Mountain Views News          Saturday, May 26, 2012

8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Mountain Views News Saturday, May 26, 2012 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

PASADENA SENIORS TAKE TOP HONORS

Three Pasadena resident seniors have spent the past four years doing the "rush 
hour" freeway round trip to Loyola High School just west of downtown LA, but 
their freeway time has paid off. They were all rewarded on Wednesday May 23, 
2012 with many of the school's highest honors. 

John Percival Symes IV earned the coveted Senior Leadership award given to only 
one graduating Senior who has exhibited the highest level of leadership of his fellow 
students as recognized by the faculty. 

Henry Herrill, formerly of Pasadena's Chandler School earned the prestigeous 
"Scholar Athlete Award", as the student exhibiting the highest academic achievement, 
while at the same time excelling on the athletic field. Henry is heading to 
Stanford in the fall. 

Nick Budincich, formerly of High Point Academy, and Loyola school record holder 
in the discus, weight throw, and hammer throw, won the Science award, as well 
as the Mathematics faculty achievement awards for his academic excellence. Nick 
will compete in the CA State Meet, and National Junior Track and Field Championships 
this June. He will join Henry by also attending Stanford University in 
September on an athletic scholarship. 

From left: John Symes, Nick Budincich, Henry Herrill in front of Loyola Hall.


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

JESSICA GARDNER’S PAINTING EARNS 

LA SALLE JUNIOR A GOLD MEDAL 

Jessica Gardner, a junior AP art student at La Salle High School in 
Pasadena garnered a 2012 National Scholastic Art and Writing 
Awards Gold Medal for her “untitled” painting.

 The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, run by the nonprofit 
Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, is the oldest and most 
prestigious national program offering early recognition and 
scholarships to creative teenagers. To advance to the nationals, a 
student must be named a regional Gold Key or Silver Key winner or 
Gold Key and American Visions nominee. This year’s competition 
attracted 200,000 submissions in 28 categories of art and writing. 

 “I was surprised by how big a deal this Gold Medal is,” said 
Jessica, whose painting, along with the works of other medalists, will 
be exhibited at Parsons, The New School of Design in New York City.

 Jessica’s painting, “Untitled,” is of a Victorian-era chair, stark 
in its simplicity and yet highly detailed. An Advanced Placement Art 
student, Jessica chose to study the “household architecture” of chairs 
as her portfolio concentration. She created a series of 12 paintings 
of different types of chairs, using the chair “as a vehicle to express 
humanity in aloneness, not loneliness.” Jessica came to AP art without 
the traditional prerequisite work. “She obviously had talent, but she 
had a lot of catching up to do,” commented Ellen Slatkin, one of La 
Salle’s AP art teachers. “She is working in metaphors - formal chairs, 
casual chairs. It’s part of who she is.” 

 Jessica did not consider herself an artist until just two years 
ago when she brought her own emotions to her work and began to 
work for herself and not to please her peers.

 Her choice of subject matter is a natural outgrowth for Jessica, 
who intends to pursue an art/architecture major in college.

LA SALLE JUNIORS ARE PERFECT 
DUO

La Salle Juniors, Ryan Flynn and Andrew Lucas (pictured 
above) earned the highest composite score of 36 on the 
ACT college admissions placement exam. The ACT® test is 
a curriculum-and standards-based educational and career 
planning tool that assesses students› academic readiness for 
college. Less than one tenth of one percent of the 1.6 million 
exam takers achieve a perfect score. This is truly an amazing 
accomplishment.

Both Ryan and Andrew are members of La Salle’s robotics team. 
Next year, Andrew will supervise production and engineering 
and Ryan will be one of the main engineers as well as the robot 
navigator and spotter during robotics competitions. “These 
two are very creative and have a friendly, competitive spirit,” 
commented Mr. Roy Chang, Computer Education teacher 
and Robotics Club moderator. Mr. Dave Desmond, AP 
Social Studies teacher and Chess Club moderator says, “Their 
Chess matches are extremely competitive, but they enjoy and 
appreciate each other’s depth of logical thinking.” 

Both young men are members of Pi Alpha Chi Service 
Society, members of the National Honor Society and have 
qualified for the California Scholarship Federation. One small 
differentiation is that Andrew is working toward the rank of 
Eagle Scout while Ryan is a member of the Lancer swimming 
team. Yet, despite a rigorous schedule of AP courses, they have 
collaborated on a “Star Wars” fan-fiction book for the last two 
years. 


Teachers vs. 
Parents

Whose side are you on?

Join us for the 5th annual Parent-
Teacher Softball Game/Student 
Homerun Derby

Sponsored by the SM$ Annual Fund

Last year the teachers rallied from 
behind and beat the parents in an 
amazing upset. This year “The Parents 
Strike Back”

Saturday June 2nd, Heasley Field

Diner & Homerun Derby - 5:30pm

Game starts at 
6:00pm

Special 

perfomance 
by the SMS 
Dance 
Maniacs

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. 


2012 Middle School 
Summer Academic Conservatory for GirlsGrades 6-8 Building Healthy Friendships 
Leadership Programs Safe and Productive Environment 
Half or Full-Day Options AvailableCall Alverno High School at (626) 355-3463 
or Suzy Ares, Summer Institute Director at 
sares@alverno-hs.org.
All registration starts online March 1st: 
www.myalverno.org 
Click on “Summer Institute”
High school summer program also available.
200 N. Michillinda Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 
Alverno High SchoolWhere Girls Come First! 
COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION SINCE 1960
Looking Into The Life Of A Teenager

 By Meaghan Allen


Congratulations To Our Very Own Graduate

MEAGHAN ALLEN - LASALLE HIGH SCHOOL