Irvine City News
  • Home
  • SPECIAL REPORT
  • PUBLISHER'S NOTE
  • FEATURE
  • BUSINESS
  • CITY
    • AROUND TOWN
  • COMMUNITY
  • OPINION
  • LIFE
    • EDUCATION
    • SPORTS
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • RECREATION
    • DINING
    • TOP 10
  • About
    • PICK UP A PRINT COPY
    • COMMENT POLICY
    • Contact
    • ADVERTISE

The State of the IUSD

3/8/2019

0 Comments

 

The State of the IUSD is Strong 

Picture
IUSD BOARD MEMBERS PAUL BOKOTA, BETTY CARROLL, LAUREN BROOKS, IUSD SUPERINTENDENT TERRY WALKER, CADENCE PARK PRINCIPAL CARLO GRASSO, IUSD BOARD PRESIDENT SHARON WALLIN, AND IUSD BOARD MEMBER IRA GLASKY AT THE OFFICIAL DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR IRVINE’S NEWEST K-8 SCHOOL, CADENCE PARK.
By Irvine City News staff ​

“Having outrageous expectations is powerful,” said 
IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker while delivering his second annual State of the District speech in recent weeks. Big wins by academic teams from Woodbridge and University high schools prove his point.  

“Preparing students for this rapidly evolving world is what we are trying to accomplish,” Walker told the audience gathered at the Northwood High School Performing Arts Center. “I want our schools to prepare kids not just for something,” he said. “I want them to be prepared for anything because we don’t know what they might face in a world where 70 percent of jobs have not been created yet.” 

The event kicked off with performances by the Northwood High theater dance students, followed by introductory remarks from Board President Lauren Brooks. 

Walker’s speech to IUSD Board Members, teachers, administrators, students, parents, local dignitaries, business leaders and Irvine community members focused on the future of education in the Irvine Unified School District. 

Walker thanked and acknowledged IUSD Board Members Paul Bokota, Lauren Brooks, Betty Carroll, Ira Glasky and Sharon Wallin for their leadership and the strategic investments they have made in teaching and learning, technology and facilities. 

He also thanked community partners, including the city of Irvine, the PTA, Irvine Public Schools Foundation, FivePoint, and the Irvine Company. 

As a result of IUSD’s rapid growth in recent years, the district has hired 1,156 teachers since 2011. This astounding growth has enabled IUSD to hire teachers and staff who share IUSD’s core values. Walker said, “They are passionate, compassionate, flexible and adaptable, student-centered, reflective, collaborative, relationship-centered and courageous.” 

IUSD receives $8,266 per student, compared to the state average of $10,036 and the national average of $12,156, Walker explained. That means the district would have an additional $139 million per year to spend on students if it received the state and national average funding. 

To meet this funding challenge head-on, Walker outlined how the district leverages its limited resources, time and focus to best meet the needs of students. 

As a result, in the past year, IUSD received numerous awards including being ranked No. 3 in the nation for education by WalletHub, being named a Best Community for Education by the prestigious NAMM Foundation, and being ranked No. 1 in Orange County by Niche. 

And for the third year in a row, IUSD has finished second in California for the percentage of students who met or exceeded standards in both English and math. IUSD SAT scores continue to outperform state averages and the district is consistently ranked high on Newsweek’s list of America’s Top High Schools.  

At the end of the day, the reason why we do something is that it benefits students,” Walker said. “We have an overlying belief that every single child can achieve at a high level with the right supports.” 

As examples of achievement at the highest level, two Irvine high school teams achieved academic success recently. 
​

University High School won its regional round of the U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl for a second straight year and will compete in the national tournament in Washington D.C. in April. The team has three students returning from last year’s team, which placed fifth at the national competition. 
​

Meanwhile, Woodbridge High School’s Academic Decathlon team took first place at the Orange County Academic Decathlon for the third consecutive year, advancing to the state competition this March. 

University High’s Science Bowl team of Seniors Michael Diao, Anton Ni, Maggie Zhang and Jerry Li and junior Nyle Wong went undefeated and took first place among 24 teams from around Greater Los Angeles.  

“I was incredibly happy for the team and proud of what they have accomplished,” said David Knight, Science Bowl coach and science department chair at University High. 

In Science Bowl, teams are asked questions on math, physics, Earth and space, chemistry, biology and energy during 16-minute long rounds. They aren’t allowed to use calculators, books, notes or the internet. The Jeopardy-style competition was held at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena for the 27th year. 

“It is difficult to win back-to-back because the competition in our region is so good, ”Knight said. “Any of the top three or four schools at the competition would have represented Southern California well at the national competition.” 

But it will be University High School battling for the national championship. 

Woodbridge High School’s three-peat at the O.C. Academic Decathlon puts them in elite company as one of only three schools in the 51-year history of the county competition to win three times in a row. University High School placed second in the competition. 

The Woodbridge team was comprised of Seniors Hannah Hui, Sachin Pathuri, Ramanuj Sarkar, Sugnan Suresh, Mark Diamond, and Austin Diamond; Juniors Snigdha Saha, Chris Lin, Kaylie Tran, Vishnu Menon, and Dena Nikjoo; Sophomore Yana Khetiya; and Freshman Iris Shen. 

Nine-member teams compete for the highest scores on multiple-choice exams, speeches, interviews and essay assignments, concluding with the Super Quiz Relay, a Jeopardy-like competition. Subjects range from mathematics and social science to speech and an interview on this year’s competition theme of the 1960s. 

Each team must include three “Honor” students (those with GPAs of 3.75 or above), three “Scholastic” students (GPAs of 3.00 to 3.74) and three “Varsity” students (GPAs of 2.99 or below). 

Woodbridge team member Hannah Hui had the highest score in the competition for the second year in a row. She was awarded the Dr. Robert Peterson Scholarship for her exceptional decathlon career that started when she was a freshman. 

Founded in 1968 by former Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Peterson, the first decathlon was held at Bolsa Grande High School in Garden Grove in 1969.
0 Comments

UCI's Success

2/1/2019

0 Comments

 

Open access

UCI Ranks First in Improving Enrollment of Low Income, Community College Students
Picture
UCI IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN OFFERING ACCESS TO A DIVERSE STUDENT BODY, INLCUDING PELL GRANT RECEPIENTS. COURTESY UCI
By Irvine City News staff
UCI’s commitment to increasing college access, especially for community college transfer students, was confirmed with a report citing the university as the leader in “using community college pipelines to increase socioeconomic diversity.” The report was issued by American Talent Initiative (ATI), a consortium of 108 of the top colleges and universities in the U.S. that was founded in 2016 by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, and Ithaka S+R. 

ATI’s goal is to substantially increase the number of talented low- and moderate-income students at America’s undergraduate institutions with the highest overall graduation rates. Together, the members of the ATI have vowed to enroll and graduate 50,000 more low- and moderate-income students by 2025. The 2018 ATI Impact Report offers the first look at the progress achieved during the initiative’s first two years.  

Over two years, they have already increased their enrollment of students eligible for federal Pell grants by nearly 7,300—and that number is set to grow in the years ahead. UCI has made the single largest contribution to ATI’s 50,000-by-2025 goal to date, adding 2,323 Pell students from 2012-13 to 2017-18, with nearly 900 Pell students added in the last two years. 

Nearly half of these students enrolled as transfer students. The transfer cohort grew from 1,665 students in fall 2012 to 2,919 students in fall 2017, an increase of 75 percent. In fall 2017, 48 percent of incoming transfer students received Pell. 

“Higher education institutions have an obligation to reach out to overlooked communities and create a pipeline for them to attend,” said UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman. 

“We are honored to be recognized as the top contributor to the ATI nationwide enrollment goal for our work with transfer students,” said Michael Dennin, vice provost for the Office of Teaching and Learning and dean of UCI’s Division of Undergraduate Education. “At UCI, student success is our top priority; and it is nice to see the data proving the impact of our efforts.” 

One such effort is UCI’s Summer Scholars Transfer Institute, created in 1993, which invites 120 community college students per year to live and study on campus for 10 days, at no cost. The immersion experience aims to give potential transfer students “a sense that they do belong here, that a four-year university is reachable,” says Santana Ruiz, deputy director of UCI’s Center for Educational Partnerships. 

The need for such programs is clear. According to the ATI Impact Report, each year, tens of thousands of lower-income high school and community college students never apply to a high-graduation-rate institution despite their strong academic credentials. When high-achieving, lower-income students do attend these institutions, they have a greater chance of graduating and moving to the middle class and beyond than they otherwise would. 

Americans with bachelor’s degrees earn, on average, 66 percent more than those who only have high school diplomas, and $1 million more over the course of their careers. The benefits to society are evident too: college graduates vitally contribute to the economy, serve their communities, and create jobs and opportunities for the students of tomorrow. 

Yet there is a wide chasm in our country between who gets a bachelor’s degree and who does not. More than three-quarters of bachelor’s degrees are granted to young adults from the top half of the income distribution. This disparity is compounded when many of our nation’s low- and moderate-income students never get the opportunity to attend the colleges and universities where they have the best chance to succeed. More than half of students at the colleges and universities with the highest graduation rates—those where at least 70 percent of entering students graduate—come from families in the top 20 percent of the national income distribution. 

Nationwide, statistics show that just 49 percent of Pell grant recipients earn a bachelor’s degree within six years. At UCI, in contrast, the graduation rate is a remarkable 85 percent. UCI also leads the country’s top schools in percentage of students who are Pell grant recipients (who typically hail from low-income families) with 37 percent, putting UCI near the top of all high-graduation-rate public institutions. That means UCI welcomes more Pell grant students than the entire Ivy League combined. 

The impact report from ATI adds to an impressive list of accolades that UCI has been recognized for in their commitment to the UCI strategic pillar of being first-in-class for upward economic mobility of underserved student populations. 
​

While continued progress is not guaranteed, the benefits of persisting are quite clear. By striving to reach the ATI goal, UCI and other member schools can “not only educate an increasing share of 50,000 untapped, incredibly talented lower-income students, but can prove that progress is achievable and sustainable in the decades that follow 2025, “the ATI Impact Report concludes. “We look forward to working together towards this common goal: contributing to America’s future as a diverse and prosperous nation where talent rises through higher education.”
0 Comments

Irvine CubeSat STEM

12/31/2018

0 Comments

 

​Blast off!

Irvine STEM students make history with the launch of two satellites
Picture
IUSD STUDENTS WORKING ON ONE OF THE CUBESAT SATELLITES NOW ORBITING THE EARTH.
By Irvine City News staff
Rockets blasted into space from launch sites in New Zealand and California, each carrying fully functioning satellites built by a team of Irvine high school students. It was the first time in history that two student-built CubeSats were launched into orbit in less than a year—and the Irvine team did it in less than a month.
​
 
The Irvine CubeSat STEM program includes Irvine Unified School District students from Irvine, Northwood, Portola, University and Woodbridge high schools, and Tustin Unified School District students from Beckman High School.  

The program has been ongoing since early 2016 with the goal to launch a full-functioning 30-pound nanosatellite (approximately the size of a milk carton cut in half) 350 miles high into orbit around the earth. Each high school’s team is responsible for a different part of the satellite – avionics, communication, propulsion, etc. – with each group working after school and with leading scientists in various disciplines toward the goal. 

The first launch carried the Mission IRVINE01 satellite. It blasted into orbit November 11 from the world’s only privately owned and operated orbital launch facility: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. It was the first commercial launch of Huntington Beach-based Rocket Lab’s innovative Electron rocket. Partnering with the local company afforded the students an opportunity to learn about the production of the Electron launch vehicle firsthand. 

“We have some of the most talented, dedicated and engaged students and teachers who have worked diligently on this incredible achievement, said IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker. “This is such a spectacular reflection of what’s possible when a group of relentlessly committed and passionate people come together to support our students. Congratulations to the Irvine CubeSat team.”  

Once launched, students tracked the satellite’s orbital path and made radio contact with the CubeSat, confirming that it reached orbit and is functioning as expected. Aboard Irvine01 is a low-resolution camera that will take pictures of Venus, bright stars and other celestial objects. Data from these images can be used to calculate distances to planets and determine the pointing accuracy of the satellite. 

NASA Spaceflight launched the second satellite, IRVINE02, on December 3 from Vandenberg Air Force base. It is the largest satellite ridesharing mission ever launched from the U.S. with 64 satellites from 34 organizations representing 17 countries. Irvine CubeSat is one of only two high schools chosen by NASA among 34 teams selected to participate in the prestigious program. Typically, a program like CubeSat would be based at NASA, or at an elite colleges and universities. 

Irvine02 is a more advanced twin version of Irvine01, containing electric thrusters and a high-power laser for rapid transmission of data down to the Earth ground station. Once in lower Earth orbit, the cube satellite will take photos of stars and other celestial objects.  

“What started as a crazy idea to change the way that students experience STEM education, has evolved into one of the most progressive high school space programs in the country and a truly invaluable experience for all involved,” says Neda Eaton, President & CEO, Irvine Public Schools Foundation. “Over the past two years, our students faced many real world obstacles that provided them with an even better understanding of the aerospace industry. They met these challenges head on, and we are so proud of their hard work and dedication to this program.” 

IPSF provided seed funding to help start the multiyear STEM initiative. For the past three years, IPSF has continued its commitment to raise funds and administer the program each year. Other corporate sponsors include the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, Cisco, FivePoint, Google, Ingersoll-Rand/Trane, MEGGiTT Defense Systems, Inc., Microsemi, and Resilient. 

“This is an important achievement for our students and the entire district,” says Terry Walker. “IUSD’s robust science education from grades K-12 incorporates the Next Generation Science Standards, which support education for all students in science and engineering to provide the foundational knowledge for those who will become the next scientists, engineers, technologists and technicians of the future. That future is now for some of our high school students,” he says. “We hope that all students will see this example and know it’s possible to build and launch a satellite into space as an IUSD student and that they too will be inspired to shoot for the stars themselves.” 

Irvine CubeSat STEM Program plans to build 10 more cube satellites all the way through to Irvine12. There will be opportunities for today’s elementary and middle school students to work on future satellites when they get to high school. There will also be opportunities for current high school students. To learn more, visit irvinecubesat.org.
0 Comments

9th Annual Spirit of Excellence Gala

12/10/2018

0 Comments

 

That’s the spirit!

IPSF’s annual gala raised $770,000 for education
By Irvine City News staff
The 9th annual Spirit of Excellence Gala confirmed its position as the most stylish and philanthropic event in Irvine, for Irvine. Perhaps there is a Shady Canyon fashion show or Hotel Irvine luncheon that raises more money, but the thing we love about the Irvine Public Schools Foundation Gala is that the $770,000 raised this year (and every other) stays right here, to fund critical Irvine Unified School District programs and classroom support.  

“The success of the 2018 Spirit of Excellence Gala is a testament to the unwavering support the Irvine community has for education,” said Neda Eaton, president and CEO of IPSF. “Our sponsors and gala committee showed tremendous leadership, which resulted in our most successful event yet. The funds raised will make an impact in the educational experience of over 35,000 students in our community.” 

Founded in 1996 by concerned parents and community leaders, IPSF sponsors enrichment programs and provides financial support to ensure educational excellence in Irvine schools. 

It’s also very cool that the gala honors IUSD alums that have done well after graduating from high school in the district. This year’s Spirit of Excellence honorees are: 
• Spirit of Excellence in Music — Andy Dodd, award winning songwriter and producer of over 50 million albums sold worldwide (Woodbridge High School, Class of 1995) 
• Spirit of Excellence in Athletics — Benny Feilhaber, Major League Soccer midfielder for Los Angeles Football Club, USA National Team (Northwood High School, Class of 2003) 
• Spirit of Excellence in Service — Colonel Craig Allton, Highly decorated United States Air Force Security Forces Officer (University High School, Class of 1987)  
 
The evening featured a moving musical duet by Sylvia Ruszat, senior at Woodbridge High School, and Fiori Lee, 6th grader at Alderwood Elementary, who sang “Who I Am,” written by honoree, Andy Dodd.
 
The event at KIA Motors America in Irvine kicked off with a red carpet arrival, cocktail reception and silent auction, which included more than 60 exclusive items. The auction included a wine trip to Bordeaux, France donated by Total Wine and More, a chef’s tasting dinner at ARC restaurant, and autographed sports memorabilia from athletes Laker LeBron James and Duck Ryan Getzlaf.  

The live auction during dinner featured six amazing experiences, including a private pop-up dinner with Chef Dee Nguyen of Break of Dawn. His breakfast restaurant in Laguna Hills is amazing, as is his story, featured recently on the “Today Show.” FivePoint was the presenting sponsor again: it’s the ninth consecutive year. Other corporate sponsors included GoogleFiber, Kading Briggs LLP, BrightView, FUTEK and Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island.  

“We are so honored to have the opportunity to showcase the talent and achievements of both current and former students that have become the hallmark of Irvine Unified School District,” Eaton said of the event. “Our annual gala is a shining example of how community support of education can effect real change for our young people. We are proud to facilitate public-private partnerships that provide innovative programs and opportunities to inspire students to follow their dreams and make the world a better a place.”  ​
0 Comments

Irvine Public Schools Foundation raises funds for critical programs

10/24/2018

0 Comments

 

Irvine Public Schools Foundation raises over $770,000 at annual gala 

Irvine Public Schools Foundation 9th Annual Gala Raises Funds to Benefit Critical Programs and Classroom Support for IUSD
​On Saturday, October 13, 2018, Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) hosted its 9th Annual Spirit of Excellence Gala at KIA Motors America. With over 300 guests in attendance, including a mix of civic and business leaders as well as individual community members, the event raised more than $770,000. Funds raised will help fund critical programs and classroom support for Irvine Unified School District (IUSD).
 
The evening also celebrated the accomplishments of three individuals whose education in Irvine set the stage for their future success. Honorees each received the Spirit of Excellence Award in their respective fields, in recognition of their achievements.
 
“We are so honored to have the opportunity to showcase the talent and achievements of both current and former students that have become the hallmark of Irvine Unified School District,” explains Neda Eaton, President and CEO of Irvine Public Schools Foundation. “Our annual gala is a shining example of how community support of education can effect real change for our young people. We are proud to facilitate public-private partnerships that provide innovative programs and opportunities to inspire students to follow their dreams and make the world a better a place.”
 
These honorees included:

  • Spirit of Excellence in Music — Andy Dodd, Award winning writer and producer of over 50 million albums sold worldwide (Woodbridge High School, Class of 1995)
  • Spirit of Excellence in Athletics — Benny Feilhaber, Major League Soccer midfielder for Los Angeles Football Club, USA National Team (Northwood High School, Class of 2003)
  • Spirit of Excellence in Service — Colonel Craig Allton, Highly decorated United States Air Force Security Forces Officer (University High School, Class of 1987)
 
The evening began with a red carpet arrival, cocktail reception and silent auction, featuring more than 60 exclusive items. Coveted items in the auction included a wine trip to Bordeaux, France donated by Total Wine and More, a chef's tasting dinner at ARC restaurant, and autographed sports memorabilia from such notable athletes as four-time NBA MVP, Lebron James, and NHL All-Star, Ryan Getzlaf.
 
The evening featured a moving musical performance by Sylvia Ruszat, senior at Woodbridge High School, and Fiori Lee, 6th grader at Alderwood Elementary, who sang “Who I am,” written by honoree, Andy Dodd. A live auction during dinner featured six amazing experiences, including a Neiman Marcus Couture and Car Collective package, a dream getaway experience to Mexico, and a private pop-up dinner with Chef Dee Nguyen of Break of Dawn.
 
“The success of the 2018 Spirit of Excellence Gala is a testament to the unwavering support the Irvine community has for education,” said Eaton. “Our sponsors and gala committee showed tremendous leadership, which resulted in our most successful event yet. The funds raised will make an impact in the educational experience of over 35,000 students in our community.”
 
FivePoint was the presenting sponsor for the ninth consecutive year. Other corporate sponsors included GoogleFiber, Kading Briggs LLP, BrightView, FUTEK and Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island.
0 Comments

IUSD Students, Standardized Testing

10/22/2018

0 Comments

 

A+ for IUSD students

Picture
By Irvine City News staff
Standardized test results are out for California students who participated in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress tests last spring. For the third year in a row, Irvine Unified School District ranks second highest in the state among public school districts with 25,000 or more students, based on test results where students met or exceeded the standards in English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) and Mathematics. 

Scores for the tests are separated into four levels of achievement: standards exceeded, met, nearly met and not met. 

Among IUSD students taking the tests, 77 percent met or exceeded the state standards in English Language Arts and Literacy, while 74 percent of test-takers met or exceeded standards in Mathematics 
IUSD state standardized assessment scores have outperformed both California (50% English and 39% math) and Orange County 58% English 49% Math) score averages. 

“There are many reasons to be proud of our outstanding IUSD students,” says IUSD Board of Education President Sharon Wallin. “These results highlight our special partnership between our dedicated and talented students, families, teachers and staff.” 

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress was administered in the spring to more than 3 million students in grades 3 to 8 and 11. It is a computer-adaptive assessment that bases follow-up questions on students’ answers in real time. 

This is the fourth year of the computer-based tests, which use California’s challenging academic standards and ask students to write clearly, think critically, and solve complex problems, as they will need to do in college and 21st-century careers. The tests are designed to provide information on each student’s progress on state standards. 

IUSD students in grades three through eight and grade 11 participated in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) tests in ELA and Mathematics last spring.  

The scores are just one of many measures of student performance, IUSD officials point out. The results help enhance the district’s understanding of each student’s needs and help improve student learning. 

“IUSD is guided by its Continuous Improvement Efforts, which are designed to develop critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration and other learning outcomes also found in state standards,” says IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker. “Building these essential capacities in our students has been an integral focus of IUSD’s educational mission and vision since its inception. The district will continue to leverage limited resources to maximize collaboration and connections with our students, parents, staff and community partners, as we strive to develop well rounded students, who are college and career ready in an ever changing and competitive world.” 

The test scores will make up a key ingredient of the California School Dashboard, a new system for evaluating school performance. The California Department of Education will use the test results in conjunction with graduation rates, suspension and absenteeism figures, college and career readiness data, and other measures to determine if school districts and individual schools are meeting progress outlooks. 
​

IUSD will use the scores to better understand each student’s learning and help the district to continue to improve upon the high-quality instruction we provide. The scores will not be used to determine student advancement to the next grade level or as the sole piece of information when making academic decisions about students, according to the district. 

IUSD officials suggest that assessment scores should be recognized as only one measure when evaluating student learning; they provide some but not all information about a student’s knowledge and skills. Results from tests should be reviewed in combination with other measures, such as in-class assignments, classroom tests, and teacher input.  ​
0 Comments

Irvine Barclay Theatre, IUSD connect kids to culture

10/1/2018

0 Comments

 

Art access

IUSD and the Irvine Barclay Theatre connect kids to culture
Picture
ON OCTOBER 19, 2018, YOUNG JAZZ PRODIGY GRACE KELLY AND A BAND MEMBER WILL PLAY A SELECTION OF JAZZ TUNES AND SHARE HER LIFE STORY WITH 300 JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE.
By Irvine City News staff
Irvine Barclay Theatre and Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) announced the continuation of a thriving collaborative arts partnership for the upcoming Barclay season. The educational outreach program ArtsReach will provide creative and educational experiences to more than 2,000 IUSD students during the upcoming school year.  

“This is one of the many great partnerships that sets IUSD apart from other school districts, especially in arts education,” said Brad Van Patten, IUSD Arts Coordinator. “ArtsReach offers our students the opportunity to further develop their interest in and passion for the arts.” 

Stressing hands-on interaction with professional artists and access to meaningful main-stage performances, ArtsReach activities include performance attendance, pre- and post-performance Q&A’s, master classes, in-school workshops, lecture/demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, artist interviews and “family days.” In addition, the Barclay provides teachers with support and training materials. 
​


The 2018/19 ArtsReach programs include: 
 
•On October 2, 2018, 500 high school students will be treated to a behind-the-scenes treat as the winner of nine Grammy awards and a Pulitzer Prize in music, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra sound check and prepare for their performance on stage. An interactive Q&A dialogue will follow the sound check 
 
•On October 19, 2018, young jazz prodigy Grace Kelly and a band member will play a selection of jazz tunes and share her life story with 300 junior high students in the audience. Kelly will also interact with the students, answer questions and provide professional advice
 
•In January 2019, 800 students will participate in JazzReach, a program that teaches kids about music, the icons of jazz, and jazz’s place in American history 
 
•On March 25, 2019, Irvine’s most-talented young jazz artists will own the Barclay stage for a night. The five high-school jazz ensembles will meet for dynamic music making with special guest artists 
 
•On April 16, 2019, the Barclay will host IUSD’s 33rd Annual Teacher of the Year Awards that will honor 40 top IUSD instructors among their peers. 


ArtsReach is designed to foster a greater appreciation, awareness and understanding of a variety of art forms. These activities are specifically aimed at serving students from grade school through university, and individuals from diverse geographic, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.  

“The Irvine Unified School District is a valued partner and we are thrilled to be in a position to give back to Irvine youth,” said Barclay President Jerry Mandel. “The ongoing outreach activities we offer these students are transformative in positively impacting their lives and broadening their appreciation for the arts.” 
 ​
0 Comments

UCI ranks No. 7 in 2019 Best Colleges Rankings

10/1/2018

0 Comments

 

UCI rise!

Irvine’s educational excellence continues as UCI rises to 7th best public university ranking ​
Picture
Photo: Courtesy UCI
By Irvine City News staff
The national accolades for UCI continue to accrue, as U.S. News & World Report rated the university the 7th best public university in the country. UCI also came in at No. 33 overall for public and private American universities in the 2019 Best Colleges Rankings.  

In a sign of the continuing strength of the state of California, the six schools that rank higher than UCI among public universities are:  
​

1. UCLA  
2. UC Berkeley  
3. University of Virginia  
4. University of Michigan  
5. UC Santa Barbara  
6. University of North Carolina 

The rankings of 7th for public university and 33rd overall are the highest ever for UCI since the publication began reviewing colleges back in 1983. UCI had ranked 9th among public universities in the previous three years of the annual rankings. 

“We are delighted that UCI has once again been recognized as one of the premier universities in the nation,” said UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman. “This year’s rankings – which are the highest in our entire history – are testament to the extraordinary contributions made every day by our outstanding faculty, staff, students and Anteater community.” 

The rankings are based on 16 measures of academic excellence. Evaluators considered 1,608 institutions this year. 

The U.S. News report also ranked UCI 35th in business in the country and 43rd in engineering for undergraduate programs. 

U.S. News also reviews and ranks the best colleges for veterans. UCI placed 13th among all U.S. universities, a jump of three spots over last year. This recognition follows UCI being named a top veteran-friendly school in the summer 2018 issue of U.S. Veterans Magazine. 

The prestigious U.S. News rankings are just the latest in good news at UCI. As reported in recent issues of Irvine City News, UCI ranks third on Money magazine’s 2018 list of the best colleges in the U.S. for its accessible, high-quality education and alumni success; Forbes named UCI No. 4 on its America’s Best Value Colleges list, and UCI tops The New York Times College Access Index of U.S. universities “doing the most for the American dream” for its commitment to upward mobility. ​
0 Comments

UCI, Money Magazine

9/4/2018

0 Comments

 

What’s Zot?  

Money magazine says UCI is third-best college in U.S. ​
Picture
Courtesy UCI
By Irvine City News staff ​
UCI continues to ascend the rankings of best colleges and universities in the country with Money magazine’s recent ranking of the school at the No. 3 spot in its most recent “Best Colleges in America.” UCI was 7th on the list last year. Money included 727 schools on its list, with only Princeton and UC San Diego ranking higher than UCI. Schools ranked below UCI (but also in the Top 20) include UCLA, Stanford, MIT, Cal Berkeley, Michigan, Virginia, UC Davis, Caltech, Penn, Yale and Harvard.  

“We are delighted that UCI has once again been recognized as one of the finest public universities in the U.S.,” said Chancellor Howard Gillman. “Combining outstanding academics with outstanding value is one of the great challenges facing American higher education, and the fact that we are identified as a national leader is a testament to the great work of our faculty, students, staff and supporters.”  

Factors Money analyzed include quality of education, affordability and alumni success. UCI’s relative affordability and accessibility, when combined with academic excellence, pushed it up the list. 

The campus provides need-based grants to 68 percent of its students, a figure that no other college in Money’s top 20 can match. Money also included new data on how many Pell Grant recipients a school graduates, a measure of how well it supports low-income students. More than 11,800 UCI enrollees received the grants, the most among the Money top 10 and more than the entire Ivy League combined.  

UCI is becoming increasingly recognized as one of the most accessible, affordable and welcoming schools in the nation, especially among colleges and universities with excellent academics.  

One of the factors Money examined was a school’s socio-economic mobility index: the percentage of its students who moved from low income to upper middle class jobs by the time the graduates reach their mid-30s. 

Almost half of UCI’s incoming class of in-state freshmen is first-generation, and the ratio is even higher for California-resident transfer students. Among the University of California schools, UCI had the largest number of in-state freshman applications for the 2018-19 academic year from underrepresented minorities, the most from Chicanos/Latinos and the second-most from African Americans.  

As noted in previous editions of Irvine City News, the superlatives continue to come in for Irvine’s center of educational excellence. UCI ranked at the top of The New York Times College Access Index for the second year in a row, which looks at the economic diversity of the student body, including the number of low- and middle-income students that a school enrolls and the price it charges them. And UCI is 4th on the Forbes survey of best-value colleges. 

Congratulations to Chancellor Gillman and the faculty, staff, students, alums and donors who continue to drive UCI’s rise as one of top universities for affordability and excellence.  
 
time.com/money/best-colleges ​
0 Comments

Cadence Park

9/4/2018

0 Comments

 

Class is in at Cadence Park 

Irvine’s newest public school debuts with state-of-the-art design ​
Picture
THE MEDIA CENTER AND CLOCK TOWER AT CADENCE PARK K-8 SCHOOL
By Irvine City News staff ​
The Irvine Unified School District’s newest school, Cadence Park, welcomed its first students in August. Cadence Park is IUSD’s fourth K-8 school and its 40th school overall. It serves students in North Irvine, including Great Park Neighborhoods and the Altair Irvine. 

“Few communities get the rare chance to build an institution of learning from the ground up,” said IUSD Board of Education’s Ira Glasky. “It’s an opportunity to forge a new school and a new school culture that will serve as the educational foundation for future generations. And very few, if any, will ever create a school as incredible as Cadence Park will be.” 

The 94,000-square-foot Art Deco inspired campus is on 13 acres and includes innovative educational features that represent the latest in research and knowledge of best practices to serve young students.  
​

These new elements include: 
• A next generation innovation lab with a makers space with an attached video production room. The space will also be equipped with sinks and a roll-up door to the exterior to create a flexible learning space. 
 
• A media center/library with several windows for natural light that includes a dedicated story telling space, which also doubles as a small-group work area. The library is designed to feature books as well as digital media now, and in future years. 
• All classrooms in grades 1-5 have a direct connection to the interior student collaboration spaces. 
• The 6th- to 8th-grade quad includes an outdoor amphitheater, covered small-group instruction areas, space for outdoor science activities and a garden. 
• Outdoor collaboration spaces throughout the campus for all grade levels. 
• A gymnasium with attached fitness lab. 
 
Great Park Neighborhoods’ developer FivePoint in partnership with IUSD funded Cadence Park. It’s the second of three K-8 schools and one high school already built and planned for the area.
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016

Irvine City News

Mailing Address
5319 University Dr.
Suite 440
Irvine, CA 92612

Contacts

Jacob Levy, Editor and Publisher / editor@irvinecitynews.com
Advertising / ads@irvinecitynews.com  /  949.296.8338
Terms of Use
© COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • SPECIAL REPORT
  • PUBLISHER'S NOTE
  • FEATURE
  • BUSINESS
  • CITY
    • AROUND TOWN
  • COMMUNITY
  • OPINION
  • LIFE
    • EDUCATION
    • SPORTS
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • RECREATION
    • DINING
    • TOP 10
  • About
    • PICK UP A PRINT COPY
    • COMMENT POLICY
    • Contact
    • ADVERTISE