Briefly In Education

Boys & Girls Club breakfast

The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach had its third annual Community Partners Breakfast at [seven-degrees] on March 24.

Mayor Toni Iseman, City Council members, Laguna Beach police officers and school district officials attended the event that recognized the club’s achievements in 2010.

Development Director Pam Estes enumerated the club’s many functions and its ability to help at-risk youth, preparing them for a successful future.

“It takes a village, a whole community coming together and working together, to build resiliency in youth,” she said, according to a statement. “We each have a role to play and we’re grateful for every one of our Boys & Girls Club Partners.”

The club served 1,500 youth last year, gave 5,000 free meals, 30,000 free snacks and employed 43 staffers to oversee the kids.

The club, which also has a focus on the arts, partners with the Festival of Arts and the Laguna College of Art & Design for its arts programs.

They also have the Keystone Club, a teen leadership program that placed third in the U.S. for a 2010 project.

For more information, call (949) 494-2535.

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Sign up to use Artists’ Theatre

Laguna Beach High School’s Artists’ Theatre will now take applications for use of the property.

The period of use would be from July 1, 2011, to Aug. 31, 2012. Applications can be picked up at the facilities department within business services at the administrative office.

All applications must be submitted to the high school by 4 p.m. June 1.

District and city officials will review the applications.

For more information, call (949) 497-7700.

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Thurston gets to writing

With the wide use of computers, the Internet, e-mail and messaging services at a young age, Thurston Middle School finds it more important than ever to emphasize the importance of writing.

“Through the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) process, our language arts teachers work collaboratively to enhance the skills of gifted writers and build the skills of struggling writers,” Principal Joanne Culverhouse said in a statement.

Students will focus on persuasion, narration, response to literature, and summarization and research.

The plan, based on research, gives expected writing vocabulary for each grade level and tailored writing objectives.

Thurston hopes the focus on writing will prepare their students for the future, allowing them the tools to write everything from a persuasive essay to the resume for their first job.

For more information, visit lbusd.org.

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‘Best of the Best’ at LCAD

Laguna College Art & Design’s annual “Best of the Best” undergraduate exhibition at the college gallery ends April 28.

The juried exhibit showcases the different emphases at the college, with student paintings, drawings, sculptures, illustration, graphic art, game art and animation on display.

For more information, visit lagunacollege.edu.

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El Morro recognizes student essay

An El Morro Elementary School second-grader was recognized Monday for his winning entry in the “How Can We Best Save Our Ocean?” essay contest.

Coastline Pilot columnist James Pribram was there to congratulate Will Compton.

Pribram brought a surfboard and a bag of beach items to show his support for Will’s concern about the environment and eco-friendly living.

— Joanna Clay