REPORT CARD

BLUE RIBBON

Isaac L. Sowers Middle School has been selected as a California nominee

in the national Blue Ribbon school program, state officials announced

Monday.

For nearly two decades, the Blue Ribbon Award has been used to recognize

and designate the nation’s best schools. Selections are based on a

comprehensive self-evaluation that examines everything from curriculum

content and its presentation to community involvement, school safety and

student performance on nationally standardized tests.

Blue Ribbon schools will be recognized by the U.S. secretary of education

May 24, and a national recognition ceremony will take place in the fall

in Washington, D.C.

PARENTING CLASSES

The Fountain Valley School District is offering a series of courses on

parenting.

The class will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Talbert Middle School, 9101

Brabham Drive.

Tuesday, from 7 to 8:30 at Talbert Middle School, 9101 Brabham Drive, Christine Honeyman will offer a Media Literacy course that will teach

parents how to protect their children from the pressures caused by

advertising, TV, radio, and movies.Another class will be offered from

6:30 to 8 p.m. March 14 in Tamura Elementary School’s multipurpose room,

17340 Santa Suzanne. The class will be an interactive review session that

will include parents and children. Families will have an opportunity to

express any problems.

All classes will offer interpretation in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and

Korean.Information: (714) 843-3200.

LOCAL GRAD NEWS

Christine Nguyen, a Fountain Valley resident and 1997 graduate of Ocean

View High School, has accepted an internship in Chapman University’s

public relations office.

Nguyen will assist the staff in writing news releases and stories for

both the campus newsletter and the university magazine.

Nguyen is a junior at Chapman University, majoring in communications,

with an emphasis in public relations. In May 1998, the university

presented her with an award for outstanding service to its chapter of the

Public Relations Student Society of America. She served as the society’s

secretary from August 1997 to May 1999 and now serves as its membership

coordinator.

“I’m excited about having the opportunity to see what real public

relations is all about,” she said. “It gives me the chance to apply what

I’ve learned in the classroom.”

KIDS IN SPOTLIGHT

Two high school students from Huntington Beach have made the semifinals

for the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County’s 12th annual

Spotlight Awards.

Amanda Janesick of Pacific Coast High and Alex Torrico of Edison High

School competed among more than 800 high school students to be among the

67 semifinalists from all over Southern California.

Janesick is in the ballet division, and Torrico is competing under the

classical voice category.

During the next three months, each semifinalist will attend a master

class taught by professional artists from each category. Auditions will

be held to select two finalists in each specialization.

Finalists will perform at the gala competition April 17 at the Dorothy

Chandler Pavilion. Winners will receive $5,000; runners-up $2,500.

Information: (213) 202-2245.

SEE THE WIZARD

The Orange County Children’s Theater winter production of “The Wizard of

Oz” will be on stage at the Huntington Beach High School Auditorium this

month.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Information: 502-2244.