Laguna Beach Education Wrap-Up

Laguna Beach High ROP students awarded honors

Seven ROP students from LBHS were recently honored at the Distinguished Student Recognition Ceremony held in San Juan Capistrano, which recognizes excellence in the studies of Health Sciences, Business and Marketing, Art and Design, Public Services and Science and Applied Technology.

Those honored were Cody Alter and Miguel Jaimes (Silk Screening/Production Art); Berklee Donavan (Dance Production/Contemporary); Nicholas Feldman (Dental Assistant); Sydney Jones (Digital Arts); Hayley Seitz (Dance Production/Classical); and Emily Writer (Sports Medicine).

Alter was also the recipient of the Entrepreneurial Spirited Award, while Writer earned the LBUSD Distinguished Student of the Year Award.

“These outstanding students were nominated by their ROP teachers for their remarkable accomplishments in their ROP classes,” applauds LBHS ROP Career Guidance Specialist Suzie Speirs. “Most have taken several classes as a means of exploring their interest in possible future careers after high school. Many of these classes involve commuting to other high school campuses after the regular school day or committing time after school to an internship class. All of these students agree that ROP classes have helped them to pursue different work scenarios while completing their high school education. It often gives them a direction for their post high school plans and helps make their education more relevant to their future.”

Spring music concert

Students from Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High will give spring music performances this Wednesday and Thursday, June 8 and 9, at the Artists Theatre.

Directed by teachers Jeremy Chung, Roxanna Ward and Roger Chew, the middle school concert band, jazz band and string ensemble will perform Wednesday at 6 p.m., followed by the high school’s string, jazz and wind ensemble at 8 p.m.

Vocal performers from both schools with band together at 7:30 p.m. the following evening to perform selections from classics such as West Side Story, Candide and Porgy and Bess. 

The event is open to the community; tickets can be purchased at the Artists Theatre box office just before the event.

TOW students awarded excellence in American History

Eight 5th graders at Top of the World Elementary were awarded medals and certificates on Monday for excellence in American History, by the Patience Wright Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The awards were reinstated in Laguna Beach this year after a 20-year absence.

At the ceremony, guest speaker Gloria Padach, a DAR member for 32 years who is responsible for reinstating the awards, reminded students and staff that “history is not only the American Revolution, but it is the Civil War, and other wars and what is going on overseas now.

“Each of us also makes history every day of our lives. Perhaps some of you will end up in the history books of the future,” she announced.

Assisted by Pat Carpenter, Padach presented each student with a bronze medal that featured a figure of the American Eagle and the phrase "Excellence in History DAR Award,” as well as a certificate for Outstanding Work in American History.

Those honored were Thomas Garcia and Kyla Whitlock of Sarah Wolsey’s class; Austin Hanlin and Kelly Keller of Susan Dick’s class; Chantal Carter and Jack Raffo of Teryl Campbell’s class; and Garrett Tyler and Clay Zarinelli of Rosie Haynes’ class.

Boys and Girls Club staff win National Merit

Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach professionals Emily Murray, Elena Mendoza, Ashlyn Strahle and Pamela Estes, as well as Club Board Member Dorene Butler, were recently the recipients of the Merit Award for Program Excellence in the arts.

Presented by the MetLife Foundation at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s National Conference in New Orleans, the honor and $2,000 award is presented annually for outstanding programs developed in club branches across the country in the following areas: character and leadership development; education and career development; health and life skills; the arts; and sports, fitness and recreation.

The Club Art Room offers kids a fun pace to express their creativity, learn and grow, says Murray, art director at the Laguna Branch.

“It was really exciting and a great honor to receive a Merit Award for Photography/ Outdoor Art Club. Creating unique programs for our members to experience on a daily basis, when they come through the doors of our Club, creates a natural enthusiasm for children to learn, grow, and have fun in a safe and creative environment,” she says. “Bringing my own artistic passions and desire to inspire our communities youth through all the art programs I offer at the Club, it was very special to have this reinforced by receiving a National Merit Award.”