San Pasqual High School Winter Concert

ESCONDIDO -- More than 150 students in the San Pasqual's High School Music department will perform a holiday concert program at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

Featuring the Concert Band, the Showtime and Razzmatazz choirs, the Dance Teams and Colorguard, the students will perform in the arts center concert hall.

The arts center is at 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido.

For more information, please contact the ticket office at (800) 98ticket.

Teacher honored by Kiwanis Club

ENCINITAS -- The Kiwanis Club of Greater Encinitas recently recognized Belia C. Ventzke as its "Teacher of the Month."

Ventzke comes from a long line of teachers including her mother, aunt, grandmother and cousins. She teaches first grade at Paul Ecke Central School. She moved to Encinitas from Arizona and has been teaching here for nine years.

The Kiwanis Club meets at 7:15 a.m. Wednesdays at Cocos on Encinitas Boulevard.

Bonsall foundation announces school grants

BONSALL -- The Bonsall Education Foundation has selected its first- and second-round grant recipients and awards for Bonsall Elementary School , Bonsall West Elementary School, Sullivan Middle School and Vivian Banks Charter School.

The following grants were funded: National Geographic Geography Bee Program, Performing Arts Purchase of Plays, Head Phones for Computers, Books for SMS Library, Elmo Visual Presenter, Professional Development for Computer-Using Educators-Registrations, Leveled Reader Library, Student Scholarships, Professional Development for Kindergarten Teachers, and Sports Equipment.

More then $6,500 in grants were funded this fall.

Two businesses donate checks to McAuliffe Elementary

OCEANSIDE -- Marko Mardonovich of TenTen Oceanside, formerly known as the old Pac Bell building, and Ray Schmidt of Greenroom Financial Inc. recently presented checks to McAuliffe Elementary school to cover the cost of scholastic newspapers for first-graders for the 2008-09 school year.

Shortly before summer break, Schmidt participated in the Principal for a Day Program through the Oceanside Unified School District. He said he was appalled after attending a budget meeting on behalf of Principal Mary Gleisberg.

Among the many budget woes and mandatory cuts, Gleisberg informed teachers the budget could no longer afford newspapers for their students.

Schmidt thought about this over the summer, then contacted Gleisberg for the dollar amount needed when the new school year started, determined to figure out a way to provide newspapers to McAuliffe students.

At one of TenTen's Professional Networking Mixers, Schmidt told of his experience as Principal for a Day. Mardonovich, the business development manager at TenTen, suggested they split the cost of the newspapers for McAuliffe first-graders.

The checks were written and presented a week later.

These two firms also intend to address the needs of at-risk youth and other charitable causes, including collecting needed items at upcoming mixers. Unwrapped toys will be collected for Oceanside children at the TenTen tree lighting Dec. 11 and disbursed through the Oceanside Fire Department and city employees fund.

Workshop teaches kids how to cook

CARLSBAD -- The Carlsbad Recreation Department will offer a cooking class for kids, "Holiday Treats for Preschoolers," at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, in the newly remodeled kitchen in the Harding Community Center, 3096 Harding St.

Children ages 3 to 5 and their parents, grandparents or caregivers, will prepare recipes that young chefs can give as gifts for the holidays. Instructor Julie Simpson holds a teaching credential in Home Economics from the University of San Diego and has over 20 years of experience in teaching children's cooking.

Cost is $40 for residents, $50 for nonresidents, plus an $18 material fee for the instructor.

Call (760) 602-7510, or visit www.CarlsbadConnect.org

CSUSM nursing program to receive accreditation

SAN MARCOS -- The School of Nursing at California State University San Marcos is being recommended for accreditation by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education, an autonomous accrediting agency that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs nationwide.

"The (commission) found us to be in compliance in all four areas of its criteria and will recommend that we should receive our initial five year accreditation," said Judy Papenhausen, director of the nursing school. "I am very proud of faculty, staff and students of this nursing program."

The commission serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices and holding nursing programs accountable to the community.

The group is expected to present the recommendation at its board meeting next spring.