Mountain Views News          Saturday, August 17, 2013

8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mountain Views News Saturday, August 17, 2013 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

PUSD SCHOOL YEAR BEGAN AUGUST 14 

STEAM Magnet Academy, 

Implementation of Common 
Core Standards, Twilight School 
Among New Initiatives

 

Pasadena, CA – As children in Altadena, Pasadena 
and Sierra Madre return to school, there 
are a number of new programs and initiatives 
that solidify the credentials of the Pasadena 
Unified School District (PUSD) as a district 
committed to 21st Century Learning.

“The district’s wide range of new and existing 
academic offerings demonstrate that starting 
with the first day of school PUSD is committed 
to providing a high quality education for 
every student walking through our doors,” said 
PUSD Superintendent Jon R. Gundry.

PUSD’s boldest initiative is the opening of the 
Washington STEAM Magnet Academy (formerly 
known as Washington Middle School). 
The Washington STEAM Magnet Academy is 
unlike any other in the state, utilizing an interdisciplinary 
approach to learning with hands-
on science, technology, engineering and math 
plus art and design emphasizing innovation. The school is supported by the STEAM Community Alliance, a group of leading Pasadena 
area institutions such as Caltech, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Art Center College of Design, Kidspace Museum, the city of Pasadena and 
many more. To learn more about the new school visit www.steam-academy.pasadenausd.org.

All PUSD middle schools are creating signature programs to better prepare students for future success in a dynamic world. Another of 
these new middle school initiatives beginning in 2013-2014 is the Advanced Studies Program at Wilson Middle School. Participating 
students in this rigorous academic program are enrolled in core subject honors courses, deepening students’ knowledge and laying the 
foundation for students to take Advanced Placement classes in high school.

The new Common Core Standards will be introduced in district classrooms this year after a multi-year process of preparation and rewriting 
the district curriculum. Adopted by 45 states including California, the Common Core Standards describe clearly and consistently 
the knowledge and skills that young people need to be successful in college and careers. The rewritten curriculum incorporates these 
standards and 21st Century Learning skills, meeting the desires of the Greater Pasadena area community for graduates prepared for college 
and career success and able to contribute to our democratic society.

“We are putting into practice the belief that true learning is more than the simple acquisition of content; we are teaching students to 
understand what they learn it so that they can transfer that knowledge to other situations,” said Superintendent Gundry. For more information 
on PUSD’s transition to the Common Core, please visit www.common-core-standards.pasadenausd.org.

Launching in September, PUSD’s Twilight School program will give high school students who are behind in credits or have a grade of D 
or F on their transcript a chance to make up credits and improve their grade-point average. The Twilight School is designed for students 
who were previously unable to participate in credit or grade recovery programs due to space limitations. Twilight School will take place 
in three 10 to 12 week trimesters throughout the school year. Classes are two days a week, three hours each evening–typically from 5:30 
to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the PUSD Education Center in Pasadena.

“Twilight School expands options for our struggling students,” stated Superintendent Gundry. “Now many more students can make up 
missed credits and remediate low grades—graduating on time and qualifying for college admissions.”

In addition to these new programs, the district’s signature programs continue to grow and gain traction in the community:

• Dual Language Immersion programs in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese grow to fifth grade this year with plans in place for 
middle and high school.

• The district’s state recognized transitional kindergarten program expands to Longfellow Elementary School this year in addition 
to Washington Elementary, McKinley School, Jefferson Elementary and Willard Elementary where the program is currently.

• PUSD’s College and Career Pathways continue to offer college preparatory curriculum paired with career themed project-based 
learning. The Pathways programs part of the Linked Learning initiative that is transforming schools across the state.

• The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme at Willard Elementary and Blair school continue to grow with 10 percent of 
the graduating class at Blair achieving the prestigious IB Full Diploma.


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

Students and Parents gather in Sierra Madre Elementary schoolyard on Day One of the 
new school year. S. Henderson/MVNews

NEW DATES PICKED FOR SIERRA MADRE LIBRARY’S POPULAR 
PARENT/CHILD WORKSHOPS IN SEPTEMBER

Registration is now open for Sierra Madre Public Library’s popular Parent/Child workshop series, slated for September 5, 
12, 19, 26, and October 3. 

Sessions will take place at the Library on consecutive Thursdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and will be interactive including 
toys, crafts, books and play in addition to discussions of parenting issues and concerns. 

The parenting workshop will feature noted resource professionals from the community and each session will feature a 
different aspect of parenting, including early literacy, speech, hearing and language development, child development, 
nutrition, music, play, and health. 

Families with children ages 36 months and younger are encouraged to register now as past workshops have filled up fast. 
Enrollment is free, but in-person pre-registration at the Library is required to ensure a spot in the program.

This project is supported 
by the U.S. Institute of Museum 
and Library Services 
under the provisions of the 
Library Services and Technology 
Act, administered 
in California by the State 
Librarian.

For more information, 
please call Meegan Tosh, 
Youth Services Librarian at 
(626) 355-7186. The Sierra 
Madre Public Library is 
located at 440 West Sierra 
Madre Boulevard in Sierra 
Madre.www.sierramadre.
lib.ca.us 


THE REEL DEAL: by Ben Show

THE WOLVERINE

 Unlike many people 
I've talked to, I was not 
looking forward to this 
movie that much. While 
I have enjoyed the previous 
X-Men movies and 
Hugh Jackman has quite 
the amazing résumé, this 
movie did not seem as 
good as its predecessors.

 After traumatizing 
events have forced him 
to live a solitary life, the 
Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) 
is summoned back 
to Japan by a mysterious 
woman (Rila Fukushima). 
He discovers that 
an old friend is dying and 
wishes to offer Logan a 
special gift: the chance 
to live a normal, mortal 
life. However, after he accepts, 
he is challenged by 
the most dangerous foe he's ever faced.

 This movie has two very large weak points. One, the plot 
very simple and predictable and, two, none of the action scenes 
use much CGI to make them look better. 'The Wolverine' is one of 
the weaker installments in the X-men/Wolverine franchises.