Maneuvering robots across the playground pavement, students at De Anza Magnet School derived satisfaction from seeing countless hours of classroom preparation pay off powering devices while some aspire to turn what may look like child’s play into productive careers.

The state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced Monday that 13 schools in the state have been newly designated as model middle grade schools and 20 previously chosen schools retain their designation. Of those 20, Frank M. Wright Middle School in Imperial has been re-designated for the third time as a “Schools to Watch — Taking Center State” high-performing middle school. “We have great support, great help, the teachers do a fantastic job of carrying the ‘Schools to Watch’ program,” Frank M. Wright Middle School Principal Diego Lopez said.

HOLTVILLE — Electricity in the air this week resonated not just from science projects but by participant enthusiasm. Imperial Palms Hotel & Resort at Barbara Worth hosted the annual Imperial County Science Fair on Tuesday. With 160 students, 10 Imperial County schools competed in 16 subject categories. These included biochemistry, engineering, microbiology, physics, animal, earth, environmental and health sciences.

While a champion will be crowned on the gridiron this month, four local high schools have hopes of being crowned on a totally different playing field — the academic playing field. The Academic Decathlon is underway. Southwest, Central Union, Imperial and Brawley Union High schools are all vying for the top spot in the county, which would land them in the state championship this March in Sacramento.

HOLTVILLE — Aspiring to sow seeds of change in the educational system by embracing the diversity comprising English language learners, the fifth annual English Language Learners Institute convened a two-day forum here.

BRAWLEY — Every parent wants their children learn “to fly” on their own and the surest ticket to succeed on a level economic playing field has been higher education. The Imperial County Office of Education hosted the 15th annual regional Migrant Parent Conference at Hidalgo Elementary School here, aiming to have children graduate high school prepared to enter some post-secondary institution.

Working jointly with the Sheriff’s Office and the Probation Department, Imperial Valley College offers an innovative program that gives county inmates an opportunity to start their college education. The first of its kind in California, Inside/Out brings 15 “inside” students, incarcerated at the Imperial County Jail, and 15 “outside” students from IVC, together as a class.

IMPERIAL — Imperial High senior Marie Alvarez, 17, is still trying to decide if she’s going to San Diego State University in San Diego or Biola University in La Mirada. On Wednesday, she and her senior classmates at Imperial met 30 different college and university representatives and recruiters during Higher Ed Week put on by the Imperial County Office of Education at Imperial. Biola and SDSU were among the 30 schools.

Migrant students transformed their four-week-long summer school skills into informative presentations during the final days of classes Wednesday. “Students are not only engaged and involved in working together as a group, but they’re enjoying it,” said Arturo Camacho, Heber’s summer school principal. More than 100 migrant students in grades four through seven were able to show parents and family members their hard work and the fun concepts they’ve been learning about for the past several weeks.

Among the tables and talk of higher education, parents and students got information that will lead to the students’ future plans.   About 250 to 300 parents and students were expected at the Higher Education II Parent and Students Night, held Thursday at the Imperial Valley Mall in El Centro.   Parents are an integral part of a student’s higher education decision, and the forum was opened for both parents and students to ask questions, said Denise Cabanilla, director of Higher Education Educational Services.