Feb. 18--As a young pupil deciding what to study, finding the right path can be difficult.
But at the Newport-Mesa Unified School District's second annual Festival of Learning, principals and teachers hope to help interested families pave the road toward engineering, medical, performing arts and other areas of study offered by their schools.
The event, from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa, will have booths with specialty program information from the district's four school zones -- Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Estancia and Newport Harbor.
Every zone consists of one high school, one intermediate school and several elementary schools. And each zone has its own set of signature academies -- programs that include curricula focused on a specific area of study.
"I'm interested in the medical field as a career, and the classes at Estancia [High] definitely open up those opportunities," sophomore Sienna Humes said of Estancia's Medical Academy.
Medical is one of four signature academies in the Estancia zone.
Others in the district offer programs in engineering, global studies, multimedia, construction technology and the arts.
Besides the signature programming, information will be provided about language-immersion programs at Whittier and College Park elementary schools in Costa Mesa.
The event also will have a booth for Early College High School in Costa Mesa, a preparatory program that offers college classes to its students.
Other attractions will include student performances, stations to help guests with program registration, and presentations by school staff members and students. Food whipped up by Newport Harbor High School's culinary team will be available for purchase.
The district's first Festival of Learning last year welcomed more than 200 parents and potential students to the Costa Mesa High School quad.
Students who live in the Newport-Mesa district are eligible to apply for the specialty programs. Applications will be accepted until April 15.
For more information or to apply, visit nmusd.us/signatures.
