Briefly In Education

Several receive Honor Roll title

El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools, Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School received the California Business for Education Excellence’s 2011 Honor Roll title, according to a news release.

The schools are four of 1,614 California public schools to be given the honor. The CBEE Honor Roll is made up of two different awards, the Star Schools Award and the Scholar Schools Award, the latter of which the LBUSD schools were given.

Schools that receive the Scholar Schools Award have shown high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time and reduction in achievement gaps among students, and college readiness for high schools, the release said.

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High school makes U.S. News & World Report ranking

Laguna Beach High School again was recognized as an outstanding school in the State and the Nation by U.S. News & World Report, according to a news release.

“It takes teamwork, effort, and drive to create and sustain a high performing high school,” Supt. Sherine Smith said in a statement. “On behalf of the Board of Education and Laguna Beach Unified School District, I commend Dr. Culverhouse, the students, teachers and staff, and the parents and community who provide us with such deep support.”

In the U.S., 21,776 public high schools were reviewed for the rankings, which used information collected by U.S. Department of Education, among other sources, the release said.

In California, 577 schools made the ranking. Laguna Beach High School ranked 113th within California and 589th in the national rankings.

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Local named to Dean’s List

Laguna Beach resident David Watkins was named to the Dean’s List at Champlain College for his academic achievements, which include having a 3.5 grade point average or higher, according to a press release.

Watkins is majoring in Computer Information Technology at Champlain College, which is based in Burlington, Vt.

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SchoolPower thanks supporters

SchoolPower’s Business Appreciation party was held at The Deck restaurant at Pacific Edge Hotel May 3, according to a news release.

The foundation thanked loyal supporters and directory advertisers at the event, which had several longtime business sponsors and Laguna Beach Unified School District leaders and principals in attendance.

Attendees included 30-year SchoolPower supporters Greg and Barbara MacGillivray, who chaired the committee for the popular Student Directory for four consecutive years; and supporters Laurie Alter of Tuvalu and Jack Jakosky of Boat Canyon Shopping Center.

SchoolPower’s Business Alliance, whose members make annual financial contributions, was represented by David and Kerry Rubel of Fredric H. Rubel Jewelers, Steve Baker of Steve Baker Productions and Bill Tremper of Pacific Edge Hotel.

“We are so grateful for Pacific Edge’s generosity in helping us celebrate and thank the community of business supporters who play such an important role in our fundraising efforts for Laguna schools,” said Directory Chair Melissa Cavanaugh in a statement.

The festivities culminated with the auctioning off of the back and inside cover ad spaces for the 2012-2013 directory.

The deadline to advertise in the Directory has been extended to May 30. For more information, go to https://www.lbschoolpower.org or call (949) 494-6811.

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Local accepted into NSCS

Greta Joy Martin, who attended both Thurston Middle School and Laguna Beach High School, has been accepted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, according to a news release.

Martin, daughter of Rich and Deena Martin, is a freshman at UC Santa Cruz, where she is majoring in sociology. She is also a straight-A student.

“NSCS is more than just a symbol of academic achievement. Membership gives students access to a number of amazing benefits including career and networking resources, scholarships, travel, and service projects both on campus and in the community,” said Stephen E. Loflin, NSCS founder and chief executive, in a statement.

Membership is by invitation only, based on grade point average and class standing, the release said. It’s the nation’s only interdisciplinary honors organization for first- and second-year college students.

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LCAD graduates 70

Seventy students in Laguna College of Art + Design’s (LCAD) Class of 2012 participated in commencement ceremonies last week, according to a news release.

This year’s keynote speakers and recipients of honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees were Don Hahn, who’s produced “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” along with associate producing “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and other films, and Iris Cantor, a philanthropist and chairwoman and president of the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Foundation.

“I want to congratulate the Class of 2012,” said President Jonathan Burke in a statement. “We are here today to celebrate their success. Earning a degree from LCAD is a great achievement that demanded rigor, perseverance and creative vision. I had the privilege of watching the students grow and develop as distinctive artists and designers. I witnessed their passion to learn and the many hours they devoted to their art. I now expect that talent and passion to open doors to fulfilling and rewarding careers.”

—Alisha Gomez