We’ve noticed that a lot of blogs and online magazines seem to be fond of lists lately. So we thought we’d come up with one of our own. Without further ado, here are 15 things worth knowing about the Irvine Unified School District: 1.

Northwood High’s drama department is getting ready to stage a fall production of “The Ash Girl” Oct. 21 through Oct. 25 in the school’s theater. All shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets, which can be purchased at the box office during lunch or before each performance, are $12 for students and senior citizens and $15 for adults.

In less than two years, a state-of-the-art high school is expected to occupy this vast stretch of undeveloped land south of Irvine Boulevard.

We now know what name will be stamped on the marquee outside Irvine’s next high school: Portola High School.The Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday night to brand IUSD’s fifth comprehensive high school with that moniker after considering a lengthy list of community submissions -- and a handful of staff recommendation

Irvine High School students and staff were briefly evacuated to nearby Heritage Park on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 8 after a gas line was accidentally breached on campus. No students or staff were injured as a result of the breach, which occurred at about 8:50 a.m. during construction work on a new classroom building.

The altruism of an accomplished young musician from Irvine High School is the subject of this story on the Orange County Register’s website.

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. has released its annual list of semifinalists in the running for National Merit awards, and 110 of them are from right here in IUSD.

Tinh Tran was looking to integrate more hands-on science, math and technology activities into his classroom lessons, with the ultimate goal of sparking an interest in STEM career paths.