BRIEFLY IN EDUCATION

Student car wash benefits orphanage

The families, alumni and friends of the district’s Community Learning Center have canceled this year’s annual trip to the Puerta de Fe orphanage in Mexico due to safety concerns, but will still hold a car wash to benefit the orphanage from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the district parking lot, 550 Blumont St. at Park Avenue.

Advance tickets are available; additional donations will be accepted. The cost is $10 per car; 100% of the proceeds will benefit the orphanage.

The participants typically complete a service project each year, and share meals with the orphanage’s children and staff. Many other volunteer groups have canceled their plans, so the orphanage is in greater need this year.

The CLC students are in grades 1-4.

To purchase tickets at $10 per car, contact Pieter Wolters at [email protected] or (949) 715-2165.

Donations can be sent to Wolters at 1285 Dunning Drive, Laguna Beach.

For more information, visit www.lbclc.org.

Spellers abuzz about bee at Top of the World

Laguna’s 16 top fifth-grade spellers will face off at 7 p.m. Wednesday, at Top of the World Elementary, where they will compete to become the Laguna Beach Spelling Champ.

The winner will represent Laguna in the Orange County Spelling Bee on April 27.

All are welcome to come watch, and enjoy the ice cream social following the bee.

High school seniors’ video contest held

The deadline for high school seniors’ submissions to the Cox Video Contest has been extended to Monday.

The contest invites Orange County high school seniors to submit video essays about friends or mentors who have inspired them, or to show what friendship means to them.

Scholarships for winners range from $1,000 to $2,500; the first place winner’s school will receive a $500 grant.

Three winners will be awarded scholarships, with $2,500 for first place, $1,500 for second place, and $1,000 for third place. In addition, the school of the first-place winner will receive a $500 grant to support their video production program.

The top videos will also air On Demand on Channel 1, where they can be seen by Cox Digital Cable viewers throughout the county.

The 3- to 4-minute friendship videos will be judged on originality, content and creativity. The guidelines allow students enough time to tell a story without requiring them to create a full-length motion picture.

For guidelines and application forms, visit www.cox.com/ocpv/community/ edu.asp.

Thurston parents to go ‘Out on the Town’

Thurston Middle School will hold its “Out on the Town” fundraiser Wednesday.

Parents and guests will participate in a progressive evening in downtown Laguna, walking from venue to venue enjoying wine, beer, hors d’oeuvres and a light dinner.

Guests will visit two designated stops in small groups before all joining together at Ocean Brewing Company for a light buffet supper, DJ and desserts from Zinc Café.

Upon RSVP, guests are randomly assigned to two different stops, the first from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and the second from 6:55 to 7:40 p.m., where they will mingle with fellow parents and some Thurston staff while nibbling on appetizers and enjoying a glass of wine or beer; cocktails will also be available for purchase at certain locations.

All appetizers, wine and beer are to be donated by the participating venues: El Callejon, Inside Out Home and Garden, Laguna Gourmet Food Gallery, Nirvana Grille, Romeo Cucina, and The White House.

Right before the event, guests will be mailed the names of their two assigned stops for the evening. At each stop, the guests will mix with a new group of people before everyone will unite at the third and final venue of the evening, Ocean Brewing Company, for a light dinner, dancing and dessert.

Capacity is limited; the event is $65 per person. RSVP with a check payable to T.M.S. PTA, and be sure to include the names of the attendees.

RSVPs maybe dropped off at the school office or mailed to: Kathleen Moore, 84 Emerald Bay, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

To make a donation or for any questions, call Kathleen Moore at (949) 497-8455 or Melissa Cavanaugh at (949) 499-4893.

New laughter leaders to receive training

The Laughter Yoga Institute will present a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader Training on Saturday and Sunday at the Creativity Center; call (949) 376-1939 for reservations.

Students master yogic breathing, easy stretches, and intentional laughter techniques, as developed by Madan Kataria, “The Laughter Doctor of Bombay.”

They receive diplomas and can then affiliate with national and international Laughter Yoga organizations.

The program includes instruction in Laughter Meditation, and special coaching in working with seniors, children, disabled communities, and bringing laughter to corporations and the workplace.

There are now more than 6,000 Laughter Clubs throughout the world, with more than 3,000 in India alone.

More information can be found at www.laughteryoga.org.

Soul Surfing School registration opens

Registration for the Soul Adventure Club is now open.

Kids ages 8 to 14 will surf, bodyboard, skimboard and skateboard, and take trips to a local board shaper, while learning about the ocean environment.

The program is offered from June 23 to Aug. 29; the cost is $325 per week. All equipment is provided.

Registration may be made online at soulsurfingschool.com.