Balboa Elementary School

Alecia Foster NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- Steven Pinzon, a kindergartner at Balboa Elementary School, laughed as he watched a ladybug crawl up his arm. "Where ya going, silly buggy?" he questioned it. Steven and other kindergartners at the school giggled with excitement Friday as they released a tub of the tiny bugs into their school garden. The release was part of the school's Eco Fair sponsored by the PTA. Students spent the day learning about the environment, energy, composting and conservation.

Amber Willard Project FLOWER, an acronym for Facilitating Long-term Ownership While Encouraging Respect -- will bring together the city tonight at 11 neighborhood sites, where residents can learn from each other and plan improvement projects in the blocks around their homes, officials said. Possible projects include graffiti removal or cleaning unkept lots. The first part of the meeting, which will include the families' interviews and a welcome from Police Chief Russell Siverling, will be broadcast on Charter Cable Channel 6. Project FLOWER neighborhood meetings will be at following locations at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday: Balboa Elementary School, 1844 Bel Aire Drive Contact: Karen Schaefer 842-5723 Columbus Elementary School, 425 W. Milford St. Contact: Pat Kraetsch 552-2917 Edison Elementary School, 440 W. Lomita Ave. Contact: Lenor Solis 648-1051 Franklin Elementary School, 1610 Lake St. Contact: Lila Ramirez 246-9633 Glenoaks Elementary School, 2015 E. Glenoaks Blvd.

DISTRICT BUDGET FOR 2005-06 Since January, board members have been discussing strategies and policy issues related to preparing the district's 2005-06 budget. At Tuesday's meeting, board members talked about focusing on cost-cutting by not filling open administrative positions. WHAT IT MEANS Board members examined the administrative staffing ratios at the district's five high schools. The district's largest high school, Glendale High, employs about 17 administrators, at about $80,000 each, according to board member Chuck Sambar.

Robert Chacon First-grade students at Balboa Elementary School learned the ins and outs of dental hygiene Monday when Glendale Unified School District Vice President Greg Krikorian taught a program sponsored by Glendale Healthy Kids. Using a Betsy the Cow hand puppet, Krikorian demonstrated proper brushing technique and stressed the importance of brushing every day. The students took turns brushing Betsy's oversized teeth with a toothbrush, and watched a video about a giraffe that learns the importance of brushing.

Claudia Peschiutta VERDUGO MOUNTAINS -- Young artists, writers and thespians are finding their muses nestled in the hills of Brand Park during the winter break. Lucas Chang, a fifth-grader at Balboa Elementary School, hopes to become a painter some day. But, for now, he is using his creativity on art projects and writing assignments at one of two arts camps continuing at Brand Studios through Friday. "I like art," Chang said. "It was my talent when I was born."

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLs Balboa Elementary School Principal Linda Russo-Milano 1844 Bel Aire Drive Glendale, CA 91201 (818)241-1801 Year-round Cerritos Elementary School Principal Janice Hanada 120 E. Cerritos, Ave. Glendale, Ca 91205 (818)244-7207 Traditional Columbus Elementary School Principal Kelly King 425 W. Milford Ave. Glendale, CA 91203 (818)242-7722 Year-round Dunsmore Elementary School Principal Mary La Masa 4717 Dunsmore Ave. La Crescenta, CA 91214 (818)

Ajalat -- Aparicio Suzanne Ajalat of Glendale and Adam Aparicio of Glendale were married at St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian Cathedral. The Father Michel Najm, Father John Reimann and Father Christopher Salamy officiated. The matron of honor was Christiana Ajalat Matarese. The bridesmaids were Marlene Alexander, Nicole Ajalat, Debbie Aparicio, Marie Saba, Joy Saba, Kathy Saba and Michelle Salamy. Eric Aparicio was the best man. Ushers were Deo Michael Singh, Gabriel Flores, Vincent Ongjoco, Verlyn Ongjoco, Michael Ajalat, Richard Ajalat and Christopher Matarese.

Darleene Barrientos It's not every day children get to celebrate a 75th birthday. "There's nothing I know that's 75, except the school," 8-year-old Avo Hannesyan said. Balboa Elementary School students, staff members and Glendale Unified School District board President Greg Krikorian celebrated the school's birthday with a 75-balloon release, a rendition of "Happy Birthday" and cupcakes for each child. The school's PTA and its foundation, Balboa Booster Club, sponsored the event.

Darleene Barrientos Glendale Unified School District's schools did so well on the recently released Academic Performance Indexes that even the area's schools serving a high proportion of students from low-income families far exceeded federal targets. Educators chalked it up to parents who are actively involved and efforts to make students accountable for their work. One of the best examples was Balboa Elementary School, which saw its API score hit 803, up 37 points from last year.

The students in Carol Tensen’s sixth-grade class still eat chicken. That’s despite gutting a bird and putting up with its decomposing smell the past six weeks, all in the name of ancient Egypt. “We learned what happened when pharaohs got mummified,” Balboa Elementary School student Teni Amadian said. “We thought the chicken could be our pharaoh.” Enter King Kluckhamen, whose rancid stench took 30 minutes to leave the room, at least initially, according to student Connor McGarrah.