Briefly In Education

One Warm Coat Drive at Top of the World

The Top of the World’s Kindness Initiative, “Rachel’s Challenge” is at work again, according to a news release.

This month’s TOW community service project is to benefit the Friendship Shelter and the Boys & Girls Club. TOW families brought in gently used and unneeded coats, sweaters, and jackets to keep someone warm during this winter season. Volunteer parents and Kindness Kids were on hand at drop off in the morning to take donations. During the first two days the school collected three huge bags of coats.

“The timing of this drive comes at a perfect time when Laguna is experiencing near freezing temperatures,” Principal Ron La Motte said when viewing the large assortment donated warm clothing.

The coat drive brought in more than 160 coats, jackets, and sweaters of all sizes.

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Boys & Girls Club gets new science lessons

The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach-TLC Branch has developed a partnership with Inside the Outdoors, a hands-on environmental education program administered by the Orange County Department of Education.

The curriculum created for Inside the Outdoors programs is aligned with California Science and Social Science standards and allows students to interact with these concepts in a setting tailored for children, according to a news release. Inside the Outdoors developed the Traveling Scientist, a pilot program, and chose TLC to share this new way of teaching the importance of reducing, reusing, recycling, repurposing and rot.

“Repurpose” and “rot” were new terms for the children, who were shown a repurposed backpack made out of Kool-Aid pouches. In addition, they learned that rotting could be great when it’s used for compost and how that helps gardens grow.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Laguna Beach-TLC Branch is in beautiful Bluebird Park. TLC kids partake in recreational and educational after-school and summer programs that help build character, academic success, and healthy behaviors in young people. For more information, call (949) 494-7630.

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Asada, Sharp team up

Asada Laguna Beach has been selected as the venue for the fundraiser dinner prior to Laguna Beach High School’s “No Suits Allowed #24” (aka The Shap Show) on Feb. 11. All proceeds from the dinner and the show will benefit the Class of 2012 Safe and Sober Grad Night, as well as other graduation activities.

Asada General manager John Bos said this is an excellent opportunity for locals to experience the new flavor profiles created by the recently appointed new chef.

Diners can choose from three appetizers and five entrées. The evening will include Asada’s signature spice dusted chips and warm salsa made from slow roasted tomatoes and red peppers.

Tickets to the pre-show dinner will include a two-course meal, no host bar, and a seat in a reserved section for the show.

The Shap Show gets its nickname from headliner Gary Shapiro, a LBHS math teacher, who accompanies LBHS students.

Tickets at $60 per person for the Asada pre-show dinner and a reserved section seat will go on sale in January. General Admission seats at $10 for students and $15 for adults will go on sale at the Artists Theater box office at 4 p.m. the day of the show.

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‘Play it Forward’ still going

SchoolPower is still looking for donations for its “Play it Forward” instrument drive.

SchoolPower President Marcus Skenderian told the school board Tuesday that although they’ve received a lot of positive feedback surrounding the drive, they’re still looking for donations and welcome anyone to donate gently used musical instruments.

Instruments can be taken to the SchoolPower office at 733 St. Ann’s Drive between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, visit lbschoolpower.org.

— Jamie Rowe and Joanna Clay

Twitter: @jamierowe3 and @JoannaClay