During the last school year, as IUSD was in the process of creating a sweeping new accountability plan, feedback from parents, staff and other stakeholders made it clear that mental health was a high priority.

You may have already heard about the Orange County Register’s laptop program, which enables supporters of local schools to dispatch a Chromebook to their favorite K-12 campus every time they purchase a new annual subscription to the newspaper.

The Orange County Health Care Agency is advising that higher temperatures are anticipated through the weekend in many Orange County cities, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Well, we don’t need to tell you that it’s been extremely hot out there this week, and Southern California is in for another scorcher today. Even in generally-mild Irvine, temperatures are expected to hit triple digits.

Paddleboarding star Connor Baxter paid a visit this week to South Lake Middle School, where he encouraged students to say no to drugs and yes to healthy lifestyles. Baxter's appearance was tied to Red Ribbon Week, which officially kicks off on Oct. 22.

The Irvine Unified School District has been named a recipient of the 2012 Achievements in Respiratory (AIR) Health Awards for indoor air quality by a division of the California Department of Public Health.

Ever considered making a contribution to IUSD, but you're not exactly sure who pays for what? There are, after all, a number of organizations that exist to support Irvine schools, including the Irvine Public Schools Foundation and our local PTAs.

As we first reported back in January, a new California law requires students entering grades seven through 12 to get immunized with a pertussis booster shot.

Congratulations to University High School Principal John Pehrson, who has been named a “Champion for Character” by the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section.

It’s Wednesday, May 11, and we’d be remiss in not mentioning that today has been designated as National School Nurse Day.