Mountain Views News     Logo: MVNews     Saturday, April 23, 2016

MVNews this week:  Page 8

8

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 23, 2016 

PASADENA UNIFIED’S JOHN MUIR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WINS 
PRESTIGIOUS GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARSHIP 

MARSHALL FUNDAMENTAL AND PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL 
RECEIVE SILVER MEDAL FROM US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 

AS PART OF BEST HIGH SCHOOLS RANKING

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: Dr. William Walner

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: Jenny Janetzke

Email: jenny@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

La Salle 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, CA – John Muir High School senior Prakash Dass has been named a 
2016 Gates Millennium Scholar, becoming the school’s seventh winner of the 
prestigious academic scholarship since 2005, it was announced today by Pasadena 
Unified School District (PUSD) officials. Marshall Fundamental and Pasadena 
High School were also named recipients of the 2016 Silver Medal from US News & 
World Report as part of the magazine’s Best High Schools ranking.

 “Congratulations to Prakash and John Muir High School for this extraordinary 
achievement,” said Superintendent Brian McDonald. “Behind every student’s 
success are hundreds of hours of work by a team of excellent teachers and staff. I 
would also like to congratulate the students, faculty, staff and families of Marshall 
and PHS on their silver medal ranking.”

 A student in John Muir’s Engineering and Environmental Science Academy, 
Prakash plans to major in engineering and has been accepted to UCLA, California 
State University Pomona and CSU San Luis Obispo. He is a member of John Muir’s 
Solar Cup Team and participated in the Johns Hopkins Engineering Innovation 
summer program at Pasadena City College.

 “This is a great accomplishment for John Muir and demonstrates that our 
students are ready to seize opportunities on a global and highly competitive scale,” 
said John Muir High School Principal Tim Sippel.

 As a Gates Scholar, Prakash joins the ranks of a prestigious group of talented 
students from across the country awarded the scholarship that can be used to 
pursue a degree in any undergraduate major and selected graduate programs at 
accredited colleges or universities. Established in 1999 with the goal of developing 
leaders and removing financial barriers to education for high-performing, low-
income students, the Gates Millennium Scholarship is funded by a grant from the 
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Marshall Fundamental Secondary School and Pasadena High School have received 
Silver Medals and are nationally ranked as 2016 Best High Schools by U.S. News 
and World Report.

 “Thank you to the outstanding and dedicated teachers, our supportive parents 
and amazing students - this is an honor that reflects the entire family of Marshall,” 
said Marshall Principal Mark Anderson. “We are proud that Marshall has once 
again earned the Silver Medal and ranking as one of the top high schools in the 
country.”

 “I am very proud of the dedication and hard work of our students, faculty, staff 
and administration,” said Pasadena High School Principal Gilbert Barraza. “Doing 
ordinary things in extraordinary ways has created many more opportunities for our 
students.”

 The U.S. News rankings include data on more than 21,000 public high schools in 
50 states and the District of Columbia. Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze 
medals based on their performance on state assessments, their graduation rates and 
how well they prepare students for college. See the list

 U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 Best High Schools rankings highlight top-
performing public schools on a state and national level. The 2015 rankings, available 
exclusively at usnews.com, include data on more than 21,000 public high schools.

 U.S. News differentiates high schools with gold, silver and bronze medals, using 
gold medals to indicate the greatest level of college readiness. For more information 
about Best High Schools, visit www.usnews.com/highschools

 “It is clear that PUSD educators are ensuring that our graduates are prepared to 
lead locally and globally,” said Board of Education President Elizabeth Pomeroy. 
“Our schools continue to succeed in serving as innovative leaders in offering 21st 
century educational opportunities.”

 Stay connected to the Pasadena Unified School District! Visit us online 
at www.pusd.us; follow us on Twitter @PasadenaUnified, www.twitter.
com/PasadenaUnified; like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
PasadenaUnifiedSchoolDistrict; text PUSD to 888777; subscribe to PUSD Today! 
at gopusd.com/today; subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/
klrnpasadena. Or call the Communications Office, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday at (626) 396-3606.

2016 Gates Millennium Scholar Prakash Dass with Muir Principal 
Timothy Sippel, Counselor Nancy Gonzalez Heusser, Science Teacher 
Dan Harris, and Counselor Ben Aroyan

ALVERNO HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS A BEAUTIFUL 

PRODUCTION OF “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” 

The classic fairytale included a cast of over 40 students and a crew of 20 

Sierra Madre, CA (April 19, 2016) – There was a packed house every night for 
Alverno High School’s recent production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at the 
Lanterman Auditorium. The musical, the largest in Alverno High School’s history, 
featured over 40 cast members and 20 crew members! 

 Rehearsals for the show began in January under the direction of Alverno High 
School’s Drama Director, Ms. Cynthia Cales P’12, who created a phenomenal cast 
composed of Alverno students as well as male cast members from St. Francis High 
School in La Cañada and Arcadia High School. Throughout the months leading 
up to the production, the cast and crew worked tirelessly to perfect every detail of 
the show—details that truly showed off during the run of the production. 

 The main cast of “Beauty and the Beast” included senior Amy Aghajanian as 
Belle, sophomore Ethan Breaux (St. Francis High School) as the Beast, sophomore 
Neal Muir (St. Francis High School) as Gaston, senior Emma Andres as the 
Enchantress, senior Casey McCreary (St. Francis High School) as the Prince, junior 
Rain Villanueva as LeFou, senior Karl Lorenzo (Arcadia High School) as Maurice, 
junior Jillian Kislow as Lumière, junior Payton Emerson as Cogsworth, senior 
Ciara Madigan as Mrs. Potts, sophomore Riley Luna (St. Francis High School) 
as Chip, junior Marisa Dragos as Babette, junior Cathy Johnson as Madame de la 
Grande Bouche, freshman Julia Vallen as Monsieur D’Arque, and junior Arianna 
Muñoz, sophomore Sarah Lopez, and sophomore Leila Moreno as the Silly Girls. 

 Members of the ensemble cast included freshmen Malik Gay Banuelos (St. 
Francis High School), Maritza DiRito, Caroline Dragos, Leanne Kuhn, and 
Claire Lewis; sophomores Ariana Micale, Vanessa Prata, Anica Quizon, and 
Kate Samaniego; juniors Alexis Baro, Etienne Barzallo, Cassidy Castillo, Lisa 
Costantino, David Frost (St. Francis High School), Allison Joseph, Naomi Jost, 
Moondera Rabb, Chandnee Raina, Haylee Robinson, Anna Sandoval, Vale Siess, 
and Cristina Webster; and seniors Cathy Bao, Gillian Cox, Cynthia Lee, and 
Alexxa Vasquez. 

 “The entire cast and crew worked so hard on this production,” said Ms. Cynthia 
Cales P’12, Alverno High School’s Drama Director. “Our students truly worked 
as professionals on this show and when we closed on Saturday night, I know they 
were all pleased with the final product and the work they put into it.”

“’Beauty and the Beast’ was an amazing show with an exceptionally hardworking 
cast and crew,” said Ms. Julia V. Fanara P’01, P’03, and ’05, Head of School. “Under 
the direction of our exceptional Drama Director Ms. Cynthia Cales P’12 everyone 
came together to create a production that is truly the largest and most impressive 
in Alverno’s history. We are grateful to Ms. Cales and for everyone who helped to 
provide this amazing experience for the entire cast. We look forward to next year 
and the new opportunities it provides to showcase our outstanding arts program 
at Alverno.” 

About Alverno High School

Alverno High School is an independent, progressive, 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 4,500 women to meet that goal. 
For more information about Alverno High School, please call 626-355-3463 or 
visit www.alverno-hs.org. 

ARROYO ADVENTURE WILL FEATURE 8 BRAND-NEW IMMERSIVE 
NATURE BASED EXHIBITS IN THE ENHANCED KIDSPACE GARDENS

PASADENA, CA (April 21, 2016) - The new Arroyo Adventure at Kidspace 
Children’s Museum will open to the public on Saturday, April 30! Arroyo 
Adventure will feature 8 brand-new experiences that encourage children 
to connect with nature, engage in adventures, and uncover possibilities 
between water and rocks, mud and sticks, and trees and native plantings.

 “Our gardens are a wonderful place for children to spend more time 
outdoors and get dirt under their fingernails,” says Michael Shanklin, 
Chief Executive Officer of Kidspace. “With the addition of the Arroyo 
Adventure, they will have fun building forts, playing in the mud, 
experimenting with erosion, weaving natural creations, tending an urban 
garden, and exploring the Hawk’s Nest. These experiences prove the value 
of involving children in a natural setting and increases their physical 
activity, which is another critical need for our children.”

 Visitors will be able to climb their way up to the giant Hawk’s Nest 
where they can let their imaginations soar as they look out over the 
trees. Children can explore the properties of mud and try their hand at 
brickmaking in the Mud & Clay outdoor studio. The Flood & Erosion 
Plain is an opportunity for children to investigate the effects of erosion on 
their physical environment by making channels through sand, building 
small dams, and using rocks and sticks to control the flow of water. Other 
exhibits will include fun activities such as the ability to build forts, explore 
plant life, create unique art pieces, and much more!

 “Arroyo Adventure was a huge undertaking and has been a long time 
in the making,” says Laura Moyles-LaBarge, Kidspace Board Member 
and Chair of the Exhibits, Experience, and Education Committee. 
“The Kidspace Board looks forward to introducing the community to 
everything the 8 new and exciting exhibits have to offer to children of all 
ages.”

 Arroyo Adventure marks a milestone in the Museum’s exhibit 
master plan that was created in conjunction with the announcement 
of The Campaign for the Future of Kidspace in the spring of 2012. This 
$13-million Capital Campaign was launched to build new exhibits, 
upgrade existing learning environments, improve guest amenities, and 
develop new curriculum and programs. The next phase of The Campaign 
will be the renovation of the West Gallery as a dramatic and visual arts 
area, which is set to begin in Fall 2016.

 Additional funding for the Arroyo Adventure was provided by The 
Ahmanson Foundation, The Rose Hills Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons 
Foundation, W.M. Keck Foundation, the Ann Peppers Foundation, the 
Confidence Foundation, and the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts.

DAN STOVER MUSIC CONTEST FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

There were two very talented students this year for the contest. Playing 
Prelude in G minor Op23 no.5 by Rachmaninoff was Emilie Torres of 
Pasadena High School. She played with gusto this very difficult piece. 
Jordan Rupp of La Salle High school played Un Sospiro from Trois études 
de concert by Franz List presented this very moving piece. 

 Jordan will be going to the regional portion where he will perform. The 
winner of the regional will then perform at the district in San Diego this 
year and will receive a cash prize between $3,000-5,000.

 The judges this year were Tom Brady of the Destination Group and 
Eric Byak, professional musician and recording artist.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com