Annual Shopping Spree Helps Kern Students Start School Ready to Succeed
More than 100 Kern County students received new clothes, school supplies, and a confident start to the school year through the annual Kohl’s Children’s Shopping Spree.
District Spotlight: How Lamont Elementary School District Cultivates Generations of Learners and Leaders
For more than 130 years, Lamont Elementary School District has shaped generations of families, with former students like first-year Superintendent Brandy Charles returning to lead the community that shaped them.
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Expanded Learning Conference Equips Professionals for the Future
More than 300 after-school professionals from across Kern County came together this week for the Expanded Learning Project’s 7th Annual After School Professional Development Conference, where workshops equipped staff with new tools to better serve students and families.
KCSOS STEAM Summer Camp Grows the Next Generation of Educators
The KCSOS STEAM Yard combines immersive, hands-on STEAM learning with a growing educator pipeline, inspiring thousands of students while helping mentors discover and prepare for careers in teaching.
Kern County Science Fair Leads Students to International Stage
The Kern County Science Fair equips students with the curiosity, critical thinking, perseverance, and problem-solving skills to tackle real-world challenges, empowering young innovators like Simar Singh and Eric Nahama to achieve international STEM success.
Girl Meets Metal: KCSOS’s College and Career Programs Host Girls Welding Workshops
Kern County students spent a summer day learning welding skills in a program aimed at encouraging girls to explore high-demand trade careers.
RISE Students Build Confidence Through Summer Empowerment Workshops
Inside the boxing ring, RISE students are learning more than footwork and technique. Through a summer partnership with Warm Up Athletics, they’re gaining confidence, discipline, and lessons that extend far beyond the gym.
Making Nature Accessible: Students with Special Needs Attend Camp KEEP
KCSOS’s Special Education program arrived at Camp KEEP Ocean last week for an opportunity to experience the various activities offered in one action-packed day.
America 250 Invites Kern County to Reflect, Celebrate
n July 4, 2026, the United States will commemorate a historic milestone — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the Declaration announced the 13 American colonies’ independence from Great Britain and articulated the founding ideals of liberty, self-government, and equality that continue to influence the nation today.
Senior Spotlight: Faith, Football Inspire Mason Rothermel’s Call to Serve
Driven by faith, football, and a lifelong desire to serve others, Tehachapi High School graduate Mason Rothermel will attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, where he will play football and prepare for a career dedicated to leadership and national service.
Golden Valley Grad Wins National SkillsUSA Championship
A recent Golden Valley High School graduate has become the first California student ever to win the National SkillsUSA Championship in Automotive Refinishing Technology. Learn how Nick “Nico” Patalinghug’s dedication, hands-on training, and relentless preparation helped him earn the title on the national stage.
Senior Spotlight: John Lambert’s Tehachapi Roots Lead Him to Princeton
John Lambert, a Tehachapi High School co-valedictorian who learned to advocate for himself and excelled in academics and healthcare training, earned admission to Princeton University, where he plans to study molecular biology and pursue a career as a physician.
Highland’s Mia Salas First-Ever KHSD Student Selected for Jimmy Awards
Highland High School’s Mia Salas has made history as the first Kern High School District student ever selected to compete in the prestigious Jimmy Awards, the nation’s highest honor in high school musical theater, after earning Best Lead Actress for her role as Eurydice in “Hadestown: Teen Edition” at the Rita Moreno Awards.
Community Partners Host Under the Sea Storytime at CALM
Families had an ocean-themed adventure as the Under the Sea Summer Storytime transformed CALM into a day of hands-on learning, imaginative play, and community resources.
Kern County Students Advance to National History Day Competition
Months of research, countless hours of practice and revisions, and a passion for uncovering stories from the past have earned three Kern County students an opportunity to compete in the National History Day Competition.
Senior Spotlight: Yaquelin Guadalupe Acosta Vasquez Headed to Yale as Gates Scholar
For Yaquelin Guadalupe Acosta Vasquez, a recent graduate of Arvin High School, believing in herself opened the door to opportunities her younger self never imagined possible. This fall, the first-generation college student will attend Yale University after earning admission to the prestigious institution and receiving a Gates Scholarship.
Graduation Marks New Beginning for RISE Students
Students in KCSOS’s RISE program celebrated more than graduation Saturday morning. Speakers reflected on overcoming adversity, breaking barriers, and proving that difficult circumstances do not define a person’s future. The Class of 2026 embodied the program’s mission of Reaching Individual Success through Education.
Four Valley Oaks Students Honored for Their Quiet Impact
The Superintendent’s Award once again honored Valley Oaks Charter School students whose resilience, leadership, kindness, and personal growth have made a lasting impact both on campus and behind the scenes. The recognition celebrates students whose achievements may not always fit traditional definitions of success, but whose actions continue to inspire those around them.
Wasco High’s Braydon Ricks Carries Mother’s Life Lessons to Westwood
From carrying a football through the halls of Wasco High as an eighth grader to earning a full academic scholarship to UCLA, Braydon Ricks’ journey has been shaped by perseverance, sacrifice, and the lessons instilled by the grandmother he simply called “Mom.”
English Learners Celebrate Success on ELPAC Tests
English learner students are being recognized and celebrated for making strides toward fluency. This week schools from the KCSOS RISE program, formerly known as Alternative Education, celebrated students who showed significant improvement in their English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) tests.
