Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 12, 2012

8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Mountain Views News Saturday, May 12, 2012 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

ALVERNO HIGH SCHOOL HOSTS MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEA

Alverno mothers and daughters celebrate their bond with a tea in the Villa

There is no doubt that mothers and daughters share a 
special bond and on April 21, Alverno students and their 
mothers got to celebrate that bond with a special tea and 
fashion show in the Alverno Villa. The annual event, 
put on by Alverno fathers, is a time-honored school 
tradition. 

This year mothers and daughters were invited to wear 
hats or fascinators and then strut their stuff in a special 
fashion show. Categories for the fashion included “Most 
Alike,” “Most Retro,” “Most Spring,” “Most Modern,” and 
“Most Sophisticated.” A special prize was also given to 
the youngest participant in the fashion show, the 4 year 
old daughter of an Alverno alumna. 

“I’m so glad that Makayla got to attend the event and 
participate in the fashion show,” said Sophia Calles, 
Class of 1999, “She’s a future member of the Alverno 
Class of 2025!” 

Following the fashion show, daughters were invited to 
read special letters they had written to their mothers. 
The afternoon concluded with a raffle for the antique 
teapots on the table that had diligently been collected by 
the Alverno fathers in the weeks leading up to event. 

 “Our mothers are the first and most important role models we have in life,” said Ann Gillick, Head of School, “It is a pleasure for me to 
see so many young women and their mothers who treasure the special relationship they have with one another. I am grateful to these 
mothers for raising such incredible young women and sharing Alverno’s mission of empowering their daughters 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

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809 

info@foothilloaksacademy.org 

preschool@foothilloaksacademy.org

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


Gay and Johanna Obedicen Photo courtesy Belle n’ Beau Photography

LA SALLE SCIENCE DEPARTMENT SHARES WYLAND MOBILE LEARNING LAB WITH 
LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

On a recent rainy day, the La Salle Science Department hosted more than three hundred third and fourth grade students and teachers 
from St. Andrew, Assumption, Saint Rita and Saint Elizabeth elementary schools to explore the Wyland Mobile Learning Lab. 

Members of La Salle’s Science National Honors Society acted as hosts to our grammar school guests escorting them through the 
Wyland Clean Water Challenge and encouraging children to become “Water Warriors” and take the pledge to protect this most valued 
resource. 

The La Salle students guided the school children through activities that demonstrated various aspects of our California Water System 
including: Estuary Food Webs, Pollution Run-off Wetland Succession, The Wheel of Water Misfortune and Engineering and Water 
Management. Science Honors students also taught students about the distribution of water on Earth and provided coloring packets for 
the grammar school students to enjoy. Photo courtesy LaSalle High School


Students from local elementary schools prepare to enter the Wyland Mobil Learning Lab on the La Salle campus. 
Photo courtesy John Blackstock


SIERRA MADRE ROTARY CLUB 
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 2012 

 The Rotary Club of Sierra Madre is pleased to offer financial support 
to students in our community who are involved in the community and 
who demonstrate excellence in their work.

 Each year the Club awards one or more scholarships to students beginning 
college. 

The scholarship award will be paid directly to the student's college.

 The Club offers these scholarships to students who are residents of 
Sierra Madre and/or members of the Sierra Madre Interact Club.

 The 2012 scholarship program consists of one award of $500. For application, 
go to: https://sites.google.com/site/rcsmscholarship or email 
RCSM.scholarship@gmail.com

ENGINEERING AND 
SCIENCE COMMUNITY 
COMES TOGETHER 
TO INSPIRE THE NEXT 
GENERATION

The 2012 Pasadena Engineering 
and Science Expo will celebrate 
the Engineering and Science 
community, bringing together 
local innovators to inspire 
the next generation in a day 
of interactive engineering 
and science fun. Presented 
by the Pasadena Educational 
Foundation (PEF) and hosted 
by Pasadena City College 
(PCC), the Expo will feature the 
Innovation and Opportunities 
Fair and will culminate in the 
Third Annual Middle School 
Robotics Competition of the 
Pasadena Unified School 
District. The free event, open 
to the general public, takes 
place Saturday, May 19 from 10 
a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pasadena City 
College.

“The Expo will provide an 
exciting day of demonstrations 
and hands-on workshops and 
a glimpse of state-of-the-art 
technology being invented 
in our own neighborhood” 
says Erik Dreyer, Director of 
STEM (Science, Technology, 
Engineering, Math) Programs 
for the Pasadena Educational 
Foundation. PEF supports 
the PUSD Robotics Program, 
offered in every middle school. 
“Inspiration is the name of 
the game,” says Dreyer, “If we 
succeed at inspiring the next 
generation, we turn them 
into their own lifelong self 
advocates.”

Innovations and Opportunities 
Fair: The Fair will showcase 
innovations from the 
engineering and science 
community, educational 
opportunities for students 
in Science, Technology, 
Engineering and Math (STEM), 
and hands-on workshops. 
Companies presenting include 
Idealab, Honeybee Robotics, 
Trash for Teachers, PCC STEM, 
and The Hybrid Group, among 
many others, and CODA 
Automotive will bring their 
new all-electric vehicle to show 
Expo attendees. Educational 
opportunities from kindergarten 
through college will be 
presented, including the PCC 
STEM departments and PUSD 
College and Career Pathways. 
Workshops offered all day and 
for all ages will include Ruby 
and Javascript programming, 
robotics, electronic circuits, and 
others. No experience necessary 
for workshop participation. The 
Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 
3 p.m. in the W Building of PCC 
and is open to the public.

PUSD Middle School Robotics 
Competition: Hundreds of 
robotics students from all seven 
PUSD middle schools will 
compete against each other as 
they race to build and program 
their LEGO Mindstorms Robots 
to solve challenges in limited 
time. The competition takes 
place from 3 to 5 p.m. in the 
Hutto-Patterson Gym of PCC 
and is open for public viewing. 

Looking Into The Life Of A Teenager

 By Meaghan Allen

ST. RITA LAUNCHES JUNIOR 
KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM

 Registration is now open for 
admission into the new Junior 
Kindergarten program at 
St. Rita School for the 2012-
2013 academic year. The full-
day program, available to 4 
and 5-year olds, will prepare 
students for classroom routines 
with plenty of time for free-
exploration. 
The developmentally-based 
curriculum is designed for the 
“early 5-year old” who is ready 
to move beyond pre-school. 
Teacher-directed and child-
initiated activities will prepare 
students for kindergarten 
and foster development in 
the areas of language, math, 
literacy, imaginative play, 
social awareness, construction, 
technology, art and music. 

 “We’re delighted to fill this 
long-standing need in our 
community,” said Principal 
Joanne Harabedian. “We are 
looking forward to launching 
a program that will bridge the 
transition from nursery school to 
formal schooling, while focusing 
on the children’s social, physical 
and cognitive development.” 

 The Junior program’s day is 
from 8am to 3pm with after-
school care available. Enrollment 
packets are available in the school 
office for students who will be 4 
1/2 by September of this year. 
Contact the school office at (626) 
355-6114 for more information.

St. Rita School, located at 322 N. 

Baldwin Ave. in Sierra Madre, is 
a Catholic parish school, ranked 
fourth in the Los Angeles Diocese, 
with a focus on faith, stewardship 
and academic excellence. 

VITA-MIX

 My dad and I saw it at the fair this fall, and it wowed us. 
The magical blending machine that could make ice cream, 
cabbage-ino coffee that is downright delicious, a tortilla 
soup that is bomb, and so, so much more. It is the blender 
that Starbucks uses to make their frapuccinos and Jamaba 
Juice their smoothies. This amazing machine is called the 
Vita-Mix, and after the fair I knew I had to have one. I 
told everyone about the Vita-Mix, even my interviewer for 
UChicago – I had almost become an unofficial spokesperson 
I told so many people. Whenever my dad and I would go 
into Bed, Bath, and Beyond we would check out the Vita-
Mix, saying ‘one day’, because this blender isn’t cheap, but it 
sure is worth the price.

 Last week my dad and I are watching TV after getting 
our cable installed, and, what do you know, a Vita-Mix 
infomercial is on QVC with a deal for the newer, better 
machine. We watched the hosts make sorbet, macaroni and 
cheese, and three types of soup. I was foaming at the mouth. 
My dad turns to me and asks, “Want to get it?”. I was in 
shock, I knew that he was going to get me one eventually 
for graduation, but not now, and not the best one. Naturally, 
I said yes, and five days later my Vita-Mix arrived. Since 
getting my Vita-Mix I have made tortilla soup, vanilla 
ice cream, smoothies, avocado chocolate pudding, vegan 
chocolate truffles, blueberry sorbet, and I have only just 
begun. For anyone who wants to eat healthier and have a 
machine that can do it all, 

I highly recommend the Vita-Mix, because it’s fantastic. 

EARN CREDITS FOR GRADUATION

PUSD high school students can earn credits for graduation, 
for "a-g" requirements for admission to UC/CSU, or learn new 
skills through the Pasadena Educational Foundation's 2012 Summer 
Program. 

Classes available for 10 units of credit include: Spanish I, Geometry, Algebra 
I, History and PE. Program will run from June 13 to July 17, 2012 
at Marshall Fundamental High School. 

For registration forms and a complete course listing, including a variety 
of other 5- and 10-unit elective classes, go to: www.pasedfoundation.org 
or call (626)396-3625. Scholarships available.