Briefly In Education

Fraisse announces retirement in July

Laguna Beach Unified School District Supt. Robert Fraisse will retire at the end of the 2010 school year, the district announced Thursday. Friasse joined the district in July 2007.

Fraisse will rejoin the faculty of California Lutheran University, according to a statement from Carol A. Bartell, dean and professor at the School of Education.

“I am extremely pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Fraisse will be re-joining our faculty in the fall of 2010, as a distinguished educator in residence,” Bartell said. “Bob is a highly regarded educational leader who has been serving as superintendent of the Laguna Beach Unified School District since July of 2007. He has also been superintendent of the Conejo Valley Unified School District and the Hueneme Elementary School District. He has received many honors and awards over the course of his career in public schools, including recognition by the Assn. of California School Administrators, the California Teachers’ Assn., and the California Media Assn. Prior to becoming a superintendent, he had a productive career as a teacher and administrator in the Las Virgenes School District. He has an active record of community service as well. Bob earned his B.S. degree at Cal State Los Angeles; his M.S. degree at California Lutheran University, and his Ph.D. at the University of Santa Barbara. Bob has been an adjunct faculty member at CLU since 1987.”

Festival scholarship applications open

The Festival of Arts 2009-10 scholarship program, open to all high school seniors who reside in Laguna Beach, is open now through March 5.

The four-year competitive scholarships are awarded to students who excel in film, performing arts such as dancing and theater, visual arts and writing.

For more than 50 years, the festival’s scholarship program has supported rising young artists by making it possible for students to pursue college studies in the arts.

“Students with talents in multiple fields are encouraged to submit an application in more than one category,” festival board Secretary and Scholarship Chairwoman Pat Kollenda said. “This is an excellent opportunity for students who are considering a career in the arts.”

Auditions and interviews will be scheduled in March and April. Scholarship awards begin at $1,000 and can be renewed for a total of four one-year scholarships. Students must return each summer to reapply for a continuation of scholarship status.

Last year, the festival awarded $30,000 to 17 graduating seniors for the 2009-10 academic year.

Many scholarship winners pursue successful careers in the arts, and some even return to the festival as exhibiting artists.

Applications are available at www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org or at the Festival of Arts office, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

Applicants may apply for any or all of the four categories, but will be awarded only one scholarship. For more information, call Michelle Reindl at (949) 464-4201.

Club to hold juried art exhibit

The works of more than 150 local young artists will be presented in a gallery-style juried art exhibition from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach.

The art will be displayed in sections by age groups of 9 and younger, 10- to 12-, 13- to 15-, and 16- to 18-year-olds. Mediums include monochromatic drawing, multicolored drawing, pastels, watercolor, acrylic, print making, mixed media, collage, sculpture and group projects.

One distinguished entry from each medium and age group will be selected to go on to participate in the Pacific Regional Juried Annual Art Exhibition from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, giving talented kids a chance to compete against 400 other clubs across the nation.

Laguna Beach artists Tom Swimm ( www.tomswimmfineart.com) and James Verbicky ( www.jamesverbicky.com) have volunteered to choose which of the artworks would go on to the regional and potentially the national competition.

Emily Murray, the club’s art director, said she is proud of all the young artists, the children’s enthusiasm and their parents’ support.

“This annual event shows the cumulative creative achievements of all of our clubs’ talented children, providing an opportunity for creative young minds to shine,” Murray said. “This art show provides an empowering chance for our wonderful kids to show off and be proud, knowing that their creative expression is important to us all.”

The artwork for the exhibit was created in the Fine Arts Club, a year-round class that meets once a week, where members explore a wide variety of art mediums and techniques.

The art classes are based on the process as opposed to the product, providing an opportunity to develop technique and creative exploration. The activities encourage creative interpretation, creative problem solving, and character development through personal expression.

The visual arts program is funded through generous grants from the Hearts of Montage, the Redfern Gallery, the Festival of Arts Foundation and Laguna Craft Guild. For more information, contact Murray at (949) 494-2535 ext. 108 or at [email protected]

Students asked to find solutions to the water crisis

The Orange County Department of Education, in collaboration with the California Landscape Contractors Assn., is holding a contest called Water Innovation Now, which invites students kindergartners through 12th-graders at Orange County schools to come up with possible solutions to the California water crisis.

Now in its second year, the contest challenges students to create digital presentations that demonstrate innovative solutions to the global water crisis.

WIN combines academics, creativity and technology to develop an ethic of water conservation for youth.

The CLCA is a group of landscape contractors in the Orange County area that champions outdoor water conservation across the state. The CLCA has recently given a $5,000 donation to the WIN program to help support and encourage students to think about the repercussions the global water crisis has on our future.

“This donation of $5,000 from CLCA of Orange County is a great example of the community partnering with education to make a difference for the environment and specifically the WIN project’s efforts at water conservation,” said William M. Habermehl, Orange County superintendent of schools. “We are pleased that CLCA has chosen to help promote WIN.”

Last year’s winners submitted digital presentations on solutions such as how watering grass three times a week, eliminating water runoff, using low-flow toilets and cutting shower times can save gallons of water.

Sponsors of this year’s WIN contest include the UC Irvine, Urban Water Research Center, Inside the Outdoors, and the Action Sports Environmental Coalition, along with support from business, education, and water agency representatives.

“The CLCA Orange County Chapter is proud to promote outdoor water conservation and are delighted to support a program that gets students seriously thinking about the water crisis,” said Bob Wade, director of legislation for the CLCA. “By educating the public on how to reduce water waste such as water runoff, we are in turn hoping to encourage students to demonstrate what great benefits come from conserving water in the outdoors.”

The Orange County chapter of the CLCA aims to serve, protect and promote professionalism; and advance public awareness of the landscape industry including water conservation and immigration reform.

For more information about the WIN contest, visit win.ocde.us or contact Denise Antrim, Orange County department of education science coordinator, at (714) 966- 4381 or [email protected].