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Pacific Ridge School DotsA View From The Ridge
Weekly E-Newsletter
February 7, 2013 
In This Issue
Bulletin Board
New & Noteworthy
Curricular Adventures
Service Learning in the Field
Parents Association News
Sports on the Ridge
Beyond the Ridge
Snapshot from the Ridge

Each week, Pacific Ridge School invites you to enjoy a spontaneous view of school life.

    
Good Hair Day: Rapunzel and friends prepare for the opening performance of Into The Woods.

Bulletin Board

 

NO SCHOOL February 9th through 18th

School will be closed for the Mid-Winter break. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 19th. 

 

Next E-Newsletter on February 21st

Have a safe and relaxing vacation!

 

    

Middlebury Summer Day Academy at Pacific Ridge School
Middlebury Interactive Languages, the premier academic leader in world language instruction for K-12 students, is partnering with Pacific Ridge School to bring its Summer Day Academy to Southern California. From June 16th-29th, local area students entering grades 5 to 8 can enroll in a two-week intensive language program in Spanish, French or Mandarin Chinese. Introductory and intermediate levels of instruction will be offered by Pacific Ridge School world languages faculty trained in the Middlebury Immersion Method. Share the news with your friends and neighbors! For more information and to register, contact Middlebury Interactive Languages directly by clicking here. 

 

It's Not Too Late to Venture Into The Woods...

A few seats are still available. To order tickets, please visit SeatYourself.

Dates: Thursday, February 7th through Saturday, February 9th

Times: 7:30 p.m., additional 2:00 p.m. performance on February 9th.

Place: Star Theatre, 402 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside

 

Have Your 2012 Tax Receipts Arrived?

Tax receipts for 2012, summarizing each family's donations to Pacific Ridge School during the calendar year, were sent via U.S. mail last week. All Annual Fund and Breaking New Ground gifts made during 2012 are fully tax-deductible and will be reflected on the receipt. If you have any questions, or have not received your tax receipt, please contact Emma Balina at ebalina@pacificridge.org or 760-448-9883.


What Does Technology's Future Hold for Your Child?

To explore that question, join the Harkness table with other parents, faculty and staff on February 27th. Session II of this year's Parent Education Series will focus on preparing our students for a future in which they will need to adapt to rapidly changing technological conditions. The group will also address the use and management of technological tools to enhance teaching and learning. Morning and afternoon sessions are available. Interested in attending? Contact Pati Ruiz at pruiz@pacificridge.org.

Date: Wednesday, February 27th

Time: 8:15-9:45 a.m., or 4:30-6:00 p.m.

Place: Library Learning Commons

 

Save The Date: WeCare Screening of Miss Representation

The WeCare Parent Education Consortium will present a special screening of the 2011 documentary, Miss Representation, on February 28th. The film explores the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America, and challenges the media's limited portrayal of what it means to be a powerful woman. Following the fiim, Dr. Jackie Freiburg will lead a brief panel discussion with administrators and professionals from WeCare member schools.

Date: Thursday, February 28th

Time: 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Place: Warren Walker Middle School, 2231 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego

2013-2014 Academic Calendar Available on Website

The 2013-2014 academic calendar is now available. From Pacific Ridge School's homepage, go to "News & Events." Select "Calendar" and click on the link in the appropriate yellow box. You can also download next year's academic calendar from the school portal - the link is under the "School Information" section, below your child's assignments. 

 

New & Noteworthy

Pacific Ridge Welcomes Visiting Chinese Students
From January 29th to February 3rd, Pacific Ridge hosted nine students from the Shanghai Shidong High School -- our sister school in China. During their stay in southern California, the students attended classes, visited the San Diego Zoo with Pacific Ridge students, shopped at the local mall, and spent time getting to know their Pacific Ridge host families. After a fond farewell from many new American friends, the Chinese students headed to Disneyland before returning home. Pacific Ridge ninth-graders will have the opportunity to renew the friendships when they travel to Shanghai at the end of the school year. Many thanks to the Andre, Bae, Levin, McDuffie, Poole, Sparber, Sheagren and Tan families for warmly welcoming the students into their homes.


Students from the Shanghai Shidong High School and their hosts


Chinese students lend their expertise to Ms. Nielsen's Chinese 2 class.

Science Olympiad Strikes Again
Members of Pacific Ridge's Division B Science Olympiad team enjoyed a day of spirited competition at the 2012-2013 Science Olympiad, held at Ranch Bernardo High School. Competing in a field of 98 teams in the largest regional competition in the United States, Pacific Ridge students came away with a number of awards. Congratulations to the following students, and to all participants in this year's Division B Olympiad:

Connie Yu - 1st Place, Anatomy
Julia Prestera & Bareen Rafiq - 16th Place, Anatomy
Simran Israni & Mirai Patel - 20th Place, Crime Busters
Noah Kuo - 17th Place, Dynamic Planet
Alderik Van der Heyde & Borhan Rafiq - 3rd Place, Helicopters
Khalid Abudawas & Ian Hogenkamp - 10th Place, Helicopters
Max Dawson & Quincy Erturk - 5th Place, Metric Mastery
Simran Israni & Quincy Erturk - 10th Place, Road Scholar
Jonathan Li & Derek Albosta - 8th Place, Rocks and Minerals
Jonathan Li & Joshua Kahn - 19th Place, Rotor Egg Drop
Jonathan Li & Sophie Wilder - 20th Place, Water Quality


Science Olympiad teammates celebrate their success.

Academic League Notches a Win
The varsity, JV and freshman Academic League teams celebrated victory on January 31st, after their win over Santa Fe Christian. The varsity team prevailed 53-27, while the JV team earned a 58-24 win and the Freshman team dominated 65-35. The team's next home match will be on Thursday, March 7th against San Dieguito Academy. Go Firebirds!


Academic League team members rack up the points.

Students from Mexico Share Stories, Perspectives
On February 4th, several students from the Centro de Enseñaza Técnica y Superior High School in Tijuana visited Pacific Ridge for a dynamic Global Programs Community Life in which they spoke alongside several Pacific Ridge students. The students shared details about their daily lives, reflected on issues related to the Mexican/American border and immigration, and probed stereotypes people living on opposite sides of the border might hold about each other. The conversation allowed students to hear and express varied perspectives, and to learn more about the relationship between the two neighboring countries.

Students share perspectives about life in the United States and Mexico.

Percutaneous is the Winning Word
On February 4th, Middle School students cheered two finalists in the first round of the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Max Dawson '17 and Christopher Ong '18 battled back and forth, showcasing their prodigious spelling abilities. Ultimately, Max stepped ahead by successfully spelling "heterostrophy" (meaning: the quality or state of being coiled in a direction opposite to the usual one), and clinched the win by spelling "percutaneous" (meaning: effected, occurring, or performed through the skin). Max will go on to represent Pacific Ridge at the U-T San Diego Countywide Spelling Bee on March 27th. Congratulations to Max, Christopher and to all our Middle School contestants.

Spelling Bee champion Max Dawson and runner-up Christopher Ong

Curricular Adventures

Nature vs. Nurture: The Debate Continues
Students in Vocal Ensemble recently held a debate-style Harkness discussion about nature vs. nurture in music. The overarching question for the debate: How much of musical ability is innate and how much is culturally influenced? Prior to the discussion, students read articles pertaining to early musical development and music education. During the debate, students who are also in AP Psychology integrated their understanding of heritability and cultural influences on personal development. Their conclusion? Musical ability is a fascinating and complex combination of genetic factors interacting with sociological factors. Through the exercise, students also learned more about recent research on the effects of music on the brain, health and well-being.

Who Stole Shmoo? AP Biology is on the Case
Students in AP Biology just completed a CSI-style DNA lab, in which they were tasked with solving the mystery of who kidnapped Shmoo, the lab fish. Students were provided DNA samples from the "crime scene" and from five suspects. For their analyses, students used a cocktail of restriction enzymes that fragmented the DNA into smaller pieces. The pieces were then separated by size and visualized using a process known as gel electrophoresis. If two samples had a similar "DNA fingerprint," then they were a match. The result? Shmoo is now safely back in the lab, and one of Pacific Ridge's teachers will be closely watched whenever she is in the vicinity of the fishbowl!

Service Learning in the Field

Connect To Success: Helping Others Through Technology
Pacific Ridge students Niraj Madhani '13, Kevin Chu '13 and Tristan Saggese '13 have formed a service learning group that helps people gain access to technology and teaches them how to use it to improve their lives. The students first helped a homeless shelter set up a computer center, which is now used to help homeless individuals find jobs. They then obtained ten refurbished computers for a Chinese community center in San Diego. With the help of Dillon Lerach '13, they recently established a connection with St. Mark's Church in City Heights, where Dillon has been tutoring Burmese refugees for several years. Niraj, Kevin and Tristan plan to teach the refugees how to use computers effectively for job searches and other projects. They will also teach an internet safety class to students at the church.

Support Global Vantage: Subscribe Now
Issue 6 of the award-winning Global Vantage magazine will be available this spring. Part of the Global Journal Project, Global Vantage is managed and edited by students at Pacific Ridge School, Torrey Pines High School and the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy in Kenya. The magazine showcases engaging stories, articles and photographs from contributors worldwide. To subscribe, please click here. Donations and sponsorships are also welcome. If you choose to donate, please specify at checkout that your donation is for Global Vantage. 

Parents Association News

Parent Walking Group
Date: Friday, February 22nd
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Place: Rancho Santa Fe Library

Parent Book Club Meeting on February 25th
The Pacific Ridge Parent Book Club will hold its next meeting to discuss Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner. For more information or to be added to the Book Club mailing list, please email the Parents Association at parentsassociation@pacificridge.org.
Date: Monday, February 25th
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Place: Library Learning Commons
 
Sports on the Ridge

Middle School Girls A Soccer Team Wins League Title
The Middle School Girls A Soccer team wrapped up a fantastic season by clinching the South Coast Middle School League title on February 6th. The girls cruised through their regular season games with only one loss to a talented Santa Fe Christian squad. Exercising great teamwork and effort, the girls peaked right on time, defeating Santa Fe Christian 1-0 when they faced them again in an exciting semi-final game on February 5th. They followed up with panache by beating Bishop's 2-0 in the following day's final match. Coach Tiffany Arnaldo couldn't be more pleased with her team's performance this season. "What impressed me the most about this group of girls is their dedication to the sport and to each other, as well as their tenacity," she says. "Every time they stepped on the field, they gave it their all. I am proud of each and every one of them."

The Boys Middle School A Soccer team continued its undefeated run and made it to the February 6th final, but lost to a tough and composed Coronado Middle School team. Congratulations to all athletes who participated in the Middle School program this year.







Scores:

Boys Varsity Basketball
1/29/13 Escondido Charter 63 60 W
1/31/13 Maranatha Christian 50 45 W
2/02/12 The Rock Academy 37 51 L

Boys Junior Varsity Basketball
1/29/13 Escondido Charter 35 39 L
1/31/13 Maranatha Christian 53 40 W
2/02/13 La Jolla Country Day School 31 32 L

Girls Varsity Basketball
1/29/13 Escondido Charter 41 24 W
1/31/13 Maranatha Christian 34 18 W
2/02/13 The Rock Academy 43 24 W

Boys Middle School A Basketball
1/29/13 Tri-City Christian Schools 34 41 L
1/31/13 Maranatha Christian 39 19 W
2/01/13 Army Navy Academy 37 50 L

Boys Middle School B Basketball
1/29/13 Tri-City Christian Schools 18 25 L
1/31/13 Maranatha Christian 37 28 W

Boys Middle School C Basketball
1/29/13 Tri-City Christian Schools 15 31 L

Boys Varsity Soccer
1/30/13 La Jolla Country Day 1 1 T
2/01/13 Bishop's 3 1 W

Boys Junior Varsity Soccer
1/28/13 Francis Parker 1 3 L

Girls Varsity Soccer
1/30/13 La Jolla Country Day 2 1 W
2/01/13 Bishop's 1 5 L

Boys Middle School A Soccer
1/29/13 Horizon Christian School 6 0 W
1/31/13 Santa Fe Christian Schools 5 2 W

Boys Middle School B Soccer
1/29/13 Horizon Christian School 4 0 W

Girls Middle School A Soccer
1/29/13 San Diego Jewish Academy 4 0 W

Girls Middle School B Soccer
1/31/13 Santa Fe Christian Schools 1 1 T

Girls Middle School C Soccer
1/29/13 Horizon Christian School 1 7 L

Beyond the Ridge

 

Junior Families: Save the Date for Coastline Case Studies

Juniors and their families are encouraged to participate when Pacific Ridge hosts the 4th annual Coastline Case Studies program on April 17th. At this informative event, students and parents will break into groups (hosted by college reps) to act as mock admissions committees and review several hypothetical college applications. Representatives from over 90 colleges and universities will be in attendance. This program enables students and families to learn more about colleges and get a close-up look at the college admissions process. Don't miss it!

Date: Wednesday April 17th

Time: 6:30 - 8:45 p.m.

Place: Pacific Ridge School 

 

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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.

Schedule of Events
Schedule of Event Calendar
February 7th
Into the Woods
Star Theater Oceanside
7:30 p.m.

February 8th
Into the Woods
Star Theatre Oceanside
7:30 p.m.

February 9th
Into the Woods
Star Theatre Oceanside
2 & 7:30 p.m.

February 9th -18th
NO SCHOOL
Mid-Winter Break

February 22nd
Parent Walking Group
8:30 a.m.
Rancho Santa Fe Library

February 25th
Parent Book Club
7 p.m.

February 27th
Parent Technology Harkness
8:15-9:45 a.m. & 4:30-6 p.m.

February 28th
WeCare Screening
Miss Representation
9-11 a.m.
Warren Walker Middle School
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