Laguna Beach High School

Marina Drade understands the academic pressures of high school. The Laguna Beach High School senior remembers staying up late most nights during her sophomore year to finish work for Advanced Placement and honors courses, such as AP European History and honors English. Sleep? That was a luxury mostly reserved for weekends. "The pressure is high," said Marina. It doesn't surprise her that some students buckle under the six hours or more of course work and take an easier route: cheating.

The Laguna Beach Festival of Arts Foundation awarded Laguna Beach High School five grants for visual and performing arts education programs, according to a news release. Laguna Beach High School's art program received a $15,000 grant; its band boosters received $5,000; the dance department $2,500; performing arts program $5,000; and performing arts boosters $2,500. The grants are key to the high school's programs. "Visual and Performing Arts are essential in the development of a well-rounded student," Principal Joanne Culverhouse said in a statement.

With poignant memories of their school years and high hopes for the future, the Laguna Beach High School class of 2009 held its commencement ceremony June 18 at the Irvine Bowl. As he waited to take his seat, Luke Tinkess, 18, said graduation marked a big transition: ?I?m excited but nervous because it?s such a big step from what we?re used to.? Katy Bekken, who will attend Loyola Marymount University in the fall, expressed excitement about the new stage in her life. ?

Dozens of Laguna Beach High School students have revealed their inner characters to the Disneyland Resort. But Pluto, Minnie Mouse and Clarabelle Cow were far from the students' minds; rather, they collectively gave thousands of hours of their time to benefit nonprofit organizations in Disneyland's Show Your Character community service project program. Students Madison Zraick, Ana Lincoln, Aprile Dale, Siara Barber-Crespo and Amy Briano chose to partner with Shanti Orange County, a nonprofit social service agency that assists those in the county affected by HIV/AIDS.

Hats and books were the order of the day at the luncheon hosted by the Friends of the Library on Tuesday at Three Seventy Common. "Ladies Who Lunch….and Read" reviewed books they recommended to supporters of the library and competed for prizes for their hats. Angela Irish won first prize in the hat contest, for a hat she had designed and Lara Cerdes had created for the Laguna Beach High School production of "Hello, Dolly!" Lee Winocur Field placed second with a pink and white confection and Sharael Kolberg's "fascinator," those tiny hats popularized by the Duchess of Cambridge, took third place.

Doris Helen Thurston Boyd Doris Helen Thurston Boyd, a native Lagunan, died Aug. 20, surrounded by family. She was 89. Mrs. Thurston Boyd was the youngest of two daughters of Laguna pioneers Joseph Smith Thurston and Marie Harding Thurston. Joe Thurston came to his father's homestead in Aliso Canyon in 1871 and was noted as being one of the founding fathers of Laguna Beach. Marie Thurston was one of the first school teachers in Laguna Beach, teaching in a one-room school house and was later honored with having the junior high school named after her. In her early years, Mrs. Thurston Boyd was a participant in the opening celebration of South Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, which was attended by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford.

The Orange County Health Care Agency honored Laguna Beach firefighters and lifeguards Thursday for rescuing a man who collapsed while working out at Laguna Beach High School. The agency recognized lifeguards Scott Diederich and Casey Parlette and firefighters Thomas Padden, Scott Hammond, Patrick Cary, Chris Kent, Robert Abijay and Jeff White who rescued the man in December, Nicole Stanfield, the agency's public information officer, wrote in an email. Diederich and Parlette were with the man when he collapsed and immediately started CPR until firefighters arrived, according to the Laguna Beach city manager's report.

Junior Breakers boys' volleyball camp Junior Breakers Summer Volleyball Camp is a grass-root youth organization focused on teaching young athletes the basic fundamentals and strategies of volleyball using the techniques and philosophies taught at Laguna Beach High School. Participants will receive instruction from current Laguna Beach High School boys' volleyball head coach Scott Panaro, additional Laguna Beach High volleyball staff members and current players. No camp session will be held from July 22-25.

Social host ordinance: In the May 4 column "Hansen: Are we driving our teenagers to drink?", it should have said that Supt. Sherine Smith was the former principal at Capistrano Valley High, not Laguna Beach High School.

nutcrackerTickets still available for evening performances of Laguna Ballet's 20th anniversary production.Laguna Ballet's 20th annual production of "The Nutcracker" will be performed at 2 p.m and 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday in the Laguna Beach High School Artists Theatre. The 2 p.m. performances are sold out on both days. However, tickets for the 6 p.m. performances may be reserved by calling (949) 855-0331, to be picked up and paid for at the box theater box office. Laguna Beach High School is at 625 Park Ave. Seating is reserved.

The Patriots Day Parade was a gift to the city from Laguna Beach Daughters of the American Revolution, and the chapter continues to reward the youth of our city who demonstrate their love of country and service to the community. Throughout the years, the Patience Wright Chapter has funded scholarships for graduating Laguna Beach High School seniors who demonstrate good citizenship. Last year, the chapter recommenced honoring students in the fifth to eight grade as well. This month, two scholarships and 36 awards were announced at the second annual D.A.R.

USA Water Polo Women's Senior National Team Head Coach Adam Krikorian announced Wednesday the roster for the 2013 FINA World League Super Final. The 15 athletes include Annika Dries of Laguna Beach. Dries is among eight returners from the U.S. team that won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. The team will travel to Beijing, China to compete in the FINA World League Super Final which runs June 1-6. Team USA has won the gold medal at the previous four FINA World League Super Finals.

The Laguna Beach Festival of Arts Foundation awarded Laguna Beach High School five grants for visual and performing arts education programs, according to a news release. Laguna Beach High School's art program received a $15,000 grant; its band boosters received $5,000; the dance department $2,500; performing arts program $5,000; and performing arts boosters $2,500. The grants are key to the high school's programs. "Visual and Performing Arts are essential in the development of a well-rounded student," Principal Joanne Culverhouse said in a statement.

The Orange County Health Care Agency honored Laguna Beach firefighters and lifeguards Thursday for rescuing a man who collapsed while working out at Laguna Beach High School. The agency recognized lifeguards Scott Diederich and Casey Parlette and firefighters Thomas Padden, Scott Hammond, Patrick Cary, Chris Kent, Robert Abijay and Jeff White who rescued the man in December, Nicole Stanfield, the agency's public information officer, wrote in an email. Diederich and Parlette were with the man when he collapsed and immediately started CPR until firefighters arrived, according to the Laguna Beach city manager's report.

Thirteen Laguna Beach Unified School District employees were honored for their years of service at Tuesday's school board meeting. Three of the 13 employees celebrated 25 years with the district, while one employee was honored for 20 years. Five employees were recognized for 15 years of service, and four were honored for 10 years. "Our office staff, aides, grounds and maintenance, kitchen and library staff members work hard every day to ensure our students' well-being," Supt.

Junior Breakers boys' volleyball camp Junior Breakers Summer Volleyball Camp is a grass-root youth organization focused on teaching young athletes the basic fundamentals and strategies of volleyball using the techniques and philosophies taught at Laguna Beach High School. Participants will receive instruction from current Laguna Beach High School boys' volleyball head coach Scott Panaro, additional Laguna Beach High volleyball staff members and current players. No camp session will be held from July 22-25.

A Mandarin language instructor will stay on this summer and next school year, Laguna Beach Unified School District board members decided at its Tuesday night meeting. The board approved a contract for Jean Wu to teach Mandarin to Thurston Middle School students this summer and after school next year, and to Laguna Beach High School freshmen after school next year. The district will pay Wu, an independent contractor, $14,040 for the summer and next school year and the money will come out of the district's general fund, according to a district staff report.

Hats and books were the order of the day at the luncheon hosted by the Friends of the Library on Tuesday at Three Seventy Common. "Ladies Who Lunch….and Read" reviewed books they recommended to supporters of the library and competed for prizes for their hats. Angela Irish won first prize in the hat contest, for a hat she had designed and Lara Cerdes had created for the Laguna Beach High School production of "Hello, Dolly!" Lee Winocur Field placed second with a pink and white confection and Sharael Kolberg's "fascinator," those tiny hats popularized by the Duchess of Cambridge, took third place.

Laguna Beach High School's Park Avenue Players were among the 1,000 performers from several Orange and Los Angeles county schools that competed in the John Rait Awards for Youth, JRAY, according to news release. The awards are the annual high school Tony Awards-style program, which are sponsored by the Fullerton Civic Light Opera. JRAY judges, who attended the participating schools various shows, nominated performers in 11 categories. Six Park Avenue Players were nominated and seniors Karina Parker and Haley Castuera took home prizes.

Americans say "Bottoms up" when they hoist a few. The French toast is "A votre Sante. " When Italians raise a glass they say "Salute" or "Cin Cin," their version of a Brit's "Cheers. " In India it is "Tulleho," a combination the Raj "Talley Ho" and the colloquial Hindi word for drinking. My favorite: the Zulu "Ooogy Wawa. " The Rotary Club of Laguna Beach deserves every one of them for the successful Grapes for Grads fundraiser held on Sunday at Tivoli Too!, which showed off Laguna's community spirit to great advantage.