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

Fans cheer for the Boys Soccer team's repeat CIF Championship win.

Last summer, Pacific Ridge School provided summer internships to several alumni, who worked in College Counseling, Development and IT. They did a tremendous job! If you or your company are interested in hiring a Pacific Ridge School graduate for an internship or any kind of summer job, please contact Emma Balina, Manager of Alumni Relations, at 760-448-9883, or ebalina@pacificridge.org. The Alumni office would like to provide a database of opportunities for our graduates to gain summer employment or experience. Ms. Balina will be happy to discuss the details of the program with you.

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, utilizing the renowned Middlebury Immersion Method. For more information and to register, contact Middlebury Interactive Languages directly by clicking here. 

Come enjoy a burger and some great music at the Haven Night Shelter fundraiser at Elevation Burger in Bressi Ranch. 15% of all sales will be donated if customers present a flyer (available at the event). Haven Night Shelter is raising money to support the homeless in Cape Town, South Africa.

From June 16th to August 2nd, Pacific Ridge will be offering multiple summer programs available to all students in San Diego's North County:

Morning activities at this full-day program will focus on project-based learning in the arts, engineering, academic enrichment and entrepreneurship. Afternoons will include fun, physical activities with an emphasis on team-building and character development. 

One or two-week workshops will be offered in areas such as creative writing, digital photography, printmaking, mosaics, applied geometry, music improvisation and SAT preparation.

Several four-day camp sessions will be offered in Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys and Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Soccer, Boys Lacrosse and Sports Performance. A one-week Nike Boys Basketball camp will also be offered.

More information about summer programs will be coming soon. Stay tuned!

The Class of 2013 celebrated the 100 days remaining until graduation with a dinner on March 5th. Seniors and faculty members enjoyed dinner and a slideshow highlighting the students' growth and progression over their years at Pacific Ridge School. For many students, the nostalgia harkened back to their role as founders, entering Pacific Ridge as 7th graders in the fall of 2007. "The 100-Day Dinner is a chance for seniors to reflect on their time at Pacific Ridge, while looking forward to college and their upcoming status as alumni of the school," notes 12th-Grade faculty team leader Melissa Symington. "It is a moment to consider this important transition in their lives, and to celebrate it together with their classmates and teachers."

Looking back and looking forward: Seniors reminisce at the 100-Day Dinner.

On February 27th, parents participated in two Harkness discussions about the future of technology in education. Attendees watched several interesting videos about technology's rapid evolution and creative ways it is being used to revolutionize teaching and learning worldwide. The groups then discussed a number of questions, including: How can we leverage technology tools to further enhance a Pacific Ridge School education? How do students learn to become creative problem-solvers? How can we prepare our children for the rapid shifts in education and work paradigms that technology is bringing?

The Harkness session's guiding presentation and additional resources can be accessed here. Thank you to all parents who participated in this year's Parent Education Series.

Dr. Ogle's latest blog post is on Pacific Ridge's website. Click here to read his reflections on "Meaning" and Independent Schools.

After studying Lorraine Hansberry's Raisin in the Sun, 8th-Grade English students spent several weeks editing the play with the goal of creating a one-hour adapted production. Working in groups, students pared down the script, blocked scenes and created backdrops, props and costumes. The result of their close reading and skilled editing? An entertaining group performance and a deeper, more nuanced appreciation of the landmark literary work. Students will bring their understanding of the play's themes to their American Studies unit on the Civil Rights movement.

Students present scenes from Raisin in the Sun.

On March 2nd, ten Pacific Ridge students attended the Salk Institute High School Science Day, when the world-renowned research facility opens its laboratory doors to share the daily life of its working scientists. Students visited several labs, hearing about research science from professors, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. They then participated in real lab work, including preparing slices of mouse brain for analysis in a cancer and stem cell lab, and observing supercomputers that visualize enormous computational data sets modeling dynamic brain processes in healthy and diseased individuals. Students also attended a presentation about IPSC's (induced pluripotent stem cells) by Fred Gage, one of the world's foremost neurogenesis scientists.

Science teacher and former undergraduate Salk researcher Todd Burckin reports that students were excited by the experience. "The Salk Institute set me on my way to becoming a research scientist," he says, "I hope it does this for some of our students as well."

Students enjoy the architecture and inner-workings of the Salk Institute.

Senior Akash Patel recently visited the village of San Ignacio, in Baja, Mexico, where he is helping the community transform an old, unused schoolbus into a library. According to Akash, original plans for the project had to be modified, with unexpectedly positive results. Working with San Ignacio's mayor, he was able to engage a local architect to develop new plans, which now include a projector system, stage and outdoor auditorium. The amphitheater, which can be used for showing movies and other educational purposes, will be one of only a few permanent structures in the town and can serve as a gathering place for the community. Local residents of the small fishing village are watching the construction with excitement. During his visit, Akash spoke with students, parents and teachers from the school where the library and theater will reside. They showed their enthusiastic appreciation for Akash's efforts by throwing a "feast" in his honor.

Community members express their appreciation.

Akash reviews plans with San Ignacio Mayor Raul Lopez and one of the project's welders.

Middle School students in the Seniors service learning group spent last trimester developing friendships with residents at the Sunrise Senior Living community in La Costa. Each week, students visited the seniors, engaging them in art projects, word games and story-telling. The group capped off the trimester by presenting a talent show, complete with singing, piano playing, tap dancing and riddle-telling. Faculty advisor Meredith Brady reports that the seniors enjoyed watching their young friends perform, and all participants cheered heartily each time a tough riddle was solved. Students came away from their trimester with an increased appreciation for the wisdom and warmth the elderly have to share.

Pacific Ridge's Co-heads of School will discuss "Our hopes and Dreams for Pacific Ridge School - in 2005 and 2013."

Date: Wednesday, March 13th

Time: 6:00 p.m. social, 6:30-7:45 p.m. general meeting and talks by Dr. Mullady and Dr. Ogle

Place: East Reading Room

Dates: Friday, March 15th

Time: 8:00 a.m.

Place: Peet's Coffee, Bressi Ranch

On Saturday, March 2rd, the Boys Varsity Soccer team successfully defended its first place title by defeating Calvin Christian 4 to 0 at the CIF Division 5 Championship. The win propelled Pacific Ridge into the Division 3 regional tournament, which includes teams from all over southern California. In their first regional game on Tuesday, March 5th, the Firebirds thrilled an enthusiastic home crowd with a solid 5 to 0 win against Nuview Bridge.

Head Coach David Boyett was impressed by the energy and commitment every player on the roster brought to the field. "The boys played with heart," he says. "They also showed tremendous patience on the ball and really dictated the pace of the games." Assistant Coach Michael Chirgwin adds, "Scoring nine goals in two games without giving up a single goal is a true team effort. Both our offense and defense performed at a high level."

The team now travels to Inglewood, CA to play top-ranked Animo Leadership High School in the regional semi-final game on Thursday, March 7th. Go Firebirds!!

Familiar celebration: Boys Varsity Soccer players are champions again.

February 27th is a day Isabella Salant will remember. It is the day the golf team standout scored her first hole-in-one, while playing a practice round at El Camino Country Club. Isabella earned All-CIF honors for her stellar play in the fall, and looks forward to a strong spring season. If the hole-in-one is any indication, she has plenty to look forward to. Congratulations, Isabella!

The Proof

Families of Upper School winter sports athletes are invited to the end-of-season Sports Celebration on Monday, March 11th. The event will feature a slide show, awards ceremony and breakout sessions for individual team awards and dessert. Dinner will not be served.

Date: Monday, March 11th

Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Place: Upper School Building

Want to come out and cheer for Pacific Ridge? Game times and locations for this month's athletic events can be found here. Schedules are subject to change, so please check regularly for accurate information.

3/2/13 Calvin Christian (CIF Championship) 4 0 W

3/05/13 Nuview Bridge (CIF Regional Tournament) 5 0 W

Winter Sports Team Celebration

7-9 p.m.

Parents Association General Meeting

6 p.m. social, 

6:30 p.m. meeting and talks

Parent Walking Group

Bressi Peet's Coffee

8 a.m.

Middle School & Upper School Social Events

NO SCHOOL

Spring Break

Parent Book Club

7 p.m.