There are a few days and events that parents and students of the Claremont Unified School District will want to keep in mind in the coming weeks.

There will be no school on Monday, November 12 in observance of Veteran’s Day. As usual, the city of Claremont will host a Veteran’s Day Ceremony the previous day, on Sunday, November 11 at 11 a.m., at Memorial Park, located at 810 N. Indian Hill Blvd.

School will be closed just a week later for Thanksgiving break, with no classes held on Monday, November 19 through Friday, November 23.

Ambitious seniors may find that their Thanksgiving break is more of a cram session than a holiday, because Friday, November 30 represents the last day that college applications for UC and CSU schools can be submitted.

***

On Friday, November 16, the Claremont Educational Foundation will kick off its 2012-2013 enrichment campaign with a “Stars in Education” evening reception.

The gathering, hosted by Dr. Ivan and Beth Misner, will also serve as a welcome to CUSD Superintendent Jim Elsasser as he continues in his first year with the district. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served at the reception, held from 6 to 9 p.m. at 3752 Hollins Ave., Claremont. To RSVP or for information, call 399-1709 or email info@claremont educationalfoundation. org.

Funds raised by the CEF are used to support art and music programs for K-6 students in CUSD and to help fund technology for students at El Roble Intermediate School and Claremont High School. The nonprofit’s efforts are so effective that CEF President Ken Corhan was able to present a check for a whopping $210,000 to CUSD for the 2012-2013 school year at the October 18 meeting of the local board of education.

***

On Thursday, November 29, Claremont High School parents interested in learning more about the International Baccalaureate (IB) program are invited to attend a prospective parents meeting in the CHS library from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The IB Diploma Program is a 2-year course of study offering participating juniors and seniors advanced academics while emphasizing writing, interdisciplinary learning, teamwork, community engagement and a global perspective.

IB students—who are expected to present an extended essay reflecting independent research and analysis and to participate in 150 hours of Creative, Action and Service (CAS) endeavors—enjoy high acceptance rates at the schools of their choice and may be granted college-level credits for their work. Last year, the first crop of CHS IB graduates headed for schools such as Brown, Smith, Welesley, Harvey Mudd, UC Berkeley and beyond.

***

The next meeting of the CUSD Board of Education is set for Thursday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Richard S. Kirkendall Education Center, 170 W. San Jose Ave. in Claremont.

***

The forces behind 2 ongoing fundraising efforts recently took time to update the COURIER as to their progress.

The Theatre Renovation Committee has initiated a Save a Seat campaign, where community members can sponsor a theater chair to be installed in the Don F. Freuchte Theatre for Performing Arts, which is set to open this spring.

A $325 contribution covers the purchase of a cushioned, flip-up seat and its installation, plus an engraved plaque to be placed on the armrest in honor of its sponsor, whether it be an individual, a business or a cause.

Members of the Theatre Renovation Committee (TRC) are happy to report that 60 seats have already been purchased, which is 25 percent of their 266-seat goal. Enough contributions have been made in the name of late CUSD administrator Ronald L. Meyer, who served as vice principal for many years and was a lifelong CHS theatre booster, that there will be a seat in his honor.

The classes of 1961 and 1979 have already purchased seats in the names of their graduating cohort and the CHS Wolfpack Alumni Society is urging other classes to do the same. If a class is able to raise $200, the Alumni Society has offered to donate the additional $125 to underwrite a seat. To put this in perspective, only 8 alumni, donating $25 each, are needed to reach $200. Seven matching grants remain.

“The community response has been fantastic,” Bridget Healy, chair of the Theatre Renovation Committee, said.

For more information on how to Save a Seat, contact Bridget Healy at 624-3131.

Another worthy fundraising effort, the Save Mrs. Bobo campaign, is also making some headway. So far, a number of people have donated money to help offset medical expenses for Ruth Bobo, a much-beloved retired Claremont High School teacher whose health issues require 24-hour in-home care.

The effort, spearheaded by CHS class of 1992 alumni Arin Allen and involving a number of Mrs. Bobo’s friends and family, notably netted a check for $1000 last week. The campaign is aiming to raise a total of $75,000, an amount that will ameliorate Mrs. Bobo’s medical expenses to the point where she will be able to stay in her home for another 5 years.

For more information on how you can contribute to the Ruth M. Bobo fund or help spread word of the campaign, visit www.ruthmbobofund.com.

***

The Rotary Club of Claremont presented Teddie Warner, president of Claremont After-School Programs, Inc., with a check for $2000 for the organization. This follows a contribution of $1500 the club made to CLASP in October. Claremont Rotary is able to provide this level of support in part because of the dedication of Chuck Carpenter, a past president, who secured a $1500 matching grant from Rotary District 5300. The Rotary Club of Claremont is a supporter of CLASP, Best Bet, the Junior Fair Board, Rotary Youth Exchange, The Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Program, and many other local and international projects and activities.

—Sarah Torribio

storribio@claremont-courier