Briefly In Education

Music Boosters host fundraiser

Laguna Beach Music Boosters is hosting its 17th annual fundraiser at the Artist’s Theatre at Laguna Beach High School on April 9.

The jazz event supports the instrumental music departments at Laguna Beach High and Thurston Middle School.

The high school jazz ensemble and Thurston’s jazz band will perform at 7:30 p.m. along with special performances by the Blues Offenders and Gypsy Jazz by Club Django.

Tickets can be bought at the Artist’s Theatre box office. For more information, call (949) 497-7769.

Youth Theatre performs ‘Treasure Island’

Laguna Beach youth are invited to attend the Laguna Playhouse’s production of “Treasure Island” from April 22 to May 1.

The production is directed by Donna Inglima and is written by Ken Ludwig, a Laurence Olivier Award winner. The cast includes children from the Laguna Playhouse Youth Conservatory along with adult actors.

The award-winning youth theater puts on regular productions aimed for younger children, usually based on popular children’s plays or books.

Families are also invited to attend “A Pirate Adventure” on April 30, which includes a “Treasure Island”-themed day followed by a matinee performance of the classic story. Guests can make pirate hats, hear stories, learn how to fight like a pirate and enjoy face painting.

For more information about the production or “A Pirate Adventure,” call (949) 497-2787 or visit lagunaplayhouse.com.

Nominate your hero

The fourth annual Laguna Hero Fest is asking for nominations.

The community can enter a submission, which can be art, film or a story that explains why the person is your hero.

Submissions are due May 1. The Hero Fest is June 5 at [seven-degrees] restaurant.

The MY HERO Project, a local nonprofit, hosts the event to raise awareness for local “heroes” through art, film, audio and stories that recognize their efforts. Laguna Beach also donated a grant for the event.

For more information visit myhero.com/laguna.

Tweet Laguna Beach High School

Laguna Beach High School is now ready for your tweets.

Principal Don Austin has started a Twitter account for the high school to stay socially connected with the community.

“Twitter is a very efficient method to communicate directly with parents and students,” the school district’s director of technology Victor Guthrie said. “Tweets can provide answers to common questions, provide news and relevant information about the school, and focus attention on pertinent causes.”

Austin found out about Twitter at the National Assoc. of Secondary Schools Principal’s conference. He said followers can count on one or two tweets a day about the school, sometimes with links to articles or video.

Follow the high school at https://www.twitter.com/lagunabeachhigh.

Boys & Girls Club branch celebrates with pancakes

In honor of its sixth year as part of the Boys & Girls Club in Laguna Beach, the TLC branch is hosting its 6th annual Pancake Breakfast at Bluebird Park on April 9.

Arts and crafts, a bounce house and outdoor video games on an inflatable flat-screen TV are just a few of the activities available.

The breakfast starts at 8 a.m. For more information, call (949) 494-7630 or e-mail Monica Silva at monicas@bgclaguna.org.

Irvine High School hosts resource fair

Orange County families are invited to attend the 2011 Empowering “OC” Families Resource Fair at Irvine High School on March 30.

The event is hosted by Irvine, Saddleback Valley and the Laguna Beach school districts. The Resource Fair will offer information on topics such as recreation, therapy, social skills, medical, transition into adulthood and advocacy.

“We are all aware of the importance of providing parents with the knowledge needed to successfully advocate for their child,” said Irene White, Laguna Beach Unified School District director of special education/student services. “The district is excited about partnering with Saddleback and Irvine Unified school districts to bring additional information to our parents who wish to learn more about resources within Orange County.”

For more information, visit empoweringirvine.org.

Thurston students honored

Thurston Middle School celebrated honor roll students with the Gold Card & Honor Roll Breakfast on March 10.

The 386 students received a special Gold Card, which serves as an ID for honor roll students. Students with a 4.0 GPA received a special medal.

Students who earn more than a 3.5 GPA qualify for honor roll.

Principal Joanne Culverhouse, the PTA, Vice Principal Jenny Salberg and counselor Jennifer DeMark all made the day possible.

Boys & Girls Club at national conference

The Keystone Club of Laguna Beach, part of the Boys & Girls Club, traveled to Orlando, Fla., for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Keystone Conference.

The Laguna teens started off the week by performing a rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and went to lectures by Tupperware CEO Rick Goings and professional surfer Bethany Hamilton. Celebrities were also there, such as R&B singer Ashanti, who performed a concert.

At the end of the trip, the Keystone Club Breakers were nominated as Community Service Club of the year.

—Compiled by Joanna Clay