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Arts & Entertainment

Mark Your School Calendars for All Kinds of Events

Schools throughout Laguna Niguel are offering a variety of events this month.

It’s March, and that means only a few months of school for the kiddies, but there’s still plenty going on. From the return of a popular exercise called Zumba to Science Week, here are some school events to jot down on your calendar.

Monday March 7

Science Week begins at . Your child will have the opportunity to participate in three High Noon challenges (during lunch recess):

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Tuesday: Eggstronaut Challenge

Wednesday: Moulton Airways

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Friday: Snail Races

Students may also participate in the daily Who’s Who in Science contest (upper grades) or the What’s What in Science contest (lower grades). There will be an all-school assembly on Thursday, March 11, called "Getting Excited About Science."  Elephant toothpaste will be on display, and each grade level will be participating in a hands-on science activity.  The week will conclude with Galileo showing up at the Friday flag assembly presenting concepts relating to physics.  The Ask the Expert Scientist panel will take place Friday afternoon for fourth- and fifth-grade students. 

PTA Meeting, March 3

Please join the Moulton PTA Association Meeting on Thursday, March 3, in the Moulton MPR at 10 a.m. All PTA members are welcome.  The PTA 2011-12 election of officers will take place, as well as important news regarding the talent show, Science Week, upcoming events and more.

Talent Show News at Moulton Elementary School

The rehearsal/performance schedule has been e-mailed to everyone in the show. It is also available to view online at moultonpta.org. Remember your performance number to check the schedule. Students names are not used online.

Pre-sales are open for the purchase for the talent show T-shirt, performance DVD, picture CD and program ad space.

Tickets go on sale Friday, March 4, for the Moulton PTA Talent Show. The tickets are $1 each, and there will be two different shows again this year.  The dates for the shows are March 30 and 31. When you purchase your show tickets, you can also pre-buy dinner for your family for the night of the show.  Every year, the PTA arranges for a vendor to come to the talent show and provide a hot meal before the show. This year the dinners will come from Waba Grill.  Each dinner plate will cost $8. All meals need to be pre-ordered. Order forms are available at the Moulton front office and online. Please submit your forms and your payment in the talent show box.

'Steps to Success: Parenting the Elementary School Child,' March 9-30

This class will help with the issues of homework, encouragement, anger management and positive discipline. Refer to Course No. 079097;  four meetings, cost $35, at Bathgate Elementary School on Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. Register online at cusd-ace.org  or call 949-493-0658.

District Open Enrollment

Parents can choose to apply to one of 38 Capistrano Unified School District campuses they would like their child to attend during the annual open enrollment period. Through March 11, applications will be available online and at local schools and the District Education Center, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. Completed applications must be turned in between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. either at the school to which the child is applying or at the Education Center in San Juan Capistrano.

At Aliso Niguel High School

A reminder that all AP test registration forms are due by 1 p.m., Monday, March 7. The cost is $92 per exam; more information can be found on the school website. Student athletes must ask their coaches if they will be competing on the day of their AP test; please see Mrs. Everett before paying if your coach indicates you will need an alternate exam. Students who miss the deadline must see Mrs. Everett for a late registration form and pay a fee of $30 per test. No orders will be taken after March 10, so register now.

Also, 10th-grade CAHSEE testing will take place Tuesday, March 8,  and Wednesday, March 9. More details will be posted as nearer the testing dates.

All sophomores are required to take the test.  There will be a minimum-day block schedule, with school starting at 8 a.m. and getting out at 12:20 p.m.  Freshmen, juniors and seniors will be released at 12:20, whereas sophomores will stay on campus for lunch and then start their testing at 1 p.m.  Students will test in English  (Tuesday) and mathematics (Wednesday).  The tests are untimed, and students will be dismissed once they have completed the test.  Students will be assigned a room to test based on alphabetical order.  Lists of room assignments for students will be posted outside of the guidance office by March 3.  Please have your child stop by and check which room he/she will be testing in. Passage of these tests is required for graduation.  If a student fails to pass one or both sections of the test, there will be other opportunities to test in both the junior and senior years. 

Hey, seniors: Need money for college? ANHS PTSA scholarship applications are due by Wednesday, March 9. The printable application can be found online at anhsptsa.org. Academic and vocational scholarships are available, and $6,500 will be awarded this year.

CUSD PTSA scholarships are also available at the unit and council levels; $3,000 is available in scholarship funds, and seniors are, of course, encouraged to apply. The application can be found on the PTSA website, and the deadline is March 31.

Niguel Hills Middle School

Monday, March 14, from 7 to  8 p.m., the NHMS PTSA is sponsoring another adult only, walk-in Zumba Fitness Night in the Blue Commons. 

Zumba Fitness fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind program that will blow you away.  Participants can burn in excess of 500 calories while dancing to Latin sounds including merengue, salsa, cumbia and reggaeton. Instructor Mia Alicea, owner and artistic director of Coast Dance Center, draws on her own roots to bring authenticity and Latin flavor to her routines. Designed for all fitness levels, Zumba Fitness is a great way to keep that New Year’s resolution to start 2011 healthy and fit!  A $10 donation is suggested, and all proceeds go to the PTSA and school improvements. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.  Please plan to arrive early.  All adults welcome—bring a friend or neighbor!

Niguel Hills Middle School is excited to offer the Discount Card sales again this year. For $10, you can receive discounts to many of your favorite restaurants, entertainment stops and other local establishments.  New to the card this year will be I Love Bagels, NY Upper Crust, Panda Express, Salon Connection and Jamba Juice.  A complete list of participating businesses will be available when the cards go on sale in the coming weeks. Remember that these discounts can be used again and again until the card expires in March  2012. 

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