Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 30, 2011

8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Mountain Views News Saturday, April 30, 2011 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Synergy and Funding From Public & Private Groups 

Makes Water Wise Demonstration Garden a Success

Sierra Madre School’s Native and Water Wise Garden Dedicated by Chris Bertrand

Alverno High School

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Ann M. Gillick 

E-mail address: agillick@alverno-hs.org

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007

Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: David L. Vannasdall

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca, 

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil Clarke

E-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org

Barnhart School

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 446-5588 Head of School: Joanne Testa Cross

Kindergarten - 8th grade

website: www.barnhartschool.com 

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3527 Principal: James Lugenbuehl

E-mail address: jml@bcslions.org

Carden of the Foothills School

429 Wildrose Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016 626/358-9414 
626/358-5164 fax office@cardenofthefoothills.com

The Gooden School

192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-2410 Head of School: Patty Patano

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road

Pasadena, Ca. 91107 626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

LaSalle High School

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 351-8951 

website: www.lasallehs.org

Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016 

(626) 471-2000, 

Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us

Norma Coombs Alternative School

2600 Paloma St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 798-0759 Principal: Dr. Vanessa Watkins 

E-mail address: watkins12@pusd.us

Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neill

website: www.odysseycharterschool.org

Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 798-8901 Principal: Dr. Derick Evans

website: www.pasadenahigh.org

Pasadena Unified School District

351 S. Hudson Ave. Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 795-6981 website: www.pusd@pusd.us

St. Rita Catholic School

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-9028 website: www.st-rita.org

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 Principal: Gayle Bluemel

E-mail address:gbluemel220@pusd.us

Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Gayle Bluemel

Contact person: Garrett Newsom, Asst. Principal

E-mail address: gbluemel220@pusd.us

Walden School

74 S San Gabriel Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166 

www.waldenschool.net

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 797-0204

Lisa Feldman: Head of School

Wilson Middle School

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth Esseln

E-mail address: resseln@pusd.us

Pasadena Unified School District

351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 795-6981 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us


An enthusiastic group attended the dedication 
of the Demonstration Garden at Sierra 
Madre School on Tuesday, April 26th. The 
front lawn of the school at 141 W. Highland 
was chosen because of its high visibility 
within the community, including the families 
of the 700 students in attendance at the 
school. Nearly a year in the making, the expansive 
grassy area has been transformed 
into a water-thrifty landscape, using mostly 
California native plantings.

The project’s theme, “Conserve, Preserve 
and Restore” is manifested in a new, water 
efficient irrigation system, redirected rainwater 
runoff from the huge roof, a smaller, 
water thrifty lawn area planted with low 
water usage grass that stays green more 
months of the year, decomposed granite 
pathways for walking and water runoff, designated 
space for a future “edible garden” 
and, of course, the installation of a varied 
and beautiful palette of California native 
vegetation.

The intention is that a “picture is worth a 
thousand words” by showing the school 
community and the public at large that a 
landscape using local native plants can be 
beautiful and colorful, beneficial to the ecosystem 
and extremely water thrifty. 

A $75,000 grant from the San Gabriel Valley 
Municipal Water District (SGVMWD) 
started the ball rolling in 2010. Plans were 
drawn, and significant contributions came 
from The Theodore Payne Foundation, 
Pasadena Unified School District and the 
City of Sierra Madre. Skanska and Marina 
Landscape donated $50,000 in decomposed 
granite for pedestrian walkways that double 
as percolation paths for rainwater runoff. 
Parents, students, teachers 
and administrators 
from Sierra Madre School 
pitched in, too, including 
placing rocks and mulch.

In addition to proclamations 
from state legislative 
leaders, representatives 
from all the groups 
involved spoke passionately 
about the benefits 
of the completed demonstration 
garden. Those 
who spoke even began to 
chuckle at the repetitive 
themes in their personal 
kudos: diverse groups 
working together for a 
common cause, finding 
creative ways to work 
with limited funds, and 
the delight at the project’s 
success.

During a tour of the garden, 
it was explained that 
natives often take three 
years to get fully established. 
As part of incorporating 
the garden into the school’s curriculum 
and to help the public understand, 
placards with the words “Sleep, Creep, 
Leap” have been installed throughout the 
plantings. 

The first “sleep” year, not much is visible 
as the plant is busy developing a deep root 
system. For this reason, the natives were 
planted during the rainy season, in November, 
to ensure as much natural rainfall and 
cool weather to give the plants a healthy 
start. If it hasn’t rained, 
newly planted natives 
require watering about 
once a week. Once established, 
most natives 
require only about 
1/7th the annual watering 
that non-natives 
require, a huge saving 
in dollars and water. 

During the second 
“creep” year, some top 
growth will be exhibited. 
Finally, in the 
third “leap” year, California 
natives reach 
their stride.

During his address to the dedication attendees, 
Tom Love, a board member of the 
SGVMWD, rephrased the old adage, “We 
need to save for a rainy day” to “We need to 
save (water) for a sunny day.” He indicated 
that though an official “end” to the drought 
was announced, we shouldn’t go back to our 
old water usage habits. 


Looking Into The Life Of A Teenager

 By Meaghan Allen

Blossoms

April is one of my favorite months, not only because it brings 
spring break – that last wonderful time off before the final sprint 
towards home in the school year – but also because of the orange 
blossoms. Spring brings many beautiful flowers and refreshing fragrances, 
but the orange blossoms awaken something inside of me 
– they are the key to a door of complete euphoric serenity, causing 
all of my fears and anxieties to melt away like the snow on the 
neighboring mountains. Something about the soft, pure-sweet smell 
saturates my senses, filling my mind with images of sunshine, wind 
blowing through tall grass, and bright, cloudless blue skies. I eagerly 
look forward towards taking walks into town because I get to 
pass numerous orange trees which welcome me with their luscious 
aroma and smiling white petals. For not only does the orange blossom 
smell absolutely divine, but the flowers are beautiful and small; 
easy to transport home and into my room. 

But the best part about orange blossoms is their ability to relax 
my nerves with their aromatic smell, especially during this chaotic 
part of the school year. With only twenty five days of school left, 
my teachers have entered supersonic teaching mode, cramming 
as much information into my already overwhelmed brain as possible. 
But orange blossoms are there to help me keep my sanity as 
the school year comes to a close, and I prepare to enter my last year 
of high school before the large step that is college. I look forward to 
spending as much time around these little friends during my spring 
break next week as possible, for they will be gone soon and replaced 
by their delicious orange fruit, helping me stay focused as I study for 
my upcoming AP exams in May. 


What’s On YOUR Mind? 

What D0 YOU Think? 

We’d like to hear from you! 
Contact us at: 

editor@mtnviewsnews.com or 

www.facebook.com/