Category: events

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’s Dinner Dance “Sowing the Seeds”

SchoolPower’s 29th Annual Dinner Dance, held March 1st, 2014, netted over $225,000 for Laguna Beach schools. The event, which drew over 300 guests to Montage Laguna Beach, dedicated a portion of the evening to raising money for an initiative selected at the recommendation of district leaders. This year’s Fund-a-Need, “Xtremely iNteractive,” requested Apple iPads, Apple TVs and Google Chromebooks and advances a long-term goal to create high-tech, interactive classrooms. “Last year’s Fund-a-Need upgraded the district’s wireless network and allowed the increased use of classroom technology at all four schools,” said SchoolPower President Lynn Gregory. “We now have the infrastructure [...]

Xtremely Interactive Fund-A-Need

Laguna Beach schools are embracing the empowering possibilities of technology. With the support of $150,000 raised by SchoolPower’s 2013 Fund-a-Need, LBUSD installed a critical upgrade to its wireless infrastructure at all four schools. Our teachers have shown how iPads, Apple TVs and Chromebook laptops promote depth, efficiency and the cross-disciplinary learning essential to the Common Core. The benefits and potential to instruction are profound. The next step is to place more of these powerful devices in our classrooms. For the 2014 Fund-a-Need, LBUSD has requested: 144 iPads (4 Carts), Apple Care and iPad Covers - $ 99,572 144 Chromebooks [...]

Lumberyard Chef Challenge V

SchoolPower’s Lumberyard Chef Challenge V, a competition that pits Laguna’s principals against each other, packed the house on Monday night to raise money for the public schools. The rematch was a barnburner, with the team of elementary school principals Chris Duddy and Ron LaMotte triumphing over last year’s champions, LBHS Principal Joanne Culverhouse and Thurston Principal Jenny Salberg. Diners enjoyed two meals and then cast votes on their favorite appetizer, entrée and dessert, each selected by the dueling teams. The selection strategy will likely remain shrouded in secrecy. “What happens in the Lumberyard kitchen, stays in the Lumberyard kitchen,” [...]

Dodgeball IV

A Wildly Popular Community Event Check out and download photos courtesy of Blue Sky's Studio Draft dodgers, nerds, zombies and a brave Speedo-clad few stepped onto the courts of SchoolPower’s 4th Annual Dodgeball Tournament last Thursday ready to feel the sting of textured red rubber against skin. The point of dodgeball, the venerable gym class game, is to nail your competitor “anywhere but the face” and is a wildly popular community event and fundraiser for Laguna Beach’s education foundation. This year, approximately 400 students and adults comprising 54 teams in three divisions embraced the opportunity to take out a [...]

Lumberyard Chef Challenge IV

Laguna Beach’s four principals served up a fun-filled night of fantastic food and friendly competition at SchoolPower’s Lumberyard Chef Challenge IV February 4. The dueling-menu fundraiser netted over $10,500 as the team of LBHS Principal Joanne Culverhouse and Thurston Middle School Principal Jenny Salberg narrowly defeated the team of El Morro Principal Chris Duddy and Top of the World Principal Ron LaMotte. The sold-out event gave 150 school supporters the opportunity to indulge in and then cast votes for their favorite of two competing meals selected by the dueling principal teams and masterfully prepared by Lumberyard Chef Armando Ortega. [...]

3rd Annual Lumberyard Chef Challenge A Winning Recipe

Continuing the tradition of the Thurston principal winning the SchoolPower Chef Challenge, defending champion and new LBHS principal Joanne Culverhouse conceded the title to her Thurston successor Jenny Salberg. Round three of the eagerly anticipated social event also continued its winning tradition as more than $9,500 was raised for Laguna’s schools.In a good-humored nod to Culverhouse’s success in the previous two rounds against then LBHS principal Don Austin, Salberg wore an Underdog shirt beneath her chef whites. She also served up some food for thought with a list of “The Top 5 Reasons to Vote for Principal Salberg.”  With two [...]