Irvine Unified School District

🎉Irvine High School’s Girls Softball Team is the CIF-SS Division 6 Champions! 🏆🥎

The team dominated the championship game with a 15-2 victory over Arroyo High School, earning the Vaqueros’ first CIF-SS championship since 1991.🤩🙌🌟

From the opening inning, Irvine played dynamically, setting the tone with an aggressive offensive and strong ex*****on throughout the game.

✅🩵This title is a testament to their resilience and ability to overcome tough circumstances. The team started the season at a tough 1-11. They steadily improved, overcame every challenge and battled their way to a Pacific Coast League title share before sweeping the CIF playoffs.

They now advance to the CIF State Southern California Regional playoffs, which will take place from June 2 to June 6, 2026.🥎

Congratulations, Vaqueros, and go get ‘em at State!

Read more: 🗞️iusd.org/SoftballCIFChamps2026


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Photo credit: The Orange County Register

🎉Congratulations to Irvine High School student Taeho Kim and Northwood High School student Meital Kochinski on being selected to the National Hope Squad Council!

They will have an opportunity to help shape national Hope Squad initiatives by providing student insight, participating in advocacy efforts and serving as ambassadors for student mental health and wellness 🧠 alongside 50 other student leaders representing schools across 19 states. 👏💙

➡Hope Squad is a peer-to-peer su***de prevention program that empowers students to recognize signs of emotional distress, encourage help-seeking behaviors and foster supportive, inclusive school communities built on 🤝 connection and hope.

Several IUSD schools participate in Hope Squad, including Irvine High School, Northwood High School and Portola High School, as part of the many mental health and wellness resources available to students across the District. 🌟

🤩Join us in congratulating Taeho and Meital!

Learn more about this appointment at iusd.org/NatHopeSquad

IUSD recently joined the final IUCPTA meeting of the school year to recognize and thank outgoing and incoming PTA presidents and members for their dedication and service to our school communities. 🙌🩷

During the meeting, District staff also shared an update on IUSD’s Balanced Technology Initiative, including enhanced safeguards and information about the intentional and balanced use of technology in our schools.

Board Members Dr. Jeff Kim and Cyril Yu provided Board updates, and Board Member Lauren Brooks was honored by the Fourth District PTA with an Honorary Service Award for her leadership and commitment to supporting students, staff, families, and public education.

🫶Thank you to all PTA leaders, members, and supporters across IUSD for the countless ways you strengthen our schools and communities each and every day! ❤️👏

ℹ️ For more information about the Balance Technology Initiative and technology in IUSD, visit iusd.org/BTI

🏆Sierra Vista Middle School’s Science Olympiad team is back-to-back national champions! 🏆

The team delivered a historic performance at the National Science Olympiad, earning medals in 18 of 23 events to tie the national record they set last year. 🥇They also became the first team in Science Olympiad history to place ninth or better in every event at the national tournament. 🎉

Science Olympiad is one of the most prestigious competitions in science, technology, engineering, and math, featuring 120 middle and high school teams from across the nation. 🧬🔬🔭

👏Congratulations to the Sierra Vista Science Olympiad team on their remarkable win!

Read more: 🔗 iusd.org/SciOlyNatChampions

As we approach the final stretch of the school year and wrap up Mental Health and Wellness Month, we want to ensure our families are aware of the mental health and academic supports available through IUSD. 💡

Amidst the hustle and bustle of end-of-year activities, we encourage you to remember to take a moment to breathe and prioritize mindfulness.

💙For more information on IUSD mental health supports, visit: iusd.org/MentalHealth

🥳 IUSD was proud to join the Irvine Unified Council PTA’s Spirit of Community volunteer recognition event. We are so proud of our amazing PTA leaders, parent and family volunteers, administrators, teachers and staff who make a difference in the lives of our students. 🫶👏

📣 The also presented IUSD with a check that totaled the number of PTA volunteer hours for this school year, which if monitized would be more than $5 million. 😃❤️

IUSD Board Members Jeff Kim, Katie McEwen, Connie Stone, and Cyril Yu, and Superintendent Cassie Parham, District leadership and IUSD principals were on hand to thank all of the wonderful volunteers and honorees, who make our schools wonderful places for students and families! They also expressed their sincerest thanks to IUCPTA President Amy Wang for her outstanding service and to the IUCPTA Executive Board. 🙌🌟

Congratulations to all of the honorees and scholarship recipients! 🎉

High School Senior Scholarships:

⭐️Zia Gardner, Creekside
⭐️Shivani Joshi, Irvine
⭐️Jasmine Khalessi Hosseini, IVA
⭐️Lauren Low, Northwood
⭐️Tara Witsoe, Portola
⭐️Zeal Patel, University
⭐️Karis Aphinyametakul, Woodbridge

Very Special Person Awards:

⭐️Maria Louie
⭐️Shannon Chabot
⭐️Lynda Yoon-Bitz

Honorary Service Awards:

⭐️Celso Gutierrez-Cueva
⭐️Jennie Bolinger
⭐️Steve Knollmiller
⭐️Susan Chang Fong
⭐️Katherine Santoso

Outstanding Teacher Awards (Primary):

⭐️Donnie Mai
⭐️Kristi Arledge
⭐️Rhianna Nazari

Outstanding Teacher Awards (Secondary):

⭐️Joslynne Blasdel
⭐️John Kessler

Outstanding Administrator Awards:

⭐️Kimberly Snowden
⭐️Natalie Hamilton

. Volunteers

In observance of Memorial Day, our school will be closed on Monday, May 25.

We remember and honor the fallen heroes who served in the U.S. Military. Thank you to the brave service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

We look forward to seeing our students back on campus on Tuesday, May 26!

IUSD recently hosted the fourth annual Honors Art Show, featuring more than 600 works of art by IUSD PK-12 students over two days at Portola High School. The event also featured Portola’s Porchella concert, which featured musical performances from students in the Popular Music Program. 🎨🖌️🖼️🏺🎵

The outstanding works of art displayed represent our talented students and arts educators throughout the district, and IUSD’s commitment to the arts. 📣👏

🎉🎨Student artwork was selected from the IUSD Honors Art Show for display at the Laguna Art Museum. These students will have artwork on display at the Laguna Art Museum until May 25!

🙌IUSD is excited to announce the District’s 2025-26 Senior Athlete Awardees!🤩

Eight athletes, one male and one female, from each comprehensive high school were recognized in every category. ✅🥳This year marks the introduction of additional recognition categories created to more fully reflect the many ways student-athletes make an impact both on and off the field, court, track or pool.

These outstanding student-athletes represent all of the incredible athletes and sport programs. They demonstrate excellence in competition, commitment in the classroom, leadership among peers and integrity within their school communities. 📚⚽️🏀🏈🥎⚾️🎾🏐🥍

Learn more about these awards: iusd.org/AthleteAwards2026

💚Did you know that IUSD offers WellSpaces on all K-8, middle and high school campuses as a mental health resource for students?

As part of IUSD’s ongoing efforts to support mental health, we’re excited to announce that we’ve opened four new WellSpaces this year at Cadence Park School, Jeffery Trail Middle School, Solis Park School and Portola High School! 🎉

This was completed through a partnership with Rady’s Children’s Health, the Tsao Family Foundation and the Orange County Department of Education. ✨These new additions are made possible by a generous $2 million gift from the Tsao Family Foundation. Since beginning this project in 2022, 15 WellSpaces have opened to date.

When needed, students are able to visit the WellSpaces on their campus. They offer a space of calm, punctuated by mindfulness activities such as journaling, aromatherapy, crafts and more to help them build resilience and self-regulation skills.✏️🎨

➡Learn more at iusd.org/WellSpaces2026