Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 11, 2012

8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

 Mountain Views News Saturday August 11, 2012 

IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT WASTE FREE LUNCHES

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

SANITATION DISTRICTS OF L.A. COUNTY TEAMS UP WITH GRADES OF GREEN FOR 
SECOND YEAR TO REDUCE TRASH PRODUCED BY SCHOOLS

 Normally, an 82% cutback would not be cause for celebration 
in L.A.County schools. But this year, an 82% 
reduction is actually a goal. It’s the benchmark to beat 
for the second annual “Trash-Free Lunch Challenge,” a 
waste-reduction program sponsored by the Sanitation 
Districts of L.A. County (Sanitation Districts) and national 
non-profit group Grades of Green.

“We are excited to be part of this worthwhile effort for a 
second year,” said Grace Robinson Chan Sanitation Districts 
Chief Engineer and General Manager. “Last year’s

participating schools averaged an 81% reduction in 
lunchtime trash to landfills. We’re hoping this year’s 
schools will do even better.”

This year’s contest is expected to divert more than ten 
thousand bags of trash from area landfills and save 
schools thousands of dollars in supplies and trash hauler 
fees. But it also aims to teach kids better habits that will 
protect the environment in the years to come.

“The goal of the program is to not only reduce waste 
at schools, but to educate kids, hoping they’ll develop 
the habits of reducing, reusing, recycling and composting 
for a ifetime,” said Lisa Coppedge, Grades of Green 
Co-director. 

Participating schools will ask students to bring lunches 
that eliminate trash by using reusable lunch containers, 
reusable water bottles and cloth napkins. All students,

including those who buy lunch, will sort waste into recycling 
and composting. Any school within the Sanitation 
Districts’ service area is eligible to participate. (Schools

with existing trash-free lunch programs are not eligible.) 
The first 16 schools to register will receive an Eco 
Tool Kit and professional consultation worth more than 
$2,500. Allschools must register at www.gradesofgreen.
org/trashchallenge by September 14,2012 and complete 
implementation of the Trash Free Lunch program by 
March 15,

2013.

A panel of environmental experts and other judges will 
evaluate the implementation and success of three finalists’ 
programs. The winning school will receive a Grand 
Prize of a $1,000 science grant. The second- and third-
place schools will receive $750 and $500, respectively.

The Sanitation Districts are a regional agency consisting 
of 23 independent special districts serving over 5.4 
million people in 78 cities and unincorporated territory 
within Los Angeles County. The Sanitation Districts protect 
public health and the environment through innovative 
and cost-effective wastewater and solid waste management, 
and in doing so convert waste into resources 
such as reclaimed water, energy, and recycled materials. 

Grades of Green is a national non-profit organization 
that aims to educate, inspire, and empower students and 
the broader school community to care for and improve the

environment. It offers free instruction for making schools greener on its website, www.gradesofgreen.org. Anyone who wants to implement 
sustainability programs can register their schools online—at no cost—to get tips on reducing trash, emissions, and harmful classroom 
chemicals, plus dozens of other ways to help the environment.

Grades of Green has been honored with many awards, including the U.S. EPA’s prestigious Environmental Award. Grades of Green is 
growing rapidly, with more than73,000 students in 21 states enrolled. Its goal is to enroll thousands of schools with millions of kids—all 
caring for the environment and collectively making a huge impact.For more information on Grades of Green visit www.gradesofgreen.
org or contact Nicole Sevier at 310-938-0974. For more information on the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, contact Rupam 
Soni at 562-908-4288, ext. 2303.

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


THE REEL DEAL: by Ben Show

Movie Reviews Especially for Teens & ‘Tweens

THIS WEEK: TOTAL RECALL

 Take out Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone, drop in Colin Farrell, Kate 
Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel, rehash the old plot, and you have Total Recall. The movie 
begins with Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) having a nightmare. He awakens and his 
wife, Lori Quaid (Kate Beckinsale) comforting him. Moving on, he goes to work with his 
friend Harry (Bokeem Woodbine), where they make robotic soldiers for their tyrannical 
government.

 That night, his curiosities about a mysterious company called Rekall, force him to 
go, but it is not as it seems. Immediately after being hooked up by a Rekall worker (Will 
Yun Lee), everything goes wrong. From then on, the movie is an adrenaline rush, filled 
with mindless robots, hover cars, and amazing shots of futuristic cities.

 Overall, I liked the movie, but there were some points I think it would be good 
to criticize. Firstly, some scenes felt too long; like they were being dragged on and on. 
Secondly, there were parts where the dialogue 
got stiff and stilted. Thirdly, and finally, I did feel 
that Arnold Schwarzenegger did a better job in 
the original movie. Also, I felt that the plot of the 
first movie fit better and flowed better.

 There were many things wrong with this 
movie, but there were also many good things. 
For example, Kate Beckinsale was absolutely 
amazing as Lori Quaid. She made me both mad 
and frustrated, which I rarely feel during movies 
these days. Also, the CGI was stunning; it really 
brought you into the movie. Finally, the score 
amazed me. Unlike other science fiction movies, 
it was memorable and original.

 In general, Total Recall felt like a 
rewarding remake of the original, with few flaws. 
The acting was good, Kurt Wimmer and Mark 
Bomback (screenwriters) wrote a very intriguing 
screenplay, and the director (Len Wiseman) 
made the movie come to life. I was very pleased.