Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 2, 2012

8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Mountain Views News Saturday June 2, 2012 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

195 LANCERS GRADUATE AT LA SALLE’S 53RD COMMENCEMENT


La Salle High School 
graduated 195 seniors at 
its 53rd Commencement on 
Friday evening, May 25. 
Commencement Exercises 
took place at the Church 
of the Nazarene, next-door 
to the School. Sheyda G. 
Pejoumand received the La 
Salle High School General 
Excellence Award and will 
attend the University of 
California, Berkeley in the 
fall. Sheyda also received 
the Excellence Award for 
Spanish. The General Merit 
Award went to George J. 
Pearman who will also 
attend the University of 
California, Berkeley.

Claire C. McCarthy and 
Mathew Godshall received 
the Archdiocese of Los 
Angeles Christian Service 
Award. Chelsee J. Grover-
Odom was selected by 
her senior class peers to 
receive the Pro Deo et 
Patria Award. The De 
La Salle Service Award 
went to Vincent Delgatto 
and Manuel M. Sariano. 
Francisco Luna and Arolyn 
D. Basham received the 
Brother Celestine All 
Around Athlete Award. 

Meaghan E. Allen gave 
the Welcome Address 
and Katrina A. Dela 
Cruz was chosen by the 
Faculty Commencement 
Committee for the 
honor of delivering the 
Commencement Address.

100% of La Salle’s 
graduating class will attend 
college or post graduate 
academies next year, 
and 91% of the class will 
matriculate to four-year 
institutions.

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


Above, LaSalle High School Class of 2012. Photo by John Blackstock. Below, left, 
Meaghan Allen, graduate and Mountain Views News Teen Columnist welcomes the class. 
Photo by Hoang Nguyen. Katrina Dela Cruz (bottom right) delivers the Commencement 
Address. Photo by John Blackstock

Sierra Madre, CA (May 30, 2012) – On 
May 22, 2012, twenty-five Alverno seniors 
presented their “Senior Projects” to the 
student body and members of the local 
community. These projects were an 
opportunity for these young women to 
explore a passion or future career path 
before they graduate from Alverno. 

This year projects ranged from archery to 
sewing to cinematography to veterinary 
medicine. Each student was given the 
opportunity to select a project that they 
were passionate about and complete it over a 
semester long period. These were presented 
on Tuesday to the student body and evaluated 
by a panel of judges that included Alverno 
alumna Terry Traver ’65; past Alverno 
employee Cathie Snyder; and past parent 
from the class of 2001 and current member 
of the Sierra Madre City Council, John 
Capoccia. These three judges determined 
which students would be selected to receive 
the prizes for their incredible work. 

In the end, Samantha Lorey received the 
$150 first place prize for her project, “Time 
to Sparkle.” Samantha published her own 
book on make-up application and created 
her own environmentally friendly make-
up line of eye shadow and lip gloss. Hana 
Lemseffer took home second place and $100 
for her cinematography project of a senior 
memory video to be gifted to her classmates. 
The third place and $75 winner was Laura 
Mejia for her analysis of women’s role in 
the media. In fourth place, Marina Banks 
won $50 for learning how to play softball 
by joining Alverno’s 2011-2012 Horizon 
League first-place team. 

Four honorable mentions and gift cards 
were also awarded to Amanda Parlee for 
learning how to sew, Karen Halim for 
examining the difference in culture between 
America and Indonesia, Carolyn Chalfant 
for learning archery, and Aliyana Franklin 
for a marketing and branding study. 

“These students have worked exceptionally 
hard over the past semester on these 
projects,” said Carla Tomaso, Alverno 
English Department Chair. “Many of them 
went above and beyond what was required 
and truly developed new skills, passions, 
and interests that will carry them beyond 
their time at Alverno.” 

 “Our seniors will be leaving us in a short 
two and half weeks,” said Ann Gillick, Head 
of School. “These projects are not only an 
opportunity to build new passions and skills 
but also the opportunity to demonstrate their 
preparedness for life after Alverno. Each of 
these young women have proven that they 
have the skills, knowledge, and poise to 
succeed and thrive in whatever they choose 
to do—they are true examples of Alverno’s 
mission of empowering 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 SENIORS TAKE ON NEW PROJECTS

Right before graduation Alverno seniors learn new skills and conquer new feats.


Looking Into The Life Of A Teenager

 By Meaghan Allen

MEMOIRS OF A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE

 I am sorry that I neglected to write a column last week, but I 
was so caught up and overwhelmed with graduation practices, 
Grad Night at Disneyland, preparing my Welcome Address, 
finals, family, parties, saying goodbye to La Salle, and filled 
with excitement for GRADUATING that I couldn’t find time or 
remember. However, this week, my first week as a high school 
graduate, I have heaps of time because it is summer! Time to 
sleep in and let the good times roll. 

 Having graduated, I expected some great shift in my life; a 
new feeling now that I have crossed this great line in my life that 
you only experience once. But, I feel the same. Actually, I feel 
as though some grand joke has been played on me, and I am 
waiting for a phone call from my Principal beckoning us seniors 
back to school for another three months. I had a dream a few 
nights ago that I didn’t finish my AP English exam, and I woke 
up with a start sweating and panicking before I realized that I 
am never going to deal with APs again. And I will never have 
those heavenly 25-cent cookies from the cafeteria again, or take 
a test in Mr. Williams’ class. Truth be told, although I was more 
than ready to graduate, I am actually going to kind of miss high 
school because as I look forward at college, I see the Real World 
smirking immediately behind – credit scores, rent, taxes, etc. 

 But right now, for the next thirteen weeks, I am going to 
soak up the sun, read several books, prepare for Air Force ROTC, 
speed study a little Russian (long story), and enjoy the simplicity 
of pre-college summer life. 

ST. RITA LAUNCHES 
JR.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. 


Teachers vs. Parents Whose side are you on?

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