Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, July 17, 2021

Mountain View News Saturday, July 17, 2021 Mountain View News Saturday, July 17, 2021 8 
MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT BRIAN MCDONALD 

Dear Pasadena Unified School District Staff and Families, 

SCHOOL DIRECTORY 

You may have seen news stories this week about the state’s new guidance for schools regarding 
COVID-19 and the 2021-22 school year. Our school district will be sending more information as 
we get closer to the start of school. 

Meanwhile, here is a quick update: 

Back to School: School begins in PUSD on Thursday, August 12. Classes will be full-time and in-
person, five days a week. Learning will take place on campus. According to the California Department 
of Public Health (CDPH), in-person instruction can occur safely when prevention strategies 
are implemented. PUSD has a robust set of safety measures already in place and will comply with 
the State’s public health requirements for schools. We continue to work closely with the Pasadena 
Public Health Department (PPHD). 

Masks: All students and staff are required to wear masks at all times when indoors, unless exempted. 
At this time, masks are optional outdoors when physical distancing is possible. Schools 
will provide masks for students who don’t have them. 

Vaccines: For the health and safety of all members of our school communities, we encourage everyone 
to be vaccinated. The vaccine is now available to everyone 12 years and older. PUSD Health 
Programs staff are continuing to work with the Pasadena Public Health Department and LA County 
Department of Public Health to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to PUSD students and staff. 
For information regarding upcoming clinics, please see https://myturn.ca.gov/ or email healthprograms@
pusd.us. 

School Start Times: In an early adoption of new state law, PUSD middle and high schools will start 
the school day later. Middle schools will start at 8:15 a.m. and high schools at 8:30 a.m. Elementary 
schools will return to pre-pandemic schedules of 7:50 or 8:45 a.m., depending on the school: 20212022 
School Schedules 

Independent Study OptionState guidance is still in development about independent study policies and options. In anticipation 
of final guidance, we’re working on a virtual independent study option for students who may prefer 
to remain at home in the fall. We will share more information with you as soon as possible. 

New State Law AB 104 
On July 1, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 104 requiring school districts to implement 
policies that give students opportunities to counteract the negative impact of the pandemic 
on academic achievement and graduation credits. 

The new state law, which is effective immediately, includes options that include changing low 
grades to a pass or no pass option, taking an extra year of high school, and waiving local district 
graduation requirements that exceed the state credit and course minimums for students who were 
juniors or seniors in the 2020-21 school year. PUSD will provide many options for accelerating 
learning, tutoring, and individual support. Under the new law, families may also formally request 
their school to allow their child to repeat the grade. We will send you specific information in the 
next few weeks. 

We’re looking forward to welcoming students, employees, and families to the new school year! 

Sincerely,
Brian McDonald, Ed.D.
Superintendent 


Alverno Heights Academy

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Julia V. FanaraE-mail address: jfanara@alvernoheights.org 
Arcadia Christian School 

1900 S. Santa Anita Avenue Arcadia, CA 91006Preschool - and TK - 8th Grade 
626-574-8229/626-574-0805Email: inquiry@acslions.comPrincipal: Cindy Harmonwebsite: www.acslions.com 

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: Brent Forseebforsee@ausd.net 

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca,

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil ClarkeE-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org 
Barnhart School 

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007 
(626) 446-5588Head of School: Tonya BeilsteinKindergarten - 8th gradewebsite: www.barnhartschool.org 

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 
(626) 355-3527Preschool-TK-8th Grade 
Principal: Dr. William Walnerwebsite: www. bcslions.org 

Clairbourn School 

8400 Huntington DriveSan Gabriel, CA 91775Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172 
FAX: 626-286-1528 
E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org 

Holy Family Catholic School

1301 Rollin Street South Pasadena Ca 91030 
(626) 799-4354 •
Transitional Kindergarten - 8th GradePrincipal: Mrs. Jennifer GarziaWebsite: www.school.holyfamily.orgEmail: info@holyfamily.orgFacebook & Instagram @HFSKnights 

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 E. Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010(626) 301-9809Principal: Nancy Lopezwww.foothilloaksacademy.orgoffice@foothilloaksacademy.org 

Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107 
(626) 791-1255Head 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 RoadPasadena, 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 JacksonEmail: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us 
Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neillwebsite: www.odysseycharterschool.org 
Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca.

(626) 396-5880 Principal: Roberto Hernandezwebsite: http://phs.pusd.us 
St. Rita Catholic School 

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024Principal: Adela Solis (626) 355-6114solis@st-ritaschool.orgWebsite: www.st-ritaschool.org 

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 Principal: Lindsay LUISE-mail address: LUIS.lindsay@pusd.us 
Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett NewsomE-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us 
Walden School 

74 S San Gabriel Blvd 
Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166www.waldenschool.net 

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107(626) 797-0204Lisa Feldman: Head of School 

Wilson Middle School 

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth EsselnE-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) 471-2000Website: www.monroviaschools.net 

Duarte Unified School District 

1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010 
(626)599-5000Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us 

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges

Pet of the Week 


EXCERPT FROM “SQUATTER IN LOS 
ANGELES.” 

[Nyerges is the author of several books, including “Squatter in Los 
Angeles” which is only available as a book on Kindle. More of his 
books are available from Amazon, or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance. 


com.] 

Shortly after I 

moved in to the 

house where I was 
a squatter for a year and a half, I asked 
a tree pruner to dump his load of wood 
chips in my yard. He did so gladly, since 
it saved him a trip to the local dump 
and it saved him money. I took a rake 
and spread the chips throughout the 
southern end of the house, what I considered 
my garden area. This was soil 
that was hardpacked and probably had 
cars parked on it at one time. I would 
water these chips and the ground soon 
became a productive garden. I planted 
yellow and blue corn, amaranth, beans, 
tomatoes, chard, fennel and other vegetables. 
I also saved soup cans and milk 
containers and used them to plant my 
potted plants which I then tried to sell 
for income but more often gave away.

 Eventually, I was given some ducks 
which I kept in the inner yard that was 
fenced. Animals are a responsibility, 
and they tie you to your place. That can 
be a good thing, or not. But they were 
a gift, and I said yes. I needed to purchase 
some bags of duck food for them, 
and eventually I discovered an amazing 
thing about ducks.

My postage stamp-sized garden grew 
out of my wood chip patch where I 
grew corn and other foods. To water, 
I would simply place the hose down, 
turn it on, and let the water soak in to 
the wood chip-mulched garden. Once, 
after I turned on the water, the ducks 
rushed over and began to feast on 
something in the chips. Apparently, 
the water brought out the bugs from 
the soil and the ducks would methodically 
work the wet soil with great relish, 
making a low quacking sound as they 
went which seemed to say that they 
were very happy. After that, I learned 
that I could feed them less, and let them 
feed themselves from the garden after I 
turned on the hose. 

My garden never seemed highly productive 
but I had a few of the tall red 
amaranth plants, some squash, a corn 
patch, some greens, and wild foods. I 
had wanted to try the so-called Three 
Sisters of the native Southwest, of corn, 
beans, and squash. In the arid soil of 
the Southwest, the corn was planted 
first, and once it arose, beans were 
planted at the base of the each corn. 

Mountain Views News 

The beans’ roots fix nitrogen and this 
acts as a fertilizer to the corn. Squash 
was then planted as a sprawling ground 
cover to retain the valuable scant moisture 
of the desert. 

I planted my corn in my wood chip 
patch, three seeds per hole about two 
feet apart. Corn came up, and then I 
planted bean seeds. Not many beans 
came up -- maybe the ducks ate them. I 
planted squash too. Not a desert squash 
but ordinary zucchini which did a good 
job as a ground cover and food producer. 
I loved the little garden. During the 
day, little birds would flock to the corn 
patch and eat bugs. I enjoyed the fact 
that this little garden that I created with 
my simple efforts was now teeming 
with wildlife. It felt good just to look 
at it. It provided food for my body, food 
for wildlife, and food for my soul.
Not long after I started this patch – it 
was near Thanksgiving – David Ashley 
came by for a visit. David had already 
moved into the neighborhood from 
wherever else he’d been living. He came 
up to the top of the hill where I was 
an illegal squatter. My housing status 
didn’t cause David to lower his regard 
for me. 

I took David out into my garden, and 
we stood there talking about life. I 
pulled off a ripe ear of corn and handed 
it to him and picked one for myself.
“What’s this?” asked David. 
“To eat,” I responded as I began to peel 
off the leaves and hairs on my average 
size ear of corn. It took a bite of the 
sweet kernels. 
“I didn’t know you could eat corn raw,” 
said David in a surprised voice.
“Yep, you can,” I told him as I chewed 
on my sweet cob. David began to peel 
his and take some bites. 
“Wow, that’s really good!” said David, 
chewing on more kernels. We stood 
there for a few moments, eating our 
corn, looking at the outside world 
through the stalks of corn that were 
taller than us. It was a quiet, special 
moment. 
Eventually, David left, and over the 
ensuing months, I would occasionally 
hear David telling someone about his 
surreal experience eating raw corn. 

 
Six-year-old Clover is ready to live thecalm and quiet live with her purrfectperson! Clover is friendly and sweet,
and just needs some time to adjust to anew home, as all newly adopted pets do.
This sleek black cat is looking for somestability and love, and an adopter who 
can be patient while she comes out ofher shell at her own pace. Clover hasshown curiosity with her surroundingsand she would love having spaces whereshe can explore, climb, and burrow.

 The adoption fee for cats is $100. Allcat adoptions include spay or neuter, 

microchip, and age-appropriate 
vaccines. 
New adopters will receive a 

complimentary health-and-wellness 
exam from VCA Animal Hospitals,
as well as a goody bag filled withinformation about how to care for your 
pet.

View photos of adoptable pets and 
schedule an adoption appointment at 
pasadenahumane.org. Adoptions are 
by appointment only, and new adoptionappointments are available everySunday at 10:00 a.m. for the followingweek. 


SWEET MAGGIE 

Looking for a Love Bug? Please take another 
look at little MAGGIE. This adorable 
kitten, who is being fostered with 
her other siblings and 2 dogs, makes 

friends with everyone around her--animals, kids, and adults alike. She 
loves being held by her humans. Maggie is not vocal or loud, but has 
a purr that will melt anyone's heart. She's the sweetest tortie-girl. Zero 
attitude. All love! If you have another young cat at home, or if you are 
home a lot and just want a cuddler who gets all your attention, please 
consider adopting Maggie. www.lifelineforpets.org/cat-adoption-application-
revised.html.
Good news: Jaxson, Remi, and Delilah have pending adoptions! 

 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com 
Pets may not beavailable for adoptionand cannot be held for 
potential adopters by 
phone calls or email. 

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