BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Five National Merit semifinalists named

Five Laguna Beach High School seniors — Michael Brown, Emily K. Kiraly, Andrew B. Lyon, Luke T. Sanders and Jane A. Sasso — have achieved National Merit Semifinalist status.

The National Merit Scholarship Program, which began in 1955, is an academic competition for student recognition and scholarships. Each year, approximately 1.4 million students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which functions as an initial screening of the entrants. Students selected as semifinalists then complete an application to be considered for scholarships and recognition as National Merit Finalists.

Principal Don Austin was delighted at the number of semifinalists at the school.

“In my previous high school experience, we had one semifinalist in eight years for a student body of 3,000-plus students,” Austin said. “At Laguna Beach High School, where our student body is 1,080, we have five semifinalists in one year. In addition to focusing on their academic studies, our students are all active participants in a wide range of school and community activities.”

The National Merit Semifinalist students’ interests include engineering, architecture, chemistry, Middle Eastern studies, library science and teaching.

Boo Blast at El Morro draws near

Sponsors are being sought for El Morro Elementary’s annual Boo Blast Halloween Carnival, to take place Friday, Oct. 27, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. This year’s festival will have a “Haunted Ghost Town” western theme, with a mechanical bull, pony rides and a western barbecue.

Businesses, corporations and families are encouraged to help sponsor the event; $250 banner sponsorships are available, with a $50 minimum contribution (five organizations or families per banner total). The sponsorship deadline is Monday, Oct. 16; for more information, call Elizabeth Lamb at (949) 715-9094 or e-mail [email protected].

Girl Scouts seeks new members

The Laguna Beach Girl Scouts are seeking girls from kindergarten through their teens to join local troops. They are also looking for volunteers to help with troops and events.

For information, call Stephanie Andrews at (949) 454-2913 or e-mail [email protected].

‘Once on This Island’ returns to benefit

Generation GAP, the teen theatre arm of Gallimaufry Performing Arts, will reprise “Once on This Island,” the Caribbean musical based on “The Little Mermaid,” to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Forum Theatre, located on the grounds of the Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd.

Tickets are $25 for students and $75 general reserved. Additional non-benefit performances will be Oct. 8, 14 and 15 at 2 p.m.; tickets will be $8 students and $12 general reserved. For information, call (949) 499-5060 or visit www.gallimaufry.info.

New programs introduced at TLC

This fall, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laguna Beach -- TLC Branch will begin a new series of programs.

On Mondays, TLC will launch its “Art with Aubs” program with its resident artist and staff member, Aubrey Tobin. Club members will learn the fundamentals of art, basic composition and painting skills, along with such concepts as contour drawing, color theory, and positive and negative space. Participating members will also have the opportunity to visit local art galleries.

On Tuesdays, members will participate in “Kids’ Etiquette” with Ashlyn Strahle. Ashlyn is the branch assistant at TLC and is the driving force behind the Boys & Girls Club’s current motto, “This is a please and thank you Boys & Girls Club.”

Wednesdays features TLC’s “Cooking with Kids” program with Ashley Keding, TLC staff member. Club members will learn about meal portions, the food pyramid, healthy serving sizes and the benefits of a balanced diet.

Spanish classes are back at TLC on Thursdays with Elena Mendoza, branch director. Mendoza will teach the basics of reading and writing the Spanish language to club members through worksheets, CD-ROM language programs and Spanish storytelling and singing.

On Fridays, Tom Ligh, TLC staff member, will dive into the world of gardening with the “Gardening Gang.” There, club members will plant flowers, fruits and vegetables, and learn about the various aspects of this life science.

All the classes are available to Boys & Girls Club members in grades kindergarten through fifth who are enrolled in the TLC program. For more information, call (949) 494-7630.

College reps attend school fair

Laguna Beach High School’s recent College Roundup gave students the opportunity to meet representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities, including campuses from California to Switzerland.

Nance Morrissey, ninth-grade counselor, has coordinated the college fair for the past two years.

Parents and students also received information on starting a college search and getting financial aid.

Last June, 92% of Laguna Beach High School graduates went on to pursue higher education.