Thurston Website header
IMPORTANT DATES

  • 2/4 (Tuesday) 8th Grade Field trip 6:30AM Museum of Tolerance
  • 2/7 Last day to donate coins for Pacific Marine Mammal Center (donation box is in the Thurston office and $130 raised so far.
  • 2/8 Kindness Challenge ends
  • 2/12 Wheel Day! Kindness Challenge School Wide Student Prize!
  • 2/14 Pajama Day! Kindness Challenge School Wide Student Prize!
  • 2/17 - 2/21 Mid Winter Break (no school)
Thurston PTA Kindness Challenge Update
(5 days left and we are are above our minimum goal! Thank you Thurston families!)
  • Goal: $33,000
  • Total Raised: $33,512
  • # of Donations: 597
Have your student check off their completed AOK (acts of kindness) on their Raise Craze webpage so we have an updated tally. Goal is 1,000 acts of kindness.
Thurston PTA's Kindness Challenge was in StuNews last Friday! Read the story HERE (4th story down on front page)
Thurston Students Spreading Kindness!


Alexa Briney, Chloe O’Kane, Kat Olson, and Ava Steris decided to “pay it forward” for the Thurston PTA Kindness Challenge by selling “Treats for Troops” and “Valentine’s for Veterans.”  

The girls have been accepting donations on the corner of West Street in South Laguna.  They have made $126.00 so far with a few more days of selling left.  

For each $2.00 made, the girls will make a Valentine gift box including a homemade decorated sugar cookie, Hershey kisses, and a handwritten note thanking our active military and veterans for their service.  Our freedom is so precious, and they want to make sure to show their gratitude.  They will be delivering the boxes next weekend.
Message from PTA President Celine Macmillan

Hello Thurston families. It has been an absolute pleasure serving as your Thurston PTA President for the last two years. Unfortunately, there is a 2 year term limit per school and I'm not allowed to be PTA President for a 3rd term. The Thurston Nominating Committee is seeking a Thurston PTA President for next school year.

Here are some pros:
  • You'll have a strong treasurer. Andrea Heins has stepped up to be the Thurston PTA Treasurer for a 2nd term. She is absolutely amazing! She also served 2 years as the El Morro PTA Treasurer.
  • You'll have a strong Vice President. Jimmy Azadian has stepped up to be the Vice President. He was the Thurston PTA President for a year before me. He's currently the High School PTA President.
  • Everyone who has stepped up to be on the Thurston PTA board are wonderful people. There is zero drama on the Thurston PTA Board. Everyone gets along and we are friends.
  • You'll be working closely with Principal Jenny Salberg. She is absolutely amazing and so supportive of our PTA.
  • I want you to succeed and I am here to support you. I have 2 big binders packed full of information. I have all of my files for you on a flash drive and I will train you. I genuinely care about PTA and everything we do for our kids. You can contact me anytime for questions.

If you're interested in being the next Thurston PTA President, please contact anyone on the Thurston PTA Nominating Committee:
Laura Jumani HERE
Lisa Barreth HERE
Melissa Vermilya HERE

The Thurston PTA Executive Board elections will be held at the March 25, 2020 PTA Meeting. However, we need to post the Nominating Committee Report 28 days prior to the elections. The Thurston PTA Nominating Committee just needs to find a PTA President. Please put your hat in! We need you!
Thurston PTA Kindness Challenge Act:
Coin Drive for Pacific Marine Mammal Center

Students can donate any coins/cash they have around the house to go to Pacific Marine Mammal Center. This can count as 1 act of kindness . All donations can be turned in at the Thurston office for PTA to collect.
Over $130 raised so far! Thurston students, bring in your coins/cash/checks to the Thurston office for PMMC.
Thank you Julie Coccas for volunteering for Ball Room!

Ball Room Sign Up

A parent volunteer is needed at lunch time each day to check out balls.

The job entails showing up at the specified time, going to the Ball Room, pulling out the sign-out sheet for the balls, monitoring that
kids sign the balls out.

After 45 minutes and the end of lunch, the kids will return the balls, the parent volunteer puts the sign-out sheet away and the job is completed.
Super Hike!

Super Hike volunteers make a commitment to be at school during a specific time to accompany the students on their P.E. hike. The hike is always on a block day (Thursday/Friday) and usually takes place once a month.

It is a fun and invigorating opportunity to spend time with the kids and we are grateful for your desire to be a part of it.
Laguna Beach Garden Club Presents LBUSD Schools Outdoor Education Programs With $5500 Grant for 2020

The Laguna Beach Garden Club is honored to announce the presentation of $5500 total in grant checks to Top of the World, El Morro and Thurston Middle School to support the Outdoor Education programs in their school gardens.
At the start of the year, LBGC Board President Nancy Englund presented checks to Penny Dressler (Thurston Middle School), Kelly Osborne (Top of the World Elementary) and Samantha Andres (El Morro Elementary). The LBGC is committed to the advancement of gardening, horticulture, ecology and conservation through education and participation in related community projects.

"TOW PTA is so fortunate to have the continued support of the Laguna Beach Garden Club. With their generous donation, we purchase greenhouse supplies, tools, seeds, soil amendments and other items needed to make our garden program thrive. Furthermore, we are delighted to have established a true community partner. Laguna Beach Garden Club members also volunteer their time monthly, acting as docents for lessons and serving as leaders in our school garden committee," states Kelly Osborne.

Penny Dressler says, “I agree with poet and environmental activist Wendell Berry when he said, “the Earth is what we all have in common.” I also know that the Laguna Beach Garden Club believes that, because they support the endeavors TMS makes each year through their financial contribution to the Ecology Club and Canyon View Learning Garden here at Thurston Middle School. I am so grateful for their support!”

Nancy Englund states, “The best part of LBGC is giving to support outdoor education for kids. I love to see that our investment has helped bring learning into a real-world environment.”

Laguna Beach Garden Club Meeting Information:
The Laguna Beach Garden Club meets on the second Friday of every month, September through May at the Laguna Presbyterian Church, 415 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA in Tankersley Hall. 9:30 am Social, 10:00 am General Meeting, Public is welcome, there is no charge forguests on their first visit. Parking: Free in the Laguna Canyon Road lot (spaces 300-422) or $3 for all day in spaces 185-228.

For more information on the garden club: www.lagunabeachgardenclub.org
The Non-profit Laguna Beach Garden Club, Inc. was founded in 1928 in beautiful Laguna Beach, CA and celebrated its 91st anniversary in February. Its members support a wide variety of projects related to education in gardening, horticulture, landscape and floral design, conservation, ecology and bird life. We are members of the California Garden Club Inc., which includes membership in the National Garden Clubs Inc. We are incorporated and have well defined by-laws with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation.
5 more days to spread some kindness!
Kindness Challenge is from
January 7 to February 8.
Goal: $33,000

This is Thurston PTA's biggest fundraiser for the school year and we need your support.

During this fundraiser, students ask friends and family for donations via the online Raise Craze platform while paying it forward serving others. What a great way for us to teach our students the importance of kindness and gratitude while raising much needed funds. Students will spend time serving, not selling! 

  • Students created their Kindness Challenge webpage at school.
  • Students used their school email address and password.
  • Students selected 3 acts of kindness or created their own.
  • Students can change or add their own Kindness acts to their webpage


  • To create an account go to: https://my.raisecraze.com/APGMNS5/



  • Our goal is to have 1,000 acts of Kindness and raise $33,000.
How Can I Get a Kindness Challenge T-shirt?
Students that raise any amount of money for the Kindness Challenge will get a shirt. Shirts are being delivered to students twice a week.

7th Grade model wearing a youth large. Students can swap out their shirt for a different size in the Thurston office.
Thurston School : (949) 497-7765
Durham Bus: (949) 376-0376
www.thurstonmiddleschoolpta.org