Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 28, 2015

8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 28, 2015 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

PASADENA CITY COLLEGE NAMES FINALISTS FOR NEW 
SUPERINTENDENT -PRESIDENT


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) 396-5880 Principal: Gilbert Barraza

website: http://phs.pusd.us

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) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us

rcadia 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

Pasadena City College has narrowed the nationwide search for its 
next superintendent -. 
president down to three finalists.

 Dr. Patricia Hsieh, president of San Diego Miramar College; Dr. 
Robert Miller, interim superintendent-.
president of PCC; and Dr. 
Rajen Vurdien, president of Fullerton College will vie for the top 
post at PCC, the Pasadena Area Community College District Board 
of Trustees announced Friday.

 A new superintendent-.
president – the 15th in its long and storied 
history – is expected to be announced by the end of April, said 
Berlinda Brown, Board president. Under current bylaw, the trustees 
will vote on the final appointment in an open meeting.

 “I was very pleased with the entire search process,” Brown said. 
“The board unanimously felt that these three by far were the most 
qualified. We’re looking forward to showcasing these candidates to 
the campus and community and seeking their input.”

 From April 13 to 15, the trio will visit PCC individually to 
meet with campus groups representing students, faculty, staff, 
management, and administration. Each candidate will also be given 
the opportunity to present themselves to the campus community and 
public in two open forums 
during their visits. The 
schedule and location of 
the forums are as follows:

 April 13, from 12:40 to 
1:40 p.m. in Westerbeck 
Recital Hall – All College 
Forum with Vurdien

 April 13, from 5:30 to 
6:30 p.m. in Creveling 
Lounge – Community 
Forum with Vurdien

 April 14, from 12:40 to 
1:40 p.m. in Westerbeck 
Recital Hall – All College Forum with Hsieh

 April 14, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Creveling Lounge – Community 
Forum with Hsieh

 April 15, from 12:40 to 1:40 p.m. in Westerbeck Recital Hall – All 
College Forum with Miller

 April 15, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Westerbeck Recital Hall – 
Community Forum with Miller

The forums are open to the public. Attendees will be able to provide 
feedback on the candidates through a questionnaire that will be 
handed out at the end of each forum. The feedback will then be given 
to the Board of Trustees and will be factored into their decision-.
making process, Brown said.

 Hsieh is in her 10th year as president of San Diego Miramar 
College. She earned her Doctor of Education degree from Pepperdine 
University, and attended the Management and Leadership in 
Education Program and Institute for Educational Management 
at Harvard University. She is also the recipient of the 2006 Asian 
Heritage Award, and in 2010 was selected as a Fulbright Fellow to 
the Russian Federation.

 Miller has served as interim superintendent-.
president of PCC 
since September of 2014. Prior to that post, he served as assistant 
superintendent/senior vice president of Business and College 
Services and vice president of Educational Services. A PCC alumnus 
(Class of 1975), Miller earned a Doctorate of Public Administration 
at the University of La Verne. He has been involved with the 
Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association for 32 years, and will 
preside as the organization’s president in 2021.

 Vurdien was appointed president of Fullerton College in May of 
2010. Prior to that post, he served as vice president of Instruction 
at Saddleback College. In the 1980s, Vurdien worked for the 
United Nations Development Program, where he was positioned in 
China and led the U.N. language programs. He earned a Master 
of Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Psychological Studies in 
Education at Temple University.

 PCC’s nationwide 
presidential search 
officially began last 
November, three months 
after the retirement of 
Dr. Mark Rocha. Fifty-.
one applied for the top 
post, according to Ralph 
Andersen & Associates, 
the firm PCC hired to 
coordinate the search. All 
candidates were screened 
through a committee 
consisting of campus 
shared governance 
groups.

 For a full bio of each candidate, please visit www.pasadena.edu/
finalists-.
for-. 
superintendent-.
president.html.

About PCC

Pasadena City College is a state-.
supported, fully accredited, two-.
year community college

with more than 28,000 students. It is located in Pasadena, Calif., 
and serves primarily the West San Gabriel Valley area. PCC offers 
a high-.
quality education with an extensive range of general 
education, transfer, certificate, and associate degree programs. With 
more than 60 academic and 70 Career and Technical Education 
programs – as well as Continuing Education, Extending Learning 
fee programs, and the Community Education Center – PCC can 
meet a variety of educational needs.

 

 Visit www.pasadena.edu for more information.


Dr. Patricia Hsieh

Robert Miller,

Rajen Vurdien

LIVELY STOMP ENTERTAINERS TO 

PERFORM AT RETIRED TEACHERS’ MEETING

A bang-up performance by a STOMP group from Temple City’s 
Oak Ave. Intermediate School will be featured at the April meeting 
of the California Retired Teachers’ Association #71-SGV (CalRTA 
#71). Traditional instruments aren’t used by the twenty seventh and 
eighth grade performers. Instead, they happily pound or play on 
nontraditional “instruments,” such as metal trash cans, broomsticks, 
bouncing balls, and any other sound-producing device that can be 
used as percussion, says teacher Jack Taylor. The challenge is to stay 
in step and keep the rhythm.

 On the serious side, the STOMP group is actually a tutoring group 
in which students can keep up with their studies as well as learn 
more about music, mostly from their peers who are instrumentalists. 
The School Grant Committee from CalRTA #71 was pleased to give 
a school grant to the STOMP project in 2012.

 The CalRTA #71 luncheon meeting will take place on Friday, 
April 10, at 11:30 a.m. at the Senior Center Building in Arcadia Park 
(county park), 405 W. Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, next to the Lawn 
Bowling Greens. Guests are welcome to come for the luncheon and 
to enjoy the STOMP entertainment. The cost of the luncheon for 
members and guests is $12. For luncheon information, please call 
John Gera at (626) 286-0714 by April 3.

 Membership in the California Retired Teachers’ Association is 
open to all retired educators, as well as to any others interested in 
joining this active group, which now numbers over 500 members 
in CalRTA #71, the San Gabriel Valley Division. CalRTA’s motto 
continues to be “Your partner in pension protection.”


LOCAL CHILDREN HONORED IN THE READ, 

DISCOVER, CONNECT ART & ESSAY CONTEST

Sierra Madre, CA. – 106 local students in grades K-8, entered the 
library’s Read, Discover, Connect @ the Sierra Madre Public Library 
art and essay contest. Talented winners attended a ceremony at the 
Library on Thursday, March 26 at 4:00 pm. Mayor John Harabedian, 
Mayor Pro Tem John Cappocia, Library Trustee Chair Barry Ziff, 
and Library Trustee Shannon King were on hand to congratulate 
the students. The winning drawings and essays are posted in the 
Library/s children’s room. 

 Read, Discover, Connect was the theme of this year’s art & essay 
contest. Children in grades K – 2 created drawings showing how they 
Read, Discover, Connect. @ the Library. Students in grades 3-8 wrote 
an essay on why or how they Read, Discover, Connect. @ the Library.

 This event was organized by Trustees Glenn Putnam and Barry 
Ziff. It was sponsored by Sierra Madre Civic Club, Sierra Madre 
Community Foundation, Sierra Madre Friends of the Library, Sierra 
Madre Kiwanis Club, Sierra Madre Rotary Club, and the Spero 
Foundation. 

 1st place winners received $50.00 and 2nd place winners received 
$35.00. 

Kindergarten

1st Mary Bingham Gooden School

2nd Sophie Ting Gooden School

First grade

 1st Ana Besoli Sierra Madre Elementary

 2nd Alyssa Galindo St. Rita’s School

Second grade

 1st Mason Matsuo Gooden School

 2nd Chloe Tubbs Sierra Madre Elementary

Third grade

 2nd Mikayla Hsieh Gooden School

Fourth grade

 1st Aria Bayrakdarian Excellence in Education Academy

 2nd Rachel Besoli Sierra Madre Elementary

Fifth grade

 1st Jason Boutros Gooden School

 2nd Matthew Shepherd Gooden School

Sixth grade

 1st Hadley Damir Gooden School

 2nd Grace Elia Gooden School

 2nd Claire Senft Foothills Middle School

Seventh grade

 1st Julia Boberg Gooden School

 2nd Samuel Johnson-Lacoss Gooden School

Eighth grade

 1st Lauren Anastasia Gooden School

 2nd Maxwell Horvath Gooden School

Quotes from the winning essays:

“I think the library is the best thing that happened to the world, other 
than bacon”. Grace Elia

“Our library has wonderful books!” Rachel Besoli

“…even with all the high tech gadgets we have in our world today, 
the Sierra Madre Library is still the best place to connect with my 
imagination, my friends, and my community.” Jason Boutros

“One of my favorite things about the library is the digital storyboard. 
It brought history to life in a[n] entertaining and interactive way.” 
Lauren Anastasia

“Everyone should have a chance to go to the Sierra Madre Library.” 
Mikayla Hsieh

“May we always have libraries.” Samuel Johnson-Lacoss

THE REEL DEAL: by Ben Show

INSURGENT REVIEW

What are the elements that make a good sequel? Sequels are 
constantly being created nowadays, but there are fewer and fewer 
good ones. The main aspect of making a good sequel revolves 
around expanding on and adding to the original theme developed 
in the first film in new and interesting ways; however, is ‘Insurgent’ 
a good sequel or just another YA cash grab?

 Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) has escaped Jeanine (Kate Winslet) 
and fled to Amity, the farmers of her society. She, Four (Theo James, 
and her brother Caleb (Ansel Elgort) must find a way to fight back 
against the government who are now seeking out divergents to test 
a mysterious device left behind by the founders of their society.

 ‘Insurgent’ is a great example of an effective sequel. The themes 
of separation, acceptance, and creating a new society are built 
upon with interesting, new characters and thought-provoking plot 
developments. This film is a great sequel for ‘Divergent’ and makes 
sure that this franchise will become one of the better YA movie 
adaptations.