Coffee Break set for Wednesday at Laguna...

Coffee Break set for Wednesday at Laguna

The first PTA Coffee Break of the year will be held from 8:15 to

10 a.m. Wednesday at Laguna Beach High School’s Artists’ Theatre, 625

Park Ave. The topic, “Best Practices for Enhancing Student

Achievement: Professional Learning Community,” will be lead by

renowned authors and Professional Learning Community developers

Richard and Becky DuFour.

The meeting is an opportunity to be involved in the initial

changes of the new program being implemented at all four schools. The

program hopes to create the optimal learning environment for each

student based on individual needs.

Laguna Beach Unified School District staff will be attending the

all-day seminar at the high school, which is also open to the public

and runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For information, call Judith

Anderson, parent education chairman at (949) 494-0447.

Junior Park Avenue Players ‘Grease’ it up

Thurston Middle School’s Junior Park Avenue Players will present

two different productions of the ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll musical “Grease”

at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Jan. 21 and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and

23 at the Black Box Theatre on the Thurston campus, 2100 Park Ave.

Tickets are available at the door, $8 for students and $10 adults.

For information, call (949) 497-7769.

Laguna schools offer aid to tsunami victims

Top of the World Elementary School is contributing $3,000 to the

American Red Cross from the proceeds earned at the school’s annual

holiday boutique.

Usually student leaders earmark the funds for local charities.

Students are also pledging funds raised from bake sales this week.

Over the next few months, earnings from the school’s recycling

program will also be donated. For information, call the student

council at (949) 497-7790.

Thurston Middle School’s ASB leadership and Peer Assistance

Leaders are collecting funds to donate to the American Red Cross to

help tsunami aid efforts. For information, call (949) 497-7785.

Laguna Beach High School student council has been collecting

donations to help with tsunami relief efforts. For information, call

(949) 497-7750.

El Morro Elementary School’s student council is assisting with

disaster relief efforts for the tsunami victims by selling pencils at

lunch, donating all proceeds to UNICEF. The students chose UNICEF

because the charity specifically helps children.

Checks and money orders made out to: US Funds for UNICEF --

tsunami victims are also being accepted in the office, 8681 N. Coast

Highway. For information, e-mail Mary Blanton at mblanton@laguna

beachschools. org.

St. Catherine of Siena school events

The school’s second annual open house to see the classrooms and

meet the teachers is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 30.

The school held its first National Geographic Bee on Jan. 6. for

sixth- and seventh-grade students, who participated in rounds of oral

questions to determine a class winner for each grade.

Cynthia Pryor was the seventh grade finalist and Amy Letourneau

was the sixth grade finalist. Letourneau and Pryor competed against

each other on Jan. 10. Letourneau advanced to the next level of

competition. Letourneau will need score in the top 100 on a written exam to compete on a state level in Sacramento.

The all-state champion will take part in the National Championship

in Washington D.C. The school wishes good luck to Letourneau in her

state qualifying exam.

St. Catherine’s school is at 3090 S. Coast Highway. For

information, call (949) 494-9701.