A New Roll for 2 Recent Grads: Security Patrol

Students with mischief on their minds are thinking twice about breaking the rules at Kennedy High School since the administration introduced a new security system: guards on wheels.

Class of ’97 alumni Roy Kay and Josh Spry, under the supervision of Los Angeles Unified School District Officer Manuel Muneton, patrol the Granada Hills campus on bicycles. On the lookout for illegal drug and cigarette use and the occasional truant, the radio-equipped duo has speedy access to lawbreakers, whom they escort to the proper campus authorities.

“I feel like I’m keeping the school safe,” Kay said. “And I like the exercise.”

KUDOS

Imagine That: Combining old-fashioned photography and state-of-the-art digital imaging, Burroughs High School senior Justin Magness came up with a winning image that landed him, as well as four other student photographers nationwide, a $3,500 award in the Imation Computer Arts Scholarship Program. Justin’s futuristic piece, selected from 1,200 entries, featured a black-and-white and color collage that was digitally created in the Burbank school’s photo shop.

“These pieces take hours and hours to do,” said Burroughs photography instructor Tim Brehm. “Justin’s project was very innovative. It was outstanding.”

Great Debate: Tarzana resident Ryan Hayden, 17, defeated the competition in the National Forensic League Tournament’s Lincoln-Douglas Debate held downtown recently. The Loyola High School senior, who argued both for and against civil disobedience in a democracy, will head to St. Louis on June 15 to compete among 500 top high school debaters in the tournament finals.

Challenged: Eighth-graders Marlo Paredes, Diana Callari and Disan Estrada of Challenger Middle School in Lancaster placed first in their divisions in essay-writing at the Orange County Academic Pentathlon recently. They competed against 1,200 Southern California middle school students.

EVENTS

They Care: Armed with paintbrushes, trowels and brooms, volunteers from Harman International joined students, teachers and parents in a beautification effort dubbed Community Care Day at Darby Avenue Elementary School recently. The workers enhanced the Northridge campus by constructing flower planters, while fifth-graders joined muralist Tim Fields in painting a giant underwater scene on three school walls.

Dedicated: A series of 16 stained-glass windows, half representing the Creation and half depicting humanitarian values such as peace and self-respect, will be unveiled at a 10 a.m. ceremony Sunday at Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School in Northridge.

END NOTES

The Van Nuys High School Performing Arts Magnet will present “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” Thursday through May 9. . . . Pinecrest Middle School in Woodland Hills will hold its annual science fair from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday. . . . The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks will hold its school fair Sunday, with rides and live entertainment, beginning at 11 a.m. . . . Pacoima Middle School Television, Theater and Fine Arts Magnet will present a musical extravaganza, “Celebrate!” at 7 p.m. Friday. . . . Burbank Adult School, 3811 Allan Ave., will hold its annual job fair from 9 to noon Friday.

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Class Notes appears every Wednesday. Send news about schools to the Valley Edition, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax it to (818) 772-3338. Or e-mail them to diane.wedner@latimes.com