Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 6, 2014

6

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mountain View News Saturday, September 6, 2014

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

RAISE KIDSÕ GRADES WITH STUDY TIPS FOR THE DIGITAL AGE

(StatePoint) It happened 
again this year: The kids 
are back in the classroom 
before youÕve had the chance 
to blink. Thankfully, new 
developments in education 
are making it easier than ever 
for students to hit the ground 
running.

These days, technology has 
the power to dramatically 
improve how kids digest, 
retain and apply information 
Ð if you know how to use it. 
Check out these great study 
tips that can help your student 
achieve the grades they strive 
for.

Quit Cramming

 ÒAll-nightersÓ are a relic 
of the ÒSaved by the BellÓ 
era. Research now shows 
that students who cram the 
evening before a test or quiz 
are less likely to perform well 
the following day. Rest is 
critical for academic success.

Instead of packing learning 
into marathon sessions, 
students should maintain 
a regular study schedule 
leading up to their tests and 
should make sure to get plenty 
of shuteye.

Create a Digital Tool-Kit

ÒBe preparedÓ is the simple 
motto of the Boy Scouts, and 
it applies to almost every 
facet of life. You wouldnÕt 
try to build a tree-house 
without a hammer, saw and 
nails -- you shouldnÕt study 
with an empty tool kit either. 
These days, there are unique 
tech tools available that 
make the studying process 
more efficient, engaging and 
effective.

For example, McGraw-Hill 
EducationÕs LearnSmart 
provides an adaptive Òdigital 
tutorÓ that continuously 
assesses studentsÕ 
knowledge and skills and 
provides personalized 
recommendations that help 
them master content over 
time. By helping students 
focus their study time more 
on learning what they donÕt 
know and less on what they 
already know, LearnSmart 
can help turn C students into 
B students and B students into 
A students.

The company also offers 
SmartBook, a personalized 
digital textbook that adjusts 
on the fly and highlights 
important information based 
on each studentÕs current 
strengths and weaknesses. 
You can find more 
information on McGraw-
Hill EducationÕs entire family 
of adaptive learning tools 
at www.mheducation.com/
back-to-school.

Jump Around

Not physically, but 
figuratively. When prepping 
for a test, most students 
review course materials in 
chronological order. While 
this approach may seem 
logical, research suggests that 
studying out-of-order helps 
students retain standalone 
knowledge more effectively. 
This allows them to recall 
information in a randomized 
fashion (the way it appears on 
tests).

If your children apply 
themselves and use these tips 
to guide their studies, theyÕll 
have a leg up in the beginning 
of the school year. Whether 
itÕs McGraw-Hill EducationÕs 
digital learning products, an 
outside-the-box approach to 
test-prep, or just a good nightÕs 
sleep, a dynamic, modern 
approach to education can 
help your child thrive.

ÒThis is the era of digital 
education,Ó said Jeff 
Livingston, senior vice 
president of McGraw-
Hill Education. ÒWe must 
continue to develop adaptive 
technologies that streamline 
the learning process and 
increase the potential of 
students everywhere."

If your student has struggled 
in the past, or if you think he 
or she isnÕt reaching his or her 
true potential, try some new 
techniques to help make this 
school year the best one yet.

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

Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 791-1255

Head of School: Chris Schnieders, PhD

Email: Jackykn@frostig.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 OÕNeill

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

WHAT EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT 
CHILDRENÕS HEART HEALTH

(StatePoint) When thinking of heart 
disease, older adults typically come to 
mind, but children also can have heart 
disease, often with more devastating 
outcomes. Pediatric cardiomyopathy 
is a potentially life-threatening disease 
and the leading cause of sudden 
cardiac arrest (SCA) in children.

 Cardiomyopathy is a chronic disease 
of the heart muscle that affects the 
heartÕs ability to pump blood. Some 
children who have the disease can be 
symptom-free and are unknowingly 
at risk for SCA. Approximately 2,000 
people under 25 die of SCA every year 
according to the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, but there are 
preventative measures for families.

 ÒIn many cases, if cardiomyopathy 
is detected early and managed 
properly, sudden cardiac death can be 
prevented,Ó says Lisa Yue, a parent who 
lost two children to cardiomyopathy 
and founder of the ChildrenÕs 
Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF). 
The Foundation is launching the 
first ChildrenÕs Cardiomyopathy 
Awareness Month in September to 
call attention to the disease. ÒKnowing 
the symptoms and risk factors for 
cardiomyopathy can help save lives.Ó

Know the Symptoms

Currently there is no formal cardiac 
screening process for children. 
While pediatricians can respond to 
more obvious symptoms, identifying 
pediatric cardiomyopathy can be 
challenging because some affected 
children are symptom-free. It is not 
uncommon for cardiomyopathy to be 
missed or misdiagnosed as a cold, flu 
or asthma.

 Symptoms include shortness of 
breath, rapid breathing, fainting, chest 
pain, dizziness, heart palpitations and 
fatigue. Infants may experience poor 
weight gain, difficulty breathing, 
excessive sweating or lethargy. It is 
important for parents to communicate 
concerns to the pediatrician.

Know the Risk Factors

 ÒCardiomyopathy can occur in any 
child and be inherited or acquired 
through a viral infection or from 
cancer chemotherapy,Ó explains 
Steven Lipshultz, M.D., pediatrician-
in-chief of ChildrenÕs Hospital of 
Michigan and chair of CCFÕs medical 
advisory board.

 Since the majority of 
cardiomyopathies are inherited, 
understanding a familyÕs cardiac 
history is the best way to prevent 
premature death. Hereditary risk 
factors include having a family 
member who is disabled by heart 
disease, has died of heart disease 
before age 50, or was diagnosed with 
Long QT syndrome, cardiomyopathy, 
Marfan syndrome or a heart rhythm 
issue. Family members who exhibit 
symptoms such as chest pain, 
discomfort upon exertion, fatigue, 
fainting or high blood pressure should 
be evaluated by a cardiologist.

Protecting At-Risk Young Athletes

 Adolescents with an underlying heart 
condition like cardiomyopathy are at 
a higher risk for SCA due to increased 
physical activity and certain body 
changes. SCA is the top cause of death 
on school property, and according to 
the American Heart Association these 
deaths occur most commonly in high-
intensity sports.

 To help keep young athletes 
safe, Senator Robert Menendez, 
Representatives Lois Capps and Bill 
Pascrell, ChildrenÕs Cardiomyopathy 
Foundation and the National Athletic 
TrainersÕ Association introduced 
the Supporting Athletes, Families, 
and Educators to Protect the Lives 
of Athletic Youth (SAFE PLAY) Act, 
with provisions to protect student 
athletes from SCA.

 For more information about 
cardiomyopathy, visit www.
childrenscardiomyopathy.org.

Whether children are at home, in 
school or on the sports field, it is 
important for parents to understand 
the symptoms and risk factors of the 
disease.


THE REEL DEAL: by Ben Show

AS ABOVE SO BELOW REVIEW

 
Nowadays, horror movies 
are a dime a dozen. They 
all involve demons of some 
sort, stupid characters, and 
derivative plots that get 
recycled every movie. So, what 
makes ÒAs Above So BelowÓ 
special in the horror genre? 
Absolutely nothing.

 Scarlett (Perdita Weeks) 
is looking for the fabled 
philosopherÕs stone. It if 
rumored to be somewhere 
in Paris, but she has no idea 
where. After tracking down 
several key clues, she discovers 
the stone lies in the catacombs, 
and she and a team of guides 
go down into the ancient 
tunnels to find it.

 This is like ÒIndiana JonesÓ gone wrong. Weak, whiny, and downright 
stupid characters make the movie funny. What makes this film 
hilarious is the fact that there are almost no demons/ ghosts/evil 
spirits. Ninety-nine percent of the deaths come from the charactersÕ 
own negligence. The only thing that makes this film any good is a very 
impressive technical trick used at the end of the movie. See ÒAs Above 
So BelowÓ if you are looking for a good laugh.