Newport Heights Elementary School student speakers gather on stage with school counselor Lauren Smith, far left, for a group photo following their TED-Ed Showcase presentations at Newport Harbor High School. (Photo courtesy of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District) 
Student speakers from Newport Heights Elementary School pose backstage with school counselor Lauren Smith, back row center, and Principal Terri Clarke, far left, following a TED-Ed Showcase event at Newport Harbor High School. (Photo courtesy of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District) 
Fifth-grader Ava Charles of Newport Heights Elementary School delivers her talk, “From Desks to Decisions,” during a TED-Ed Showcase event at Newport Harbor High School. (Photo courtesy of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District)
Students from Newport Heights Elementary School recently presented original talks on a range of timely topics during a TED-Ed Showcase Event hosted at Newport Harbor High School.
As members of the school’s TED-Ed after-school club, the student speakers explored issues related to technology, the environment, well-being and leadership. Their talks reflected individual passions and sparked conversations about climate change, physical health, student voice and global awareness.
Among the featured speakers, sixth-grader Rosalyn Saharan discussed the importance of protecting endangered species, and fifth-grader Ava Charles reflected on the significance of student leadership. Another student, Eleanor Gruber, examined the long-term consequences of global conflict.
The program was led by school counselor Lauren Smith, who guided students through the process of developing, writing and rehearsing their presentations while encouraging peer feedback and collaboration throughout the semester.
“The journey these students took, from initial idea to polished presentation, was awe-inspiring,” Smith said. “They embraced the challenges of research, writing and public speaking with dedication and supported each other every step of the way.”
The TED-Ed Clubs program is part of a global youth and education initiative from TED, the nonprofit known for its signature TED Talks. The program provides a platform for students to explore and share original ideas in a structured, supportive setting.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Santiago Canyon College has partnered with Santiago Charter Middle School to offer a dual enrollment program that enables seventh- and eighth-graders to earn free, transferable college credits and gain early exposure to higher education.
- OCDE’s Friday Night Live program is expanding to more schools with a new three-year contract from the Orange County Health Care Agency, supporting student-led efforts to prevent underage substance use through peer mentoring, leadership and campus activities.
- More than 350 pieces of student-created artwork, including visual art and film, will be featured in the 2025 Festival of Arts Junior Art Exhibit in Laguna Beach, highlighting creativity and inclusion through OCDE’s OCArts4All Student Art Showcase.
- Fifth-grade students at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Santa Ana wrote and performed an anti-drug music video to reinforce healthy decision-making lessons from OCDE’s Youth Substance Use Prevention program.
- Laguna Beach High School’s Class of 2025 capped the academic year with a commencement ceremony Thursday at Guyer Field and a traditional celebratory parade to Main Beach.
- The Huntington Beach Union High School District celebrated the Class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies honoring more than 2,700 graduates from its six comprehensive high schools and continuation school.
- Hermosa Drive Elementary in the Fullerton School District unveiled a new campus mural painted by local artist Carla Roque with help from students, highlighting the school’s commitment to community, kindness and student voice.
- The 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book reports that California continues to lag behind the nation in education and economic well-being for children, despite showing stronger outcomes in health indicators and national improvements in child poverty and health coverage.
- Santiago Canyon College is offering a new online course that trains educators to integrate artificial intelligence tools into curriculum design, classroom management and personalized learning to enhance teaching and support student success.
- San Clemente High School juniors participating in the Global Sustainability Project are restoring native habitat at San Clemente State Beach to support Monarch butterfly migration and promote environmental stewardship through hands-on conservation work.
- Four months after Los Angeles Unified implemented a districtwide cellphone ban, students and teachers report fewer classroom distractions and more peer interaction.
- Los Angeles Unified has expanded its summer school offerings to 320 campuses with academic, enrichment and support programs aimed at serving immigrant families and addressing recent concerns related to immigration enforcement.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.