Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 12, 2013

A8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mountain Views News Saturday, October 12, 2013 

10 YEAR OLD “FEELING GOOD” AS SHE BRINGS HOME 1ST PLACE 
IN THE YOUTH CULTURAL ARTS FOUNDATION TALENT SHOW

On Saturday, October 5, Jessie Ann Ellico Franks, 10, of Sierra Madre, sang 
“Feeling Good” to win 1st place in the 6-12 year-old age division at the Youth 
Cultural Arts Foundation (YCAF) 14th Annual Talent Show held at the William 
and Jane Bristol Civic Auditorium in Bellflower, California. 

In addition to prize money and a trophy, to teach children about philanthropy 
and habits of charitable giving, the YCAF also donated to the charities chosen 
by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each age division. Jessie chose the 
Pasadena Humane Society to receive $100 in her name.

George Pennacchio, entertainment reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News 
graciously served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies . This year’s celebrity 
judges were Candy Clark, Oscar-nominated actress for her role as Debbie 
Dunham in the 1973 film American Graffiti; Alimi Ballard, best-known for 
his role as David Sinclair on the TV series Numb3rs (2005-2010), and Actor/
Producer Edward Enriquez-Cohen, currently working on his 4th season of The 
Voice with NBC.

In late August, a field of over 100 hopeful 6-18 year olds auditioned for a spot in 
the show. A semi-final show narrowed the field down from 60 kids to the final 
30. The final show included individual performances as well as an ensemble 
dance by the entire cast.

“I made a lot of great friends, and it feels good to be able to give something to a 
group that helps to find homes for animals,” says Jessie.

“Feeling Good” was written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, originally 
recorded by Nina Simone in 1964, and more recently recorded by Michael Bublé.

Kathleen and Gary Dietz, producers of the talent show, co-founded The 
Southern California Youth Cultural Arts Foundation in 1998. The goals of the 
YCAF are to encourage youngsters to participate in and learn about all facets of 
the creative arts, and in doing so, create productive more civic-minded citizens. 

Earlier in the day, Jessie sang the Star Spangled Banner at La Salle High School 
for the Hoop-It Up 3x3 Basketball Tour and Pasadena Community Health Fair. 
She is currently rehearsing for A Christmas Carol, running from November 23 
until December 23rd at the Sierra Madre Playhouse. (tickets are now available!)

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

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


Jessie Ann Ellico Franks, 10 poses with her 
trophy and KABC7 Eyewitness News anchor 
George Pennacchio

MAKING THE TRANSITION TO COMMON CORE

DISTRICT RECRUITS AUSD TEACHERS TO SERVE AS CLASSROOM 
MENTORS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

ARCADIA – Rather than hiring outside consultants, Arcadia Unified is using a team of talented educators from within to make the 
crucial transition to the new Common Core State Standards. 

Over the next two years, the state is allocating funding to assist districts in making the change to the Standards, which align curricula 
across 46 states and the District of Columbia. Arcadia Unified is receiving $1.9 million over 2013-14 and 2014-15 to proceed with its 
implementation of the Common Core. 

“The idea was to use the funding to identify and support teachers who could serve as mentors and coaches to their colleagues as everyone 
figures out how the implementation of the Common Core Standards will affect classroom teaching,” said AUSD Superintendent Dr. Joel 
Shawn. “Those teachers serving as Common Core Coaches know our culture of high performance, our schools, and our staff and will 
be able to provide sustainable classroom support as we make this big shift.”

In addition to hiring the mentor coaches, the District will also use the funding to purchase instructional materials and send staff to 
conferences for further professional development and training related to the Common Core. 

The Common Core State Standards emphasize critical thinking and writing across all subject areas and dramatically narrow the 
number of standards so that teachers can provide more in-depth instruction and promote better understanding within an important 
core of standards that will prepare students with 21st century skills. 

“Arcadia Unified is enthusiastic about the new standards because of what it means for not only the students of Arcadia, but those 
across the country,” said AUSD Board of Education President Cung Nguyen. “Our District has always been proactive about promoting 
critical thinking in our classrooms and teaching our students to be effective learners, so I have no doubt that this will be a successful 
transition.” 

A team of 13 AUSD teachers were selected to conduct research on Common Core, determine the District’s needs for the transition, 
filter resources for their colleagues and help build instructional materials and textbooks for the switch. 

“Instead of bringing in consultants or sending our teachers to outside trainings, we found it important to provide our teachers with 
individuals who can give them the classroom support they need to provide lessons that are in line with Common Core,” said AUSD 
Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services David Vannasdall. “Our District has been moving toward the core principles of these 
new standards for several years.”

School officials stress to parents that once the transition is complete, homework and other assignments may look different from what 
students are currently taking home. 

“Homework may look different with the Common Core because we’re facilitating deeper understanding that doesn’t always require 
worksheets and the types of assignments that parents typically see their kids bringing home,” Vannasdall said. “Students may have to 
read a chapter of a book, watch a film clip or work on just a few complex math problems so that they’re ready to dig deeper into the 
issue when they come to class the next day.” 

The District will host a Special Board of Education meeting on Oct. 22 to discuss Common Core, give the community the opportunity 
to review new instructional materials and learn more about the transition. 


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THE REEL DEAL: by Ben Show

GRAVITY

 
When 
I saw 
the first 
preview for 
this movie, 
I was very 
skeptical. 
The idea 
looked too 
simple to 
last for a 
full length 
movie. However, now that I’ve seen ‘Gravity’, it’s like my whole 
view on movies has been flipped upside down.

 On a mission to replace a part of the Hubble, Ryan Stone 
(Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) work 
tirelessly thousands of miles above the Earth. In the middle of 
their space walk, a cloud of shrapnel forms and begins orbiting 
the Earth. While at first it is not a problem, the mass of metal soon 
grows and threatens both of their lives.

 The plot is extremely simple and it isn’t that long, but 
‘Gravity’ is an extraordinary movie. Bullock and Clooney’s 
performances are superb and the directing is amazing. On top of 
that, the cinematography is the best I’ve ever seen. ‘Gravity’ is the 
best movie of the year and everyone needs to see it.