Principal Jose Varela, left, and Stephanie Cantos, program specialist, cheer for their Nicolas Junior High students as they compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers from Fisler School compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers from Ladera Vista Junior High compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers from Beechwood School compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students from Fisler School cheer for their classmates during the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students cheer for their Parks Junior High classmates during the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sean Kim, left, Joel Kim, center, and Kyle Son root for their Parks Junior High classmates during the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers from Nicolas Junior High celebrate their win in the Best Dance category in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers from Nicolas Junior High compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers from Beechwood School compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students cheer for their classmates as they compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers from Fisler School compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers from Parks Junior High compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People cheer for competitors during the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers from Beechwood School compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dancers from Nicolas Junior High compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Principal Jose Varela, left, and Stephanie Cantos, program specialist, cheer for their Nicolas Junior High students as they compete in the Fullerton School District inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands finale at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Up next for these young performers: Their own professional music video.
A group from Parks Junior High won the Fullerton School District’s inaugural K-Pop Battle of the Bands on Wednesday, April 9, meaning they will get to record their own music video and are also sharing a $500 prize.
The battle held in front of an audience at The Source OC featured five teams. Taking home the trophy in the dance category was the group from Nicolas Junior High and for the vocals category was Fisler School.
School officials said the K-Pop event was another way to connect with the district’s growing Korean community.
The prize money was provided by the nonprofit Kids Fish On, for which Superintendent Bob Pletka is a board member, and all the participating students will get to go to Disneyland together, a district spokesperson said.
