Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 11, 2011

8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mountain Views News Saturday, June 11, 2011

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Sierra Madrean Wins Silver Medal at California State Meet

Nick Budincich, a junior at Loyola 
High School in Los Angeles, surprised 
coaches and teammates alike with a 
championship performance in the 1.6 
kg discus throw in Clovis, California 
on June 3rd and 4th. Budincich’s 
performance was nothing short of a 
“Cinderella” story as he emerged as a 
virtual unknown, to a school record 
setting performance on the biggest 
stage in California high school track 
and field, the CIF State Meet. 

Early this spring Budincich posted a 
158’ 3” throw in the Arcadia Invitational 
and earned a medal. He didn’t improve 
until this past May when he began to 
“peak” after the months of hard power 
lifting, that when reduced, increased 
his quickness and flexibility. In the CIF 
Division 2 prelims at Moorpark High 
School, Budincich posted a lifetime 
best (“PR”) of 176’ 9” to advance to 
the CIF Division 2 finals at Cerritos 
College where he threw 176’ 4” in the 
discus and a PR of 55’ 7” in the 12 
pound shot put to earn medals in both 
events. Loyola subsequently won the 
CIF Division 2 championship, and 
Nick advanced to the “Masters Meet”. 
He was eliminated in the shot put at 
the Masters Meet, which caused him 
to focus the following week of practice 
exclusively on the discus throw event.

On June 3rd, at the State Meet prelims in 
Clovis, California, the 27 best throwers, 
runners, and jumpers from the State’s 
respective divisions came together 
to the State Meet to determine both 
individual and school state champions. 
Nick qualified in the prelims with a 
lifetime best (PR) and Loyola High 
School record of 182’ 9” to shock his 
competition and move him to the 
finals seeded 3rd among 9 finalists 
in the discus. The following day the 
competitors awoke to a light steady rain, 
making the throwing ring wet, slippery, 
and uncomfortably unfamiliar to most 
athletes in the competition. Budincich 
then threw 177’ 9” in the finals and 
finished his last throw with 178’ 5” 
to secure 2nd place berth in the State 
Championship Meet. He earned an 
unexpected 8 team points for Loyola.

One of the spectators affectionately 
referred to his as a “mudder” as a 
comparison to race horses that perform 
well in rainy and wet conditions.

His “throws coach” at Loyola, Matt 
Pentecost, is also a former first place 
California State Discus Champion 
for Loyola in 1995. Coach Pentecost 
is also a UCLA Bruin “weight man” 
under the legendary coach Tom Tellez 
and was thrilled to see his pupil shatter 
his own 16 year old record. Loyola 
lost the State Title that night to long 
time perennial rival Long Beach Poly 
and finished as the California State 
runner-up. Loyola, having won the 
meet “on paper” near the meet’s end, 
lost it suddenly when the Loyola senior 
pole vaulter was disqualified due to 
a technicality, and 5 1/2 points was 
lost for his tie for third place. This 
placed Loyola in a close second by 
three points to the rival “Poly”, who 
has been famous for producing world 
class sprinters and football players for 
decades. It was a disappointing loss 
for Head Coach Mike Porterfield, and 
his staff including Lalo Diaz, “Fernie” 
Hernandez, Pentacost, and others. 
This would have been Loyola’s first all 
division CA State Title in its over 100 
year history in Los Angeles. 


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


CLEAN OUT DAD’S CASTLE 
FOR FATHER’S DAY

What do you give the Dad who has it all? How about help 
getting rid of some of it. Instead of one more baseball cap or 
tie to add to the pile, Baby Boomers are giving experiences 
for Father’s Day, including helping Dad make some space. 
When there’s too much stuff in the garage for him use that 
tool bench or park his car, it’s time to help him de-clutter.

“Garages are one of the most crowded spaces in a home,” 
says Sheri Alford of Smooth Transitions, who works with 
clients, especially seniors, to deal with a lifetime of accumulation. 
“It’s a catch-all space for all the items that won’t 
fit anywhere else. It’s easy to let it get out of control.” 

Helping Dad is not just about getting containers and 
shelves. It’s about identifying what is there, dividing what 
to keep and what not to keep. Sheri recommends the best 
way to start is by identifying and getting rid of all the unnecessary 
stuff. Broken appliances and items we just can’t 
throw away get saved as “backups” but are never really used 
again and take up space. Many of these items are more likely 
to be restored or repaired if they get out of the garage and 
to the right charities. This creates space for the fun projects 
Dad really wants to do. 

Don’t keep something for the sole reason of not wanting 
to waste it. Even for items you don’t think will sell, there 
are many charities that will accept these usable items and 
appreciate them. For example, Habitat for Humanity accepts 
hardware while the Convalescent Aid Society accepts 
medical supplies like walkers and wheelchairs. Determining 
who will take what can get tricky so check before arranging 
pickups of items. Also, be sure to ask for a receipt 
for tax deduction purposes.

Children can help by finally taking all those childhood 
items that Dad kept for the kids to have “someday.” Let Dad 
actually see you enjoy the items he saved for you, all while 
helping him get his space back. Also, if he doesn’t want to 
keep an item, he should not feel guilty parting with it –no 
matter who gave it to him.

Consider Dad’s current lifestyle. There is no reason to keep 
a lot of landscaping tools if he now hires a gardener. If he 
no longer does carpentry or car repair, find a new home for 
the tools. Keep a few choice items but one person doesn’t 
need a dozen screwdrivers. Help Dad keep his identity by 
trimming down but not eliminating his collections.

When reorganizing a garage, think safety first –keep pathways 
open, make sure often-used items (like light switches 
and outlets) are easily accessible. Avoid accidents by securing 
items that are stored above heads. Remove hazardous 
materials through proper waste practices –don’t just toss 
chemicals down the sewer or in the trash.

Obviously, you will want to consult with Dad before disposing 
of any item. You’re looking to help, not take over. 
But this may be a task he himself has been putting off because 
it is so overwhelming. All this sorting can be physically 
demanding and time-consuming so only take on what 
you are capable of. 

Finally, keep in mind that professional help is available from 
Smooth Transitions of Southern California, LLC (STSC), 
who are experts in decluttering and dispersing unwanted 
household items. Clients love having them clear spaces like 
garages. “The garage has taken on a new look. I don't mind 
going in there now. You and your ladies did a wonderful 
job,” endorses Ted Alford (unrelated) of Alhambra. A complimentary 
consultation and gift certificates are available.

 For more information call 626-429-4408 or visit www.stscmoves.
com


Looking Into The Life Of A Teenager

 By Meaghan Allen

Finally!

 
Finally, it is here. Summer. Gone are those dreadful Mondays 
when the alarm clock buzzes and wakes you up from blissful 
slumber. Gone is the overwhelming amounts of homework 
that seem almost impossible to finish on time. Now, you can 
breathe. Breathe the fresh summer air and enjoy the sunshine 
warming your face and soul. I have been waiting a long time for 
this moment to come, and now that it is finally here I cannot 
believe it. To start, May was possibly one of the longest months 
of my life, with AP exams to senior finals to my junior finals - 
it seemed never ending. Secondly, I was out of school for less 
than twenty-four hours when I jumped onto a 7:13 a.m flight 
for Casper, WY - my mom’s home. The school year ended in 
a whirlwind - from my last final to saying goodbye to family 
before my 2 month road trip to a kickback at a friends to sleep 
and a flight all jam-packed into 24 hours was nonstop fun. 

Now, I am sitting in my mom’s office on a beautiful country day 
trying to grasp the fact that this time next week I will be attending 
my seminar at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, 
CO; and ten days later I will be in Rhode Island at my Brown 
University summer camp. It is hard for me to finally grasp that 
summer has come because I have been looking towards these 
events for the past 4 months, and now they are here. I hope that 
they are all that I wish them to be, and I look forward to writing 
about my upcoming adventures. Hopefully my experiences will 
be exciting to tell. For now enjoy the beautiful sunshine and 
relax, kickback, and soak it in.

This material was made possible by funding from the Department of Health and Human Services through the Los 
Angeles County Department of Public Health. 
Drifting Secondhand 
Smoke Affects 
Everyone!
The poisonous chemicals in secondhand tobacco smoke 
affect any and everything it comes in contact with, 
including your children and pets. You and your loved 
ones deserve a clean air environment, with protection 
from unwanted secondhand tobacco smoke in your home 
and community.
Join the Coalition for Clean Air Residential 
Environments (C.A.R.E.) of Sierra Madre. For a 
cleaner, safer, and healthier community.
For more information, contact:
caresierramadre@gmail.com(626) 229-9750