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Pacific Ridge School DotsA View From The Ridge
Weekly E-Newsletter
February 6, 2014
In This Issue
Bulletin Board
New & Noteworthy
Curricular Adventures
Service Learning in the Field
Parents Association
Sports on the Ridge
Class Notes
Snapshot from the Ridge

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



Students in the Middle School Stewardship service learning group organize Pacific Ridge's recycling output on a weekly basis.

Bulletin Board

NO SCHOOL February 10th through 17th

School will be closed for the Mid-Winter break. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 18th.

 

Next E-Newsletter on February 20th

Have a safe and relaxing vacation!

 

 

"Another Openin', Another Show" - It's opening night for Pacific Ridge's annual Upper School musical!

 

Got Your Tickets For Kiss Me, Kate?

Come see your classmates and friends act, sing and dance their way through this Tony Award-winning Cole Porter musical. A few seats are still available, so click here to order yours now.

Dates: Thursday through Saturday, February 6th - 8th

Times: 7:30 p.m., plus 2:00 p.m. matinee on the 8th

Place: Star Theatre, 402 North Coast Highway, Oceanside

 

Spoken Word Poetry Open Mic Night on February 21st 

Did you know that the Ancient Greeks included Spoken Word Poetry in their Olympic games? Come experience the power of poetry when the Spoken Word Poetry Club hosts an Open Mic Night on Friday, February 21st. Students are welcome to perform poetry, song, dance or anything else they would like to share!

Date: Friday, February 21st

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: East Reading Room

 

New & Noteworthy

Pacific Ridge Welcomes Sister School in Taiwan
On Thursday, January 31st, the Pacific Ridge community celebrated the Chinese New Year by establishing a sister school relationship with the National Wen Hua Senior High School in Taichung, Taiwan. Twelve students from National Wen Hua spent two weeks in San Diego, attending classes at Pacific Ridge, staying with host families and participating in social activities such as Winter Formal. Their visit was capped off by Thursday's Community Life, which included a formal signing ceremony and performances by both the Taiwanese visitors and students in Chinese 1, 2 and 3. The festive event was attended by representatives from the San Diego International Sister Cities Association and the San Diego-Taichung Sister Cities Association, and was followed on February 1st with a banquet for students, visitors and host families.


Students from the National Wen Hua Senior High School of Taichung, Taiwan, help Pacific Ridge celebrate the sister school agreement.


Honoring guests with the traditional lion dance


Students perform a Tai Chi Kung Fu fan dance.

Students Get Lesson in Cyber-Safety
On Tuesday, February 4th, Vista Community Clinic Cyber Educator Jon Moffat addressed students at Community Life about responsible Internet use. Mr. Moffat explained how cyber-identities are formed through social networking sites, email accounts, photo sharing sites and more, and offered students tips for protecting their digital reputations. He also discussed the growing problem of cyber-bullying and how students can help prevent it.



Curricular Adventures

Pacific Ridge Robotics Headed to Championships
On Saturday, February 1st, Pacific Ridge's two Upper School Robotics teams made an impressive showing at the FIRST Tech Challenge regional qualifying tournament at The Rock Academy. Both teams made strong contributions to the competition, with Team 4262 earning a spot in the finals and clinching the award for 1st Place Alliance. Both Pacific Ridge teams have now qualified for the San Diego Regional Championships at Madison High School on February 15th. Go Firebirds!


Team 4262 captures a win.

Creative Energy: Sophomores Make Their Own Fuel

Tenth graders in Mr. McCabe's chemistry class are taking a hands-on approach to exploring fossil fuel alternatives - by creating their own! Students have spent the past few class periods synthesizing and cleaning biodiesel produced from canola, peanut, or corn oil. After the Mid-Winter break, students will test the biofuel for purity and usability, in hopes of using it to help power a generator for the Spring Arts Festival. The biodiesel project coincides with 10th graders' history research on the Industrial Revolution, and touches upon the trimester ethical question "Is progress our greatest product?"



10th graders explore replacements to fossil fuels.

Service Learning in the Field

Playing For A Difference Hosts Soccer Tournament
On Sunday, February 2nd, Upper School service learning group Playing For a Difference hosted a 3 v. 3 soccer tournament fundraiser on campus. Proceeds from the event will benefit Grass Root Soccer, an international organization that raises awareness about HIV/Aids among African youth. The tournament raised over $1,000, thanks in part to a generous matching donation from Positive Tracks. Student band Revival Sounds provided entertainment, and several faculty members and coaches joined in the fun. 



Middle School Service Learning Welcomes Senior Visitors
On Monday, February 3rd, the Middle School Seniors service learning group welcomed a number of neighbors from ActivCare in Bressi Ranch. Students led the seniors on tours of campus, visited classes and shared refreshments. Members of the service learning group have been regularly visiting residents at ActivCare, where they make crafts, share stories and build friendships.
 
Middle Schoolers and their ActivCare guests watch P.E. classes in action. 
 
Parents Association

 

Walking Club on February 20th - 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, February 20th

Time: 8:30 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

 

Pacific Ridge Book Club on February 24th

Book: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

Date: Monday, February 24th

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: Library Learning Commons

 

Sports on the Ridge

 

Senior Katie O'Laughlin Joins the Century Club

Katie O'Laughlin '14 has made quite a mark on Pacific Ridge's soccer program. On January 30th, the senior was recognized for scoring over 100 goals in her time as a Varsity Firebird. Katie is the first soccer player in Pacific Ridge's history to achieve this milestone. She looks forward to continuing her goal-scoring career at UC San Diego, where she will enroll in the fall. Congratulations, Katie!

Celebrating over 100 Firebird goals

 

Upper School Home Games, Week of  2/10/14:

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. 

2/10/14
3:30 p.m. - Girls Varsity Soccer v. Santa Fe Christian

2/12/14
3:00 p.m. - Boys JV Basketball v. Calvary Christian
4:30 p.m. - Boys Varsity Basketball v. Calvary Christian
6:00 p.m. - Girls Varsity Basketball v. Francis Parker

2/13/14
3:30 p.m. - Boys Varsity Soccer v. Francis Parker

2/14/14
4:30 p.m. - Boys JV Basketball v. Calvin Christian
6:00 p.m. - Girls Varsity Basketball v. Calvin Christian
7:30 p.m. - Boys Varsity Basketball v. Calvin Christian






Scores:

 

Boys Varsity Basketball

1/27/14 The Rock Academy 66 31 W

1/29/14 San Diego Jewish Academy 50 58 L

2/01/14 El Capitan High School 55 56 L 

 

Boys JV Basketball

1/29/14 San Diego Jewish Academy 46 40 W

1/30/14 Classical Academy High 52 25 W 

 

Girls Varsity Basketball 

1/27/14 The Rock Academy 43 12 W

1/28/14 Health Science High School 64 28 W 

 

Boys Varsity Soccer

1/28/14 Bishop's 2 1 W

1/30/14 La Jolla Country Day School 2 2 T

 

Boys JV Soccer

1/29/14 Francis Parker 3 1 W

1/30/14 La Jolla Country Day School 1 0 W

 

Girls Varsity Soccer

1/28/14 Bishop's 3 4 L

1/30/14 La Jolla Country Day School 4 0 W 

 

Boys Middle School A Basketball

1/27/14 Horizon Prep 41 27 W

1/29/14 Tri-City Christian Schools 32 19 W

 

Boys Middle School B Basketball

1/27/14 Horizon Prep 32 16 W

1/29/14 Tri-City Christian Schools 22 20 W

 

Boys Middle School C Basketball

1/29/14 Tri-City Christian Schools 16 20 L

 

Boys Middle School A Soccer

1/28/14 Army Navy Academy 2 0 W 

 

Girls Middle School A Soccer

1/30/14 Horizon Prep 4 1 W 

 

Girls Middle School B Soccer

1/30/14 Horizon Prep 1 0 W 

 

Class Notes

 

Junior Headed to Synchronized Skating Championships
Keara Geckeler '15 and her intermediate division teammates from Epic Edge received silver medals at the 2014 Midwestern/Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships on January 25th, missing First Place by one point. They advance to compete in the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in Colorado Springs on February 28th. Congratulations and good luck, Keara!  
 
 

Alumni News


Alumnus Serves as Air Force ROTC Officer
Mitch Guerin '11 is busy on the ground and in the air at the University of Portland. Mitch currently serves as the student Military Training flight commander for the school's Air Force ROTC program and is in charge of Field Training Preparation for sophomores. In order to pursue an Air Force commission through the AFROTC program, students need to successfully undergo the 5-week intensive Field Training program the summer after their sophomore year. Last semester, Mitch served as a Spaatz Air Corps commander, which included Cessna 172 flights and skydiving. 




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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 6th- 8th
Kiss Me, Kate!
7:30 p.m.

February 8th
Kiss Me, Kate!
2:00 p.m.

February 10th-17th
NO SCHOOL
Mid-Winter Break

February 20th
Parent Walking Group
8:30 a.m.

February 28th
End of 2nd Trimester

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