 13 schools from Southern California. The event took place at Hubert Eaton Scout Reservation in Cedar Glen.
One of the highlights for the students was the opportunity to learn about mixed conifer-oak woodland forest restoration. Students collected data at the Big Horn Camp area to determine species composition and recommended areas of the property to replicate this forest community.
During the challenge, teams of students also completed a field test to assess their technical forestry knowledge and data collecting skills.
“The Forestry Challenge provides students an opportunity to apply the skills they have developed in their STEM courses to solving real-world problems while learning about natural resource management from professional foresters,” said Oxford Academy High School teacher Robert Nguyen.
– Submitted by Forestry Challenge
Students at two LePort Montessori Schools in Irvine collect food, cash for food bank
Students at LePort Montessori School Irvine Orchard Hills and LePort Montessori School Irvine Spectrum donated food and money to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. The organization provides dignified, equitable and consistent access to nutritious food to those in need, creating a foundation for community health.
For a few weeks, students at the two schools held donation drives to collect more than 64 pounds of shelf stable food and $817 for the organization.
Through this initiative, students learned the importance of helping others, especially during the holiday season.
– Submitted by LePort Montessori School
Anaheim Elementary School District celebrates Lunar New Year
Anaheim Elementary School District, the largest elementary school district in the state, celebrated Lunar New Year’s Eve at Roosevelt Elementary with performances from their Mandarin Dual-Language Immersion kindergarten students.
The student performance was followed by a traditional lion dance. All students received red envelopes, a symbol of good luck for the New Year. The event aimed to educate the greater student body about various cultures and traditions in the area.
– Submitted by Anaheim Elementary School District
Hundreds of Fullerton elementary students get new coats
Hundreds of elementary students at Valencia Park Elementary School in Fullerton are keeping warm with brand-new coats, thanks to a partnership between Ocean Subaru of Fullerton, Operation Warm® and the local charity Giving Children Hope.
As part of the Subaru Loves to Help initiative, Valencia Park students had the opportunity to “shop” for new coats alongside their friends and classmates. They were greeted with pop music and smiling volunteers in their school’s multipurpose room.
“Many of our students face challenges beyond the classroom, and something as simple as a new coat can make a world of difference,” said Valencia Park Elementary Principal Melanie Carmona. “This initiative not only provides physical warmth but also shows our students that their community cares about them.”
She added, “Students were absolutely thrilled to be able to try on and select their own coats.”
Through Subaru Loves to Help, Subaru and its partners have already provided more than 900,000 new clothing items to children and adults in need nationwide. Now, their generosity is making a direct impact in Fullerton.
Operation Warm, a nonprofit dedicated to providing brand-new clothing to children in need, has been instrumental in making this event possible.
Giving Children Hope, an Orange County-based organization that supports vulnerable families, helped coordinate this local outreach and logistics.
– Submitted by Fullerton School District
Orange County teen makes his name as a writer
Orange County High School senior Samuel Parigela is an avid writer who’s been writing original stories ever since he could hold a pen. His inspiration comes from his keen observation of the world and the untold stories of everyday people – those he meets at school, volunteer centers, rescue missions and more.
Samuel’s first book, “Bricks,” which he wrote age 12, was Amazon’s #1 New Sellers in the youth category. It’s available in libraries across the country.
Samuel also wrote “Seek Justice,” a short commentary on the U.S. Constitution, which he shared with U.S. Supreme Court justices. He reminds readers that the Constitution says that to “establish justice” is one of its objectives in the preamble.
Samuel’s “When Paint Dries” captures the story of three immigrants confronting personal struggles, betrayals and shared hardships.
When Samuel isn’t writing, he is editing the high school newspaper and other writers’ books. He is also a pianist and a singer, having performed at Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London. Samuel has been involved in various leadership activities at school and the community.
– Submitted by the Parigela family
The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to ocrbravo@gmail.com.
