Category: academic enrichment

Having strong digital literacy skills is not an option - it's a must. In today's information age, whether in academics or the job market, students need to possess a broad range of abilities - from conducting deep research, to evaluating a source, to creating and communicating content responsibly. To support LBUSD in addressing this need, the 2018 Fund-a-Need Navigating the Information Age will invest in a district-wide Digital Library Specialist, as well as part-time teacher coaches. Using a proven model, this team will lead a K-12 effort to improve students’ digital literacy skills. The 2018 Fund-a-Need was held at [...]

It was a heroic evening at Montage Laguna Beach on March 19th as SchoolPower's 31st annual Dinner Dance "Calling All Superheroes" shattered records by netting over $350,000 for Laguna Beach schools. Superman and Wonder Woman impersonators greeted 325 guests on the Montage lawn at sunset. When "kryptonite" appeared, the superheroes saved the day by guiding guests into the ballroom for dinner, where they were welcomed by SchoolPower Executive Director Robin Rounaghi and President Amy Kramer. The highlight of the evening was the video for this year's Fund-a-Need, "The Reimagined Classroom (and Library!)", to support the district initiative of transforming [...]

The highlight of the evening was the video for this year's Fund-a-Need, "The Reimagined Classroom (and Library!)", to support the district initiative of transforming 11 classrooms at the high school and middle school, as well as the Thurston library. Created by teachers Andy Crisp and Jun Chen and introduced by LBUSD's Chief Technology Officer Mike Morrison, the fast-paced video had the crowd laughing out loud as they followed a twisting and far-fetched journey that ultimately led to the practical conclusion of investing in our schools' future. Completely energized by the video, the crowd gave a standing ovation to its creators [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

SchoolPower’s 29th Annual Dinner Dance, held March 1st, 2014, netted over $225,000 for Laguna Beach schools. [...]