IUSD’s four comprehensive high schools have earned spots on yet another list of the nation’s best.

Good afternoon. Here’s a Friday roundup of some recent IUSD-related stories you might have missed from the Orange County Register’s website:

IUSD’s teachers and counselors can apply for grants to fund innovative projects and lessons thanks to a unique program run through the Irvine Public Schools Foundation.

More than 400 students from the Irvine and Tustin unified school districts showcased their own creative inventions and fielded questions from curious visitors during the 26th annual Astounding Inventions contest.

A Venado Middle School teacher is the subject of a nice feature story on the Orange County Register’s website. Reporter Lauren Jow penned the profile on Brendan McBrien, who has taught music for more than 25 years and composed hundreds of original songs. Here’s a brief excerpt:

IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker was among a handful of local education leaders to take part in a three-hour county presentation on the new Common Core instructional standards Thursday.

Back in July, IUSD approved the second phase of an ambitious project that’s bringing energy-generating solar panels to a number of additional schools and district sites.

A pair of Irvine schools made headlines recently on the Orange County Register’s website. For starters, Register reporter Samantha Schaefer previewed Northwood High School's third annual Timberwolf 5K Run/Walk, which will raise money for Northwood's athletics program and Families Forward.

On the eve of being honored by the Irvine Public Schools Foundation as one of IUSD’s distinguished alumni, former major-leaguer and University High grad Tim Wallach paid a visit to his old stomping grounds this week.