Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 14, 2012

8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Mountain Views News Saturday, January 14, 2012 

ALVERNO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS MAKE A COMMITMENT TO GIVE BACK 

Alverno High School Community Service Fair raises more than $1,300 for charities

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

On Friday, January 6, 2012, Alverno 
High School hosted its Second Annual 
Alverno Community Service Fair, which 
showcased the senior class’ self-created 
service projects ranging from fighting 
hunger and cancer to providing funds for 
reading programs and animal shelters. 

The fair grew out of Alverno’s senior 
theology course, Contemporary Social 
Issues, which asks students to explore 
the social justices that taint our world. 
To respond to these injustices, Alverno’s 
45 seniors have committed themselves 
to a service project molded by their own 
passions, ideas and care for the social issues 
in today’s world. 

On Friday, members of the Alverno 
and local community came together to 
learn about and support the projects of 
these exemplary seniors at the Second 
Annual Alverno Community Service 
Fair. Individuals were asked to purchase 
$1 tickets upon entering the fair, which 
they could then place into a jar on each 
table to demonstrate their support for 
that particular charity. Desserts, specialty 
items, homemade jewelry, and shirts were 
also available to be purchased using the 
same tickets. At the end of the fair, each of 
the tables turned in their tickets to receive 
the money that had been contributed to 
their chosen charity. These funds will 
be donated directly to the charity or will 
be used to fund a larger service project 
designed by a senior. In total, more than 
$1,300 was raised for local, national, and 
worldwide organizations. 

In addition to philanthropic support 
of the organizations at the fair, attendees 
were also given the opportunity to sign-up 
to volunteer with local organizations that 
included: Children of the Night (Pasadena, 
CA), Pasadena Humane Society (Pasadena, 
CA), Brother’s Helpers (La Canada, CA), 
The Carter Place Senior Citizen Home 
(Pasadena, CA), Ronald McDonald House 
(Pasadena, CA), Club 21 (Pasadena, CA), 
Maryvale, Life Straw, Kitten Rescue, Beagles 
and Buddies and Best Friends Animal 
Society. Alverno High School students are 
expected to contribute 20-50 service hours 
each to the local community each year, 
for a school wide total of more than 6,000 
hours. However, last year Alverno students 
exceeded their goal by contributing more 
than 10,000 service hours to the local 
community and they are once again 
expected to exceed their goal. 

“The Service Fair was a wonderful success 
and we are so proud of our seniors. All of 
our students as well as faculty, staff and 
community members, were able to browse 
over 25 service projects. Each project was 
built to spread awareness and encourage 
action in regards to a specific social issue,” 
said Susana Capra, Campus Minister, “The 
seniors were so passionate about these 
injustices and that excitement was spread 
to the younger students. It is often easy to 
lose sight of how powerful and intelligent a 
teenager can be in our society today. This 
service fair showed how wonderful, creative 
and socially aware high school students 
are and how much they can inspire those 
around them. It was a beautiful reminder of 
the solidarity and justice that is very alive in 
our world.” 

Ann Gillick, Head of School, said “The 
Service Fair is a perfect example of how 
one individual can make a tremendous 
impact on her community. Each of these 
young women chose a project that meant 
something to her and in turn made that 
project important to our entire community. 
A commitment to service and community 
is a basic tenet of our Franciscan and 
Immaculate Heart roots and just one of the 
ways Alverno empowers each young woman 
to be exactly the person she wants to be.” 

About Alverno High School

Alverno High School is a Catholic, private, 
college preparatory school for young women 
dedicated to preparing them to function 
in a society as informed, knowledgeable 
persons, who have the requisite skills to 
make and implement mature decisions 
about complex problems. Enlivened by the 
spirit of its Immaculate Heart Community 
sponsors, and mindful of the Franciscan 
roots of its founders, Alverno’s program -- 
academic, spiritual, aesthetic, social, and 
physical -- is shaped by the staff, trustees, 
and students in light of the world for which 
the students are being educated. Alverno’s 
mission is to empower each young woman 
to be exactly the person she wants to be 
and since 1960, Alverno has empowered 
more than 4,100 women to meet that goal. 
For more information about Alverno High 
School, please call 626-355-3463 or visit 
www.alverno-hs.org. 


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

Mama Pete’s Nursery School

71 Suffolk Avenue, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-9567

website: www.mamapete.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: Gilbert Barraza, Jr.

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

Phone: (626) 396-5890 - Fax: (626) 355-0388 

Principal: Esther Salinas

Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

Phone: (626) 396-5910 - Fax: (626) 836-2964

 Principal: Garrett Newsom

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

PUSD TO HONOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY 

WITH SERVICE ACTIVITIES

Pasadena Christian 
School

1515 N. Los Robles 
Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91104

 

Pasadena Christian 
School has scheduled a 
Campus Tour

on Thursday, January 
26, from 9:00-10:30 a.m. 
for prospective parents 
interested in preschool 
(2-5 years old) through 
eighth grade. Those who 
attend will have an opportunity 
to meet the 
school administrators 
and to learn about the 
curriculum and programs 
offered. Guests 
may briefly observe in 
the classrooms and will 
be taken on a special 
tour of the campus. For 
reservations, please call 
(626) 791-1214.

 Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent 
Jon R. Gundry will join students, 
families, teachers, and community leaders to 
honor the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther 
King, Jr. at two events this weekend.

On Saturday, January 14, Superintendent 
Gundry will join the Tournament of Roses Royal 
Court in the MLK Day On, Not off Action Day 
at Madison Elementary School where volunteers 
will participate in campus beautification, 
landscaping, and planting. The event is organized 
by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community 
Coalition.

On Monday, January 16, Superintendent 
Gundry will join community leaders at the annual 
Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration at Jackie 
Robinson Park featuring music, speakers, dancers 
and more. The event is sponsored by the Martin 
Luther King Community Coalition, the Pasadena 
Tournament of Roses, the Pasadena Unified 
School District, the Ecumenical Council of Pasadena 
Area Congregations, Aspires West Pasadena, 
Pasadena NAACP, and the National Sorority 
of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Gamma Lambda Chapter 
in association with the City of Pasadena.

PUSD schools and offices are closed on Monday, 
January 16 in observance of the Martin Luther 
King, Jr. holiday.

Subject: MLK Day On, Not Off Action Day

Date/Time: Saturday, January 14, 2012

8:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: Campus Beautification

10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.: Speakers and Student 
Performances

Location: Madison Elementary School

515 Ashtabula St., Pasadena

Subject: MLK Celebration

Date/Time: Monday, January 16, 2012

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: Freedom March Video 
Breakfast

9: 30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Celebration

Location: Jackie Robinson Park

1081 Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena


Looking Into The Life Of A Teenager

 By Meaghan Allen

This past Monday to Wednesday evening I went 
on my school’s senior retreat in Wrightwood, CA. 
It was not only nice to breathe some fresh, clean, 
crisp air, but also to be alone in the wilderness. 

Although almost all of my best friends went, I 
was able to escape into my own personal solitude 
for a few hours, and man did it feel great. I did 
not realize how much I needed to just breathe and 
get away from school – college, tests, grades, etc. 
– and just be with myself in my head. Sitting in 
a lone little meadow and enjoying the sunshine 
was so cleansing and purifying because, although 
negative thoughts crept into my head, I was able 
to cope with them and sort them out. But I was 
also able to just zone out on a single blade of 
grass and let my mind go completely blank; a 
slight humming that let my body go numb and 
my breathing slow until I was completely at peace 
with myself. 

And it was nice I was able to have this time 
because inside during the activities, we were 
asked those hard questions about our future and 
what we will do to make sure it happens. How 
can I know? How can I anticipate what will come, 
not only two weeks ahead but months and years? 
These questions troubled me, but because I was 
able to escape I was able to come to the conclusion 
that I won’t know, I can’t know. I can only go with 
the flow and find places to escape. 

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