BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Kubo given surprise goodbye party

Friends, students and teachers said goodbye to Laguna Beach High School choreographer Tod Kubo last Wednesday at a surprise party in his honor.

Fellow performing arts teacher Mark Dressler held the event at his house.

After a barbecue dinner and guests’ words of appreciation for Kubo’s 10 years at the high school, Kubo bid thanks and farewell.

The biggest surprise of the party was 90-year-old MACY Awards founder Lee Childress, whom Dressler invited.

“I felt like I was at the academy awards with Lee there,” school board member Theresa O’Hare said. “I know Tod felt it was special, and so did the kids.”

School board meeting date changed

Due to trustees’ summer schedules, the Laguna Beach Board of Education meeting scheduled for Aug. 28 has been rescheduled for Aug. 13, with the public session to begin at its normal time of 7 p.m.

Playhouse announces school tour

The Laguna Playhouse will hold its 2007-2008 TheatreReach season from Oct. 29 to Dec. 7.

The touring program brings professional productions of books included in California’s K-6 literature and history school curriculum into elementary and middle schools throughout Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside Counties.

“Tall Tales and American Legends” and “Island of the Blue Dolphins” will run during alternating weeks.

The spring season begins with the production of “Stuart Little” Feb. 25 to March 17, and concludes with “By the Great Horn Spoon!” from April 14 to June 6.

For more information, call Donna Inglima at (949) 497-2787, ext. 202.

School officials discuss planning

The Laguna Beach Unified School District board and new superintendent Robert Fraisse held a strategic plan discussion July 5, where they discussed their goals for the coming school year.

They reviewed current district practices, future opportunities and areas of concern.

Local girl to be in repertory play

Lagunan Makenna Zur Schmeide has joined the cast of South Coast Repertory’s Summer Players presentation of “Time Again in Oz,” to be presented Aug. 11-12 and 18-19, with a special repeat performance on Sept. 30.

Adapted by Susan L. Zeder with music by Richard Gray, “Time Again in Oz” is a musical version of a story by L. Frank Baum, creator of the Oz books.

Zur Schmeide auditioned for her role after more than one year in the repertory’s Theatre Conservatory.

Exchange student host families sought

ASEE International Student Exchange Programs is seeking local host families for international boys and girls.

The students are ages 15 to 18, and will spend either a semester or a school year in the area. They have high academic scores, and are conversant in English.

Each student is fully insured, brings their own spending money and will share in household responsibilities.

Families may select a child based on student applications, photos and biographical essays.

For more information, call (800) 733-2773.