Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, February 1, 2020

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Mountain View News Saturday, February 1, 2020 

ST. RITA SCHOOL CELEBRATES!

SCHOOL DIRECTORY


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 LUIS

E-mail address: LUIS.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

On January 28, 2020 St. Rita students participated 
in a Speech & Debate Tournament held at La Salle 
High School and came home winners! Students 
competed against several other children from 
multiple schools and performed their speeches 
three different times in front of three different 
judges. Energy and excitement filled the room 
as we watched our St. Rita Raiders rise to the 
challenges they faced that night. Mrs. Griffin, 
Speech and Debate Teacher, said it best: “I am 
so proud of the Speech and Debate Team. We 
completed our year and my heart is full! All 
of the students did an exceptional job and the 
speeches were incredible. I love them all!”

A special congratulations to our trophy winners!

Emily Jukic - Duo Interpretation Elementary 
3rd Place Winners

Emily Cash - Duo Interpretation Elementary 
3rd Place Winners

Juliana Barragan - Impromptu Elementary 1st 
Place Winner

Eileen Marra - Poetry Middle School 1st Place 
Winner

Madeline Campbell - Poetry Middle School 
2nd Place Winner

Lauren Novak Poetry Elementary 3rd Place 
Winner

Laurent Flores-Freihube Middle School 5th 
Place Winner

Jacob Freidman Middle School SPARR 3rd 
Place Winner

Madison Guerra Elementary School 
Storytelling 1st Place Winner

Sebastien Miranda Elementary School 
Storytelling 2nd Place Winner

Dillon Danesky Middle School Storytelling 
5th Place Winner

Congratulations to the whole Speech & Debate 
team! In our book, they are all winners!

 

1. Julian Cardenas Impromptu

2. Emily Jukic Duo Interpretation

3. Emily Cash Duo Interpretation

4. Raya Frayeh Duo Interpretation

5. Alyssa Sirois Duo Interpretation

6. Madison Gil Duo Interpretation

7. Ireland Bunch Duo Interpretation

8. Peyton Herdina Duo Interpretation

9. Peyton Guthrie Duo Interpretation

10. Juliana Barragan Impromptu

11. Jadyn Walsh Impromptu 

13. Eileen Marra Poetry

14. Madeline Campbell Poetry

15. Lauren Novak Poetry

16. Laurent Flores-Freihube Impromptu

17. Jacob Friedman SPARR

18. Andreas Flores-Freihube SPARR

19. Madison Guerra Storytelling

20. Jack Jukic Storytelling

21. Sebastien Miranda Storytelling

22. Roxana Ortiz Storytelling

23. Eleanor Campbell Storytelling

24. Dillon Danesky Storytelling


Dear Parents, Staff and Community,

The cold and flu season has arrived, and the California 
Department of Public Healthreports that severe 
influenza activity levels have increased over the past 
several weeks. Influenza, commonly referred to as 
the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness that can 
cause mild to severe sickness. Symptoms of the flu 
can vary, but generally include a high fever, headache, 
chills, body aches, sore throat, and cough. 

As a reminder, staff and students exhibiting these 
symptoms should stay home from school, and 
should not return until being fever-free for at least 
24-hours. Please also follow the tips provided below 
by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) for the best ways to prevent influenza:

• Get vaccinated for the flu yearly (ages 6 
months and older)

• Avoid close contact with people who 
are ill

• Practice good hygiene and frequently 
wash hands with soap

• Stay at home if you are experiencing 
flu-like symptoms

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and 
mouth

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects 
that may be contaminated with germs like flu

• Individuals with chronic health issues 
and/or experiencing severe symptoms should be 
evaluated by a medical professional

This cold and flu season has been complicated by the 
recent development of a new coronavirus. Coronaviruses 
are a large family of viruses, and this particular 
strand is now referred to as the 2019 novel coronavirus. 
Common symptoms in an infected person 
include a fever, cough, and shortness of breath or 
difficulty breathing.

Since it was initially discovered last month in Wuhan 
City, China, there have only been four confirmed 
cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus in the 
United States to date. On January 26, the first case 
was identified in Los Angeles County. However, the 
California and Los Angeles County Departments of 
Public Health and CDC all state there is no immediate 
threat to the general public, and the likelihood of 
transmission of the illness is very low. 

Out of an abundance of caution, our district has suspended 
international student visits until it has been 
determined safe to resume them. CDC does advise 
those who have recently traveled to or from China, 
to take extra precautions and seek a medical evaluation 
from your doctor before returning to school. 
While we will remain vigilant, our students and staff 
will not be excluded from activities based on their 
race, country of origin, or recent travel if they do 
not have symptoms of respiratory illness, and people 
should continue to engage in their regular activities 
per direction from the Los Angeles County Department 
of Public Health. Please find additional information 
regarding thecoronavirus and influenza on 
their website.

As you know, the health and well-being of our students 
and staff is our first priority. If we all work 
together and follow these important guidelines, we 
can keep our students, staff, and community healthy. 
A hard copy version of this message has been sent 
home to our families from our schools this week 
(see below) and updates can be found on our district 
website. Please also share this information with your 
family and caregivers. We truly appreciate your partnership 
in this, and we will continue to work in collaboration 
with our district nurse, as well as local and 
state health agencies to keep you informed. 

Respectfully,

Gordon Amerson, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

Duarte Unified School District 

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges

ONE MAN’S EARTHQUAKE STORY [part one]


[Nyerges is the author of “The Self-Sufficient 
Home,” “How to Survive Anywhere,” and other 
books. He teaches self-reliance and survival 
skills. He can be reached at www.SchoolofSelf-
Reliance.com.]

Here is the story of how one man and his 
family began on the path of self-reliance, 
and how an earthquake tested his level 
of preparedness. This story is the first chapter of my book, 
“The Self-Sufficient Home: Going Green and Saving Money” 
(Stackpole).

In 1965, Dude McLean and his young family moved into a 
house in Kagel Canyon, located in the hilly northern section 
of Los Angeles County. He liked the house because there was 
a live stream behind the house which flowed year-round. “It 
was in the L.A. area, but I always felt distant from the L.A. craziness,” 
says McLean. Kagel Canyon is nestled right up to the 
Angeles National Forest, a small canyon community of about 
200 families. “My children barely realized that they were growing 
up in the L.A. area,” says McLean. 

FOOD PRODUCTION

McLean, a former U.S. Marine, wanted a place where he could 
be as self-reliant as possible, even though his property didn’t 
have a lot of land. He began doing French-intensive gardening 
– which required a lot of digging, and then switched to 
square-foot gardening and raised beds. He grew carrots, kale, 
corn, beans, squash and more in his garden. “We grew 90% of 
our own produce,” says McLean. He learned how to garden 
by doing lots of reading and lots of experimenting. “Most of 
the work of gardening and producing your own food is in the 
preparation stages,” explains McLean, who brought in horse 
and chicken manure and lots of mulch. “After two years, I 
could shove my arm into my garden soil and it would go all the 
way up to my elbow,” he says with a laugh. Once his garden 
was established, he could water it well in summer and go away 
for two weeks. Upon returning, the garden would be fine, even 
when it was very hot and dry. 

 Though he grew no fruit trees, he was glad that he’d produced 
an environment that would feed his family.

OTHER SUPPLIES

 McLean wanted more than simply food preparation, so 
he began to build up the family’s supply of camping gear. “I 
already had a pickup truck with a camper on it, and I began 
to purchase camping gear such as Coleman stoves, lanterns, 
sleeping bags, an ice chest, and even a porta-potty. And we 
always purchased our gear used, if possible,” he says. McLean 
explains that his family frequently went camping, and so the 
entire family was well-versed in what it took to live in the field 
and live well. “We all knew how to camp,” says McLean

WATER

 “We had our own water supply in the canyon, supplied by 
artesian wells, but it always bothered me that the water supply 
could be interrupted for various reasons. So I always liked the 
fact that we had this stream behind the house,” says McLean.

 Still, he began to store water. He obtained two 40 gallon 
barrels, and started to store water by filling up used pop 
bottles (glass), with his goal being to supply enough water for 
the entire family. He eventually obtained 10 of the large glass 
Sparkletts Water bottles for water storage.

THE TEST

Then in 1971, when he and his wife were in their thirties, and 
his children were 2, 9, and 12, the 7.1 Sylmar Earthquake hit. 
“As the crow flies, we were only about 5 miles from the epicenter 
of this quake,” explains McLean.

 It was early in the morning, about 5 a.m., and McLean 
pauses to recall the event. 

“The noise of the quake was deafening. I can’t even describe 
it. It was like being next to a train going by and you can’t hear 
your conversation, but multiply that by 1000. The earth was 
grinding and moving, and it was like a giant shock wave hit the 
house. It was like some giant had wrapped his hands around 
the house and shook it every which way. It was very much like 
being hit with a bomb. My first words when the quake began 
was ‘They got us,’ thinking we were hit by a Russian bomb.”

 But he just as instantly realized it was an earthquake. 
There was crashing in his house as stuff was falling everywhere, 
and he ran into the bedroom of his two youngest children, and 
while the house was still shaking, held one under each arm and 
ran them out of the house to a big field across the street. 

 “The house had four doors as exits, but I could only get 
one open because the others were jammed. So I took the two 
youngest to the field, set them down, and told them to stay. 
Then I ran back into the house, naked and barefoot, and got 
the older daughter out of the house.” McLean took her to the 
field across the street with the other children, and then went 
back to the house.

 “My wife was turning in circles in the house,” said 
McLean. He explains that all the walls were lined with plates 
and bookshelves and everything was being tossed into the center 
of the room, falling over and breaking. In the kitchen, every 
cabinet had emptied onto the floor which was littered with 
broken glass. 

 “I don’t know how I escaped getting my feet cut,” says 
McLean, “but I just grabbed my wife, and we all went over the 
field and stood there while everything was still shaking. Other 
neighbors started coming out and some came to the field. I 
could see that all the transformers on the telephone poles were 
down, and some houses up the creek had been thrown off their 
foundations and into the creek.”

CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.


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