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Schools

BHEF Recognizes Apple Ball Recipients, Donor

The education foundation is honoring eight district employees and a local supporter at its annual spring fundraiser.

Eight Beverly Hills Unified School District employees and one family are being honored by the this month at the .

The event is the biggest annual fundraiser for the BHEF, a nonprofit group that pays for extracurricular programs and staff members at all five city schools.

The Apple Ball honors one teacher from each of the K-8 schools and two Beverly Hills High School teachers. One BHUSD administrator and one classified employee are also honored, along with a private BHEF supporter.

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The foundation’s honorees were introduced to the community last week at the , which donated the reception.

“We thank these hard-working teachers and staff members for all of their dedication to our students,” BHEF President Annette Saleh said at the May 10 reception.

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She also thanked three generations of the Newman family for supporting BHUSD schools. Edith and Bernard Newman are receiving the “BHEF award for commitment and dedication.”

The honored teachers are chosen by the school principals, while the administrative and classified winners are chosen by the BHUSD superintendent.

The 2012 district award winners are:

  • El Rodeo School Principal David Hoffman
  • BHHS graphic design teacher Deb Joseph
  • BHHS psychologist Gene Michelman
  • Beverly Vista School third grade teacher Laura Revness
  • El Rodeo School kindergarten teacher Karen Novoseller
  • Hawthorne School vocal music teacher Christa Gutheinz
  • Horace Mann fourth grade teacher Sherry Friedman
  • BHHS lead custodian Alfonso Gonzalez

Mayor William Brien and Superintendent Gary Woods helped introduce the nominees. Board of Education President Brian Goldberg, board Vice President Jake Manaster and member Noah Margo attended the reception, as did council members Lili Bosse and Barry Brucker.

Entertainment was provided by Beverly Vista seventh-grade student Golda Berkman, a singer who has studied opera for several years, and by Beverly Vista fifth-grade student magician Jonah Okum.

BHEF supporters were introduced to the foundation’s incoming executive director Matthew P. Zarcufsky, who is expected to start the job in a few weeks. The BHEF has been without an executive director since left last year.

This year’s Apple Ball is being renamed the Beach Ball to welcome summer. It will be held May 24 at the Beverly Hilton. For more information about the ball or to buy tickets, visit the BHEF website.

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