PTA acknowledges that “LBHS Teachers and Staff Rock” with rock garden and events
By DIANNE RUSSELL
During “Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week,” the Laguna Beach High School PTA has found several ways to celebrate its teachers and staff. The first is the “Our LBHS Teachers & Staff Rock” garden, in which personalized rocks for each teacher, staff, and coach have been placed.
“We also have other hand-painted rocks with positive and encouraging messages of gratitude for our teachers, staff, and coaches,” says PTA President Jimmy Azadian. “The LBHS PTA did this to honor and show gratitude for our high school teachers, staff, and coaches, especially in this very difficult school year.”
Parents and students organized at the Britt Family Home’s garage in Arch Beach Heights to paint the rocks, and then the PTA Teacher & Staff Appreciation Committee (Lisa Britt, Lori Mitsuka, Sheila Parker, and Azadian) delivered the rocks and placed them inside the high school quad on Friday, flanked by special signs we designed that read: “Our LBHS Teachers and Staff Rock!”
Sheila designed the signs and also served on the Executive Board and is the treasurer. Lori is the PTA historian.
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Submitted photo
(L-R) Steve Britt, Ashton Azadian (the sophomore class president), Lisa Britt, and Angela Chin (mother of high schooler Maesen Silva) painting rocks
“The rock garden idea was hatched by Lisa Britt, who is the mom of high schoolers Owen Britt and Brandon Brit,” Azadian says. “Lisa serves on our LBHS PTA Executive Board, as our Parliamentarian and Communications Officer. She is also a former elementary school teacher, so I could think of no better person to head up our Teacher and Staff Appreciation Committee. Her inspiration for the rock garden came from the national movement to have permanent kindness-inspired rock gardens on school campuses throughout the country.
“This Monday is the start of teacher and staff appreciation week at the high school, so we wanted to make sure the rock garden was in place for when the teachers and staff arrive to campus on Monday morning,” says Azadian. “We have other awesome events planned for our teachers and staff, as well.”
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Submitted photo
Painted rocks placed in LBHS quad
Many volunteers donated their time to the PTA to paint personalized rocks for the rock garden, and there are many other rocks painted with positive and inspiring messages of kindness and gratitude, and really cool art. Each teacher, staff member, and coach will be given their customized rock at the end of the week, and they can choose to keep it on their desks at school or take it home.
“Either way, it serves to remind them how much they are loved and appreciated by the students and parents of LBHS,” says Azadian.
Other events planned
“As for the other events, we are having opportunity drawings each day for the teachers, coaches, and staff. Items ranging from gelato gift cards, Mexican restaurant gift cards, to Aviator Nation apparel will be awarded to the teachers, staff, and coaches each day, for the daily opportunity drawing,” says Azadian. “All prizes were donated by high school families as well as local businesses in our community. They total over $1,200 in donations.”
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Jedidiah Coffee Company
Yesterday and today, the teachers, staff, and coaches will be treated to Shirley’s bagels and Krispy Kreme donuts, as well as a specialty gourmet coffee bar hosted by a barista, who will be serving up customized hand-crafted coffee drinks. The coffee bar is hosted and donated by Jedidiah Coffee Company, an outstanding local business run by a family here in town. They have always been supportive of our LBHS PTA and students.
When teachers, staff, and coaches arrived at the teachers’ lounge on Monday, they received a special boxed gift from Mission Hospital, thanking them for helping us raise healthy teens. Each boxed gift included a beautiful earth-ware coffee mug, lip gloss/chap stick, stress-relief ball, information on raising healthy teens, a notepad, and a pen.
On Wednesday, the teachers, coaches, and staff will be treated to a special lunch with mini-sandwiches, cookies, and specially made LBHS Breaker water bottles.
On Thursday, the teachers, coaches, and staff will again be treated to a special lunch, this time with gourmet mini burritos, gourmet salsas and hot sauces, and the specially made LBHA Breaker water bottles.
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Submitted photo
Special signs placed around the outer periphery of the school
On Friday, the PTA will share a special video created by the students, thanking all of their teachers, coaches, and the staff, and also host a Candy Bar that would make Willy Wonka jealous! The candy bar will have so many different candies, sweet treats, and you name it. A nice “cheat day”. from the usual healthy diet. A sweet treat for all of our sweet teachers, coaches, and staff.
Also, when everyone steps onto campus tomorrow, they will see the specially designed teacher appreciation signs PTA ordered and placed along the outer periphery of the school. The signs will remain up throughout the week.
Azadian adds, “Bottom line, we have the best teachers, coaches, and staff, and they have done so much for our students! We are grateful for them and this week is a time to honor and appreciate them in a big way! They are the “T” in PTA!”
Laguna Dance Festival teams up with OC Music & Dance for Moving Together In-Person
After more than a year of lockdowns and virtual learning, Laguna Dance Festival is partnering with OC Music & Dance to bring a one-of-a-kind, in-person dance training experience to local dancers.
Moving Together In-Person kicks off on June 14 and includes six full days of technique training, artistic development, career mentorship, and professional networking opportunities. Intermediate, pre-professional, and collegiate dancers are invited to participate.
“It is with excitement and immense gratitude that we announce the partnership with OC Music & Dance for our 2021 summer intensive,” said Jodie Gates, Artistic Director for Laguna Dance Festival. “It has been over a year since we have danced together in-person, and I can think of no better way of launching our one-of-a-kind summer program than aligning with our artistic neighbors and like-minded community of educators”.
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Courtesy of Skye Schmidt
After over a year, dancers return to the studio for in-person training on June 14
Under the direction of Laguna Dance Festival’s Artistic Director Jodie Gates, this specialized program brings internationally renowned dance artists to Orange County, providing opportunities for students to be immersed in the highest level of training and artistic exploration.
This year’s prestigious faculty roster features Fiona Lummis, an artist from Nederlands Dans Theater and stager for Jiri Kylian’s repertory, Jermaine Spivey, contemporary choreographer and artist with Kidd Pivotand, and Maria Kowroski, a principal dancer from New York City Ballet, among others. Daily in-person classes within small cohorts will include repertory, contemporary, hip hop, composition, conditioning, ballet, and seminar.
“Now is a time when coming together is more important than ever,” shared OC Music & Dance Chair of Dance Tawny Chapman. “We are thrilled to partner with Laguna Dance Festival and to provide a safe space for aspiring dancers to move together in-person under the guidance of the unparalleled faculty lineup that Jodie and her team have put together.”
Since 2005, the award-winning Laguna Dance Festival has presented world-class dance performances in theaters, film, and public spaces, reaching thousands annually and exposing new audiences to professional concert dance. Laguna Dance Festival is a nonprofit organization deeply dedicated to the arts and community. The organization is committed to collaboration, dance presentation, and education through an artistic lens that strategizes innovative ways to commission artists, educate young dancers, and unite people of all ages and cultures.
Previous festival lineups have featured national and international companies and artists, including Ballet BC, Malpaso, RUBBERBAND, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Parsons Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet West, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Black Grace, BalletX, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Abraham.In.Motion (A.I.M.), BODYTRAFFIC, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and artists from San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet, and New York City Ballet, among many others.
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Courtesy of Skye Schmidt
Moving Together will be held in-person in the state-of-the-art facilities at OC Music & Dance
In addition to its mission to present world-class dance performance and increase public appreciation for the art, Laguna Dance Festival is committed to the highest quality dance education and provides opportunities for aspiring artists through masterclasses, workshops, intensive programs, and scholarships.
OC Music & Dance is a premier nonprofit community performing arts school, with a diverse student body of over 400 children, ranging in ages from 18 months to 18 years old. Through its financial assistance program, OCMD aims to make the arts accessible to every child, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
Nearly 54 percent of OCMD’s students are on financial assistance, ranging from 15 percent to 80 percent. OCMD’s spacious 21,000-square-foot facility offers 16 practice rooms, two large dance studios with wood-sprung floating dance floors covered with Marley, fully equipped recording studios, and a 150-seat black box theater equipped with a 21-foot LED screen, professional-quality theatrical sound and lighting, and tiered seating.
Moving Together will be held in-person in the state-of-the-art facilities at OC Music & Dance. In accordance with local health guidelines, class sizes are limited. To learn more about the OC Music & Dance’s COVID-19 protocols and safety measures, visit www.ocmusicdance.org/healthsafety. Registration is now open and financial assistance scholarships are available to qualified applicants.
For more information on Moving Together: Laguna Dance Festival’s Summer Intensive 2021 in partnership with OC Music and Dance, visit www.lagunadancefestival.org/project/2021-summer-intensive or call (949) 715-5578.
Low-cost spay/neuter program for pets offered through May 31
A low-cost spay/neuter program will be offered through May 31 for pets belonging to Laguna Beach and Laguna Woods residents. Protecting Unwanted Pets (PUP) will cover the majority of costs during this one-time annual event. There is a maximum of two pets per household.
Spaying or neutering your pet has numerous health benefits and is also necessary in controlling pet overpopulation.
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Courtesy of Volunteers of Laguna Beach
Animal Shelter Facebook page
Laguna Beach Animal Shelter volunteers with Bobby and Sharman
Each pet is evaluated by a veterinarian, and in the event the pet needs additional medical care, those costs must be covered by the resident.
Voucher prices range from $20 to $50 for spays, and $15 to $30 for neuters, based on the weight of the animal.
Purchase vouchers at Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd, or call (949) 497-3552 for more information. Vouchers must be purchased by April 30 and procedures must take place by the end of May.
Participating veterinarians include Dr. Gershun Alaluf, Canyon Animal Hospital; Dr. James Levin, Laguna Beach Animal Hospital; and Dr. Mukhtar, Laguna Beach Veterinary Medical Center.
For information about LB Animal Shelter, go to www.puplagunabeach.org.
Meet Pet of the Week Zoey
Zoey is currently taking over Pet of the Week. She is a spayed one-year-old Scottish Deerhound mix looking for a new place to call home. Zoey is in need of training, and requires a secure fenced yard as she can climb out of high chain link fences. She is extremely friendly, affectionate, and does well around groups of people. Nancy Goodwin, shelter director, is hoping to have Zoey adopted as soon as possible.
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Zoey is the ultimate friend to have by your side
The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter adoption procedures are designed to make sure that both the potential family and the animal adopted are in the very best situation possible. Due to the shelter’s approach to adoption, its return rate is five percent as compared to the national return rate of 50 percent.
The LB Animal Shelter is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd. For information on adoption procedures, call (949) 497-3552 or go to www.puplagunabeach.org/our-pets.php.
