get support for your family
Author: sarahdurand
4Cs Learning Environment Fund-a-Need
Innovative classrooms were the focus of SchoolPower’s Fund-a-Need program, giving a kick-start to a recent Laguna Beach district initiative to modernize schools. In Carrie Denton’s environmental sciences lab, which serves as Laguna Beach High School’s first test site, there is no front of the classroom. Denton’s lessons are fluid, creative and lively as two 80-inch monitors on opposite walls and wheeled desks allow students’ attention, bodies, study groups and class discussions to shift. “Collaboration of students is very easy,” Denton says. “I can move students if I need to during a lesson. This environment allows the students to be [...]
“Stroke of Genius” Breaks Records
Saturday, March 14, 2015 – Montage Laguna Beach Local education foundation SchoolPower, which broke records this year with its community campaign, continued its winning streak at Montage Laguna Beach at its 30th annual gala “Stroke of Genius.” The featured Fund-a-Need, which will advance a district initiative to transform classrooms, raised the most money in the history of SchoolPower’s Fund-a-Need campaigns. SchoolPower president Tom Motherway and LBUSD chief technology officer Mike Morrison introduced the Fund-a-Need video, a parody of “The Office,” from the innovative mobile desks requested by the district. In order to outfit 12 classrooms with large monitors, audio [...]
SchoolPower’s “Stroke of Genius” Breaks Records
Local education foundation SchoolPower, which broke records this year with its community campaign, continued its winning streak at Montage Laguna Beach at its 30th annual gala “Stroke of Genius.” The featured Fund-a-Need which will advance a district initiative to transform classrooms raised the most money in the history of SchoolPower’s Fund-a-Need campaigns. SchoolPower president Tom Motherway and LBUSD chief technology officer Mike Morrison introduced the Fund-a-Need video, a parody of “The Office,” from the innovative mobile desks requested by the district. In order to outfit 12 classrooms with large monitors, audio systems and innovative furniture that allow fluid configurations [...]
Lumberyard Chef Challenge VI
SchoolPower’s annual Chef Challenge VI was won by the elementary dudes – Michael Conlon and Chris Duddy. The event netted $10,025 and has grossed $65,887 over the past six years thanks to the generosity and hospitality of Lumberyard restaurant owners Cary and Suzanne Redfearn. Lumberyard raises money for local schools by shutting its doors to the public for an evening and hosting the unique dinner, which has proven to be a sell-out function with Laguna’s parents.
SchoolPower’s DodgeBall V Tournament
SchoolPower’s Dodgeball V Tournament brought the community together, filling the high school gyms with 66 teams, 512 players and a cacophony of referee whistles, ricocheting balls and roaring fans last Wednesday. El Morro teachers won the adult division and the coveted Golden Skull dodgeball trophy on center court. Champions of all divisions were also awarded $500 in prize money to allocate to any Laguna Beach School District department or program. The El Morro team is purchasing literature for the classrooms. “I’m so excited we finally won!” said third grade teacher Shannon Velotta, who said that the El Morro teachers [...]
Dodgeball V
SchoolPower’s Dodgeball V Tournament brought the community together, filling the high school gyms with 66 teams, 512 players and a cacophony of referee whistles, ricocheting balls and roaring fans last Wednesday. El Morro teachers won the adult division and the coveted Golden Skull dodgeball trophy on center court. Champions of all divisions were also awarded $500 in prize money to allocate to any Laguna Beach School District department or program. The El Morro team is purchasing literature for the classrooms. “I'm so excited we finally won!” said third grade teacher Shannon Velotta, who said that the El Morro teachers will [...]
SchoolPower has presented the 2014 Hall of Fame Award to Firebrand Media for its unwavering support of local public schools.
Firebrand, which creates nationwide publications, websites and marketing, produces local mainstays The Laguna Beach Independent newspaper and Laguna Beach Magazine from its Broadway Street headquarters. More than write about Laguna, Firebrand has supported the idea of community with more than $50,000 of in-kind sponsorship and revenue to the local education foundation. “SchoolPower has always been close to our hearts,” said Scott Sanchez, Firebrand’s chief technology officer and publisher. “The kids are the foundation of our town, and making sure that we support them feels like the right thing to do.” The groups’ collaboration began five years ago, when Firebrand [...]
Hexberg Family Foundation Scores Big For LBHS Athletics
Laguna Beach High School may be the smallest public high school in Orange County, but don’t tell that to its athletic program. Regularly competing against teams from much larger schools, LBHS teams have achieved great success against their larger neighbors. Dedicated athletes, parents and coaches, as well as a supportive community, are some of the factors that go into this success. Debbie and Greg Hexberg and their Hexberg Family Foundation, have gone above and beyond in their support of LBHS’ athletic excellence. First, they are committed parents of two LBHS student/athletes. Second, over the past three years, The Hexberg [...]
Teacher Grants Impact Students Now
“SchoolPower allows us to go beyond the walls of the classroom and explore,” said Thurston science teacher Linda Hill-Lindsay, who received a 2014 SchoolPower Endowment Teacher Grant. The annual Teacher Grant Program, designed so ideas can be quickly funded and put into action, encourages Laguna’s teachers, administrators and classified staff to submit proposals that will have a direct impact on students. SchoolPower Endowment earmarked $82,417 for 16 teacher grants to be utilized this school year. Three grants totalling $11,080 were funded by the Brighter Stars Fund. Wendy Offield, a former president of both SchoolPower and SchoolPower Endowment, stepped forward [...]
SchoolPower Business Appreciation Dinner – May 8, 2014
Local parents know the SchoolPower Student Directory is a post-Internet phonebook that remains relevant and indispensable. It is also a great source of added revenue to Laguna’s public schools, as the 2013-2014 edition raised over $76k. SchoolPower, Laguna’s non-profit education foundation, thanked Directory advertisers at The Bungalows at Pacific Edge Hotel on May 8. The event also honored members of the Business Alliance and the new Real Estate Honor Roll, two year-long sponsorship programs that are estimated to raise approximately $50,000 for the schools this year. The relationships also bring goodwill, as residents are encouraged to support the businesses [...]
