Advertisement

BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Author to discuss parental expectations

Wendy Mogel will be the guest speaker at a special evening presentation of the Coffee Break series, 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, at the Surf and Sand Hotel, Pelican Room, Laguna Beach.

Mogel is a nationally known clinical psychologist, school consultant and author of the New York Times bestseller “The Blessing of a Skinned Knee.” Her forthcoming book, “The Blessing of a B-,” will be published in 2009 by Scribner and is about what parents can learn from their teenagers.

Mogel’s topic will be “Raising Self-Reliant, Optimistic Children In a Nervous World,” reflections on raising children in a world where entitlement and competition abound.

Advertisement

Mogel shows parents how to teach children to honor their parents and to respect others, and accept that their children are both ordinary and unique.

“If a child doesn’t get straight A’s, his parents start fretting that he’s got a learning disability or a motivation problem,” Mogel said. “Parents seem to think that children only come in two flavors: learning disabled and gifted. Not every child has unlimited potential in all areas. This doesn’t mean most kids won’t be able to go to college and to compete successfully in the adult world. Almost all of them will. Parents just need to relax a little and be patient.”

The lecture, plus coffee and dessert, is $5. For more information, call Judith Anderson at (949) 494-0447 or e-mail drjza@drjudithanderson. com

Wreaths, garlands on sale for grads

The graduating classes of 2009 and 2010 are hosting a holiday sale to raise funds to benefit the Laguna Beach High School’s Safe Graduation Night Event. Fresh, fragrant holiday greens, featuring mixed evergreen wreaths, 20- and 24-inch, and 15-foot cedar garlands are for sale. Also, fudge from the Chocolate Soldier in Laguna Beach is offered.

The deadline for orders is Nov. 26. Orders can be picked up from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 6 or 13 at the Laguna Beach Unified School District parking lot on Blumont Street.

To order, call or e-mail Kathy Selevan, (949) 497-3111, [email protected].

Kids raise money for wheelchair mission

Decked out in Halloween costumes, students from Top of the World Elementary School gathered last week for an assembly on Halloween and explained how they have worked to raise money for the Free Wheelchair Mission.

The wheelchairs, which cost $51.29 each, are donated to physically disabled people in poor, developing countries.

One child said she had made her bed, put away her clothes and helped her mother around the house for $2. Another child sold hot dogs at soccer games to raise more than $35.

The fundraiser began last year as a teaching project for the kindergarten classes but has now become a school-wide effort. The Free Wheelchair Mission donates wheelchairs made up of mountain bike tires and plastic lawn chairs to disabled children and adults in countries as far as the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin and South America.

The fundraiser will continue through November. For information on how to help raise money for the Free Wheelchair Mission, contact PTA liaison Susan Booth at [email protected] or check out www.freewheelchair mission.org.

Christy honored for support of schools

A special thanks was offered to Mark Christy, owner of Hobie surf shop, at Monday’s SchoolPower Golf Classic.

Christy was recognized as an inspiration and continuous supporter of Laguna Beach’s schools, athletic organizations and the educational community.

Lauren Card called Christy “the ‘Pay it Forward Master’ and a cool role model for all of us “” kids and adults alike.”

Christy, who has sponsored the Golf Classic for many years, accepted the award on behalf of himself and his partners, Mark Gelber and Jake Schwaner.

Celebrity auctioneers at the event were Joanne Culverhouse, principal of Thurston Middle School, and Don Austin, principal of Laguna Beach High School.

The money raised by the golf event and auction sales goes directly to the schools with 20% earmarked for Laguna Beach’s Athletic Boosters.

The Laguna Beach Education Foundation “”also known as SchoolPower”” is a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that raises funds for the Laguna Beach School District.

Panelists inspire students in art careers

Laguna College of Art & Design recently hosted a panel discussion for fine arts professional studies students with key arts professionals.

The professional studies class is designed to teach students the fundamentals of work in the professional arena and to educate them on the tools and best practices needed to enter the art world. The panel discussion brings together representatives of every aspect of the art industry.

Artist and alumna Melanie Florio coached students with tips on self-promotion and maximizing opportunities with a grass-roots approach. Florio completed the graduate program at LCAD in 2008 and is represented by Wendt Gallery.

Nationally exhibited artist John Cosby, represented by the Redfern Gallery, shared strategies for garnering regional and national representation. He encouraged students to fearlessly forge their way along the path to greatness, regardless of how rough the road may appear.

Director of William Merrill Gallery Marlo Ann Gilbert shared her experiences running a commercial gallery and emphasized the importance of managing operations, marketing and relational dynamics among diverse professionals.

Lisa Lodeski, appraiser and former gallery director, shared the nuances of sourcing for collectors and the importance of maintaining integrity in the valuation of artwork. The discussion was moderated by instructor Robin Fuld, who also serves as director of career services.

“It’s a culmination of what I teach them all semester,” Fuld said. “They leave with a ‘pearl of wisdom’ from each panelist and ultimately, everyone involved walks away with new ideas, knowledge or dreams.”

My Hero short film festival set for Nov. 22

The world’s best hero-themed movies will be honored this month at the annual My Hero Short Film Festival. The festival will take place at 5 p.m. Nov. 22 at the USC’s Norris Theater.

Finalists include narrative, documentary and animated films, as well as music videos:

?”Heroes of the Season,” a documentary by Cal State Long Beach students Oscar Loreto and Sarah Noone (a former news intern at the Coastline Pilot), offers a glimpse into the world of adaptive athletes, who overcome severe physical limitations to prepare for a national snowboarding competition.

?”Bridge of Unity,” by award-winning filmmaker Cheikh Darou Seck, introduces people of different faiths in Senegal who built a bridge to unite their Muslim and Christian communities.

?”The Man in Orange,” by four middle school students, honors those who help keep the city of Amman, Jordan, clean and safe for its citizens.

In addition, peace activist and author Ron Kovic will present the Ron Kovic Peacemaker Award, which he will present to the filmmaker who most successfully addresses the issue of peace.

Nominees include “Telling Jokes in Auschwitz,” a poignant film by Sandi Bachom and Mikal Reich, about a holocaust survivor’s journey; and “For Your Tomorrow” by Kyoko Miyake, which tells the story of veterans finding peace together after the horrors of war.

The My Hero Project launched the festival in 2005 to celebrate the best of humanity through digital filmmaking. Since its inception, the festival has received hundreds of entries from around the world. The festival is open to filmmakers of all ages and abilities, from elementary school students to professionals.

The My Hero Project, based in Laguna Beach, is dedicated to honoring those working to make a positive difference in the world. My Hero was founded in 1995, and promotes media literacy, the arts, personal expression, and cross-cultural communication in classrooms worldwide.

The festival is free and open to the public. To RSVP for the event, visit www.myhero.com/RSVP.


Advertisement