BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Rotary honors student performer

Laguna Beach High School student Celena Del Pizzo was named April’s Student of the Month by the high school drama department and the Laguna Beach Rotary Club.

Celena was praised as a highly talented singer, dancer and actress by drama faculty advisor Mark Dressler.

She plans to continue to pursue her theatrical goals at Orange Coast College. The Rotary Club presented her with a framed Certificate of Recognition, a bumper sticker and a check for $250 for her efforts.

Dad’s Group meets Tuesday at church

Dads are invited to the Dad’s Group at Laguna Presbyterian Church from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday to hear from Laguna Beach High School seniors who will share lessons they’ve learned growing up.

The meeting is in the Blue House, behind the church, next to the parking lot on Third Street. The cost is $7 for a Mexican dinner and salad. To reserve dinner, call the church office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at (949) 494-7555. For more information, visit www.lagunapreschurch.org.

Car wash benefits Mexican orphanage

Community Learning Center will hold a car wash and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday to raise money for Door of Faith Orphanage, a home for children in Mexico’s La Mision Valley. The orphanage serves about 105 children, from babies to 18-year-olds.

The car wash and bake sale will be held at 550 Blumont St. in the Laguna Beach Unified School District parking lot. The cost is $10 per car.

Advance tickets are available; additional donations are accepted. Tickets can be purchased from any CLC family or by contacting Wolters at pieter.wolters@yahoo.com or (949) 715-2165.

For those who wish to donate but cannot come Saturday, checks can be made out to Pieter Wolters and mailed to 515 El Bosque, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, with “CLC “” Door of Faith donation” in the memo line.

For information on the orphanage, visit www.dofo.org.

High school Job Shadow program seeks mentors

Laguna Beach High School is sponsoring a Senior Job Shadow Day from 9 a.m. to noon May 20. Seniors will have the opportunity to explore careers they are interested in pursuing as they “job shadow” mentors in the community.

Members of the business community who are interested in sharing their knowledge and work experiences by participating in Senior Job Shadow Day should contact Kimberly Light at klight@lbusd.org.

Foundation grants enhance school arts

The Laguna Beach Festival of Arts Foundation recently awarded Laguna Beach Unified School District schools with generous grants that will enhance art education programs. The foundation, which was established in 1989. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded nearly $2 million to the Laguna Beach art community.

This year, a $12,000 grant was awarded to Top of the World Elementary School. At Laguna Beach High School, a $5,000 grant was awarded to each of the following: Art Department, Art Department (Ceramics), Drama Department, and the Music Department Boosters Club.

“The Festival of Arts Foundation’s grant ensures that our school’s art programs will remain in full force during the next school year,” said Kimberly Knill, Top of the World Elementary School PTA president.

“The Festival of Arts Foundation has had a direct hand in our ability to provide extremely high production standards, specifically with our spring musical,” said High School Drama teacher Mark Dressler. The music program will benefit in numerous ways.

“We will be using the money to purchase music notation boards and outdoor speakers so the marching band can hear the director when they are on the field. The grant will also allow us to replace funds used for scholarships for the Orlando Jazz Trip during winter break, pay professional musicians for clinics and record a third CD for the Jazz Orchestra,” said Julie Stevens, Music Boosters president.

Peter M. Tiner, chairman of the high school’s Art Department, said the grant represents the “bulk” of the fine arts budget.

Art of Giving gala at Montage next Friday

The ninth Annual Art of Giving Gala will be held from 5:30 to 11 p.m. May 8 at the Montage Resort & Spa, 30801 Coast Hwy. The event benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach.

Tickets are available by contacting Michelle Ray at (949) 494-2535, ext. 103, or by e-mail at micheller@bgclaguna.org.