| Snapshot from The Ridge |
Each week, Pacific Ridge School invites you to enjoy a spontaneous view of school life.  The Yale A Cappella group Proof of the Pudding performed jazz era tunes during Community Life period on Monday. |
Bulletin Board
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Curriculum Night on March 21st: "Balance for Success"
Current Sophomores and Juniors, along with their parents, are invited to hear faculty discuss class offerings, and students reflect on their experiences crafting Junior and Senior schedules. Questions? Contact Scott Mattoon at smattoon@pacificridge.org.
Date: Wednesday, March 21st
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: East Reading Room
Upper School Game Night on March 23rd
Upper Schools students are invited to Game Night on Friday, March 23rd. Students can enjoy pizza, snacks, and drinks as they play card and video games.
Date: Friday, March 23rd
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Place: East and West Reading Rooms
Reminders:
Summer Shakespeare in the Park program at Pacific Ridge School - Auditions/Interviews Coming Up!
The Pacific Ridge Theater Arts Department is proud to announce that New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad will be collaborating with Pacific Ridge School to host a six-week summer theater program beginning on July 9th and concluding on August 12th with a professional performance on our very own campus. Some students will be able to play small roles in the show, and those interested in technical theater can apprentice themselves to a professional in each production area. Students interested in participating should contact Mr. Justin Lang directly. Click here to find Mr. Lang's email and to learn more about this unusual and exciting opportunity to work with a professional, award winning theater. The first audition/interview will take place on Saturday, March 17th, and a second session will be scheduled on March 31st. If there are still spots available after March 31st, New Village Arts Theatre will conduct rolling auditions/interviews over the following two months.
May 4th: Save the Date to Celebrate!
Be sure to mark Friday, May 4th on your calendar. Then get ready to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the new Athletic Center while you enjoy one of the most exciting athletic contests in Pacific Ridge School's history. The whole family is invited. B.Y.F.S. (Bring Your Firebird Spirit).
Date: Friday, May 4th
Time: 4:30 p.m. (But come early for offsite parking)
Place: Pacific Ridge School
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New & Noteworthy
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Faculty & Staff Reach 100% Participation in Annual Fund
Congratulations to Pacific Ridge faculty, staff, and coaches for reaching 100% participation in this year's Annual Fund! It is a remarkable achievement for any independent school to reach this level of participation among faculty and staff, and we are proud that our generous teachers, coaches, and administrators accomplished 100% participation for the third year in a row. Faculty and staff join the Class of 2012 in reaching 100% participation, and the rest of the school - currently at 83% participation - is not far behind. We look forward to celebrating other 100% milestones over the next few weeks. Click here to join other members of the Pacific Ridge community by making your gift to the Annual Fund today.
A Cappella Group to Perform in New York City
Safe trip and good luck to members of the Pacific Ridge A Cappella group, who left for a five-day trip to New York City today. The group will perform at Carnegie Hall this weekend. You can keep up with their New York experience by checking out Music Director Steve Dziekonski's blog.
Next Stop: Carnegie!
And, speaking of blogs...
Dr. Ogle's most recent blog is on the school website. You can read it by clicking here.
Pulitzer Prize Winner Steve Breen Visits Campus
On Wednesday, March 7th, nationally syndicated cartoonist and two-time Pulitzer winner Steve Breen visited campus and talked to students about his work as a political cartoonist. During his presentation, he described his career path to becoming a political cartoonist, and explained his current job, which includes producing a whopping 250 cartoons each year. Mr. Breen also discussed the art of caricature and illustrated his own caricatures of three U.S. Presidents: Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Obama. Thank you Mr. Breen for your interesting and eye-opening talk!
Mr. Breen puts finishing touches on a caricature of President Obama.
Face to Faith Video Conference Focuses On International Women's Day
On Monday, March 8th, ninth-grade students held their second Face to Faith video conference, an exchange that focused on International Women's Day. Along with students from Prepa Tec High School in Mexico and Lewis and Clark High School in the United States, Pacific Ridge students exchanged ideas about International Women's Day and why it is important, as well as discussed cultural expectations of men and women. They also heard from Amy NcNair, a young woman who has devoted her life to service work that focuses on women. Ms. McNair has, among other endeavors, worked to create equal employment opportunities for women in developing nations. Said teacher Namir Yedid, who organized the video conference: "It was very powerful for students to see a young person who has devoted herself to one of our mission elements. Her service work embodies the Pacific Ridge notion of ethical responsibility, and students learned a lot about what that commitment entails." |
Curricular Adventures
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On Monday, March 12th, Dr. Helge Weissig, a bioinformaticist from AvitvX Biosciences talked to AP Biology students about his current work as a bioinformaticist (including an explanation of what exactly a bioinformaticist does) and a career path that led him from being an aspiring marine biologist in landlocked Germany to a molecular biologist and computer programmer in La Jolla. During his presentation, Dr. Weissig described how his high school tinkering with computer science eventually led him to a career that combines biology, computer science, and information technology. He also taught a brief introductory lesson on computer programming and how it can used to manage and study biological information such as gene and protein sequences. Dr. Weissig was available to students through the Nifty 50 program of the San Diego Science and Engineering Festival. Thank you, Dr. Weissig, for sharing your experience and expertise with our students! |
Service Learning in the Field
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Members of the Upper School Service Learning Group New Ocean Blue have been reaching out to local schools with their message about the dangers of plastic in the ocean. Students presented at Carrillo, Pacific Rim, and Audubon elementary schools, and will visit The Rhoades School in the coming weeks. In their presentations, group members focus both on educating young people about ocean garbage patches, and on explaining how recycling significantly cuts down plastic waste in the ocean. Group members also offer useful tips about how to make simple behavioral changes that can have positive long-term environmental effects: for example, packing a lunch with reusable containers, and bringing reusable shopping bags to stores. Pacific Ridge students and sisters Kimberly and Megan Chang-Haines run the Service Learning group as part of a non-profit organization they started with a seed grant from Pacific Ridge School. Click here to learn more about New Ocean Blue, its mission, and its activities.
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Sports on the Ridge
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Winter Sports Banquet Celebrates AthletesStudents who participated on winter sports teams were recognized on Wednesday, March 7th, at the yearly Winter Sports Banquet. Members of the boys and girls varsity soccer and basketball teams, as well as those who participated in JV girls soccer and JV boys basketball, were honored at the event. In his introductory remarks, Coach Lawlor noted that all four varsity teams made playoffs this year, a first in the history of the school and an exciting defining moment. He also lauded the boys and girls varsity soccer teams for their league championship wins and congratulated the boys for moving on to states. Go Firebirds! A number of individual athletes were recognized as well, among them: Boys JV BasketballCoaches' Award - Keith Burris Girls JV SoccerCoaches' Award - Jennifer Curiel Boys Varsity BasketballFirebird Award: Luke Lango Coaches' Award: Elliot Abbey Most Improved: Ethan Kuo Honors the Game/Sportsmanship - Parker Lawlor Girls Varsity BasketballFirebird Award - Kati Perry Coaches' Award - Kim Foss Most Improved - Ariana Bancroft Honors the Game/Sportsmanship - Louisa Ballif Boys Varsity SoccerFirebird Award - Voja Maric Firebird Award - Sam Carney Coaches' Award - James Burdick Most Improved - Max Levin Honors the Game/Sportsmanship - Jack Merrifield Head, Heart, & Hustle - Charlie Dederich Girls Varsity SoccerFirebird Award - Katie O'Laughlin Coaches' Award - Cara Hoffman Head, Heart & Hustle - Emily Yun Captains' Award - Jazzy Griggs Special Recognition of SeniorsAlexa Causey - Soccer Katie Glockner - Soccer Jenna Memmolo - Soccer Shannon Smith - Soccer Trevor Nesbitt - Soccer A special "Thank you!" goes to Coach Liza Neptune, and parents Abby Adams and Ken Boyd, for organizing the event and creating an awesome photo montage and video. Track & Field Team in First-Ever TournamentThe Pacific Ridge Track & Field team competed in its very first meet on Friday, March 9th, taking part in the Calvin Christian Coed Relay season opener. It was a full day of events, with athletes competing in the coed shuttle hurdles, 1600 M race, girls sprint medley, girls 4x200 coed 4x200 relay, coed 4x400 relay, and coed 4x800 relay. No official times or scores were kept, but the event fanned our Firebirds' competitive flames and got them excited for future competitions! Thank you to Jim Miller for some great photos: Scores Boys Varsity Tennis
03/08/12 Tri-City Christian Schools Home 16 2 W
Boys MS− A Lacrosse
03/10/12 La Jolla A I Away 10 5 W
Boys MS− B Lacrosse
03/10/12 La Jolla Away 1 9 L
Girls Varsity Lacrosse
03/07/12 Ramona High School Home 5 9 L
03/09/12 Point Loma High School Home 8 9 L
Girls Junior Varsity Lacrosse
03/07/12 Ramona High School Home 10 5 W
Girls Middle School Lacrosse
03/10/12 San Marcos Away 2 16 L
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In a community that fosters academic excellence, ethical responsibility, and global engagement, Pacific Ridge School prepares students for college and a purposeful life.
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March 15th-19th
A Cappella Trip to New York City
March 16th
Blood Drive
8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
March 21st
Curriculum Night
for Sophomores & Juniors
East Reading Room
6:30 p.m.
March 26th-30th
International Week @ Pacific Ridge School
March 30th
International
Food & Music Day
April 2nd-6th
No School -
Spring Break
April 9th
School resumes
April 20th
Middle School
Service Day
May 4th
Athletic Center Ribbon Cutting
4:30 p.m.
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A View from The Ridge 
