Correia jazz director earns top county honor Mark Dwyer, director of Correia Middle School’s oft-honored jazz band, has been named “Outstanding Jazz Educator” for all county public and private schools. The award was announced at the annual California Music Education Association awards banquet April 30. Dwyer’s band has caught the attention of skilled listeners in recent years and put Correia on the regional music map. Also, Dwyer led his young musicians to the title of “Best Jazz Band” at the recent San Elijo Jazz Festival. Dwyer and his talented group will be playing at the May 18 “Rhapsody on the Point” fundraising event for Point Loma High School at Humphrey’s to help raise funds for Point Loma High School’s music program. The band will appear at this summer’s Point Loma Summer Concert Series. — Scott Hopkins

Dana readies ‘G2K OKLAHOMA!’ production Dana Middle School’s musical theater class will present “G2K OKLAHOMA!” in the school’s Jackson Theater at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 18. The cast of 47 fifth- and sixth-graders have been rehearsing the show since auditions were held last January. The show features Caterina Brown as Laurey, Nick LaFontaine as Curly, Colin Vassall as Will, and Maya Nielsen as Ado Annie. Theater teacher W. William Cobb is directing his 25th musical.   The story revolves around the budding romance between Curly and Laurey. The score features Broadway standards like “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” “Surrey with the Fringe on Top” and “People Will Say We’re in Love.” “G2K OKLAHOMA!” is a version of the groundbreaking Rogers and Hammerstein musical. “G2K” is short for “getting to know.” The show has been edited for length and content to make it suitable for presentations by middle-school students.   All seats are $7. There is also a dinner package for $10 that includes the show ticket, a hot dog from Barons Marketplace, a cupcake from Cupcakes Squared and a soft drink. Advance tickets are available at www.danamiddle.com. Click on the link to the Jackson Theater Box Office. PLHS student claims first in state science fair Point Loma High School junior Corlin L. Palmer earned first-place honors in environmental science and received a special award at the state science fair earlier this month. Palmer was awarded the UC Irvine Earth System Science Award and received a $250 check. His project, which examined the potential of making charcoal from palm waste, was honored as the project best demonstrating achievement in earth system science. Palmer concluded his charcoal-making process could greatly reduce deforestation. Last month, Palmer earned a first-place award and several professional awards at the annual Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. Besides his first-place finish in the Senior Division, Palmer’s project was selected for the prestigious San Diego Zoo Global Award and professional awards from the American Society of Materials International, General Atomics Sciences Education Foundation, the Regional American Society of Materials International and the Regional ASM Materials Education Foundation. PLHS teacher Edwin Hedges is Palmer’s advisor. — Scott Hopkins

Loma Portal principal earns musical honor A Peninsula school administrator received an award from the local chapter of the California Music Educators Association. Glenda Gerde, principal of Loma Portal Elementary School, accepted the Elementary Administrator Award at the group’s annual Fortissimo Awards of Excellence in Music Education. The group works in conjunction with the county Office of Education to honor excellence in school music programs throughout San Diego and Imperial counties. – Scott Hopkins

Sunset View again top fundraiser in program Sunset View Elementary led all California schools in fundraising during the Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market’s fourth annual “Shop for Schools” program, earning itself more than $11,200. As one of 72 San Diego schools that earned nearly $74,000 in total from the program, Sunset View will be awarded a $5,000 bonus. School officials said they plan to use their share of the money raised to support various curriculums that can no longer be funded by the state, including music and performing arts programs. For more information, visit www.freshandeasy.com/shopforschools.