Latest Features

Mathnasium – The Math Learning Center

The goal at Mathnasium is to help math make sense! Whether your child is far behind or is already succeeding in math, Mathnasium offers the tools that enable a student to leap ahead. Mathnasium knows that every child can be successful in math; it’s a matter of teaching it in a way that makes sense to them.

The first Mathnasium Learning Center opened in 2002, more than 40 years after math educator Larry Martinek was inspired to find a better way to teach children math. Larry developed the Mathnasium Method™ and a new business was born. Martinek’s desire was to provide children all over the world with increased confidence, critical thinking skills, and the mathematical ability to last a lifetime.  Students of all ages found the curriculum to be incredibly powerful and engaging. As evidence of how effective it is, Mathnasium centers have sprung up across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Mathnasium’s experienced math tutors utilize proprietary teaching materials and techniques, The Mathnasium Method^™, to deliver a customized learning plan designed to address each student’s needs. The instructional approach goes beyond traditional math tutoring to develop understanding and to build a love for math.

If math is a problem, Mathnasium can solve it. Students will grow more excited and confident about math—and their grades will reflect that. Mathnasium owner, Kapil Mathur, oversees three centers in San Clemente, Dana Point, and Laguna Niguel. He and his team have been serving elementary, middle and high school students in South Orange County since 2006.

For students who already excel in math, the sky’s the limit. They will expand their math skills and, with math learning made exciting, students will discover what doors excelling at math can open.

Students engage one-to-one with Mathnasium-certified instructors in a unique combination of mental, verbal, visual, tactile, and written exercises. This instruction does more than just meet state math standards; it surpasses the recommendations of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Common Core State Standards.

Basic math concepts and skills are blended with a program specifically designed to help students build number sense. This special program shows them how and why the useful number rules they’re learning work so they are able to understand how they can be applied to interesting areas such as computer science, biology, and psychology.

Students are evaluated with a written and verbal assessment unique to Mathnasium. Based on the results, Mathnasium develops a custom-tailored program designed to close any educational gaps they may have so they can jump ahead when they’re ready for advanced math challenges.

Mathnasium builds upon your child’s existing foundation and explains why mathematical rules work so that children learn and understand them. Mathnasium’s philosophy is that math shouldn’t simply be an exercise in memorization.

Mathnasium also helps students understand their homework as part of each session and prepares them for school tests, as well as standardized tests such as the California High School Exit Exam, SAT, ACT and ISEE.

By giving students a firm foundation—and confidence—in math, Mathnasium can prevent them from falling behind in the future and can help them avoid the problems and frustrations that struggling in math often creates. 

Contact your local center today to schedule a free trial session where you and your child can experience all that Mathnasium has to offer.

pure. love. yoga.

One year ago, the founders of pure. love. yoga. opened a studio in San Clemente unique in its values and commitment. Fearlessly challenging the conventional methods in which yoga studios were conducting business, their hybrid model was a conscious balance of a structured approach, united with the tenets of yogic philosophy and collaborative leadership. “Love is greater than fear” is the ideology that set the foundation for what has proven to be a successful business strategy, path for individual growth and professional evolution.

Pure. love. yoga. has created a meaningful culture that seeks to actively engage, motivate, inspire, and elevate its members. The emotional connection to the students and to the studio’s purpose is bound by the overriding philosophy of LOVE…love for the students, for the community, and for the teachers. The relationships that have been cultivated between team members and students have created authentic connections, fulfillment, and loyalty that has enriched lives and the bottom line.

The concept behind pure. love. yoga. was born from Studio Director Angela Treaster’s life-altering personal experience that fueled her to create a place and experience like no other. “Having spent years as a fully committed caregiver and devoted wife to my late husband, Ken Treaster, I experienced a significant loss of connection due to the demands of his terminal illness. Arising from the ashes of isolation and despair over losing the love of my life, I was desperate to feel connected to love and support in some way—to remedy what had been lost in my life. My asana yoga practice was no longer enough to sooth the loneliness. It was out of this dark place that my desire to create a community began to emerge,” shares Angela.

Angela had a vision for a space where people of all walks of life and experience could be embraced. This mission proved to be incredibly laborious and could only be shared among like-minded and talented leaders within the yoga community. With assistance from Laura Love, Marjorie Woodbridge, Elissa Strutton, Jamie Hanson, and others, the group recruited talented professional teachers, a diverse community of practitioners and acquired the financial backing to make their collective vision a reality. What Angela lost when her spouse passed became the catalyst for the sacred space where Ken Treaster’s legacy of loving leadership and genuine kindness to all beings is now being honored. “Pure. love. yoga. is the manifestation of a place of love and healing in all of our lives,” explains Angela.

“When Angela approached me with the offer to be her partner in the studio, we had the same goal — to create a sacred space where not only a physical practice happened but one where a ‘yoga family’ would grow,” says Creative Director Laura Love. “It is important to us to display love to our community and we show that in many ways: through open-attendance events, by offering a weekly SEVA (selfless service) class that supports local nonprofits, merchandising works by local artists, and employing eco-friendly practices. We do our very best to practice yoga ‘off the mat’ as well as on the mat,” enthuses Laura.

Media Director Marjorie Woodbridge emphasizes that pure. love. yoga. operates differently from other yoga studios. “We made the decision, from the beginning, to combine the best of what we had seen in how businesses and communities were run and how they interact. We chose to foster an environment of honest communication and responsive listening throughout the leadership team and staff. We have a strong emotional commitment to the students and the business. We are proud of our standard of respect for our teachers. One of the most direct ways we show this value is through support for their professional endeavors and an above-standard financial compensation.”

Visit pure. love. yoga. and experience the difference for yourself. Through January, the studio is sharing the love by offering new students unlimited yoga for 30 days for only $30. Join the community of devotees who practice yoga on and off the mat.

pure. love. yoga.
415 East Avenida Pico
San Clemente
(949) 492-5048
PureLoveYogaSC.com

ReelTime Sight & Sound

If you have a family full of hard-to-please people… you’re in luck! ReelTime Sight & Sound has your family-centric holiday fun and entertainment needs 100% covered.

San Juan Capistrano’s destination for all things home entertainment is more than just an electronics store. ReelTime Sight & Sounds’s design consultants customize solutions for each and every client—from conference rooms and whole-home automation to networking to security to speaker systems. The 17,000-square foot showroom of live equipment is packed with the very latest in audio, video, security and integration technologies that customers can touch, try out and compare.

ReelTime specializes in both innovation and exceptional customer service. Each installation, no matter how simple or elaborate, is assigned a project manager to oversee all elements of the transaction. Those elements might even include fabrication of custom-built cabinetry, multiple site visits and consultation with a client’s architect, interior designer or general contractor. The engineering team ensures the seamless integration of components into a fully functioning system—resulting in user-friendly technology that’s easy and fun to operate.

One of the most exciting aspects of living in this time of lightning-fast technological advancements is the way our lives can be simplified with a tiny device. With a world of music and video available at the click of a button, we can learn, grow, be entertained and experience other cultures from the comfort of the sofa. A perfect example of this life hack is the Sonos line of wireless HiFi products.

One Sonos Play “smart speaker” can take the form of your iPod, CD player, amplifier and computer. It provides access to music from all your devices as well as streaming services like iTunes, Rhapsody, Sirius, Pandora, Spotify and thousands of radio stations. The source and volume can be controlled through an app on your smart phone… the ultimate in simple, pure design. The proof is in the sound quality, however; one little Sonos speaker will fill an entire room with clear, rich, layered, “immersive” sound.

Sonos can also be used as an adjunct to existing components or to create customized, networked programming that starts with equipment you already own. For example, if you have an amp and speakers, you can add the Sonos Connect to create a HiFi system that plays music from literally every source in the world.

The Sonos home theater components combine to give the listener a full surround-sound experience for music, movies, video gaming and TV. This combination starts with the Playbar, a nine-speaker wireless “soundbar,” and adds two Play speakers for stereo effect and one Sub wireless subwoofer. The Playbar also works as an independent player for wireless music streaming. The only electrical requirement for all this is a single wall outlet!

Custom networking options from Sonos are endless. You can add to your existing system or start from scratch here, too. With speakers in multiple rooms or zones, you can choose multiple music selections throughout the house. Rooms can be grouped together to play music from the same source, or each zone can be controlled separately. You might have a podcast streaming through your home office while classical music plays in the kitchen and Nickelodeon entertains the kids in the backyard.

ReelTime’s General Manager, Jon Colburn, describes the Sonos line as “super sleek and easy to use.” “The level of quality and amount of content we can get from this $199 speaker is just amazing,” says Jon, “Sonos is definitely the best all-around wireless system for the investment.”

If you’re considering a staycation for the holidays or your gearing up for the Super Bowl, ask one of ReelTime’s design consultants about the expansive variety of options for your home entertainment needs. Stop by the store for a look at the latest technologies and to ring in the season with new sights and sounds.

U.S. Reclaimed

After 20 years as a local contractor and craftsman, Ben Bonin saw a need in the marketplace for unique building materials and custom, one-of-a-kind creations that contractors, architects, builders, designers and homeowners were demanding. His woodworking expertise and experience with vintage lumber helped him fill the niche for designs that are anything but cookie-cutter.

Ben, and his wife Bethany, opened U.S. Reclaimed Vintage Lumber & Wood Works in Laguna Niguel just over a year ago to an enthusiastic response. Their set up is part showroom, part lumber store, and part workshop. The racks of reclaimed wood from all over the country are a history lesson waiting to happen. Pulled from structurally unsound buildings like barns, grain mills, factories and homes, each piece has both a time-worn story behind it and a yet-to-be-told story ahead.

Ben’s raw materials are salvaged and repurposed into fresh, new designs such as—doors, mantels, furniture, flooring, ceiling beams, paneling and more. “Getting my hands dirty and building things from scratch is my passion,” says Ben, “I can build anything a customer can imagine.” That seems like a tall order, but clicking through his portfolio seems to prove his point. His work is on display in kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms, dining rooms and home facades all over Orange County, as well as in a variety of commercial applications, including The Cellar in San Clemente. “We don’t really have a ‘typical’ customer. We get a wide variety of people coming through, including contractors, architects, builders, store owners, designers, and DIY homeowners who just want something different.”

“All of our products can be custom milled to a client’s specifications. Each piece is 100% unique, with its own patina, character and charm. It seems the possibilities are endless,” says Ben. He’s been making lots of custom bathroom vanities and sliding barn-style doors lately, and, of course, customers continue to come from near and far for the distinctive flooring options. Ben estimates his reclaimed materials range from pre-1900 to 1930’s old-growth, mixed American soft and hardwoods.

Born and raised in San Juan Capistrano, Ben is a true local. He and Bethany are raising their three kids, aged kindergarten through junior high, to appreciate the gifts the community has to offer. It’s important to them to keep their business “mom and pop” and client-focused. “I’d love to eventually expand my product line and possibly work toward becoming a customer’s one-stop shop for woodworking. Right now, though, I’m happy doing custom projects and enjoying the creativity and challenge this opportunity has brought me. Seeing the special character of 200-year-old wood come to life as beautiful flooring or a family dining table is the best reward.”

The tagline for the operation is “reclaiming the U.S. piece-by-piece,” and customers find inspiration in strolling the aisles and seeing the incredible variety of color, wood species and tactile features. Lisa Martin, a frequent U.S. Reclaimed client, has customized her home with Ben’s help. “Ben and his team are professional, creative and extremely patient,” explains Lisa. “He values my business and takes pride and ownership in his work. I love being able to hand pick each piece for my projects. My flooring and kitchen island are beautiful, timeless and indestructible! Now I’m working on a fireplace mantel, shelving and a huge custom chalkboard. I find the products and shopping experience addictive.”

When they’re not traveling the country collecting aged lumber, antique hardware and other treasures, Ben and Bethany are helping clients realize their visions. Come by the shop, located off the 5 Freeway at Avery Parkway, or check out the super cool website to find photos of finished projects, raw materials and “before and afters” to catch a glimpse of the old buildings before and during deconstruction.

Take a behind the scenes look at The Local Dish Magazine’s November Cover Photo Shoot!

Dana Point Oktoberfest – 2015
Saturday, October 10th

October brings an encore presentation of Orange County’s highly anticipated Oktoberfest. Grab your family and hang-worthy friends and make the short jaunt to Sea Terrace Park in Dana Point!

In previous years, South Orange County has been devoid of a local Oktoberfest celebration that it could call its own. Given the success of last year’s inaugural Dana Point Oktoberfest, things have changed. The excitement surrounding this year’s event is beyond anyone’s expectations. Enthusiastic participants from last year and eager first-timers have made promises to come early and stay late.

How can one resist the smell of freshly baked, doughy pretzels, or of plump, handcrafted artisan sausages being slowly roasted over an open flame? The sounds of cheering and laughter while dancers merrily tap their heels makes you want to swiftly grab the closest stein of Oktoberfest beer and join in the festivities. Get in touch with your inner Bavarian for the day! The celebration starts on Saturday, October 10th at 12 p.m. and continues through the evening until 7 p.m.

Oktoberfest organizer EventWerks has high hopes of making this free event a staple in the local community for years to come. EventWerks has been responsible for presenting several fun-filled events in the area, including the Dana Point Food, Wine & Music Festival, the California Celtic Classic, the Orange County Seafood Festival and the Taste of Doheny. EventWerks has also collaborated with the City of Dana Point to enhance elements of the Dana Point Summer Concert Series and the Dana Point State BBQ Championships. The EventWerks team is no stranger to understanding the desire to enjoy an incredible local venue mixed with outdoor activities, entertainment and the correct dosage of great food and drinks.

Event fare will include bratwursts, German pretzels, German potato salad, sauerkraut and many more Bavarian-style items. German beer (including five types of Spaten, the granddaddy of Oktoberfest beers), European and other craft brews will be pouring generously throughout this festive day. Themed games, a spectacular outdoor venue and cheery décor make the perfect combination for a fantastic local outing.

Free parking can be found along Niguel Road and Stonehill Drive. From there, it’s a short walk to the event through the Stonehill Drive Gate Entrance.

For more information regarding the Dana Point Oktoberfest, its flavors, parking, shuttle service, trolley schedule and more, visit DanaPointOktoberfest.com.

MemorialCare Medical Group

MemorialCare Medical Group’s San Juan Capistrano office was recently relocated to the beautiful new San Juan Health Center at 31001 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 200 near Marbella Plaza. The brand new 25,000 square-foot office offers internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics and serves as a “one-stop-shop” for the families in San Juan Capistrano and its surrounding communities. Lab, digital imaging services, and a Coumadin Clinic are available onsite.

“With San Juan Capistrano’s and the area’s continued growth, it was imperative for us to relocate to a new state-of-the-art facility that meets the health care needs of the community,” says George Karapetian, MD, medical director of MemorialCare Medical Group-San Juan Capistrano. “With our dedicated team of medical professionals and onsite lab and imaging services, we can efficiently and effectively deliver high quality health care to local residents.”

Fall is when many companies hold open enrollment and Medicare Annual Election Period starts October 15 and runs through December 7. This is the optimal time to choose your doctor and to consider a health plan that includes MemorialCare Medical Group.

Choose Well, Choose MemorialCare Medical Group
Choosing the right doctor is one of the most important healthcare decisions you will make. The quality of health care you receive can depend largely on the doctor you choose. So how do you go about choosing the right doctor for you? Take into account the following to make the most informed decision for you and your family:

“They All Say They’re Good Doctors, So How Do I Know Who Is The Best For Me?”
As with anything new, you should research and ask questions about the doctor you’re considering. Recommendations from family and friends are a good place to start. For objective fact-based information, look to unbiased sources.

Independent, third-party organizations such as Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) and the Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA) of California, among others, routinely survey patients, publishing service and quality of care ratings on physicians and physician groups. Visit their websites to investigate the scores and grades given to the physicians.

The MemorialCare Medical Group Difference
MemorialCare Medical Group doctors take time with you and listen to you while offering all of the services and conveniences you should expect from your provider. Most HMO and PPO insurance plans are accepted. To schedule an appointment, call (949) 661-9600.

MemorialCare Medical Group, an affiliate of MemorialCare Health System, is comprised of nearly 220 physicians specializing in internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, select specialists, surgeons and urgent care. Caring for patients of all ages, MemorialCare Medical Group has 30 locations in Orange County and the Greater Long Beach area. Year after year, MemorialCare Medical Group has been honored as one of the Top Performing Medical Groups in California by Integrated Healthcare Association (IHA) and has been designated as “Elite” Status by the California Association of Physician Groups (CAPG).

For a physician referral,
call (866) 276-3627 or visit
MemorialCare.org/MedicalGroup

MemorialCare Medical Group
31001 Rancho Viejo Rd, Suite 200
San Juan Capistrano

LatestFeatures

Faith. Intellect. Character.

Founded in 2003 and coming into the 10th anniversary of its first graduating class, JSerra has established itself within South Orange County as an exceptional academic institution. Each year JSerra’s dedicated staff and faculty look for new ways to innovate the learning process, continually increasing its competitive edge in the classroom, out on the field, and after graduation.

Starting this fall, JSerra’s Artist-in-Residence program will officially join the already impressive collection of professional magnet programs, bringing the total to five: Medical, Business,Engineering, Law, and now Arts. Students can choose either the Visual or Performing Arts track and specialize in their respective area of interest, such as theater, dance, choir,instrumental, and more. The new status as a magnet will help grow the arts program even further, especially after such a successful 2014 -15 year full of awards and recognitions, including seven Gold Key Awards, two national 2015 Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards, top 10 vocalist for OC’s Artist of the Year, and 121 winning pieces in the Imagination Celebration and the Laguna Beach Art Festival (the most in the county).

This summer also saw the launch of a brand new middle school program called Lion Engage, a hands-on summer camp that allowed students entering grades 6-8 to dive into experiential learning. Participants had the option of choosing up to four different camps over the course of two weeks, such as medical and engineering, business, law, guitar, studio art, film/TV, vocal performance, theater, and more. The program was a huge success with over 120 campers from more than 30 different middle schools.

JSerra’s Athletic Department has earned its own reputation for excellence. The impressive on-campus facilities are among the best in the country and feature a 2,000-seat gym, an Olympic-class aquatics center, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, softball, and football fields, tennis courts, track, sand volleyball courts, and an expansive, multi-use fitness center. Student athletes can compete at the top of their game with access to first-rate equipment and the support of a dedicated coaching staff. Varsity football coach Jim Hartigan and girls swim coach Kevin Clements both earned titles as 2015 Coach of the Year. Varsity baseball was ranked number one in the state and number three in the country, and athletics as a whole made several CIF play off appearances, won Trinity League championships, and made school history in various sports.

The academic, athletic, and artistic achievements are something to applaud, and JSerra attributes its success to its core values. “All of our efforts are geared toward nurturing the character and cultivating the faith of our young women and men,” asserts Headmaster Rich Meyer. “Our ultimate success will be measured by the kinds of fathers, mothers, and citizens they become.” With an impressive 85% AP pass rate for 2015, rising SAT and ACT scores, and 80% of students playing a sport, it might be difficult to imagine your typical JSerra student having time for much else. However, the school offered two additional mission trips to Peru because of demand (approximately 85 students served abroad), the campus ministry office offered ten retreats which had the most participants in school history, and teachers and students came together to form discipleship groups and identity formation discussions in order to meet the growing demand for character-building in our society.

Needless to say, JSerra Catholic High School has much to celebrate this year. To top it off, the patron of the school, Junipero Serra – a Franciscan friar, supporter of education, and founder of California – will be canonized a saint by Pope Francis during his visit to the U.S. in September. As the school continues to provide the very best in Catholic high school education, it will be exciting to see where it goes next.

JSerra Catholic High School
26351 Junipero Serra Road, San Juan Capistrano
949.493.9307 • JSerra.org

Reata Glen – Expect more from retirement

The full-service retirement community approved last fall in San Juan Capistrano has relocated to a new site across from the City’s Reata Park. The new location provides sweeping views of the area’s protected ridgelines and more direct access to Ladera Ranch and San Clemente (once La Pata Avenue opens in 2016). Located just minutes from the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano, the project’s change in name from “Laguna Glen” to “Reata Glen” accompanies the move to Reata Road. The master-planned community’s layout and amenities, however, remain largely unchanged.

Similar to other award-winning Continuing Life® retirement communities (such as La Costa Glen Carlsbad), Reata Glen residents will enjoy more than simply a new home and attractive clubhouse. A broad range of recreation venues and convenient services are included—as well as access to a neighboring health center should residents’ needs change over time.

Plans for the new community incorporate a variety of housing options including spacious single story homes, townhouse-style plans referred to as “Garden Terraces,” as well as more traditional apartment-style homes. With nearly two dozen floor plans available, the community is designed to be attractive and accessible to a broad range of South Orange County’s seniors.

Regardless of which home new residents select, all come complete with housekeeping services, landscape and home maintenance and access to a wide array of amenities throughout the community. Several restaurant venues, a health spa, movie and performing arts theaters, an art studio, gardening center and more are provided within walking distance in an effort to make life’s best moments more convenient.

One of the unique aspects of the new community is the health care center being constructed next door. There, Reata Glen residents will have access to assisted living, memory support and a skilled nursing facility, if ever needed, without leaving the neighborhood, and without being exposed to the rising and otherwise unpredictable costs of long-term care.

Construction of the new community is expected to begin this year with a grand opening planned for the beginning of 2018. According to Troy Bourne, Project Manager at Reata Glen, hundreds of local seniors have already joined a pre-construction waitlist in anticipation of new homes being offered for reservation in the next few months. “After nearly ten years of planning, we’re excited to be able to bring this community to South Orange County. The initial response from local seniors has been unprecedented and we look forward to working with future residents to build a community we can all be really proud of.” To find out more about Reata Glen, visit ReataGlen.com.

San Clemente Christian School
By Shelley Hudson

Parents and students in South Orange County will soon have another option for private education—right in their own backyards! Capo Beach Christian School is expanding and moving to a brand new campus in the heart of San Clemente, filling the need for a rigorously academic and spiritually-grounded curriculum that spans TK through 12. The school will be renamed San Clemente Christian School and will remain a small, family-based private school dedicated to motivating and nurturing each and every child.

Founded in 2009 by parents, the school’s first enrollment was 41 students. In a few short years, that number has tripled; many grade levels are operating at maximum capacity and the demand for the type of programming offered is increasing. “Moving to San Clemente is such an exciting development,” says Principal Dr. Nicky Magnuson, “So many indicators confirm that this move is part of God’s plan. We received a generous donation in inventory from Southern California Edison, including essential equipment for a complete school. Since 70% of our families live in San Clemente, it’s an ideal scenario. We’ve had an unbelievable response—we have a waiting list for a few grades already!”

The 2015-2016 academic year will open the new campus. Each year a new grade level will be added, culminating with the first high school graduating class in 2018. As the only private school offering kindergarten through high school in the city, San Clemente Christian will become a fundamental part of the infrastructure for this rapidly-growing area. The school’s plan will roll out in three phases. Phase I will involve relocating all existing classes and programs from transitional kindergarten through 9th grade to the new facility; Phase II will be implemented as high school classes are added over the next three years; Phase III will include a full build-out of the playground and outfitting of outdoor athletic training grounds. “It’s a privilege and an honor to be a part of this organization every day,” enthuses Dr. Magnuson, “We have so much to offer this community.”

San Clemente Christian’s philosophy brings the “boutique school” concept to life. Offering only one small class of students for each grade level and a student-to-staff ratio of 1:3 ensures that each child’s needs are recognized. Dr. Magnuson explains, “We meet each student at his or her level; we don’t believe in ‘one size fits all,’ and we don’t let kids fall through the cracks. Our focus is to nurture our pupils spiritually and academically and imbue a strong sense of leadership within each child. One of my favorite comments from a parent was that every student gets to be a star here—that’s exactly the point!”

Magnuson summarizes San Clemente Christian’s academic approach as “full STEAM ahead—science, technology, engineering, arts and math.” The school promises a rich, balanced experience with weekly student-led chapel services, a surf team, field trips to Science Camp, Catalina Island and Washington, D.C. and mission trips for all middle and high schoolers. In addition, the whole student body is exposed to Greek, Latin and Spanish language classes, starting in kindergarten. Dr. Magnuson asserts, “We are part of an academic movement. We are committed to the Common Core initiative, from the ACSI standpoint of using Common Core as our floor not the ceiling. This provides building blocks for learning—it’s not just about test-taking and memorizing facts; it’s about meeting every student where they are.”

The leadership component is a key principle built into the curriculum at every level as well. The school provides project-based, age-appropriate opportunities for students to demonstrate organizational leadership, with many off-site options. “We’ve had a student-initiated recycling program, a sustainable garden, and so much more,” gushes Magnuson, “The creativity of the students is boundless.”

The future of San Clemente Christian School includes “smart boards” in every classroom, video editing and computer graphics capabilities, a university-level chemistry lab, an aquaponics cultivation program and a hands-on internship program for all seniors. “Our previous expansion was made possible through the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and many donations,” relates Magnuson, “We hope to repeat this collaboration on a larger scale and develop a close partnership with our new community.”

Learn more about San Clemente Christian School’s mission, staff, academic curriculum and programs at CapoBeachChristianSchool.org.

San Clemente Christian School
180 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente
949.496.3513
CapoBeachChristianSchool.org

Check out our May 2015 Cover Shoot of San Clemente Christian School!

Acting Academy for Kids
By Shelley Hudson

Stephen Zygo founded Acting Academy for Kids in 2008 with the aim to provide an opportunity for children to experience the performing arts firsthand and to gain exposure to a larger world through creative expression. Stephen’s lifelong love of performing and his background as an educator led him, along with his wife and co-founder, Maggie, to develop a program that has since reached thousands of local children. Acting Academy for Kids has become a bright light in the community and a resource for families who seek enrichment in the arts.

The Zygos have been rewarded with a growing legacy and have seen their vision come to life. Academy alumni now return to the theater on breaks from college to volunteer backstage, and lasting friendships that transcend school and extracurricular life have formed among students from all over Orange County.

The Acting Academy offers a complete performing arts program for children ages 4 to 17, with opportunities in acting, dancing, vocal training, guitar and piano classes or private lessons. Students can also enjoy hands-on experience in set design and construction, sound engineering, lighting design and directing. Four full-scale musicals are staged every academic year in the Musical Theater Series, along with week-long summer camps that each culminate with a performance. The most recent addition to the company repertoire is Academy Voice, a brand new professional recording studio where a sound engineer can help students create their own high-quality CDs and albums. No previous experience is required!

A key component of the program’s success is the professional staff of teachers, administrators and activity directors. “We bring in artists who are also trained educators,” Maggie explains, “They each have a unique perspective and can teach the concepts in ways that allow for students to learn in the most effective way.” Students develop bonds with the staff that translate into leadership skills and a sense of personal responsibility. “Our programs ignite a fire and awaken curiosity in a child,” says Stephen. “Our staff and amazing volunteers provide support and training, and the result for the student is confidence, poise, discipline and an ability to commit fully to a team dynamic. Many of our students refer to the Acting Academy as a second home, and that’s as important as anything else we could possibly do.”

Right now, the Academy is accepting enrollment for summer performing arts camps, which Maggie describes as “a one-week snapshot of the musical theatre experience.” Each week of the summer, students attend daily classes in acting, singing and dancing in preparation for a Friday afternoon performance on the main stage with full costumes and professional lighting and sound. Campers can sign up for one week, all ten, or anywhere in between, and the curriculum is geared toward kids of all levels of experience. The camps take place both at the Acting Academy’s home in San Juan Capistrano’s Camino Real Playhouse and at the Cabrillo Playhouse in San Clemente. Opportunities to help create set pieces and costumes as well as outdoor breaks and playtime are built into the daily schedule, and the focus is on fun! “We find that the majority of kids who test-drive our program at a summer camp want to stay with us for the academic year,” Stephen reflects. “It’s very rewarding for us to be a part of the memories created here.”

Future plans for the Acting Academy include securing a home for the programs for decades to come. Says Stephen, “We’ve formed a wonderful alliance with our theaters, and we’d like to see them continue to thrive. Community support and involvement is an essential element of that.”

For more information on Acting Academy for Kids’ summer camps, classes, school programs, lessons and participation in the Spring 2015 production of Into the Woods, visit ActingAcademyForKids.com.

Check out our behind the scenes look at our cover photo shoot of Acting Academy for Kids!