| Snapshot from the Ridge | |
Each week, Pacific Ridge School invites you to enjoy a spontaneous view of school life.
Back at the Table: Alumni enjoy lively Harkness discussions about life "Beyond the Ridge."
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| Bulletin Board |
NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 20th
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
 Robotics in Action on January 19th!
Come by the Athletic Center on Sunday, January 19th, when Pacific Ridge will be hosting a regional qualifying competition for the national high school robotics program FIRST Tech Challenge. Students from all over Southern California will be competing for spots in San Diego's Regional Championship. Pacific Ridge's Robotics team members will be helping run the event, and meals, snacks and refreshments will be available for purchase. Competition starts at 10:00 a.m., with elimination rounds taking place from 2:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. An animation of this year's game can be viewed here. For more information, please contact Mr. Park at bpark@pacificridge.org.
Blood Drive on January 21st
The San Diego Blood Bank will be conducting a blood drive at Pacific Ridge on January 21st. Want to help someone in need by donating blood? Appointments can be scheduled by visiting the San Diego Blood Bank. Click on Donate Blood, select Make an Appointment, and enter our sponsor code: PARS.Date: Tuesday, January 21st
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Place: Athletic Center
Dance Concert on January 22nd
Students from 7th-grade Arts Wheel, 8th-grade Arts Wheel, Dance 1, Dance 2 and Project Dance will offer performances in jazz, musical theater, contemporary, lyrical and hip hop. Come support dance at Pacific Ridge!
Date: Wednesday, January 22nd
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Athletic Center
Triple Tip-Off on January 24th!
Join us for an evening of food, fun and fierce competition on Friday, January 24th, when three Pacific Ridge basketball teams take on Tri-City Christian at home. The JV boys will start the action with a 4:00 p.m. tip off. Then it's a varsity doubleheader, with girls playing at 5:30 p.m., and boys rounding out the night at 7:00 p.m. Food trucks, The InSlider and Chip's Beach Eatz, will be selling mouthwatering meals and Mr. Richter will host halftime games and entertainment. Bring friends and family for dinner and a game or three. Let's give our Firebirds a true home court advantage!
Date: Friday, January 24th
Time: Boys JV - 4:00 p.m., Girls Varsity - 5:30 p.m., Boys Varsity - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Athletic Center
Parking: at Loker lot - Shuttles will run from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
9th-Grade Parent Night on January 29th
Parents of Pacific Ridge 9th graders are invited to an evening program where they will learn more about the exciting opportunities awaiting the freshman class in the second half of the year. Administrators and teachers will discuss with parents how they can best help their children approach challenges and develop skills and habits that will lead to success in high school and beyond.
Date: Wednesday, January 29th
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: East Reading Room
Tickets Available for Upper School Winter Formal
This year's Gatsby-themed Winter Formal will take place on Saturday, January 25th. Great music, snacks and refreshments will be offered. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door.
Date: Saturday, January 25th
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Place: East Reading Room
Get Your Tickets for Kiss Me, Kate!
Want to "Brush Up Your Shakespeare?" Come see The Taming of The Shrew as you've never seen it before! Shakespeare's classic battle of the sexes is just one ingredient of this award-winning Broadway show, which combines toe-tapping Cole Porter music with the hilarious antics of pompous theater directors, movie star divas and dim-witted gangsters. Show dates for Pacific Ridge's 6th annual musical production are Thursday through Saturday, February 6th - 8th. Performance times are 7:30 p.m., with an additional matinee at 2:00 p.m. on the 8th. Tickets are available online here. Order yours now!
Props Requested for Kiss Me, Kate
The production team of Kiss Me, Kate is seeking props. Parents, please check your closets and cupboards for household items you are willing to lend or donate. For a complete list of requested items, please visit SignUp Genius. Thank you for your help!
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| New & Noteworthy |
Winter Alumni Events Welcome Graduates Back to Campus
Pacific Ridge alumni have been spotted on campus recently, socializing with members of their graduating classes at the Alumni Family Reception on December 18th, celebrating at the Gingerbread Breakfast on December 20th, and imparting advice to current students about the college experience at Alumni Day on January 8th. Our graduates continue to play an important role in the growth and development of Pacific Ridge. We welcome and appreciate their visits!
Sharing words of wisdom during Community Life
Catching up with Mrs. Bjornstad at Alumni Day
Record Numbers Attend Open Houses 
A record number of families have attended this year's Open House events, eager to learn more about Pacific Ridge. On Saturday, January 11th, visitors heard presentations by faculty and student panelists, participated in classroom activities and enjoyed student-led campus tours. Thank you to all the visitors who attended and to all our student, parent and faculty volunteers who shared their enthusiasm for the school. Applications for admission are due on February 3rd. For more information, please visit the Admissions page of our website.
Hands of Peace Coming To Pacific Ridge
Hands of Peace, an interfaith organization dedicated to peacebuilding among youth in the Middle East, will be conducting its summer program at Pacific Ridge School this year. The program brings a group of Israeli and Palestinian teenagers together with a comparable number of American teens from Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other faith backgrounds for a two-week, dialogue-based experience of coexistence. Hands of Peace teaches team-building and leadership skills, helps participants learn about different cultures and religions, guides them in learning about the Middle East conflict from different points of view, and encourages them to explore ways to incorporate peacebuilding into their personal lives and communities. The program runs from July 6th - 24th. Interested in learning more? Please visit the Hands of Peace website, or contact Mr. Silk at ssilk@pacificridge.org.
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| Curricular Adventures | |
 Pacific Ridge Participates in Green Cup Challenge
Students at Pacific Ridge will participate in their 6th Green Cup Challenge from January 15th to February 16th. During the Green Schools Alliance-run challenge, students and faculty will discuss and implement strategies to lower energy use. Weekly meter readings are taken and submitted to a central database for comparison with other participating schools nationwide. Over its time as a participant, Pacific Ridge has lowered energy consumption by 9%. Quite an accomplishment for an already environmentally-minded school with a LEED-certified building! For more information about the challenge and to view the Building Dashboard which will soon be monitoring Pacific Ridge's energy usage in real time, please click here .
Dance Students Attend Nuvo Convention
On January 11th and 12th, students in Mrs. Moore's Dance 1 and Dance 2 classes attended the Nuvo Dance Convention in Long Beach. Attendees took a rigorous series of classes in jazz, contemporary, hip hop, ballet and lyrical styles of dance from choreographers whose credentials include So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent, Dancing with the Stars, Joffrey Ballet School, Alvin Ailey Dance Company and various Broadway shows. Ninth grader Emma Lawlor earned a full scholarship to attend the convention next year.
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| Service Learning in the Field | |
New Ocean Blue Teaches Local Students About Pollution
Students in Upper School service learning group New Ocean Blue have started their spring tour of local elementary schools, teaching 3rd and 4th graders about plastic pollution and the ocean gyres. The group's presentations explain how plastic makes its way into the ocean and how currents form giant garbage patches made of plastic debris. The group also promotes the use of sustainable materials and initiates beach cleanups. For more information, please visit the New Ocean Blue website.
Teaching pollution prevention at Poinsettia Elementary
Global Vantage Named Finalist for Crown Award
Global Vantage, published by Upper School service learning group Global Journal Project, has been named one of 27 finalists nationwide for a Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) 2014 Crown Award. The Crown Awards are the highest honor given by the CSPA to recognize excellence in student-run newspapers, magazines and digital publications. All finalists will receive either "Silver" or "Gold" Crown distinction at a ceremony in March.
Playing For A Difference Hosting 3 v. 3 Soccer Tournament
On February 2nd, Upper School service learning group Playing For A Difference will host its second 3 v. 3 soccer tournament to raise funds for Grassroot Soccer, a non-profit organization that works to educate youth in Africa about the dangers of HIV/AIDS. The tournament, which will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., is open to high school students and their friends - all levels of experience are welcome. Music, concessions, games and prizes will be available. For more information about how to join the fun and raise money for a worthy cause, please click here.
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| Parents Association |
 Walking Club, Thursday, January 23 - Torrey Pines!
Interested in joining the walking club? Contact the Parents Association at parentsassociation@pacificridge.org to be added to the group's contact list.
Date: Thursday, January 23rd
Time: 8:45 a.m.
Place: Torrey Pines State Reserve (meet adjacent to the entrance and guard station)
Parking: Free along the beach, for fee inside the parking lot
Parent Association General Meeting - Speaker Jon Moffat
All parents are invited to a Parent Association General Meeting on Tuesday, February 4th. Vista Community Clinic Cyber Educator Jon Moffat will be discussing internet and media safety, protecting your child's digital reputation, and cyber harassment and bullying.
Date: Tuesday, February 4th
Time: 6:30 p.m. refreshments, 7:00 p.m. presentation
Place: East Reading Room
Join the Pacific Ridge Book Club!
The Parents Association Book Club next meets on February 24th. The selected text is Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. Join us!
Date: Monday, February 24th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Library Learning Commons
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| Sports on the Ridge |
Firebirds Rule at Student-Alumni Soccer Match
On Friday, January 11th, Firebirds past and present faced off in the first annual student-alumni soccer match. Competition for bragging rights was keen between the student team, made up of members of the girls and boys varsity and JV teams, and the alumni, who were joined on the field by coaches and a few hardy teachers. The students outplayed their counterparts 5-1, but the true winner of the match was Firebird spirit. Spectators and players alike are looking forward to next year's rematch.
Boys Volleyball Coming to Pacific Ridge Athletics!
The Athletics Department is excited to introduce an Upper School developmental program in Boys Volleyball this spring. Both experienced and novice athletes are welcome. A number of matches have already been scheduled, and Head Coach Bjorn Dahl and Assistant Coach Justin McCabe are ready to share their enthusiasm for the sport with the Pacific Ridge community. For more information, please contact Coach Dahl at bdahl@pacificridge.org. Upper School Home Games, Week of 1/20/14: Be a Firebird Fan! Home game times for the upcoming week are listed below. Schedules are subject to change, so please check Schedulestar regularly for accurate information.
1/21/14 3:30 p.m. - Girls Varsity Soccer v. Francis Parker 6:00 p.m. - Boys JV Basketball v. La Costa Canyon 1/23/14 3:30 p.m. - Boys Varsity Soccer v. Escondido Charter 1/24/14 4:00 p.m. - Boys JV Basketball v. Tri-City Christian 5:30 p.m. - Girls Varsity Basketball v. Tri-City Christian 7:00 p.m. - Boys Varsity Basketball v. Tri-City Christian 
Scores: Boys Varsity Basketball 1/08/14 The Rock Academy 65 29 W 1/10/14 Escondido Charter 49 39 W Boys JV Basketball 1/07/14 Escondido Adventist Academy 45 18 W 1/10/14 Escondido Charter 56 21 W Girls Varsity Basketball 1/10/14 Canyon Crest Academy 39 36 W Boys Varsity Soccer 1/07/14 La Jolla Country Day School 3 0 W Girls Varsity Soccer 1/07/14 La Jolla Country Day School 2 0 W Boys Middle School A Basketball 1/08/14 Tri-City Christian Schools 31 62 L Boys Middle School B Basketball 1/08/14 Tri-City Christian Schools 13 41 L Boys Middle School A Soccer 1/09/14 Rancho Santa Fe Middle School 4 0 W Boys Middle School B Soccer 1/07/14 Rancho Santa Fe Middle School 5 3 W Girls Middle School A Soccer 1/09/14 Rancho Santa Fe Middle School 6 0 W Girls Middle School B & C Soccer 1/08/14 Inter-squad scrimmage - Gold 7 Blue 5
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| Alumni News |
Alumna Supports Clean Drinking Water Efforts in Nepal
Meili Eubank '11 just returned from a trip to Nepal, where she worked on well-water testing in rural parts of the country as part of a clean drinking water effort. Meile reports that she made some important connections with NGOs, tested water in six villages, and documented her experience in a short video. Meile is currently a junior at Dartmouth College.
Visiting with children from a Nepalese village with high levels of arsenic contamination
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| Faculty & Staff Notes |
Welcome to Our Newest Firebird! Congratulations to Executive Assistant Stephanie Furlong and her husband, Dan, who welcomed their first child, Sadie Karin Furlong on Wednesday, January 8th. Sadie weighed 7 lbs., 5 ounces and measured 19.5" at birth. All are doing well!
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| North County Happenings |
Visual and Performing Arts Career Panel at Sage Creek High School on January 30th Pacific Ridge students are invited to a career panel being sponsored by Sage Creek High School's Parent Teacher Student Association on Friday, January 30th. Professionals in the fields of visual and performing arts will share information about their career paths, education and typical work days. The event will also feature a performance by one of the presenters, Pacific Ridge friend Cody Lovaas (Cody Schlachter). For more information, please click here. Date: Friday, January 30th Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Sage Creek High School, 3900 Cannon Rd., Carlsbad
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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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Schedule of Events
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January 20th
NO SCHOOL
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 22nd
Dance Concert
7 p.m.
January 24th
Basketball!
4-8:30 p.m.
January 25th
Upper School Winter Formal Dance
7-10 p.m.
January 31st
Middle School Dance
6:30-8:30 p.m.
February 4th
Parents Association General Meeting
6:30 p.m.
February 6th- 8th
Kiss Me, Kate!
7:30 p.m.
February 8th
Kiss Me, Kate!
2:00 p.m.
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A View From The Ridge
