Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 3, 2019

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Mountain View News Saturday, August 3, 2019 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY

LA SALLE’S ACADEMIC DECATHLON FINDS 
SUCCESS IN THE HAGUE 

 La Salle College Preparatory’s Academic Decathlon team sent six of its members to The Hague, Netherlands 
from July 20–27, 2019, to compete in the second round of the World Scholars Cup. Competing 
against 1,900 students from 51 different countries, La Salle’s Scholars did exceptionally well in 
both individual and team titles. 

“I am incredibly proud of our students. Over the last 3 years, we’ve sent our teams to Prague, Cape 
Town, and Melbourne. However, this year, we have completely new teams competing globally for the 
first time, and they performed remarkably,” noted La Salle’s Academic Decathlon moderator, John 
Erb. “They really enjoyed their roles as American ambassadors and represented both the US and La 
Salle with pride.” 

Teammates Colby Stenzel ’20, Ewan Painter ’20, and Matthew Day ’21 finished 8th place overall, competing 
against over 650 teams. The 120-question Scholar’s Challenge and audio-visual Scholar’s Bowl 
proved successful for the Lancers, finishing 5th overall in both disciplines. On the individual level, 
Stenzel excelled, garnering a total of 14 gold medals and 1 silver medal. Stenzel also had the honor of 
walking in the American flag for the United States delegation at the Closing Ceremonies. 

The second team of Franklin Cheng ‘21, Christina Chen ’20, and Adam Lewczuk ‘21 also achieved a 
gold medal, finishing 48th place overall in the competition. In the Team Essay portion of the competition, 
these Lancers acquired 22nd place. 

Because both teams finished in the top ten of the Americas Division, La Salle’s decathletes automatically 
earned a spot in the Tournament of Champions Competition at Yale in November. 

The second team of Franklin Cheng ‘21, Christina Chen ’20, and Adam Lewczuk ‘21 also achieved a 
gold medal, finishing 48th place overall in the competition. In the Team Essay portion of the competition, 
these Lancers acquired 22nd place. 

Because both teams finished in the top ten of the Americas Division, La Salle’s decathletes automatically 
earned a spot in the Tournament of Champions Competition at Yale in November. 

La Salle’s Academic Decathlon team is moderated by John Erb. For more information about the program, 
please contact him at jerb@lasallehs.org. 


Alverno Heights Academy

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Julia V. Fanara

E-mail address: jfanara@alvernoheights.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 

Preschool-TK-8th Grade

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 E. Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809

Principal: Nancy Lopez

www.foothilloaksacademy.org

office@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, Jo-Anne Woolner

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road 

Pasadena, Ca. 91107 

Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

La Salle College Preparatory

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org

Principal Mrs. Courtney Kassakhian

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: Roberto Hernandez

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: Lindsay Lewis

E-mail address: lewis.lindsay@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

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

Arcadia Christian School

1900 S. Santa Anita Avenue Arcadia, CA 91006

Preschool - and TK - 8th Grade

626-574-8229/626-574-0805

Email: inquiry@acslions.com

Principal: Cindy Harmon

website: www.acslions.com

IT’S ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE AT ST. RITA SCHOOL!

St. Rita School’s Raider Adventure Camp and Summer Study Program 
had another successful summer! 

TK-6th grade ‘Raider’s Camp’ campers immersed themselves in the abundance of activities offered 
in the program. Campers began their morning routine with academic exercises including Reading, 
Writing and Mathematics. Campers then transitioned into their Enrichment curriculum, diving into 
engaging lessons! With weekly themes such as Super Hero’s, Water World and Summer Olympics, the 
fun never ended! Emily Cash, 4th grade stated “I’ve learned facts about different countries and we 
learned how to make really cool food like tortillas and salsa!” Wednesday Excursions to the movie 
theater, bowling alley, and swim parks were just some of the highlights St. Rita campers experienced. 
When asking Jackson Martinez, Kindergarten what he liked best about summer camp, he excitedly 
said “I love water play!” Students had a blast learning and growing this summer! St. Rita School 
provides an emotionally safe learning environment where students thrive. As one of our parents stated, 
“Raider Camp was great for my four-year-old twins! They were able to be around other students who 
were at or above their level and they have definitely improved in their speech abilities. One week in 
camp and they are easier to understand and are talking much more!”

For our older students in grades 5th-8th who were looking to improve and develop their skills in 
Mathematics, Grammar/Reading, HSPT, Study Skills and/or Problem-Solving Skills joined our 
Summer Study Program! Instruction is aligned with Common Core Standards and St. Rita curriculum. 
Students were provided the opportunity to increase their prior knowledge and were introduced to new 
concepts.

Well done, Raiders!

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett


THE REAL COST TO YOUR FAMILY: 
HAVING NO ESTATE PLAN AT ALL

When it comes to putting off or refusing to create an estate plan, your mind can 
concoct all sorts of rationalizations: “I won’t care because I’ll be dead,” “I’m 
too young,” “That won’t happen to me,” or “My family will know what to do.”
But these thoughts all come from a mix of pride, denial, and a lack of 
real education about estate planning and the consequences to your family. 
Once you understand exactly what planning is designed to prevent and 
support, you’ll realize there really is no acceptable excuse for not having 
a plan, provided you are able to plan and truly care about your family’s 
experience after you die or become incapacitated. 


With that in mind, here are some of the things most likely to happen to 
you and your loved ones if you fail to create any estate plan at all.

Your family will have to go to court

If you don’t have a plan, or only have a will (yes, even with a will), you’re forcing your family to go through 
probate upon your death. Probate is the legal process for settling your estate, and even if you have a will, it’s 
notoriously slow, costly, and public. 


Depending on the complexity of your estate, probate can take years to complete. And like most 
court proceedings, probate is expensive. In fact, once all your debts, taxes, and court fees have 
been paid, there might be nothing left for anyone to inherit. And if there are any assets left, 
your family will likely have to pay hefty attorney’s fees and court costs in order to claim them.
The expense and drama of the court system can be almost totally avoided with proper planning. Using a trust, 
for example, we can ensure that your assets pass directly to your family upon your death, without the need for 
any court intervention. 

You have no control over who inherits your assets

If you die without a plan, the court will decide who inherits your assets, and this can lead to 
all sorts of problems. Who is entitled to your property is determined by California’s intestate 
succession laws, which hinge largely upon on whether you are married and if you have children. 
Spouses and children are given top priority, followed by your other closest living family members. If you’re 
single with no children, your assets typically go to your parents and siblings, and then more distant relatives if 
you have no living parents or siblings. If no living relatives can be located, your assets go to the state. 

Keep in mind, intestacy laws only apply to blood relatives, so unmarried partners and/or close friends would get 
nothing. If you want someone outside of your family to inherit your property, having a plan is an absolute must.
You have no control over your medical, financial, or legal decisions in the event of your incapacity

Most people assume estate planning only comes into play when they die, but that’s dead wrong. Yes, pun 
intended. 

If you become incapacitated and have no plan in place, your family would have to petition the court to appoint 
a guardian or conservator to manage your affairs. This process can be extremely costly, time consuming, and 
traumatic for everyone involved. In fact, incapacity can be a much greater burden for your loved ones than even 
your death. 


You need Powers of Attorney which grant the person(s) of your choice the immediate authority to make your 
medical, financial, and legal decisions for you in the event of your incapacity. You can also provide specific 
guidelines detailing how you want your medical care to be managed, including critical end-of-life decisions. 

You have no control over who will raise your children

If you’re the parent of minor children, the most devastating consequence of having no estate plan 
is what could happen to your kids in the event of your death or incapacity. Without a plan in place 
naming legal guardians for your kids, it will be left for a judge to decide who cares for your children. 
And this could cause major heartbreak not only for your children, but for your entire family.
You’d like to think that a judge would select the best person to care for your kids, but it doesn’t always work out that 
way. Indeed, the judge could pick someone from your family you’d never want to raise them to adulthood. And if 
you don’t have any family, or the family you do have is deemed unfit, your children could be raised by total strangers. 
If you have minor children, your number-one planning priority should be naming legal guardians to care for 
your children if anything should happen to you. This is so critical, we’ve developed a comprehensive system 
called the Child Protection Plan® to accomplish this goal. 

No more excuses

Given the potentially dire consequences for both you and your family, you can’t afford to put off creating your 
estate plan any longer. And once you have a plan in place, you’ll gain the peace of mind that comes from 
knowing that your loved ones will be provided and cared for no matter what happens to you. Don’t wait another 
day.


Dedicated to empowering your family, building your wealth and defining your legacy,

A local attorney and father, Marc Garlett is on a mission to help parents protect what they 
love most. His office is located at 55 Auburn Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Schedule an

appointment to sit down and talk about ensuring a legacy of love and financial security for 
your family by calling 626.355.4000 or visit www.GarlettLaw.com for more information. 


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