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Pacific Ridge School DotsA View From The Ridge
Weekly E-Newsletter
April 25, 2013 
In This Issue
Bulletin Board
New & Noteworthy
Curricular Adventures
Service Learning in the Field
Parents Association News
Class Notes
Sports on the Ridge
Beyond the Ridge
San Diego Happenings
Snapshot from the Ridge

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


The sun shines on Pacific Ridge's upper school building, newly named in honor of founding Head of School Dr. Eileen Mullady.

Bulletin Board

 

Having Trouble Loading Our New Homepage?

Pacific Ridge has an updated homepage. If you are having difficulty viewing it, please clear your web browser's cache and try again. Instructions will vary for each browser, and are generally available through the "help" function. 

   

Spring Arts Festival Is Tomorrow, April 26th

Pacific Ridge families are warmly invited to campus on Friday, April 26th from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. for the Spring Arts Festival. Students and faculty will be singing, dancing, acting, playing music and creating art in various venues across campus. A special community-wide celebration honoring Dr. Mullady will take place from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. For a glimpse of the day's activities, click here.  R.S.V.P. to Monique Benjamin at prsfirebirds@gmail.com. 

Date: Friday, April 26th

Time: 12:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Place: Pacific Ridge campus

Parking: 2765 Loker Avenue - Shuttles will be provided.

 

Reminder: Prom is on April 27th

Date: Saturday, April 27th

Time: Buses leave campus at 6:00 p.m., return by 11:45 p.m.

Place: New Children's Museum (meet at Pacific Ridge)

 

Buy Your Tickets for The Boy Friend!

The Jazz Age lives on in this light, romantic spoof of 1920's musical comedy. The setting is the French Riviera. Polly, an English heiress attending Madame Dubonnet's Finishing School, falls in love with Tony, a delivery boy. Recalling her father's warning to beware of fortune seekers, Polly poses as a working girl, unaware that Tony is, in fact, the missing son of the wealthy Lord and Lady Brockhurst. Things get complicated by the unexpected arrival of Polly's father and the Brockhursts in search of their missing heir. Come watch the wackiness that ensues in this year's Middle School musical! Tickets for The Boy Friend are available here.

Dates: Friday and Saturday, May 17th and 18th

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Place: Athletic Center

 


Middle Schoolers rehearse a dance number from The Boy Friend.
 

Ordering Your 2012-2013 Yearbooks

2012-2013 yearbooks are again available for pre-order. Check your email for specific ordering instructions.

 

Middle School Night at Boomers! on May 3rd

Middle Schoolers are invited to meet at Boomers in Vista for a night of fun on May 3rd. Unlimited activity passes costing $5 can be purchased next week during school. Students may also bring money with them for food and arcade games. Parents are kindly requested to pick up your children promptly at the end of the event.

Date: Friday, May 3rd

Time: 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Place: Boomers! 1525 W. Vista Way, Vista

 

Class of 2013 Parent Event on May 9th

Parents of current seniors are warmly invited to campus on May 9th for a program honoring your involvement with Pacific Ridge and to dedicate the Class of 2013 Science Laboratory. R.S.V.P. to prsfirebirds@gmail.com.

Date: Thursday, May 9th

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Place: Mullady Hall

 

Reminder: Care Package Drive for Marines
Donations to Second to None's care package drive for the U.S. Marines can be dropped off in the A and D buildings as well as the East and West Reading Rooms from April 22nd to May 3rd. Requested items include granola bars, 5-Hour Energy drinks, disposable razors, shaving cream, moleskin, footballs, soccer balls, non-medicated foot powder, rat traps and news & sports magazines. Thank you for supporting our troops!

Summer Programs and Sports Camps at Pacific Ridge

From June 24th to August 2nd, Pacific Ridge will be offering a number of summer programs available to all students in San Diego's North County. For more information and to register, please visit Pacificridge.org and select "Pacific Ridge Summer Programs" at the bottom of the page.

 

Middlebury Summer Language Academy at Pacific Ridge

Local area students entering grades 5 to 8 can enroll in a two-week intensive language program in Spanish, French or Mandarin Chinese from June 16th-29th. For more information and to register, click here. 

 

New & Noteworthy
  
Picnic a Real Treat for Audiences
On Friday and Saturday, April 19th and 20th, the Athletic Center's third bay was transformed into an intimate theater for Pacific Ridge's production of William Inge's Picnic. The Pulitzer prize-winning play takes a snapshot of a 1950's Kansas town and explores the way its inhabitants deal with their hopes and dreams - both future and past, both met and unmet. Surrounded by the audience, the actors gave poignant performances and shared their characters' experience: the sensation of moving within the confines of a close-knit community's perceptions and expectations. Heartfelt thanks go to the students and parent volunteers who supported the production, and to Ms. Trattner for her artistic vision and direction. Special thanks go to Thalia Causey for providing logistical support for the costume crew and for helping keep students amply fed.





Coastline Case Studies Informs Juniors, Families & Guests
On April 17th, Pacific Ridge hosted the fifth annual Coastline Case Studies program. Over 450 students, parents and college representatives attended the College Counseling-sponsored event. In small groups facilitated by college reps, participants role-played college admissions officers and reviewed the strengths and weaknesses of several mock applications. The result was a deeper understanding of how applications are evaluated, and how students can best represent themselves during the admissions process. The evening concluded with an informational fair hosted by 81 colleges and universities. According to College Counseling Director Bonnie Laughlin, the college reps raved about Pacific Ridge's students, programs and facilities. Thank you to the many student and parent volunteers who helped make the evening such a success.


Students evaluate the merits of several fictitious applications.


College representatives discuss their institutions with interested families.

More Student Council Results
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected presidents of their respective Upper School grades. The Class of 2017 will elect its president in the fall.

Class of 2014 - Parker Lawlor
Class of 2015 - Michelle Levitt
Class of 2016 - Matthew Hamparyan and Brij Sahney

Curricular Adventures
 
8th Grade Students Take Physics on the Road
On April 19th, Pacific Ridge 8th graders spent the morning at K-1 Speed in Carlsbad, participating in the first annual "Firebirds Grand Prix of Physics." Professional race car driver Patricio Jourdain, who has competed in Formula 1, NASCAR and stock car races, introduced the event by giving students physics-based driving tips. Next, a K-1 mechanic described the construction and inner workings of go karts. Finally, it was off to the races, as students (and several faculty chaperones) put physics into practice on K-1's 14-lap track. The best racers from each of 7 heats competed in a final race. The results? Students Seth Brown, Charlie Clarke and Derek Enge nabbed first through third place. As a follow-up assignment, students were asked to solve a series of problems involving the physics they experienced while racing. 

For more information about K-1 Speed's STEM Education Outreach program developed by Pacific Ridge teacher Doug Blackington, please click here.


Physics students, start your engines...

Calculus Camp: 24 Hours of Focus, Preparation and - Fun!
AP Calculus students spent the night of April 19th at Pacific Ridge attending Calculus Camp, a unique program designed by math teacher Amy Wasserman. The 24-hour session provides an extended period of uninterrupted practice and study for the upcoming Advanced Placement exam and an opportunity for students to think about and discuss the concepts of calculus for an entire day. Students reviewed lessons learned during the year, discussed test-taking strategies and took a full-length AP exam simulation. The hard work was interspersed with games, a movie, lots of good food, and yes -- some sleep. According to Ms. Wasserman, students enjoyed the camaraderie of the camp and emerged confident and prepared for the May exam.

Service Learning in the Field



Jazz/Rock Ensemble and Orchestra Performing at Benefit
Pacific Ridge's Orchestra and Jazz/Rock ensemble will be performing small group and jazz combo pieces at Peet's Coffee in Bressi Ranch on April 26th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The performance will benefit Banding Together, an organization that provides mentorship and music scholarships to students with autism. There will also be a raffle with prizes from local restaurants and stores. Please click here for more information about Banding Together.
Date: Friday, April 26th
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Place: Peet's Coffee, Bressi Ranch

Parents Association News

Book Club Meeting on April 29th
Date: Monday, April 29th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Library Learning Commons
Book: Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz

Parent Walking Group on May 3rd
Date: Friday, May 3rd
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Place: Peet's Coffee, Bressi Ranch

Supper 8 Club Year-End Party on May 19th
Pacific Ridge Supper 8 Club participants should mark your calendars for the group's year-end gathering on May 19th at 5:00 p.m. Check your email soon for more information.

Class Notes
 
Bridget Beliveau '13 Awarded Girl Scout Gold Award
After 13 years of scouting and fulfilling all the requirements of the Girl Scouts of America, senior Bridget Beliveau has achieved the highest rank of Girl Scouting: the Gold Award. For her service project, Bridget implemented a composting and recycling program at Kelly Elementary School modeled after "Waste-Free Wednesdays" at Pacific Ridge. She worked with students, administrators, teachers and parents to raise awareness of the importance of reducing the amount of waste going to landfills. The project has been enthusiastically received at Kelly, with lunch and snack scraps going to garden compost and worm bins, and paper and non-recyclables finding their proper homes. Bridget will officially receive her award at a ceremony on June 8th. Congratulations, Bridget!



Sports on the Ridge

Director of Athletics Darren Lawlor Receives Coaching Award
The Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) has named Director of Athletics and Boys Varsity Lacrosse coach Darren Lawlor a winner of the Double-Goal Coach of the Year award. The award recognizes coaches who strive to win while also pursuing the important goals of teaching life lessons through sports. Coach Lawlor was honored for the positive coaching philosophy he has brought to the Pacific Ridge Athletic department and the boys lacrosse program. Among all players, Coach Lawlor promotes the concept of "Head, Heart and Hustle." He encourages athletes to exercise integrity and empathy with their heads and hearts, while using hustle to produce winning results on the field or court. Director of Athletics since 2007, Coach Lawlor has built the Pacific Ridge Athletics department from the ground up, always keeping the goal of sports as a character-building experience in mind. Congratulations, Coach Lawlor!


Pacific Ridge Director of Athletics Darren Lawlor

PCA 2-Minute Drill 
This edition of PCA's 2-Minute Drill addresses the benefits of hard work, both on and off the field. 

Game Times
Game times and locations for April's athletic events can be found here. Schedules are subject to change, so please check regularly for accurate information. Be a Firebird fan!





Scores:

Coed Varsity Track & Field
4/18/13 Dual Meet vs. Maranatha Christian and Horizon 

Boys vs. Maranatha Christian 87 17 L
Boys vs. Horizon 74 25 L

Girls vs. Maranatha Christian 50 50 T
Girls vs. Maranatha Christian 56 45 L

4/19/13 Mt. SAC Invitational
Delaney Miller, 5th in mile & 7th in 800 meters

Boys Varsity Lacrosse
4/16/13 La Jolla Country Day School 13 0 W
4/18/13 Bishop's 6 7 L

Girls Varsity Lacrosse
4/16/13 Francis Parker 14 7 W
4/18/13 La Jolla Country Day School 10 8 W

Boys Middle School A Lacrosse
4/20/13 Mustangs 6 7 L

Boys Middle School B Lacrosse 
4/20/13 Mustangs 6 7 L

Girls Middle School A Lacrosse
4/14/13 Rancho Bernardo 11 9 W
4/18/13 Huki 9 8 W
4/20/13 Pythons 9 7 W

Coed Varsity Golf
4/18/13 Bishop's 226 212 L

Boys Varsity Tennis
4/16/13 Bishop's 11 7 W
4/17/13 St. Augustine High School 11 7 W
4/18/13 Francis Parker 10 8 W

Coed Middle School Tennis
4/16/13 Santa Fe Christian Schools 3 3 T

Girls Middle School A Basketball
4/15/13 San Diego Jewish Academy 44 4 W

Beyond the Ridge

SDUHSD College Night and Fair on April 29th
The San Dieguito Union High School District's college fair will take place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Monday, April 29th. Over 150 colleges and universities will be represented. For more information, click here.

NACAC College Fair on April 30th
The National Association of College Admissions Counselors will hold its Spring National College Fair at the San Diego Convention Center on Tuesday, April 30th. For more details, please visit NACAC's website.

San Diego Happenings

ARZU Studio Hope Empowers Afghan Women
ARZU Studio Hope is a not-for-profit social entrepreneurship organization that assists Afghan women by providing fair-labor, artisan-based employment and access to education and healthcare. Please join ARZU Studio Hope on May 2nd at an event celebrating its Masters Collection, featuring rugs designed by six world-famous architects and handmade by Afghan rug weavers. R.S.V.P. to Rebecca_Hetter@Coalesse.com. For more information about ARZU Studio Hope, please click here.
Date: Thursday, May 2nd
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Place: The White Box Gallery, 1040 7th Avenue, San Diego 

Pacific Ridge School Logo





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

April 26th
Spring Arts Festival
12:30 - 3 p.m.

April 27th
 Prom
Buses leave campus at 6 p.m.

April 29th
Parent Book Club
7 p.m.

May 3rd
Parent Walking Group
Bressi Peet's
8 a.m.

Middle School Social Event at Boomer's
5 - 8 p.m.

May 9th
Senior Parent Event
6 p.m.

May 17th & 18th
The Boy Friend
8 p.m.

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