Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 4, 2011

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Mountain Views News Saturday, June 4, 2011 

ALVERNO SENDS 100% OF ITS 62 GRADUATES OFF TO COLLEGE

Story and Photos By Chris Bertrand

Seniors at Alverno High School, 
a private Catholic girls’ school 
in Sierra Madre, proudly traded 
their school uniforms for caps and 
gowns on Friday evening, June 3. 
Ceremonies were held on the terrace 
of the historic Villa d’Oro estate 
located on the school grounds.

At the inspiration of one senior 
and the approval of the Alverno 
administration, all the seniors 
signed a petition asking Channel 
One News reporter, Steven Fabian, to 
be the ceremony’s keynote speaker, 
and were thrilled at his acceptance. 
On the air since 1990, the Peabody 
Award-winning Channel One News 
bills itself as “the leading television 
news network for teens nationwide. 
Our mission is to inform, educate 
and inspire by making news relevant 
and engaging for young people and 
sparking discussion around the 
important issues impacting youth today.”

The school released its valedictorian and salutatorian honors on May 27. Candace Siegle, Alverno’s Director of Admissions, was pleased 
to announce that Yale-bound Erica Tavera was named Valedictorian for the Class of 2011. Salutatorian, Karineh Minissian, will attend 
UC Berkeley. “Between the two of them, these young women were accepted to a variety of different colleges, but Yale and UC Berkeley 
offered the programs and majors they wanted with the campus environments they were looking for,” said Siegle.

Tavera, an AP Scholar, National Honor Society (NHS), President and member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), has also 
served as the Supreme Court Chief Justice at Alverno. “It is such an honor to represent my class at graduation,” she commented. “I’m so 
blessed to be in a class with so many inspiring girls who each have so much going for them. I can’t wait to see where everyone ends up 
in 10 years.”

Minissian will double major in Political Science and International Relations at UC Berkeley. A member of CSF and NHS, she served as 
the Secretary of International Affairs at Alverno, and as a Tournament of Roses ambassador. Minissian attended Marshall Fundamental 
Elementary School in Pasadena. “Coming from a public school, I really didn’t know anyone and I was astounded at how welcoming and 
friendly everyone was,” she says. “If it wasn’t for the philosophy that Alverno instills in us, I probably wouldn’t be as well-rounded and 
focused as I am today.”

Alverno is proud that 100% of its graduates are headed to college next year, including Yale, USC, Brown, UC Berkeley, University of San 
Francisco, University of the Pacific, UC Santa Barbara, Fordham, UC Davis, University of La Verne and Marymount University. 

Alverno High School (www.Alverno-HS.org) is located at 200 N. Michillinda in Sierra Madre. 

188 LANCERS GRADUATE AT 
LA SALLE’S 52ND 
COMMENCEMENT

Pasadena, CA --- La Salle High School graduated 188 seniors at its 
52nd Commencement on Friday evening, May 27. Commencement 
Exercises took place at the Church of the Nazarene, next door to 
the School. Steven R. Petrovich, Aurora C. Doreza and Melinda 
H. Lewis received the La Salle High School General Excellence 
Award. In the fall, Steven, Aurora and Melinda will attend the 
University of Southern California, the University of California at 
Berkeley and Pepperdine University respectfully. 

Casey T. Nguyen and Tara N. Roberson received the Archdiocese 
of Los Angeles Christian Service Award. John P. Auer was selected 
by his senior class peers to receive the Pro Deo et Patria Award. 
John was also Student Life President at La Salle. 

Andrew B. Barmann and Itohan F. Aikhionbare received the 
Brother Celestine All- Around Athlete Award. Senior Chloe S. 
Cross was chosen by the Faculty Commencement Committee 
for the honor of delivering the Commencement Address, while 
senior Kelsey L. McAlister was selected to deliver the Welcome 
Address.

 100% of La Salle’s graduating class will attend college 
next year, and 93% of the class will matriculate to four-year 
institutions.


Some of Alverno’s seniors pose in garb from their college of choice for next year.

ST. RITA SCHOOL GRADUATION SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 10

Thirty six eighth graders will graduate from St. Rita School on Friday, June 10. Several events will encompass the students’ graduation 
including a private 8:30 a.m. breakfast for grads and their parents with morning awards. A Baccalaureate Mass will follow at 10:30. 
All are welcome 
for this event. 
The graduation 
ceremony will 
take place at 
7:00 p.m. in the 
church, with 
top honors and 
scholarships 
announced and 
awarded at this 
time.

Thirty-one of 
St. Rita students 
will attend eight 
different private, 
Catholic High 
Schools. Five 
students will 
attend either 
Arcadia or La 
Canada High 
Schools. 

St. Rita 2011 
Graduates and 
their High 
School of Choice

Alverno High 
School: Madison Hernandez-Barber, Karina Melkonian; Arcadia High School: Adam Alonzo, Kathryn Martinez, Nick Gianini; Damien 
High School: Anthony Khraich, Adrian Navarette; Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy: Sophia Coffey, Jessica Mijares, Andrea Hurtado, 
Alyssa Noriega, Monica Perez, La Canada High School: Colleen Mispagel, Adam Pondo; La Salle High School: Ben Poon, John Stover, 
Matt MacDonald, Addison Alvarado, Ryan Adams, Frank Garriola, Evan Talianko, Olivia Pope, Ethan Gauthier, Brandon Sandoval, 
Amanda Nelson,Max Behrens, Kayla Rix, Tom Usle; Loyola High School: Reece Aguilar; Mayfield Senior School: Rachel Wiggins; 
St. Francis High School: Clyde Johnson, Gabriel Lane; Christian Almeida, John Bicos; Jacob Mijares; St. Monica High School: Aidan 
Blackwell. 

WASC Accreditation Review and School Year Evaluation Completed

This Spring two lengthy processes took place at St. Rita, accreditation and an evaluation of the length of the school year. Harabedian 
explains, “Catholic schools actually go through a dual accreditation process every 6 years through Western Association of Schools and 
Colleges (WASC), along with the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA). 

She continued, “From March 29-31, a team of 5 educators, (2 principals and 3 teachers) from schools in the Los Angeles Archdiocese spent 3 
full days observing all of the wonderful 
teaching that happens in our classrooms 
and reviewing our 100+ page report. In 
2005, St Rita School earned the highest 
accreditation (6 year), and in fact the 
school has received the full 6 year term 
since the early 1980’s when the process 
was put in place for all schools. By 2008, 
we had already achieved all of the goals 
from the 2005 WASC accreditation.” 

Key goals identified in 2011’s WASC/
WCEA report for the next 5 years 
include: Integration of technology 
into the classroom and all areas of the 
curriculum, Differentiated instruction, 
expanded faith formation for families 
and professional development in 
technology. An annual report is 
submitted to the department of Catholic 
schools along with an yearly update of 
how the action plans from the formal 
WASC visit are being achieved. 

According to Harabedian, “The 
technology integration is already in 
process with interactive boards. Our key area for professional development this past year was differentiated instruction. On a simple 
level, differentiated instruction is teaching with student learning styles in mind. It means starting where the kids are rather than adopting 
a standardized approach to teaching that seems to presume that all learners of a given age or grade are essentially alike. 

In addition, this spring, the St. Rita School staff, families and administration went through a careful examination of a proposed school 
year extension to 200 days, recommended by the Catholic Archdiocese. After listening extensively to input from the community, Principal 
Joanne Harabedian and Pastor, Monsignor Krekelberg came to a joint decision to keep the current 180 school day calendar. 

“The process for the decision began with a town hall meeting,” said Harabedian, “where parents, grandparents (many are involved in 
both public and private education) voiced their opposition to the extended school year. The primary concern was the value of family time 
over the summer break and the need for teachers, students and parents to relax and recharge. 80% of our parents were opposed to the 
extension. Those who supported the extension are parents who struggle with child care over the summer months. 

“Our test scores are excellent, proven by the outstanding acceptance of our 8th grade students into the local Catholic and private high 
schools,” continued Harabedian. “At the same time, we will commit ourselves annually to revisiting the concept of a 200-Day Year, in 
order to track its potential for any future advantage to our school.” 

Krekelberg commented in a letter to the St. Rita community, “This episode of parish and school life was an opportunity to surface the best 
of ourselves as an educational Catholic faith community. May our resolve to offer excellence in Catholic education only be enhanced!”

GOODEN SCHOOL 
COMMENCEMENT JUNE 9TH

At The Gooden School, an independent Episcopal school steeped 
in beautiful traditions, the 2011 graduating class posed in the 
century old oak tree in the Sandra Towner Memorial Garden 
on the school’s Sierra Madre Campus last week, continuing a 
longstanding graduation ritual for the school. Towner was the 
late, assistant head of school.

Dressed in garb that identifies their school choice for next year, 
the twelve 8th grade graduates will attend the following high 
schools in 2011-12:

 

Cate School: Gair Pearson; Flintridge Preparatory School: 
Stephanie Presz, Zach Picker; Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy: 
Anna Lopez, Maddy Sturma; La Salle High School: Nicky 
Buzzerio; Mater Dei High School: Sven Davidson; Mayfield Senior 
School: Olivia Lyons-Potter; Polytechnic School: Midge Zuk; 
St. Francis High School: Phillip Saulny; and Westridge School 
for Girls: Lauren Foley. Sean Parr will be attending a school in 
Florida.

 

Continuing another Gooden tradition, admissions directors 
from the students’ chosen high schools have been invited to the 
commencement ceremonies. Ms. Clemmie Phillips, Admissions 
Director at Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena will present 8th 
grade student, Olivia Lyons-Potter, with Honors at Entrance for 
Olivia’s high academic achievement during her middle school 
years.

 

The Graduation speakers on June 9 are Valedictorian - Marjory 
Zuk and Salutatorian - Olivia Lyons-Potter.

According to Patricia J. Patano, Gooden’s Head of School, 
graduation ceremonies will be held on campus, Thursday, June 
9 at 3:30 p.m. While no tickets are required, reservations are 
requested by calling the school office at 626-355-2410.

 

The Gooden School (www.goodenschool.org ), founded in 1975, 
offers a classical education within a nurturing environment. The 
school, located at 192 N. Baldwin Avenue in Sierra Madre, is 
named in honor of The Right Reverend Robert Gooden, Bishop 
Suffragan of the Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese from 1930-1947. 
Bishop Gooden was committed to the belief that all children 
should receive a quality education and he fervently believed 
that the unique nature of every individual should be known and 
developed.