Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 1, 2014

EDUCATION & YOUTH

6

Mountain View News Saturday, Novenber 1, 2014

ALVERNO STUDENTS WIN TOP HONORS

SCHOOL DIRECTORY


Alverno High School Senior 
LeAnn Zuniga Wins Youth 
Science Center Essay Contest 
for Second Year

 Alverno High School senior LeAnn 
Zuñiga is the repeat winner of the Youth 
Science Center’s 4th Annual Essay Contest 
for students ages 8 to 17. Zuñiga’s essay was 
chosen both years from more than 40 essays 
submitted by high school students from 
across the San Gabriel Valley. 

 The contest meant to promote enthusiasm 
towards future careers in Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
(STEM) provides students with the 
opportunity to share their interest in a 
STEM career as well a new idea or invention 
that would solve a problem and benefit 
the 21st century. Winners receive a $300 
certificate to attend the Gala with two guests 
and a cash price of $500. 

 For her essay, Zuñiga expressed her desire 
to go into bioengineering, with an emphasis 
in immunology and pathology. To solve one 
of the largest problems of the 21st century, 
she shared her concept for a solar power 
distillation system, which would bring in 
sea water to be distilled by the sun. The 
salt drawn from the water could be used 
for a number of different needs including 
food preservation and chemical uses. 
Additionally, the salt could be broken down 
to withdraw the borates, which could help 
to preserve existing wood structures. 

 “I was very fortunate to have a teacher in 
elementary school that peaked my interest 
in math,” Zuñiga said. 
“When I learned to 
love math, the interest 
in science followed, 
I’ve been able to 
have wonderful 
experiences including 
SEAL, acting as a 
Summer Research 
Intern at Caltech, this 
essay contest, and 
other opportunities. 
I’m looking forward 
to creating a path 
to becoming an 
immunologist and 
pathologist.” 

 At Alverno, Zuñiga 
is an AP and Honors 
student enrolled in 
AP Calculus, AP 
English Literature, 
AP Studio Art, and 
AP Environmental 
Science. She is 
heavily involved with 
Alverno’s Science and Math Club and the 

Alverno Solar Energy Activity Laboratory 
(SEAL) research team, in partnership 
with Caltech. The SEAL team is working 
to develop inexpensive, renewable, and 
carbon-free energy sources. Zuñiga is 
trying to narrow down her college list but 
knows that she wants to attend Caltech for 
graduate school. 

“Over the past few years at Alverno, LeAnn 
has worked incredibly hard and really 
strived to be as strong as she could be in the 
STEM fields,” said Julia V. Fanara, Alverno 
High School Head of School. “She has taken 
every opportunity Alverno has provided 
her and has created her own as well. We are 
extremely proud of her accomplishments 
and know that she will be successful as 
she moves forward. At Alverno, we believe 
in empowering each young woman to be 
exactly the person she wants to be and we 
are pleased to see LeAnn as a confident and 
gifted future Alverno alumna.” 

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 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


FRESHMAN VICTORIA CHEN RECOGNIZED BY 
JOHNS HOPKINS CENTER FOR TALENTED YOUTH

Chen scored in the 99th percentile on verbal and quantitative sections

 Alverno High School freshman Victoria Chen was recently recognized by the Johns 
Hopkins Center for Talented Youth for achieving extraordinary scores on the Center’s 
annual School and College Ability Test (SCAT). Chen scored in the 99th percentile in 
both the verbal and quantitative sections of the exam missing only seven questions 
overall. 

 The SCAT has been used by the Center since 1985 to identify talented students 
in elementary grades using above grade-level testing geared towards high school 
students. The SCAT contains two sections, one verbal and one quantitative, with a 
total of 100 questions that test mainly in verbal reasoning and number operations.

 “When I first started the exam, I thought it was going to be really difficult,” Chen said, 
“However, I like to look at everything I work on as a puzzle that just needs the pieces 
to fit so that’s the approach I took. I was relieved when it was over and I felt honored 
to be invited to Baltimore to attend the Grand Ceremony with the other recipients 
and my family.” 

 Chen is a member of Alverno High School’s Early Admission Honors Program 
(EAHP), which allows girls entering the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades to advance 
early to high school and attend Alverno High School as a full-time high school student. 
At 12 years old, Chen made the decision to bypass her seventh and eighth grade years 
at Southlands Christian to enroll as a full-time freshman at Alverno. As a member of 
the EAHP, Chen is enrolled in advanced classes including Algebra II/Trigonometry 
Honors, a course normally reserved for sophomores; Biology Honors; English 9 
Honors, and Computer Science. Additionally, Chen is involved with Alverno’s VEX 
Robotics team and the Alverno Solar Energy Activity Laboratory (SEAL) research 
team that is working to develop inexpensive, renewable, and carbon-free energy 
sources in partnership with Caltech. 

 “We are incredibly proud of Victoria and this amazing accomplishment,” said Julia 
V. Fanara, Alverno High School Head of School. “To be recognized as a one of the top 
gifted students in the country by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth is certainly 
a formidable achievement and testament to Victoria’s drive and commitment to her 
academic success. At Alverno, we believe in empowering each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be and we are pleased 
support Victoria, and all of our students, in these incredible endeavors.” 

About Alverno High School

Alverno High School is an independent, Catholic, college preparatory school for young women dedicated to preparing them to function in a society as 
informed, knowledgeable persons, who have the requisite skills to make and implement mature decisions about complex problems. Enlivened by the spirit of 
its Immaculate Heart Community sponsors, and mindful of the Franciscan roots of its founders, Alverno’s program—academic, spiritual, aesthetic, social, 
and physical—is shaped by the staff, trustees, and students in light of the world for which the students are being educated. Alverno’s mission is to empower 
each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be and since 1960, Alverno has empowered more than 4,200 women to meet that goal. For more 
information about Alverno High School, please call 626-355-3463 or visit www.alverno-hs.org.

La Salle High SchoolAttn: John Blackstock, 
Director of Communications 
Mountain Views News (Open House) 
Ad Size: Quarter page 5.75x 9” ContractColor: Full ColorRun SaLLe HigH ScHooLLa SaLLe HigH ScHooL 
3880 east Sierra Madre Boulevard, Pasadena, ca. 91107Telephone 626.351.8951 • Facsimile 626.351.0275www.lasallehs.org
College PreParatoryLearn•Serve•LeadJoin us Sunday, November 2OPEN HOUSE12:00 to 2:30pm
THE REEL DEAL: by Ben Show

BOOK OF LIFE

 
At first, this film looked like just another 
one of those small, under-the-
radar animated movies that is not from 
a major studio and never really gets 
noticed. However, there things set this 
movie apart. One, the stellar voice cast. 
Two, the fact that Guillermo del Toro 
was producing. Finally, the strange and 
unique animation style.

 Growing up together, Manolo (Diego 
Luna), Joaquin (Channing Tatum), 
and Maria (Zoe Saldana) are the best 
of friends. However, when Maria is 
sent away to Spain, they get torn apart. 
Before she left, though, the gods of the 
dead, La Muerte (Kate del Castillo) and Xibalba (Ron Perlman), 
made a bet on who will marry her. And, when Maria returns, she 
will determine the fate of the underworld. 

 For a children’s movie, ‘The Book of Life’ is extremely 
complex. There are multiple plots, with several character arcs, 
and takes place in three different worlds (the present, the past, 
and the land of the dead). This movie redefined the genre of 
kids films, making the plot even more complex than any other 
animated movie in recent history, while also keeping the humor 
fresh and making sure young children are entertained. Take the 
whole family to see this movie; you will have a lot to talk about 
afterwards.