Oceanside, CA – The Oceanside Unified School District is proud to announce that three of its Camp Pendleton base schools, North Terrace, Stuart Mesa, and Santa Margarita, have been recognized as California Purple Star Schools by the California Purple Star School Designation Program.
The Purple Star Program seeks to reduce the burden on military-connected students and their families by articulating the most critical transition supports for them and their families and publicly designating schools that meet specific requirements. The program signals which schools are the most committed and best equipped to meet their unique needs.
These schools have demonstrated a commitment to reducing the burden on military families by providing critical transition support and signaling to families that they are equipped to meet their needs. The Purple Star Program helps mitigate the challenges of high mobility faced by military-connected students by centralizing knowledge, developing stakeholder networks, and promoting cultural competency.
“We are proud to receive this recognition and be a part of a network of schools dedicated to supporting military families,” said Oceanside Unified School District Superintendent, Julie A. Vitale Ph.D.. “We are committed to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for our military-connected students and their families, and this designation is a testament to our efforts.”
OUSD course provides work based learning in health science fields
The Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD) is proud to offer Career Technical Pathway (CTE) programs. It is a rigorous program of study providing students with early credit towards college and professional training for careers. OUSD offers 11 different programs, including the Health Science/Medical Pathway. This pathway is for students interested in pursuing careers in the medical field. It provides students with hands-on, real-world experience and training in various medical fields. Students also receive training and work based learning from the Oceanside Fire Department and Lifeguards.
The Health Science/Medical CTE pathway at Oceanside High School (OHS) is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of the medical field and the various career opportunities available to them. Students in this pathway will take classes such as anatomy and physiology, as well as participate in clinical experiences and internships in local hospitals and healthcare facilities. It also prepares students for certification and licensure in healthcare related fields.
One of the unique features of the Health Science/Medical CTE pathway is the opportunity for students to earn college credits and industry certifications. Through partnerships with local colleges and universities, students have the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school, allowing them to get a head start on their college education at no cost to the student. Additionally, students can earn industry certifications in areas such as CPR, first aid and others, which can help them stand out when applying for jobs or college.
The Health Science and Medical CTE pathway also includes opportunities for students to practice their learned skills through initiatives like student-led blood drives and dental screenings. These activities provide students with a chance to gain additional experience, network with professionals in the field, and give back to their community. Class work commonly includes practicing CPR, triaging and diagnosing mock patients, and interacting with the life size, synthetic cadaver. The OHS program has more resources available to it than many university Health Science programs, so students are exposed to emerging technologies and learning valuable skills they can take into a career after graduation.
“The OUSD is committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the medical field,” says the district’s Careers Technical Pathways Coordinator, Teresa Collis. “The Health Science and Medical CTE pathway is just one of the many opportunities available to students to help them achieve their goals and make a positive impact in their community.”
