Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School are two of the 218 public middle and high schools that were named California Distinguished Schools for 2013, school officials reported. The schools earned the honor for their strong commitment and innovative approaches to improving student academic achievement, a statement says. “We are pleased and proud to [...]
With an unprecedented 64 parent volunteers manning the phones, SchoolPower’s annual Community Campaign phone-a-thon made history by raising more money, $502,492, and reaching more donors, 606, than in its 30-plus years as Orange County’s flagship education foundation. Every fall SchoolPower hosts its largest fundraiser, the Community Campaign, by harnessing the goodwill of parent volunteers who [...]
Editor, I need to bring to your attention the efforts of Carol Normandin-Parker, SchoolPower’s community campaign vice president. For the last several years (and many more to come) Carol has been in charge of the education foundation’s Community Campaign, its annual fundraising outreach. Each year she sets a new goal for us and generally we [...]
The hard-hitting fun of SchoolPower’s wildly popular community event returns to the LBHS gyms on Oct. 17 with Dodgeball III. Tournament registration opens Sept. 17 so round up a team and be part of Laguna’s most entertaining sports event of the year. In SchoolPower’s spin on the schoolyard classic, champions are named from three divisions: [...]
Top of the World Elementary’s second-grade teacher Linda Barker finds that her student’s knowledge of technology advances with every school year. Barker recognized this knowledge as an opportunity and introduced the iPod touch to personalize student learning. “Students are already adept at using smart phone technology and they have a natural connection to small, hand-held [...]
By Kristi Cancellieri, Schoolpower volunteer The Deck at the Pacific Edge Hotel played host to SchoolPower’s business appreciation party on May 3, giving the education foundation the opportunity to thank supporters and directory advertisers. The guests included longtime supporters Greg and Barbara MacGillivray, Laurie Alter of Tuvalu, and Jack Jakosky of Boat Canyon Shopping [...]
Top Employee Also a County Finalist School district technology technician Long Le, selected as classified employee of the year, is also one of six finalists for a similar award by the county’s Education Department. The award pays tribute to the efforts of non-teaching school employees. Supt. Sherine Smith said “Long provides technical help and assistance [...]
SchoolPower’s 27th annual dinner dance on March 3 raised a record $330,000 for Laguna’s four public schools. President Marcus Skenderian called the gala “an amazing experience of celebration and support for our schools.” Inspired by event chairs Patience Shutts and Kim Ressler, committee volunteers created a floral wonderland of blooms spilling out from [...]
Returning Parents to Class The school district is offering a seven-week program for parents of young children, 5 to 10, beginning Wednesday, March 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Susi Q Community Center, 380 Third St. Therapist Laura Rivas will teach the class, “Loving Solutions.” “We are so excited to be able to [...]
Campus Re-Opens for Night Session Arts Night at Top of the World Elementary earlier this month drew 330 families. The school’s multipurpose room was successfully transformed into “The Dolphin Gallery” for the evening, and featured a visual arts piece exhibited by every student in the school. Talk on Parenting in the Digital [...]
Thanks to a dedicated team of 46 parent volunteers calling on every family in Laguna Beach schools for donations, SchoolPower’s Community Campaign succeeded in raising nearly $360,000. As a result, two sizable checks were presented to the Laguna Beach Unified School District at the Jan. 10 school board meeting, including a $125,000 check for the [...]
By Samantha Washer, SchoolPower vice president Christmas came early this year for Laguna Beach High School’s athletic programs with a surprise donation of $25,000. The donation from the Hexberg Family Foundation was given to SchoolPower and earmarked for distribution to all sports programs at the high school. “We are fortunate to be able [...]
Auditions for Pint-Sized Actors Laguna Beach High School’s drama program will produce “The Sound of Music” in spring and is casting three roles for younger children in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical at a 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, audition at the high school. “The youngest children in the cast are Kurt, 10, Brigitta, 9, [...]
Move over iPod. There’s a new kid in town. Since the Laguna school district introduced an innovative handheld device known as SRS, for student response systems, in classrooms last year, more and more teachers embrace their use and extol their virtues. The devices provide teachers with a means of gauging if a lesson is being [...]
SchoolPower is moving beyond its mission raising money for Laguna’s public schools to also organize a musical instrument drive for woodwinds, strings and brass instruments in good working condition. The Play it Forward campaign is an effort to supplement the $78,000 Schoolpower recently agreed to give the school district to pay for instruments. [...]
Police Use Taser to Subdue Assault Suspect
An assault involving three men escalated into a struggle with Laguna Beach police, who ultimately deployed a taser twice to subdue the younger combative suspect in the 300 block of Cozumel around 1:15 a.m. Friday, May 10, police said. Police ultimately arrested Laguna Beach resident Sergio Gabriel Borgognone, 51, for allegedly resisting arrest and his [...]
