Dana Point Ca Schools

A discussion of school dress codes and a proposed statewide initiative on cash vouchers for private schools will highlight tonight's joint meeting of the board of trustees of the Capistrano Unified School District and the Dana Point City Council. The meeting--the first ever of the two governmental bodies--is meant as "an opportunity for them to sit down at the table together and talk about items of mutual interest," said Jacqueline Price, a school district spokeswoman.

Richard Henry Dana Elementary School and the Dana Point Historical Society will benefit from special funds earmarked by Mayor Ingrid McGuire. The council last week unanimously approved McGuire's decision to give the organizations her share of a $15,000 fund set aside in the city budget to help area nonprofit groups and for events that benefit the community.

John Gunderson of Dana Hills High School has been named Teacher of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. Gunderson, a psychology teacher, is also an alumnus of Dana Hills, having graduated in 1986. Gunderson has organized a European study-excursion for the last four summers and will take students to England, Ireland and Scotland this summer.

Classrooms at an elementary school in the Capistrano Beach area of Dana Point were vandalized Friday night, the Sheriff's Department said Saturday. Fire and sheriff's investigators were called to Palisades Elementary School in the 26000 block of Via Sacramento after a resident reported a fire at the school, said Lt. Colin Murphy. "The suspects broke a large window in four separate portable classrooms, knocked over some computer equipment and sprayed fire extinguishers around," Murphy said.

Classrooms at an elementary school in the Capistrano Beach area of Dana Point were vandalized Friday night, the Sheriff's Department said Saturday. Fire and sheriff's investigators were called to Palisades Elementary School in the 26000 block of Via Sacramento after a resident reported a fire at the school, said Lt. Colin Murphy. "The suspects broke a large window in four separate portable classrooms, knocked over some computer equipment and sprayed fire extinguishers around," Murphy said.

The City Council is scheduled tonight to consider joining with Capistrano Unified School District to offer academic camps at R.H. Dana Elementary School. Under a conceptual plan, the district and city this summer would provide a science and technology camp, plus a reading camp for elementary school students. The camps would cost $250 to cover teachers' salaries, supplies and the city's administrative expenses. By law, school districts cannot charge for classroom education.

Richard Henry Dana Elementary School was recently awarded a two-year grant worth $289,000 to develop an advanced paleontology science program. Dubbed Project Splash, the program will start in September and use the restoration of an ancient baleen whale as the centerpiece for lessons in science, technology and language. The grant, from the Federal Title VII Bilingual Education Office, will support a paleontology director at the school, science equipment and tools.

Students sang and waved banners Monday to welcome Richard Henry Dana Elementary School's new mascot: a 10,000-pound fossilized baleen whale named Splash. Encased in soil and plaster, the whale bones arrived by truck and were placed at the school's new Paleontology Center near the athletic field, which overlooks the ocean. "It'll be a very good learning experience for all the students," fifth-grader Lauren Thomson said. "I feel pretty lucky that we were chosen to have Splash."

Each morning inside the glass-enclosed, air-sealed Biosphere 2 project north of Tucson, Ariz., Mark Van Thillo wakes at 6:30, checks the system's machines, eats some organic breakfast foods and works on the farm. On Thursday, he took the time to talk by video teleconference to Capistrano Unified School District students about life inside Biosphere 2. The project is an experiment of ecological self-sufficiency that includes its own rain forest, desert and ocean.

Richard Henry Dana Elementary School was recently awarded a two-year grant worth $289,000 to develop an advanced paleontology science program. Dubbed Project Splash, the program will start in September and use the restoration of an ancient baleen whale as the centerpiece for lessons in science, technology and language. The grant, from the Federal Title VII Bilingual Education Office, will support a paleontology director at the school, science equipment and tools.

Students sang and waved banners Monday to welcome Richard Henry Dana Elementary School's new mascot: a 10,000-pound fossilized baleen whale named Splash. Encased in soil and plaster, the whale bones arrived by truck and were placed at the school's new Paleontology Center near the athletic field, which overlooks the ocean. "It'll be a very good learning experience for all the students," fifth-grader Lauren Thomson said. "I feel pretty lucky that we were chosen to have Splash."

The City Council is scheduled tonight to consider joining with Capistrano Unified School District to offer academic camps at R.H. Dana Elementary School. Under a conceptual plan, the district and city this summer would provide a science and technology camp, plus a reading camp for elementary school students. The camps would cost $250 to cover teachers' salaries, supplies and the city's administrative expenses. By law, school districts cannot charge for classroom education.

The City Council has narrowly approved an agreement with the Capistrano Unified School District over the use of Dana Hills High School. The 3-2 vote last week came after three hours of council discussion and comment from residents in two camps: Nearby homeowners concerned about noise and traffic and parents who covet the youth sports facilities that will be developed by the city at the high school. Council members William L.

A pair of 18-year-old disc jockeys say they want to put on a prom for Dana Hills High School students that competes directly with the school-sponsored prom the same night. Senior David Bailey and alumnus Nick Green say that a school official has asked them not to hold the event, which is being promoted as being $20 cheaper and having more features. Tickets for the alternative prom are $60. "They feel we are jeopardizing their prom," Green said this week.