Vineland Elementary Students Get Taste of Fresh, Local Produce at School Farmers Market
Vineland Elementary students shopped for fresh produce during a student Farmers Market that doubled as a lesson in nutrition and money management.
Dozens of Students Take Center Stage, Inspiring Peers in Bakersfield’s Nutcracker
Bakersfield’s beloved holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, is returning to the stage for its 48th annual production this Christmas season. Presented by Civic Dance Center, the longtime production is once again enchanting audiences while also introducing the performing arts to thousands of local students through its popular Young People’s Concerts.
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KCSOS, CALM Zoo Partner to Support Local Families Facing Food Insecurity
KCSOS and CALM Zoo are joining forces to launch Stock the Shelves, a community-driven donation effort to help restock school-site pantries that provide vital support to students and their families facing food insecurity.
Tight Finish, Program Growth Mark This Year’s We the People Competition
Centennial High School captured first place at today’s We the People competition at Golden Valley High School, just edging out Arvin High School in a tight overall finish that highlighted an impressive field of contenders. The event marked more than just the announcement of winners — it also brought a change in leadership and welcomed a new school to the countywide program.
VOCS Art Haven Celebrates Emerging Artists, Expanding CTE Pathways
Young artists specializing in a variety of different mediums showcased their talents Thursday night at the Valley Oaks Charter School (VOCS) annual Art Haven fall exhibition. The Art Haven is a VOCS pop-up art gallery that promotes art culture and celebrates student artists. The art show featured a range of media and artistic themes crafted by select elementary, junior high, and high school students.
Students Take Part in Bakersfield’s First Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
Williams Elementary students took part in Bakersfield’s first Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, honoring the courage of a child who helped change history.
Four Kern Districts Earn Statewide Recognition with CSBA Golden Bells
Four Kern County school districts were celebrated at this year’s CSBA Golden Bell Awards, earning statewide recognition for innovative programs that boost student success, strengthen school communities, and expand opportunities from early literacy to early college.
Four Lost Hills Students With Hearing Loss Lead by Example
At Lost Hills Union School District, four boys can often be found sprinting across the track, laughing with their teammates and friends, or swapping stories in the classroom. They are students, athletes, and leaders, and they also happen to experience hearing loss. But to their school community, that hearing loss is not what defines them.
Brewing Confidence, Skills at Robert F. Kennedy High School’s T-Bird Tea Bar
Every afternoon during fifth period at Robert F. Kennedy High School in Delano, an ordinary classroom transforms into the T-Bird Tea Bar, a place where teachers can get their afternoon caffeine fix, and where special needs students can gain real-world experience that will support them long after they leave campus.
Registration Opens for 26th Annual Kern County Teacher Recruitment Fair
Registration is now open for the 26th Annual Kern County Teacher Recruitment Fair, set for Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Larry E. Reider Education Center in downtown Bakersfield. The event, hosted by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS), remains the county’s largest one-stop opportunity for individuals interested in beginning or advancing a career in education.
HolidayLights Hosts Preview Night, Opens to Public Saturday
The California Living Museum (CALM) welcomed sponsors, community partners, and members of the media on Monday night for an exclusive first look at the 23rd annual HolidayLights at CALM Zoo. Presented by Adventist Health, the preview was highlighted by the unveiling new displays, expanded features, and special additions ahead of Saturday’s public opening.
Lighting up the Valley: The Story behind HolidayLights at CALM
What began as a child’s fascination with twinkling lights has grown into one of Kern County’s most cherished traditions. As he celebrates 23 years leading HolidayLights at CALM Zoo, Josh Barnett continues to transform creativity, community spirit, and pure holiday joy into a winter wonderland that brings families back year after year.
Comets Soar to Victory in the First-Ever STEAM Yard Showdown
The stakes were high, the builds were fast, and the crowd was loud. In the end, it was the Comets who engineered their way to the top, claiming the title of first-ever STEAM Yard Showdown Champions, held Tuesday.
Community Volunteers Power Reading Gains for Second Graders
Second graders across Kern County are building confidence as readers thanks to the Community Reading Project. Learn how you can get involved.
California Unveils ’25 School Dashboard; Kern County Shows Steady Gains
California’s 2025 School Dashboard was released Thursday, providing a comprehensive snapshot of how the state’s students, schools, and districts are performing across a range of academic and school-climate measures. The annual accountability tool — created by the California Department of Education in 2017 — evaluates progress using multiple indicators such as English language arts and math achievement, graduation rates, suspension rates, chronic absenteeism, and college and career readiness.
Dream Center Recognized Statewide for Impact on Youth Homelessness
A new report from John Burton Advocates for Youth names Kern County’s Dream Center as one of California’s leading programs reducing youth homelessness. Powered by HHAP funding, the center’s “one-door” model has helped more than 200 youth and achieved an 86% safe-housing success rate. But with HHAP absent from the state budget, the future of Kern’s only youth-dedicated drop-in center is uncertain.
Judges in the Classroom Brings Civic Learning to Kern Students
From third graders at Patriot Elementary donning a judge’s robe to Liberty High students observing a live criminal trial, Kern County’s Judges in the Classroom program is bringing civic learning to life. Through engaging, age-appropriate experiences, students are discovering how justice works — and imagining themselves in the courtroom one day.
KCSOS Employees Reflect on the Meaning of Native American Culture, Identity
Every November, Native American Heritage Month offers a time to honor the traditions and contributions of Indigenous peoples. For KCSOS employees Mindy Cruz and Deborah Jackson, this heritage is not limited to one month, though. It’s a daily source of identity, strength, and purpose.
Sparkling Image Raises More Than $11,000 for Camp KEEP
Suds were flowing for a great cause once again as Sparkling Image Car Wash hosted its 15th annual fundraiser benefiting the Kern Environmental Education Program (Camp KEEP) on October 3. This year’s event raised more than $11,000 to support hands-on learning experiences for Kern County students.
District Spotlight: P-BVUSD Stands Tall After 150 Years
From a one-room schoolhouse serving just 11 students to a thriving district with 26 campuses and nearly 20,000 students, the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District (P-BVUSD) is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year by looking back at its remarkable legacy and looking forward to a future of growth and progress.