LBHS student seeks clothing donations to support Kausakusun women’s shelter in Cusco, Peru

Laguna Beach High School (LBHS) sophomore Katelyn Kolberg was touched by volunteering at the Kausakusun women’s shelter in Cusco, Peru last summer and has organized a fundraiser to support the women and children at the shelter.

The shelter helps women who have suffered domestic violence, offering them a refuge to escape the violence and a safe place to re-group and plan for a better life. Most of the women who seek shelter and form part of the program have children. 

Volunteers spend their time caring for the women and children, offering them companionship, skill learning, education, and attention. The women have made the first step by leaving the abusive situation, however, they now need support to make a better life for themselves. 

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Katelyn Kolberg with children at Kausakusun women’s shelter

Katelyn is seeking gently used clothing that will be sold at a pop-up event in May to raise money to pay for a sewing teacher at the shelter. Any clothing that is not sold will be donated to Laura’s House, a women’s shelter in Orange County.

While volunteering at the shelter, Katelyn was able to get the director to agree to open an abandoned sewing room. Katelyn used her proficient Spanish and sewing skills to teach the women how to sew bags that could be sold for profit. The women at the shelter are fleeing abusive relationships and need the skills to become financially independent. 

“I was so touched by the Peruvian children and want to help their mothers continue to sew,” said Katelyn. “Through teaching them how to sew, they can support their families. Your used clothing donations will help change lives.”

Drop off your clothing at Sourced at 950 Glenneyre St. The deadline for drop off is April 5.

LBUSD holds events to prevent students from substance abuse

By Carly Rohrer, LBHS students

In partnership with Brush & Palette newspaper

As the rates of teenage drug and alcohol usage skyrocket, each of LBUSD’s schools executes its own way to deal with the severe problem. The elementary schools, middle school, and high school have all put on unique events in an attempt to convince students to remain sober. 

At Top of the World Elementary School, music teacher Beth Sand teaches her students the song, “I Won’t Smoke – No Siree.” Mrs. Sand has taught many generations the catchy song. The purpose of teaching all of those students the song is to try to embed that smoking is bad in the flourishing minds of the students. 

On February 8, the Top of the World honors choir took a quick trip to the high school at lunch. They stood in the quad and belted out the song to all of the high school students. Eventually, some high schoolers were brave enough to join the children on stage and sing the song they once used to know. The whole goal of this activity was to remind the high schoolers of the pledge they made so many years ago. It was also to show the elementary students that there are cool high school students who don’t smoke. 

“The intention is really that our high school kids will remember that when they were in elementary school, most kids do pledge and plan not to ever smoke. Studies have shown that peer-to-peer teaching is 300 percent more effective than adults delivering the message, so having the elementary and high school kids making this pledge together will hopefully have a strong, positive impact,” said teacher Mindy Hawkins. 

Along with having a visit from the elementary students, the high school encouraged students to sign a big poster and pledge to remain nicotine free. By signing the pledge, they received a shirt with creative anti-smoking slogans such as, “I don’t dig your cig.” All of these events at the high school aim to deter students from drugs and alcohol. 

At the middle school, Student Resource Officer Corporal Cornelius “Corn” Ashton and Assistant Principal Lisa Brackez gave a lecture on the reasons not to get into drugs and alcohol. They gave their 45-minute presentation to all grade levels during the students’ physical education class. The main focus of the presentation was about how vaping can cause harmful long-term effects to the body. Ashton and Brackez also touched on the topic of bullying and choosing the right friends early on. 

“It was an important presentation because drugs and alcohol, specifically vaping, is an epidemic within teens, and most are not educated with the effects on the body,” said 7th-grader Hayden Rohrer, who attended the presentation. 

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On February 6, the High on Life Club and ASB coordinated a pledge-signing in which students declared their intention to remain nicotine-free. After signing the pledge, students received a shirt with a creative anti-smoking slogan on it. This event was one of the many attempts to keep students out of drugs and alcohol in our school district.

At the elementary schools, the staff works diligently to keep the children out of trouble. Instead of having the elementary school students get stuck in the dangers of drugs and alcohol, the school tries to make the kids focus on healthy activities such as the arts, music, and sports. For the 4th and 5th graders, a program called “Botvin’s Curriculum” is used to educate students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. The program teaches students about the devastating effects to the body that come with making the bad decisions. This program has been proven to reduce substance abuse by up to 80 percent. Along with Botvin’s Curriculum, school counselors provide additional presentations to the students to help ensure they remain sober. 

“We are constantly evaluating our curriculum to ensure students are taught all the necessary skills they need to make them successful in the future. Our teachers work with the counselor to supplement the instruction as needed,” said Top of the World Elementary School Principal Michael Conlon. 

Curriculum, when it comes to drugs and alcohol, is always changing. Elementary schools are constantly reevaluating what should, and should not, be taught to the innocent minds. But when is there too much or too little education? 

“I don’t believe there is a need for more education at the elementary level,” said El Morro Elementary School Principal Chris Duddy. “Elementary school has a wide range of developmental levels. Unless there is new research indicating that there is an effective program for the elementary level. I know that past programs such as ‘Just Say No’ were proven as ineffective.”

If presented with information that is not age appropriate, younger students could end up exploring their curiosities about drugs and alcohol early.

All in all, the school district is uniting to make sure that none of their students fall down the deep hole of substance abuse. The only way there will be a change is if teens wake up and actually learn from all of the amazing programs and events that the district supports.

“All the money in the world isn’t going to make a difference towards these programs if the kids don’t buy into it,” said Hawkins.

Stu News Laguna is proud to feature LBHS students’ writing in partnership with the high school’s journalism class and the Brush & Palette student newspaper.

LBUSD Board of Education approves Course of Study for LBHS

At the March 26 LBUSD Board of Education meeting, the Board took action to approve the 2019-2020 Course of Study for Laguna Beach High School. The California Education Code requires the Governing Board of each school district to approve annually the curriculum for secondary schools under its jurisdiction.

The Course of Study contains a listing of course titles along with identification of new, University of California (UC) approved, and weighted courses. The LBUSD’s Curriculum Council reviews and makes recommendations regarding any new secondary level courses. The Curriculum Council process provides for teacher involvement along with parents and other members of the community through department groups and School Site Councils.

Pending enrollment and staffing, the approved course of study includes four new courses: Authentic Exploratory Research, Application Development, Creative Writing, and Yoga Core Fitness.

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Photo by Mary Hurlbut

The 2019-2020 Course of Study for LBHS was approved at the March 26 Board meeting

Also at the meeting, staff presented several textbooks to the Board for approval for implementation commencing with the 2019-2020 school year. In accordance with District Board Policy 6161.1, the textbooks were on display for public inspection in the Laguna Beach Unified School District Office from Tuesday, March 12 through Tuesday, March 26.

At the meeting, the Board took action to approve “Studies Weekly” (K-5), “National Geographic” (6-8), and “Teacher’s Curriculum Institute” (9-12) for History/Social Science; “Applied Calculus: For the Managerial, Life, and Social Sciences” from Cengage for Calculus; and, CodeHS Online Curriculum for the Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science “A” course at LBHS. 

Since November 2016, the School Board has met annually to review agreed-upon governance norms and protocols. The Board asked staff to provide several options for a facilitated workshop focused on three identified components vital to effective school governance: (1) The attributes of an effective individual trustee, (2) the attributes of an effective governing board, and (3) the specific jobs the board performs in its governance role. At the March 26 meeting, the Board gave direction to staff to arrange a contract with The Aspen Group for a one-day workshop. The Aspen Group designed “Coherence Governance,” which establishes standards for districts and helps identify and define values for outcomes for operational standards. 

Laguna Beach High School was among seventeen Orange County schools recognized for efforts to engage students in civic learning. The school received a Civic Learning Award of Merit from the California Courts system. 

On May 1, at 6 p.m., Dr. Denise Pope, Senior Lecturer at Stanford University, will be in the LBHS Artists Theatre for a presentation focused on strategies for reducing academic stress, living a well-balanced life, and finding individual paths to success. Light refreshments will be served. Students in grades 8 to 12 may attend with a parent or guardian. 

RSVP at www.lbusd.org/lbusdpresentsto ensure an accurate headcount for food and seating. 

El Morro 5th Graders participate in annual State Fair

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El Morro 5th graders sing “God Bless the U.S.A.” and “Fifty Nifty United States,” among other songs, to kick off State Fair festivities

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Cody Peasley (left) and Logan Barreth, who chose Oregon as his state

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So many places to visit! The culmination of many weeks of hard work…

Middle School boys’ project pays it forward

By BARBARA DIAMOND

Two Thurston Middle School eighth grade students have taken it upon themselves to collect sweaters and jackets for the homeless.

The City Council learned about the project at the March 19 meeting when the boys asked the council to step in and allow them to place collection boxes at various city properties. 

“Our Pay it Forward Project is called ‘Warm for the Winter,’“ said student Cole Curtis, who has partnered with Ashton Azadian to make life a little easier for the less fortunate residents of Laguna. 

“This winter has been very rainy and made it clear that this was something that was needed. The response has been great, but we have met challenges in getting the word out to the community. 

“We have collected many coats and have already made one delivery to the homeless shelter.

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Cole Curtis and Ashton Azadian “Pay it Forward”

“The Police Department, the Fire Department and the Community Center all stated that they wanted to help but could not unless the council approved it.”

The boys asked the council to intervene.

Mayor Bob Whalen asked City Manager Pietig how the students could place their collection boxes in certain City buildings. City Manager John Pietig said the City’s typical policy does not allow solicitations on government property because the City would need to allow all solicitations in order to be fair. Pietig said that on an occasional basis it would be possible, if the City Council would like to make an exception, for the local students to place their collection box or flyers in certain City facilities. However, he said he would look into the matter.

Councilmember Toni Iseman said there might be room at the Woman’s Club or on the [covered walkway] at Gelson’s Market for the Thurston students to place their collection box. 

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Ashton Azadian with collection box

Azadian said that he and Curtis want to partner with their city to pay forward and show kindness to those who need it. 

“People have asked how we came up with our idea,” said Azadian. “It was actually pretty easy because we just looked around us this winter and saw the homeless caught in the cold and the rain.” 

Azadian said their project has inspired others at their school to ‘Pay it Forward.’

“I can’t begin to count the number of friends at my school who have told us how much our video inspired them to get involved and do their part for our community,” said Azadian.

Azadian thanked his father and Curtis’ father for their help in making their project possible. 

“I also want to thank my great friend, Cole, for being a true community leader and a great partner in this project, ‘Warm for the Winter.’”