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LOVE ME, LOVE ME NOT (continued from page 1) Whereas the lower campus project is complete, the upper campus still sits in an ecosystem of weeds and brush. To add insult to injury, what was originally designed to be a shining beacon on the hill, will look more like faded remnants of broken promises. A sharp reminder that what is right is not necessarily politically expedient. And when the two are set to collide, politically expedient wins a majority of the time. To offset declining state funds and the rise in construction costs, PUSD has put the campus design through a series of cuts. Most of the items being removed are cosmetic in design and function. No field upgrades, a significant change in the cooling system and changes in the rainwater runoff barriers. According to the project manager Frasier Thompson, the district is committed to building the upper campus in so far as the price tag does not exceed $27 million. The first round of construction bids came in at $29 million and were promptly rejected by PUSD, much to the bewilderment of the community. The objective of this current project overhaul is to remove uncertainty in the RFP, which leads to padding/overestimates by the contractors. In short, the middle school continues to sit dormant, in a state of aesthetic and functional deficiency. The gorgeous façade of the new wing at the lower campus is in stark contrast to the construction fence-lined walkway students are forced to negotiate at the upper campus. As for now, all assurances from the project leaders point towards a bid process to begin over the next several weeks, with groundbreaking to occur sometime this summer. It’s a recurring “April Fool’s joke at which that no one is laughing. 8 EDUCATION & YOUTH Mountain Views News Saturday, April 6, 2013 SCHOOL DIRECTORY PUSD WEEKLY NEWSFLASH Kindergarten enrollment has begun at PUSD elementary schools. Contact your neighborhood school for details or to schedule a tour. Many schools will be participating in PUSD’s Kinder Day on Wednesday, April 10 with tours, kindergarten readiness information and more. To be eligible for kindergarten in PUSD, a child must turn five years old by Sept. 1, 2013. PUSD will also be offering transitional kindergarten for children turning five between Sept. 2,, 2013 and Dec. 1, 2013. To register for kindergarten, a parent/ guardian must provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate, immunization records, proof of rent or home ownership within PUSD’s boundaries and a recent utility bill in the parent/guardian’s name. Call 626-396-3600, ext. 88340 with enrollment questions. Parents can also register their child for kindergarten for the 2013- 2014 school year at PUSD’s Kindergarten Registration and Readiness Fair Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. – Noon at the Rose City Great Room located at the corner of Oak Knoll Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard in Pasadena. Free immunizations for incoming kindergartners who are Medi-Cal eligible or uninsured will be available. Families can also learn about how to prepare their child for kindergarten, what pre-kindergarten summer programs are being offered by the Pasadena Educational Foundation and other groups, and more about PUSD’s state recognized transitional kindergarten program. PUSD students will take standardized tests such as STAR this month. PUSD’s testing period opens April 11. The City of Pasadena offers a variety of summer day camps June 17 through August 19. Early registration is now underway. For more information, please contact the Citywide Recreation Office at (626) 744-7500 or visit www.ci.pasadena.ca.us The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens invites families with children in PUSD’s first grade classes to visit free of charge on two upcoming Saturdays: April 20 and May 18. Admission flyers were sent home with students. The flyer must be presented at the admission desk. For more information contact Jennifer Olson at the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) at (626) 396-3600 x88372 or jolson@pasedfoundation.org. The City of Pasadena offers a variety of summer day camps June 17 through August 19. Early registration is now underway. For more information, please contact the Citywide Recreation Office at (626) 744-7500 or visit www.ci.pasadena.ca.us The City of Pasadena Human Relations Commission is holding its 20th Annual Human Relations Essay Contest titled, “What Can I Do to Improve Human Relations in Pasadena?” The Essay Contest is open to all 9th – 12th grade high school students in Pasadena. The contest deadline has been extended to Monday, April 8. Awards are as follows: 1st Place - $500, 2nd Place - $300, 3rd Place - $200 and Teacher with the most entries - $50, Teacher with the winning entry - $50. Entries should be delivered to the Jackie Robinson Center at 1020 N. Fair Oaks, Pasadena. This program is sponsored by the City of Pasadena Human Relations Commission, with funding provided by private donations, College Launch and Love Birds Café and Bakery. For more information call Sonya Amos at (626) 744-4234 or e-mail at samos@cityofpasadena.net. The Henry W. Longfellow Elementary School PTA is looking for Longfellow alumni from all eras to participate in a Longfellow School history project as part of a centennial celebration on May 18, 2013, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The celebration will feature student music, art and literature, a local vendor arts and crafts fair, community exhibitors, time capsule, crafts, activities, and food vendors. Longfellow School opened its doors for the first time in the fall of 1912 in a Henry Mather Greene-designed building. One hundred years later, Longfellow School remains a strong neighborhood school in the Pasadena Unified School District. Longfellow Elementary School,1065 East Washington Boulevard, Pasadena. More information can be found at www.ptalongfellow.org/centennial/ or by emailing centennial@ptalongfellow.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: Brent Forsee bforsee@ausd.net 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: Ethan Williamson Kindergarten - 8th grade website: www.barnhartschool.org Bethany Christian School 93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 (626) 355-3527 Principal: James Lugenbuehl E-mail address: jml@bcslions.org website: www. bcslions.org Clairbourn School 8400 Huntington Drive San Gabriel, CA 91775 Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172 FAX: 626-286-1528 E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org Foothill Oaks Academy 822 Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010 (626) 301-9809 Co-Principals Nancy Lopez and Diane Kieffaber 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 Headmaster John Higgins 626-798-8989 website: www.highpointacademy.org LaSalle High School 3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. (626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org Principal Bro. Christopher Brady, FSC Monrovia High School 325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016 (626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin Jackson Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.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: Gilbert Barraza website: www.pasadenahigh.org St. Rita Catholic School 322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Principal Joan Harabedian (626) 355-9028 website: www.st-rita.org Sierra Madre Elementary School 141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 (626) 355-1428 Principal: Esther Salinas E-mail address: salinas.esther@pusd.us Sierra Madre Middle School 160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 (626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett Newsom E-mail address: newsom.garrett@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 ARCADIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007 (626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net MONROVIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016 (626) 471-2000 Website: www.monroviaschools.net DUARTE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010 (626)599-5000 Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us LA SALLE’S 14TH ANNUAL CRYSTAL BALL SET FOR APRIL 12, 2013 La Salle High School will hold its 14th Annual Crystal Ball entitled “CirQue De La Salle on April 12 at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena. The 2013 honorees and recipients of the Lasallian Volunteer of the Year Award are Mr. and Mrs. Steve Seidner P’09,’12. Gigantic silent and live auctions will run throughout the evening, and a Hawaiian vacation will be raffled. A live band will provide musical entertainment. The Crystal Ball is La Salle's most important fundraising event and provides tremendous support for it's academic, art, athletic, and financial aid programs. These funds most significantly, support the San Miguel Scholarship Program as La Salle enrolls 5% of each entering freshman class into a need- based program for very low-income families. For reservations or more information please call La Salle High School at 626.696.4312. SKILLZ SUMMER SCHOOL VALIDATES THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS! “Love + support + high expectations + credits = a winning formula for teen success” is the recipe the SKILLZ Summer School planning partners believed in when developing a free, innovative summer school program in Pasadena three years ago to assist teens most at-risk of dropping out of school. By completing a mix of life skills workshops and academic classes, the students can earn up to ten school credits toward graduation. In addition to improving school success, SKILLZ helps increase the students’ confidence, motivation and social skills. Spearheaded by Flintridge Center, in collaboration with Day One, Lake Avenue Community Foundation and the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), the five-week program has served more than 300 students to date. Last year’s SKILLZ program served over sixty 9th and 10th graders. From participating students, 41% reported having a GPA of less than 1.5 in the last semester. At the end of SKILLZ, 40% reported trying much harder than during the regular school year because they felt “cared for.” 67% of students reported that quality of teaching in SKILLZ academic classes (Math and English) were very effective due to smaller classrooms and specialized attention. A student from Room 201 stated, “SKILLZ staff doesn’t like us – they love us and believe in us!” As a result, one third of students reported realizing their potential and ability to do well in school if they tried. “SKILLZ is a great example of how love, high expectations, and genuine relationships with students can make a difference. Each and every student goes through an interview process that allows us to better understand why they didn’t pass the first time and how we can support their success. Students shared openly and honestly. The answers ranged from not having insurance to cover eye glasses, to not having time to do homework due to being responsible for younger siblings at home. It’s amazing how just taking 5 minutes to understand what the kids were going through empowered us to better support their needs and agree on working as a team towards their success.” shared Day One Executive Director, Christy Zamani. Currently, SKILLZ 2013 is in the works! To find out more information about ways to get involved, starting date and offered classes, please visit Day One’s website at www.dayonepasadena.org. THE REEL DEAL: by Ben Show Movie Reviews Especially for Teens & ‘Tweens G.I. JOE RETALIATION G.I. Joe: Retaliation Review After seeing G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, I was greatly looking forward to the sequel that I knew was coming and, I am pleased to say, that Retaliation is exactly what I was looking for. The Joe's are sent off on a covert mission to rescue a nuke from Pakistan, but end up taking the blame for the assassination of the middle eastern country's leader. Their base is attacked, leaving only Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson), Flint (D.J. Cotrona), and Jaye (Adrianne Palicki) to lead a strike on the world's greatest terrorist group, Cobra. While the dialogue is stilted at points and the acting is mediocre, the plot, story development, and action scenes remain this movie franchise's high points. Overall, this is an enjoyable and entertaining movie, but can be missed if one is not a big fan of the series. We’d like to hear from you! What’s on YOUR Mind? Contact us at: editor@mtnviewsnews.com or www.facebook.com/ mountainviewsnews AND Twitter: @mtnviewsnews | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Saturday, April 6, 2013 
