{"id":337975,"date":"2026-05-29T19:36:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T19:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/337975\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T19:36:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T19:36:10","slug":"weekly-roundup-nicolas-jr-high-students-build-hope-through-fullertons-growing-tiny-home-project-and-more-ocde-newsroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/337975\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly roundup: Nicolas Jr. High students build hope through Fullerton\u2019s growing Tiny Home Project, and more \u2013 OCDE Newsroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\"FullertonFullerton School District officials, educators, community partners and students celebrate the unveiling of the third addition to the tiny home project on May 22. (Courtesy of Fullerton School District)<\/p>\n

Students from Nicolas Jr. High\u2019s Construction Academy helped unveil the Fullerton School District\u2019s third Tiny Home Project<\/a> on May 22, marking a years-long effort to support families experiencing homelessness while preparing students for careers in the skilled trades. <\/p>\n

Built by students under the guidance of woodshop teacher Mucio Vidales, the 192-square-foot Tiny Home will support a family in the Fullerton community with temporary housing. Community donors, educators, school board trustees and district leaders \u2014 including Interim Superintendent Dr. Chad Hammitt \u2014 gathered to celebrate the project\u2019s completion. <\/p>\n

\"Nicolas<\/p>\n

The newest addition to the project features two beds, a bathroom, kitchenette and living space. During the unveiling, students wearing yellow vests and hard hats demonstrated the skills they developed in painting, flooring, plumbing, framing and electrical work.<\/p>\n

Launched in 2022, the Tiny Home Project<\/a> serves as a hands-on career technical education initiative led by Vidales and supported by Pablo D\u00edaz, the district\u2019s director of innovation and instructional support. The Construction Academy gives students early exposure to jobs in construction and skilled trades while addressing the needs of the community. <\/p>\n

After helping build the home, Nicolas eighth-grade student Charlotte G. said she had fun learning new woodshop skills and knowing it was for a good cause made the project even more enjoyable. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy heart was happy when I heard that it was going to get given away to a family member that\u2019s part of the Fullerton community,\u201d said Charlotte. <\/p>\n

The project recently received a boost through the Orange County Department of Education\u2019s Innovative Funding Initiative. In March, the Fullerton School District was named one of six local award recipients<\/a> recognized for innovative approaches to strengthening student engagement and learning.<\/p>\n

The $525,000 grant will support the Tiny Home Project\u2019s expansion through 2029, helping fund new tools, materials, learning opportunities for students and additional resources for families in need.<\/p>\n

Vidales said the project continues to show what students can achieve when they apply their learning in meaningful ways. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am very proud of my\u00a0students and what they\u2019ve accomplished this year,\u201d said Vidales. \u201cIt\u2019s rewarding to see them practice trade skills while receiving support from a community that believes in what they\u2019re building.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Following school closures and evacuations in Garden Grove and surrounding cities due to the chemical tank incident at the GKN Aerospace Facility, the Orange County Fire Authority confirmed Tuesday \u2014 in collaboration with fire, EPA, law enforcement and county health agencies \u2014 that all evacuation orders had been lifted<\/a> with no active chemical leak, threat of explosion, fire threat, or risk to the public remaining. <\/p>\n

\"Orange<\/p>\n

A new partnership between OCDE and Chapman University will support school leaders through training<\/a> and collaboration focused on inclusive leadership practices in schools and supporting student success. <\/p>\n

Bright Futures Foundation CEO David Blair visited the set of the FutureCurrent podcast<\/a> to discuss the importance of building partnerships and programs that support all students in Orange County alongside hosts County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean and educator Lainie Rowell.<\/p>\n

\"Orange<\/p>\n

The cost of healthcare benefits for California teachers and school districts has increased by more than 500 percent<\/a> since the 2013\u201314 school year, according to a recent EdSource report. <\/p>\n

Parks Jr. High students turned their ideas into custom-made creations<\/a> through the STEM VIII Prototyping & Applied Design course showcase, where students pitched their businesses, shared their marketing strategies and introduced their digital products made in partnership with Spyder Lab. <\/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

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