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Seven IUSD Schools Named Among California’s Top 100 by U.S. News

Issue # 0515

Author

Joshua Tjia
12 Nov

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🍏📦🥬 City of Irvine and Partners Host Food Drive to Help Local Pantries, Nov. 15

☕️🚔 Snack with a Cop: Meet Irvine Officers Over Coffee and Conversation

📦🦃🥧 Thanksgiving Dinner Made Simple with Amazon’s $25 Meal Kit

🍎🍩 Hello Kitty Cafe Debuts Sweet Apple Mini Donuts for a Limited Time

🚌🌟  Seven IUSD Schools Named Among California’s Top 100 by U.S. News

🤕 Headache or Migraine? Learn the Difference and Find Relief in Irvine

🎁🌿 Find the Perfect Gift for Nature Lovers at Sea & Sage Audubon’s Nature Store

🎻🎶 UCI Symphony Orchestra Opens the Season with a Festive Concert at the Barclay

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈🐕 14 Pets Find Loving Homes at Irvine Animal Care Center

🎾 UCI Women’s Tennis Closes Fall with Dominant Showing at Pomona-Pitzer Invitational

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

🏐 IVC Women's Volleyball Sweeps Santa Ana to Stay in Playoff Hunt

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈 Beckman Football Rolls Past La Mirada, 41–21, to Open CIF Playoffs Strong

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

🌟🏪🎉Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What did the tree say to autumn?

Leaf me alone!

We hope this joke brings some laughter to your day! 😁

City of Irvine and Partners Host Food Drive to Help Local Pantries, Nov. 15

With many individuals facing food insecurity, the City of Irvine is launching Operation Bridge the Gap — a community food drive and fundraiser supporting five Irvine-based food pantries. Residents are invited to bring nonperishable food donations to the Irvine Civic Center on Saturday, November 15, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monetary donations are also being accepted to help restock local pantries.


📅 Saturday, November 15 | 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
📍 Irvine Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza
💳 Donate online: ochungeralliance.org/irvinesnaprelief

Snack with a Cop: Meet Irvine Officers Over Coffee and Conversation

The Irvine Police Department invites the community to connect at Snack with a Cop on Thursday, November 13, from 4–6 p.m. at Le Cafe Du Parc (12000 Spectrum, Irvine). Residents can meet local officers, ask questions, and enjoy casual conversation in a friendly setting — a fun way to build positive relationships with those who serve the community.

Thanksgiving Dinner Made Simple with Amazon’s $25 Meal Kit

Crime Survivors, a nonprofit organization in irvine supporting victims and families in need, is sharing Amazon’s $25 Thanksgiving meal bundle as an affordable option for those on a tight budget this holiday. The bundle provides everything needed for a traditional holiday dinner, serving five people for less than $6 per person — helping families enjoy the season without added financial stress.

🍂 What’s Included:

  • 🦃 8-lb Butterball frozen turkey

  • 🥣 Reser’s homestyle stuffing

  • 🥔 Mashed potatoes and gravy

  • 🥬 Green bean casserole

  • 🍒 Cranberry relish

  • 🥐 Amazon Grocery crescent rolls

  • 🥧 Choice of holiday pie (pumpkin, pecan, or sweet potato)

📅 Available: November 12–27, 2025
🛒 How to order: Search “Thanksgiving meal” on Amazon.com or in Amazon Fresh, with same-day delivery or pickup available in select areas.

Hello Kitty Cafe Debuts Sweet Apple Mini Donuts for a Limited Time

The Hello Kitty Cafe in Irvine has launched Apple Mini Donuts — hot, sweet, and perfectly bite-sized treats available for a limited time. 🍎🍩 Stop by to enjoy this cozy new seasonal delight while it lasts!

Seven IUSD Schools Named Among California’s Top 100 by U.S. News

Seven Irvine Unified School District schools have been ranked among California’s Top 100 Best Elementary and Middle Schools by U.S. News & World Report! The rankings evaluated over 100,000 schools nationwide based on math and reading performance. IUSD led Orange County with the highest number of middle schools recognized.

Top-Ranked IUSD Schools:

  • 🌟 Vista Verde School – No. 11

  • 🌟 Sierra Vista Middle – No. 49

  • 🌟 Beacon Park K-8 School – No. 53

  • 🌟 Stonegate Elementary – No. 60

  • 🌟 Rancho San Joaquin Middle – No. 62

  • 🌟 Lakeside Middle – No. 85

  • 🌟 Jeffrey Trail Middle – No. 97

Headache or Migraine? Learn the Difference and Find Relief in Irvine

Headaches are one of the most common health complaints, but not all headaches are the same. While tension or sinus headaches often cause mild, dull pain, migraines are typically more intense—throbbing on one side of the head and sometimes accompanied by other symptoms. Irvine Woodbridge Walk-In Urgent Care offers expert diagnosis and relief for both common headaches and migraines, with daily hours, walk-in visits, and telehealth services available.

💡 Tips to Tell Headaches from Migraines

  • Pain Type: Headaches cause steady, dull pain; migraines produce pulsing or throbbing pain.

  • Location: Headaches often affect both sides or the back of the head; migraines usually strike one side or behind an eye.

  • Duration: Headaches may last a few hours; migraines can last from several hours to days.

  • Other Symptoms: Migraines often include nausea, vomiting, light or sound sensitivity, and visual disturbances (“auras”).

  • Triggers: Common headache triggers include stress or dehydration, while migraines can also be triggered by certain foods, hormones, or changes in sleep.

Find the Perfect Gift for Nature Lovers at Sea & Sage Audubon’s Nature Store

The Sea and Sage Audubon Society’s Nature Store is stocked with unique, nature-inspired holiday gifts this November!

🎁 Shop for bird-themed socks, ornaments, boxed holiday cards, puzzles, books, and more — perfect for all ages and nature lovers.

🌿🐦 Proceeds support Sea & Sage Audubon’s conservation and education efforts. Stop by and enjoy a little seasonal cheer while supporting local wildlife programs.

UCI Symphony Orchestra Opens the Season with a Festive Concert at the Barclay

Celebrate the season with the UCI Symphony Orchestra’s opening concert on Tuesday, November 25, at 8 p.m. at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Under the direction of Maestro Geoffrey Pope, enjoy an inspiring evening of orchestral masterpieces by renowned composers. Guests are invited to a pre-concert conversation at 7 p.m. 

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. December 3, 7 - 8:30 PM: Instrumental Winter Concert, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, NHS Theater

  2. December 4, 7 - 8:30 PM: Instrumental Winter Concert, Guitar, Symphonic Strings, Concert Orchestra, NHS Theater

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://timbmusic.org/events/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. December 11 - 12, 6:30 - 8:30 PM: Winter Concerts, WHS Performing Arts Center

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.whs-music.org/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. December 5, 7 PM: Winter Celebration Concert, WHS Performing Arts Center

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://woodbridgechoirs.weebly.com/calendar.html

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

No events scheduled for the rest of this month.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.ihschoralmusic.org/calendar.html 

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

  1. November 13, 5:45 PM – 9:00 PM: Twilight and Petals: Fall Band Concert, PHS Performing Arts Center

  2. November 14, 5:45 PM – 9:00 PM: Twilight and Petals: Fall Orchestra Concert, PHS Performing Arts Center

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.phsmusicbooster.org/buy-ticket

14 Pets Find Loving Homes at Irvine Animal Care Center

From November 3–9, the Irvine Animal Care Center celebrated 14 adoptions —

  • 5 dogs (Arlo, Barney, Cocoa, Duchess, and Terri)

  • 9 cats (Astarion, Bug, Coco, Gypsy, Millie, Onyx, Phantom, Pierogi, and Tortellini)

  • One cat, Jinu, was sent to rescue, while 7 dogs and 2 cats were happily reunited with their owners. 

Learn more about adoptions and hours at cityofirvine.org/animals.

UCI Women’s Tennis Closes Fall with Dominant Showing at Pomona-Pitzer Invitational

UC Irvine women’s tennis wrapped up its fall season on a strong note at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational, earning 14 total wins—including 12 in singles play—and sweeping both doubles matches on the final day.

  • Sophomore Lindsay Kim led the Anteaters with an undefeated 4-0 record, highlighted by a comeback win in a tiebreaker against CSUF’s Kunza.

  •  Ani Vanetsyan and Sayuri Parandian also went unbeaten in singles.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Men's Basketball

  • Sat, Nov 15 – vs Weber State, 7:00 PM

Women's Volleyball

  • Sat, Nov 15 – vs Northen Arizona, 3:30 PM

Women’s Volleyball

  • Fri, Nov 21 – vs UC Santa Barbara, 6:00 PM

Men’s Water Polo

  • Fri, Nov 21– vs Big West Championship, TBA

IVC Women's Volleyball Sweeps Santa Ana to Stay in Playoff Hunt

Irvine Valley College women’s volleyball swept Santa Ana to strengthen its playoff hopes and move to 10-9 overall and 10-4 in the OEC. The Lasers face Saddleback next in a key matchup for playoff seeding.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men's Soccer

  • Wed, Nov 12 - vs Fullerton, 3:00 PM

Women's Soccer

  • Fri, Nov 14 – Golden West, 3:00 PM

Women's Basketball

  • Wed, Nov 19 – vs El Camino, 7:00 PM

Beckman Football Rolls Past La Mirada, 41–21, to Open CIF Playoffs Strong

Beckman High extended its win streak to seven with a 41–21 victory over La Mirada in the CIF Division 8 playoffs. Beckman (8–3) now advances to face Fullerton in the second round at Tustin.

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With November Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

November 2025

Wednesday, November 12

  • Water Polo, Girls – 4:30 PM vs. Canyon/Anaheim

  • Wrestling, Boys – 5:00 PM vs. El Toro

Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you’re a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! “Irvine Insider” is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our city. Let’s collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special.

Click the link below and fill out the Local Business Spotlight Application Form to be featured and let’s celebrate the spirit of Irvine together!

Irvine Insider is sent to a local audience of Irvine residence Monday through Friday with 50% - 60% open rate. Our newsletter is a great way to reach Irvine residents.

  • Kaiser Permanente Irvine Farmers Market

  • Saturday Farmers Market at Mariners Church Irvine

    • When: Saturday, 8 AM - 12 PM

    • Where: 5428 Bonita Canyon Dr, Irvine, CA 92603

  • Great Park Certified Farmers Market

  • Manassero Farmers

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 4:30 PM

    • Where: 33 Irvine Valley, Irvine, CA 92604

  • Tanaka Farms

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Where: 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

    • More Info:Tanaka Farms

November 13 Phaeton Piano Trio 7 PM

November 15 - 16 Woodbridge Village Center: Makers Markets 10 AM - 4 PM

November 20 - November 22 Shelley Conducts Carmen and Daphnis and Chloe 8 PM

November 22 Lao Tizer Band

November 23 PSYCB: Songs of the Earth 1 PM

November 25 PSYO: Light in Darkness 7 PM

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