21 TUSD teams competed across each of the three VEX Robotics World Championship tournaments, finishing in Texas this past week. Teams brought home an impressive 118 total wins, including BHS Robopatties' Division Champion win and Design awards for Orchard Hills and FHS. Our students showed fantastic passion and great support for one another as a huge group of TUSD spectators could be seen moving en mass to cheer on other TUSD programs. We are grateful to our dedicated coaches, our partnership with TPSF and the leadership and care of Robotics Coordinator Megan Lund for making this opportunity possible for our students.

Last weekend at Estock, the community came together for paint, picnicking and paletas as they helped to install a new mural on campus. The project was made possible by the efforts of Estock's Jennifer Sandland and Marisol Flores, in collaboration with Studio Tuttola who created the mural kit and guided the community through a day filled with painting fun. The results are stunning, something to make the entire Estock community proud.

At their recent concert, At the Movies, students in Beckman High School's string and chamber orchestras highlighted music from and inspired by favorite films, performing alongside footage from the movies. From Mozart to The Mandalorian, students wowed a packed house with their musical talents, the results of a year filled with dedication and determination. The evening was topped by a guest performance by Dennis Kim, Pacific Symphony Orchestra concertmaster who performed a duet on a Stradivarius with student and BHS Chamber Orchestra concertmaster Annie Huang. The evening is one those lucky to have enjoyed are still talking about.

The Tustin Public Schools Foundation Volleyball Festival held Wednesday concluded two months of practice and commitment from students representing all TUSD middle schools. Hewes hosted the boys' teams and the girls played at Columbus Tustin, with tournament winners announced from grades 6, 7 and 8. For more than a decade, the Foundation has supported on-campus athletic teams and competitions at TUSD middle schools. All levels of experience are welcome as coaches help introduce students to new sports and enhance skills with a focus on teamwork and fitness. In addition to volleyball, a fall cross country season and winter basketball competition are offered. Cross country will begin with the new school year and include a final all-school competition at the Dino Dash on November 5. For more information on the Tustin Public Schools Foundation and the many ways they support TUSD students, staff and programs, please visit the TPSF website.

In recognition of National Fentanyl Awareness Day on May 9, OCDE is teaming up with the Orange County Health Care Agency to host a pair of no-cost workshops that will cover the dangers of Fentanyl and counterfeit pills, and share prevention resources.

The sessions — one at 4 p.m., followed by another at 6 p.m. — will be held in partnership with the HCA’s Mental Health and Recovery Services at OCDE’s Conference Center, located in Building D at 200 Kalmus Drive in Costa Mesa. The HCA also plans to distribute kits containing Narcan, an emergency life-saving medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid poisoning, to trained participants.

Registration for either session on May 9 is available online. For more information, please visit the OCDE Newsroom.

Through CalKIDS, children in California have the opportunity to get a jump start on saving for college. Newborns and eligible low-income public school students are automatically enrolled and given a CalKIDS college savings account with an initial deposit between $25 and $1,500. There is no need to apply and no requirement that families make any kind of financial commitment. Families also have the option to contribute, if they would like, through a ScholarShare 529.

CalKIDS savings can be used for qualified higher education expenses like tuition, books, computer equipment, supplies, and more at thousands of eligible schools nationwide and even some abroad.

Visit www.CalKIDS.org today to learn more about eligibility, register for the program, and get started on your savings!