Mountain Views News          Saturday, June 16, 2012

7

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Mountain Views News Saturday June 16, 2012 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

ALVERNO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS CELEBRATE 

BACCALAUREATE MASS 

Forty-five seniors celebrate their last mass as Alverno students

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

Sierra Madre, CA (June 14, 2012) 
– After their last week of finals 
and the celebration of their “Senior 
Farewell” the previous week, 
the Alverno seniors celebrated the 
annual Baccalaureate Mass at St. 
Rita’s Church in Sierra Madre on 
Thursday, June 7.

The mass was officiated by Father 
Ken Deasy of the Holy Child Association 
and featured Azure Antoinette 
as the keynote speaker. 
Azure, a performance poet previously 
commissioned by Maria 
Shriver and Oprah Winfrey for “O Magazine,” addressed the graduates and shared her 
own personal journey and experiences with the audience. She spoke of trials, tribulations, 
and the ultimate successes that each of the graduates would face. Azure concluded her 
address with a poem that she had composed especially for the Alverno Class of 2012.

In addition to the address made by Azure, this year’s Baccalaureate Mass featured two 
special songs from the Class of 2012. The first song, “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars was 
sung by the entire senior class in recognition of their theme for the year and the second 
song was an original composition of senior Annela Flores. Annela’s song also touched 
upon the theme of “count on me” and recounted many of the memories the seniors had 
made over their past four years at

Alverno.

The Baccalaureate Mass concluded with the presentation of awards and honor cords 
by Ann Gillick, Head of School; Julia Fanara, Assistant Head of School; and Cameron 
Gonzales, Dean of Students. Awards presented at Baccalaureate included the Archdiocese 
of Los Angeles Christian Service Award, Father Joaquin Masmitja Award for Lifetime 
Service, lifetime membership 
in the California Scholarship Federation, and lifetime 
membership in the National Honor Society.

In total, thirteen Alverno seniors were presented with the Father Joaquin Masmitja 
Award for Lifetime Service. Over their past four years at Alverno, these thirteen young 
women completed more than 6,102 hours of service in their local communities. Aliza 
Mariano, also one of the Salutatorians, 
was recognized with the Archdiocese of Los 
Angeles Christian Service Award for her shining example of generosity and service. 
Thirteen were recognized as lifetime members of both the California Scholarship Federation 
and National Honor Society; six girls were recognized as lifetime members of the 
California Scholarship Federation; and one was recognized as a lifetime member of the 
National Honor Society.

The evening ended with the first Baccalaureate Ball, hosted by Azure Antoinette, in the 
Villa del Sol d’Oro on Alverno’s campus. Graduates and their families were treated to dinner, 
dessert, and dancing at the event as well as a showing of a special memory video made 
for the senior class. Seniors were gifted with a collection of inspirational quotes compiled 
by Maria Shriver and a copy of a book edited by Azure entitled, “If the World Were My 
Classroom.”

“Tonight, our seniors celebrated their last liturgy as Alverno students, tomorrow, they will be graduating and beginning 
new journeys in the world. I am confident in the young women they have become and have demonstrated this in their 
academic and service commitments. Tonight, more than half of them were recognized for these accomplishments and their 
true epitome of Alverno’s mission of empowering each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be,” said Ann 
Gillick, Head of School.


CLASS OF 2012

Kaitlin A’Hearn *^

Estefania Alvarez *+

Camille Amurao

Amanda Armas

Marina Banks ^

Alora Barrera *

Marisa Benavides

Shasta Cales

Carolyn Chalfant *^+

Holly Coates *^+

Madeleine 
Daniels-Campos+

Annela Flores *^+

Aliyana Franklin

Jansee Gerolaga ^

Andrea Gochez-Wilson

Victoria Haklar *+

Karen Halim

Yasmine Ibrahim *^+

Haylee Ladesich

Hana Lemseffer *^

Jing (Diana) Lin *^+

Amanda Lira *^

Rachel Lopez +

Samantha Lorey

Monauar Lutfi *^

Aliza Mariano *^+

Nona Marquez

Laura Mejia ^

Celina Minissian +

Jasmine Mithani *^

Julianne Obedicen ^+

Sienna Paciulli ^

Amanda Parlee ^

Amanda Perello

Reann Ramirez

Cassandra Saavedra

Serena Santamaria-Rios *^

Rosalind Schoen

Nailah Tatum

Christina Tavera

Desiree Terry

Giselle Tervalon ^

Alisa Unell *^

Samantha Veloz

Mackenzie Winslow +

^ Life Member of the 
California Scholarship 
Federation

* Life Member of the Daemen 
Chapter of the National 
Honor Society

+ Fr. Joaquin Masmitjá

Lifetime Service Award


MINDSPRING EDUCATION 
CENTER LAUNCHES NEW 

SUMMER PROGRAM

Handwriting, Typing, and Journalism – Oh My!

 Summertime in Sierra Madre brings Friday family movies

in Kersting Court, the annual Independence Day Parade and 
now, three-week educational sessions designed to give young 
students tools that will enrich their lives and their academic

pursuits.

“I’ve been in education for 12 years and here in Sierra Madre 
since 2007. It’s such a pleasure to work with the people here 
in my own community and see my students accomplish

their goals throughout the school year. Now that school’s 
out, I have the opportunity to teach skills that will benefit 
my students in whatever they are doing,” explains Sally Morrison, 
learning specialist and owner of Mindspring Education 
Center.

Mindspring’s three-course, three-week program will run 
Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon. Three 
sessions will be offered this year with the first one starting 
June 18. 

Students can choose to take one, two, or three classes per 
session. Signing up for more than one session will benefit 
kids even more as the small class sizes allow them to progress 
at their own pace throughout the summer. Handwriting, 
Typing, and Journalism classes engage students in some 
of the most important tools for communicating their ideas.

Mindspring offers one-to-one intensive instruction

and tutoring year-round. 

For more information, please visit www.mindspringedc.
com.


THANK YOU!

 In second grade you picked 
me up every Tuesday after 
school and took me to Six 
Flags, playing ‘Two Tickets to 
Paradise’ loud on the radio, 
because we had season passes – 
best birthday present ever. You 
have driven me thousands and 
thousands of miles across this 
country, visiting everywhere 
from Seattle to Little Suamico, 
WI to Spavinaw, OK, taking me 
on endless adventures whether 
we planned on them or not. 
And I can proudly say I have 
been to thirty-four states as of 
now, excluding Hawaii to which 
I haven’t yet been to with you. 
In first grade you helped me 
write my sentences (Barn in the 
USA) even when I protested. 

 You took me to ice skating 
lessons and bought me Ruffles 
Sour cream and cheddar chips 
at the end of every lesson, 
sometimes with a warm 
cup of hot cocoa. You have 
supported me in whatever I 
have chosen to pursue, whether 
it be cross country, softball (7 
years), volleyball, water polo, 
drama, Mock Trial, or dance. 
You annoy the crap out of me 
half the time, but despite that 
you are pretty cool. You have 
endlessly fought for me and 
given everything for me. You 
are the most awesome, award-
winning, potato-pounding 
father ever.

 I LOVE YOU! LET’S GO 
PATRIOTS!

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. 

Looking Into The Life Of A Teenager

 By Meaghan Allen