Top Of The World Elementary School
"On Top of the World", and going to the next level!Friday, July 03, 2009

Upcoming Events

Tuesday Sep 08 @ 7:45 AM:
First Day of School 1- 5th grade
Tuesday Sep 08 @ 9:00 AM:
Kindergarten Orientation
Tuesday Sep 08 @ 10:15 AM:
Kindergarten Orientation
see Calendar for more >>
Welcome to our new website
Welcome to the newly created Home Page for Top of the World Elementary School. This new communication tool should prove very helpful in addressing many questions you may have. However, we are always happy to speak with you personally should you desire. Please feel free to contact the representative of the department from which you need assistance.
Ron La Motte, Principal
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Our Vision
Nestled upon a hilltop overlooking the Saddleback Valley to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the South sits an educational community known for the past 39 years as Top of the World Elementary School, affectionately known as TOW. In today's fast paced society it is refreshing to find a close knit neighborhood school where families walk to school with their children, stop to have a chat with staff, other parents and maybe have a cup of coffee. Staff, parent volunteers, and the principal meet the buses as they drive in each morning and open car doors to greet each student with a warm smile and a "Good Morning". TOW is proud to maintain its hometown feel and instill this sense of community to each and every student.
TOW is located in Laguna Beach, a small town surrounded by the exploding growth of South Orange County, California. TOW is one of two elementary schools, which feed into Thurston Middle School. Families come from areas east of the Pacific Coast Highway and the inland community of Aliso Viejo. The program consists of a special education pre-school and kindergarten through fifth grades. There are currently 561 students enrolled in the school. TOW also maintains a school within a school known as The Community Learning Center (CLC). CLC serves 40 students in grades first through fourth in a small campus adjacent to the main campus. The CLC approaches the curriculum from a holistic worldview centering on peace and a community spirit. This program is an extension of the overall philosophy of TOW.
TOW's academic program emphasizes a strong commitment to the core subjects and academic rigor balanced with enrichment programs that foster a well-rounded student experience. TOW adopted the Harcourt Brace series five years agos which encompasses all grade levels. We are currently entering our fifth year of using the Open Court English/Language Arts (ELA) adoption that also provides a consistent ELA program across all grade levels. TOW exhibits the quality of the academic program in its API score. The API score for the 2006 testing period is 914. We continue to score at or above the Statewide Performance Target of 800. The Beckman Science program provides an exciting hands-on, inquiry-based science curriculum. Social Studies completes the well -rounded core curriculum. In addition to the rigorous core curriculum TOW emphasizes the arts in education in a variety of enrichment programs. Students learn about famous artists and create their own works of art based on the artist's style in our very popular Art Masters Program. This year students are learning about the life of composer Sergi Prokofiev through a series of assemblies sponsored by the Pacific Symphony. This Class Act Program helps instill an appreciation for classical music from the earliest grades through fifth grade. TOW also participates in a series of assemblies that emphaize the cultural arts sponsored by the Orange County Perfroming Arts Center Educational Foundation. A wide variety of educational field trips for each grade level ranges from an overnight trip aboard the Brig Pilgrim, related to the social sciene curriculum, to going back in time with a historical visit to the Kellogg Historical House Museum.
To extend the opportunity for students to thrive, TOW has developed a comprehensive after school program available to all students in grades 1-5. The PTA sponsors the after school program and provides scholarships to any student who needs assistance. At this time, over 70% of TOW students participate in the after school program which includes classes such as Garden Club, Academic Chess, Chorus, Story Telling, Art, Mad Science, Digital Animation, Digital Filmaking, Guitar, Violin, Drums, Computer Club, Drama, Musical Minds and many more. There is truly something for everyone in the after school program.
What makes TOW unique is the strong community spirit. Parent volunteers are present in classrooms in an incredible show of support for their children. Last year over 28,000 hours were donated to our school. TOW is a school where students truly know that they are nurtured and supported by all the adults in their lives.
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School Supply Lists

School supplies - It is our intent to provide students with the basic instructional materials necessary to participate in our instructional program. Individual teachers may request that you purchase specific items. However, please be aware that these are voluntary items. No student will be denied participation in a classroom assignment should a parent choose not to purchase these items.
Kindergarten
1 - Backpack large enough to hold a folder, sweatshirt and a snack.
1- Package of washable thick and/or thin markers.
1-Package colored pencils
2 - Cube boxes of tissues
1 - Box of "ziplock type" baggies (large or small)
Please bring your supplies in a bag, with your child's name on the outside, with you to Kindergarten Orientation on September 8th. Individual items should not be labeled since they are shared in the classroom.
First Grade
1- Package facial tissue
1 - Package thin dry erase markers
1- Glue stick
Erasers
Second Grade
1- 24 box crayons
1 - Package broad tip markers
1- Package thin tip markers
1 - 12 pack colored pencils
1 - 4oz bottle white glue
1 - Large glue stick
1 -Plastic pencil box, standard size
2 - Pink erasers
1- Package facial tissue
Third Grade
1- Large glue stick
1- Highlighter pen
1 - Individual, hand held, enclosed pencil sharpener, small
1- Package facial tissue
24 - #2 pencils
Fourth Grade
1- 12 pack colored pencils
1- Red pen
1 - Black pen
1- 24 pack crayons
1- Large glue stick
1 - Dry eraser marker
1- Package broad colored markers
1- Package thin colored markers
1- Package wide ruled, 3 hole punched notebook paper
1- Individual, hand held, enclosed pencil sharpener, small
1- Package facial tissue
24 - # 2 pencils
Fifth Grade
1 - Plastic accordian file with 6 or more sections (to organize work)
2- Packages wide ruled, 3 hole punched notebook paper
2 - Packages 1/4" graph paper
2 - Black dry erase markers
2- fine tip, black, permanent markers
2- Red correcting pens
1- 3 pack highlighter pens
2- Large glue sticks
1- Package colored pencils
1- 24 pack #2 pencils
1 - USB drive
1 - Individual, hand held, enclosed pencil sharpener, small
1- Box facial tissue
CLC
2- Glue sticks
20 - #2 pencils with erasers
4 - Pink erasers (no flourescent colors please)
3 - Boxes facial tissue
CLC -1st & 2nd Grade only - 4 portfolio folders (the kind with bottom pockets inside so odd sized pages can stick out the top)
CLC - 3rd & 4th grade only - 1 pack of wid ruled notebook paper
School Supply Lists »
Local Weather

Partly Cloudy, 74° F| Fri | |
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| High: 83° F | Low: 62° F |
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| Sunny | |
| High: 82° F | Low: 63° F |
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