{"id":306435,"date":"2026-05-08T19:20:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T19:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/306435\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T19:20:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T19:20:10","slug":"los-alamitos-freshman-creates-sensory-station-for-former-school-and-more-ocde-newsroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/306435\/","title":{"rendered":"Los Alamitos freshman creates sensory station for former school, and more \u2013 OCDE Newsroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\"AA Hopkinson Elementary School student interacts with a sensory station created by Los Alamitos High School freshman Wesley Avery for the school\u2019s multi-aged classroom. (Photo courtesy the Los Alamitos Unified School District)<\/p>\n

A Los Alamitos High School freshman has created a sensory station at his former elementary school designed to support students with special needs.<\/p>\n

Wesley Avery, a former Hopkinson Elementary School student, recently completed the project as part of his efforts to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. The project involved more than 200 hours of planning, fundraising, construction and volunteer coordination.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Inspired in part by his younger brother\u2019s experience in the school\u2019s preschool special education program, Wesley created the sensory station for Hopkinson Elementary School\u2019s multi-aged huskies classroom, which serves students with diverse and complex learning needs through individualized support and instruction.<\/p>\n

Working alongside teacher Sarah Lee, Wesley designed and built a mobile sensory cabinet intended to support sensory development and provide students with hands-on ways to engage with their environment. According to Los Alamitos Unified School District, the waterproof station includes a variety of interactive sensory elements tailored to student needs.<\/p>\n

According to the Los Alamitos Unified School District<\/a>, the project evolved from a simple sketch into a large-scale effort that required ongoing problem-solving, material sourcing and design refinement.<\/p>\n

The sensory station is now being used on campus to provide students with additional opportunities for engagement, regulation and individualized learning support, according to the district.<\/p>\n

Here are the other stories we\u2019ve been following this week:<\/p>\n

\"Impact<\/p>\n

The Orange County Department of Education is accepting applications<\/a> for the next round of its Orange County Impact Schools program, which recognizes and shares effective school practices across the county.<\/p>\n

In a message recognizing National Teacher Appreciation Week, Orange County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean highlighted the lasting impact<\/a> teachers have on students through support, encouragement and everyday classroom connections.<\/p>\n

A cybersecurity incident involving the Canvas learning platform disrupted access at schools<\/a> and universities worldwide, prompting security reviews and temporary service interruptions as the investigation continues.<\/p>\n

University High School placed seventh overall<\/a> at the 2026 United States Academic Decathlon National Competition in Garden Grove, earning Rookie of the Year honors in Division 1 and several individual medals.<\/p>\n

Vanguard University will host its second annual Disability Symposium<\/a> on June 24 in Costa Mesa, bringing together educators, families and community leaders to explore inclusive practices that support individuals with disabilities.<\/p>\n

\"Los<\/p>\n

Orange County students were recognized at the inaugural Youth Choice Awards<\/a> for peer-selected films focused on mental health, suicide prevention and substance use awareness, with several entries advancing to the statewide Directing Change competition.<\/p>\n

Santa Ana student Manny Rodriguez Mejia, a senior at Middle College High School, has been accepted to Yale University<\/a> after graduating with a 4.7 GPA and nine associate degrees through the school\u2019s dual enrollment program.<\/p>\n

Garden Grove Unified Superintendent Gabriela Mafi discussed her leadership philosophy<\/a>, mentorship work with students and plans to retire in two years during an interview marking the district\u2019s 60th anniversary.<\/p>\n

According to an EdSource report, California\u2019s expansion of transitional kindergarten has increased access to early education<\/a>, but concerns remain about program quality and meeting key benchmarks.<\/p>\n

\"Henry<\/p>\n

California public school attendance has rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels<\/a> even as statewide enrollment continues to decline, according to a new report from the Legislative Analyst\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

Capistrano Unified School District approved a plan<\/a> to relocate the Lobo Elementary community to Marblehead Elementary School following concerns from families about a proposed charter school co-location.<\/p>\n

A new study found that while cellphone bans reduced phone use at school, they showed little immediate impact<\/a> on academics, attendance or student behavior.<\/p>\n

This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking\u00a0the OCDE Newsroom<\/a>,\u00a0subscribing for emailed updates<\/a>\u00a0and following us on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0X (formerly Twitter)<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t