BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Boys & Girls Club Art of Giving Gala set for May 8

The ninth annual Art of Giving Gala will be from 5:30 to 11 p.m. May 8 at the Montage Resort & Spa, 30801 Coast Hwy. The event is dedicated to philanthropy and friendship in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach.

The Art of Giving Gala will include fine spirits, sumptuous dining, silent and live auctions, music by the Jeeps, a beach and classic rock band, and dancing. The theme for this year’s gala is “Escape to Paradise” and attire for the evening is “Laguna casual with dazzle.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach is entering its 57th year of providing a safe haven and positive place for youth. In the past year, as the largest youth development agency in the area, the club served more than 1,500 young people and their families. This was only made possible by the generous support garnered at last year’s gala.

The success of this event has a substantial impact on the club’s ability to promote the healthy development and academic success of more than 60% of local elementary students, as well as more than 300 young people living in Aliso Viejo. Proceeds will go directly toward programs “” and making sure that no child is ever turned away due to financial circumstances.

Sponsorships, tables and tickets are available by contacting Michelle Ray at (949) 494-2535, ext. 103 or micheller@bgclaguna.org.

American Legion sponsors annual egg hunt Sunday

The Laguna Beach American Legion & Women’s Auxiliary will once again sponsor the Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Laguna Beach High School baseball field. The free event will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday. This event is open to all children 9 or younger.

The American Legion has been sponsoring this tradition for more than 50 years. Come a half hour to an hour early, as the Easter Bunny will make a personal appearance and will be available for photo opportunities.

Kindergarten registration begins this month

Registration for kindergarten will take place from 9 a.m. to noon April 22 at El Morro Elementary School, and from 9 a.m. to noon April 29 at Top of the World Elementary School.

In order to register, children must be 5 years old on or before Dec. 2, 2009. Proof of residency (most current gas or electric bill), birth certificate and immunization record is required. A yellow immunization record card is preferred. Parent orientations will be at El Morro from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. May 20 and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Top of the World.

El Morro Elementary School is located at 8681 N. Coast Hwy. For more information, call (949) 497-7780.

Top of the World Elementary is at 21601 Tree Top Lane. For more information, call (949) 497-7790.

Thurston spring fundraiser a success with $5,000

Thurston Middle School’s annual PTA spring fundraiser, “Out on the Town,” on April 1, raised more than $5,000.

On the night of the event, more than 100 past, present and future Thurston Middle School parents and staff descended upon downtown to enjoy appetizers and wine in consecutive 45 minute visits to two of the following participating restaurants: Anastasia, Lumberyard, Nick’s Laguna, Nirvana Grille, Ocean Avenue Brewery and Sundried Tomato Café.

Then everyone gathered at Romeo Cucina for a light buffet supper, wine, beer and dancing, with desserts provided by Zinc Café.

At the end of it all, some attendees took advantage of the $3 city taxi vouchers, available at the Recreation Department, and rode home in chauffeured style.

Chairwomen Melissa Cavanaugh and Kathleen Moore, who worked on this event for their second and fifth years respectively, are grateful for of the parents, staff and businesses that helped make the event such a huge success.

“At a time when so many individuals and business are feeling the pinch of today’s economic downturn, it was a boost to see that our event could raise even more than it did in 2008,” Cavanaugh said.

Water scholarship deadline for students is Wednesday

Not only is Wednesday the deadline for taxes, but also the deadline for graduating high school seniors to apply for a South Coast Water District scholarship.

Each year, the district awards $500 scholarships to college-bound seniors who live in the district’s service area and can demonstrate their involvement in public service, community service and/or environmental activities.

Applicants must also write a 500-word essay about water from topics provided.

Applications are available at www.scwd.org or (949) 499-4555, ext. 3153.

Last year, the district awarded four $500 scholarships, making a total of 23 scholarships awarded since the program began in 2001. Previous scholarship recipients have come from Dana Hills High School, Laguna Beach High School, San Clemente High School, JSerra Catholic School and Mater Dei High School.

To be eligible for the scholarship, graduating high school seniors must live in the district’s service area, which is Dana Point, Capistrano Beach and South Laguna, and areas of northern San Clemente and northern San Juan Capistrano.

Applicants can call the district if they want to verify that they live in the service area, or ask at home if water bills are paid to South Coast Water District.

Scouts honored with Arrow of Light award

Eleven Cub Scouts from Pack 35 in Laguna Beach received Cub Scouting’s highest honor, the Arrow of Light, recently at a ceremony at Top of the World Elementary School.

To achieve this award, scouts must demonstrate skills in various fields that include physical, artistic, outdoors and educational areas. The award is an actual arrow hand painted by each of their parents that chronicles the scouting journey of each boy with several bands of colors that signify different accomplishments.

The arrow, when earned, is given to fifth-grade boys upon their completion and subsequent graduation from Cub Scouting. These particular scouts were then welcomed into local Troop 35 following the Patriot’s Day Parade with a bridging ceremony that officially marks their entry into Boy Scouts.

Jakob Colladay, Noah Koumas, Cooper Groenhof, Jeff Rubino, Chad Kanner, Zach Spitz, Grant Miller, Tim Andrews, Teague Vanderbeek, Alden Stoneman and Daniel Peterson received the Arrow of Light.