| Snapshot from the Ridge | |
Each week, Pacific Ridge School invites you to enjoy a spontaneous view of school life.
Life preserver: Pacific Ridge seniors receive their pre-graduation CPR and AED training.
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| Bulletin Board |
Campaign Kickoff Reception on April 17th
Please join us for a campaign kickoff reception on the evening of Thursday, April 17th. Dr. Ogle will provide an overview of the construction process and speak about the many ways the new buildings will positively impact the school. Details will also be presented about the Breaking Through Campaign, with plenty of time for Q & A. If you would like to attend, RSVP to Monique Benjamin at mbenjamin@pacificridge.org.
Date: Thursday, April 17th
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Place: East Reading Room
 Be a Firebird Fan on April 18th!
Come to an evening of food, fun and fierce competition on Friday, April 18th, when Pacific Ridge will host an exciting lacrosse doubleheader. Girls Varsity Lacrosse takes on Francis Parker at 3:30 p.m., followed by Boys Varsity Lacrosse vs. Carlsbad High at 5:15 p.m. Bring your friends and family and give our Firebird athletes a true home field advantage. Free hamburgers and hot dogs will be served to the first 200 fans!
Date: Friday, April 18th
Time: Girls Varsity - 3:30 p.m., Boys Varsity - 5:15 p.m.
Place: Pacific Ridge athletic field
 9th and 10th-Grade Travel Night on April 22nd
Two information sessions on April 22nd will give 9th and 10th-grade students and their families an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming China and Northern Sierras wilderness trips. Excited about your trip? Have questions about itineraries, packing and other preparations? Pacific Ridge faculty chaperones and a representative from Adventures Cross-Country, the company that arranges and leads the trips, will be on hand to provide answers.
Date: Tuesday, April 22nd
Time: 9th-grade session - 5:45 to 7:00 p.m., 10th-grade session - 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Place: East Reading Room
Spring Arts Festival on April 25th!
Pacific Ridge families are warmly invited to campus on Friday, April 25th for the annual Spring Arts Festival. Students and faculty will be participating in visual arts, music, theater and dance events at various venues across campus. Don't miss this opportunity to live and breathe the arts at Pacific Ridge School!
Date: Friday, April 25th
Time: 12:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Place: Pacific Ridge School campus
Parking: 2765 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad; shuttles will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
 From Up Here: Upper School Play on April 24th & 25th
What Kenny Barrett did has everyone worried. He wishes he could just make it through his senior year unnoticed, but that's going to be hard since he has to publicly apologize to his entire high school. At home, his mother is struggling with a rocky start to her second marriage and a surprise visit from her estranged sister. From Up Here, this year's Upper School play, examines a family limping out the door in the morning and coming home no matter what. Contains some adult subject matter and language. Tickets are available here.
Date: Thursday, April 24th & Friday, April 25th Time: 7:30 p.m. Place: Athletic Center
Juniors and Seniors: It's Prom Time!
Pacific Ridge's Prom takes place on Saturday, April 26th. The dance, themed "Under the Big Top," will be held on campus - under a circus tent, of course! Tickets are $55 per person and can be purchased by cash or check at lunch in the Upper School Town Square. Juniors and seniors are welcome to bring high school students from other schools or alumni from the Class of 2013 as guests. Formal attire required. Come to the greatest show on earth!
Date: Saturday, April 26th
Time: 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Place: Pacific Ridge campus
Summer Programs and Sports Camps at Pacific Ridge!
From June 23rd to August 1st, Pacific Ridge will be offering a number of summer programs available to all students in San Diego's North County:
For-Credit Classes for Middle and High School Students
A selection of for-credit courses in world languages and mathematics will be available. Each course is equivalent to a year-long course divided into two three-week sessions. Students may take one or both halves of the course, depending on their needs.
Firebird Program for Rising 5th, 6th & 7th Graders
This two-week program will offer mornings of project-based learning in photography, film-making, robotics or creative writing. Afternoons will include fun activities that promote athletic fundamentals. Campers can sign up for mornings, afternoons, or both. Come be a Pacific Ridge Firebird!
Sports Camps for Middle and High School Students
Four-day camp sessions will be offered in numerous sports, as well as strength and conditioning.
For more information and to register, please visit the 2014 Summer Programs page on the Pacific Ridge School website.
Host Families Wanted for Live California Summer Camp
Host a student from Spain for one month this summer through Live California, a local summer camp for students who visit north county San Diego to study English and learn to surf. Host participants can practice their Spanish, learn first hand what studying abroad is like, and are welcome to attend daily surf camp and field trips with their host student. Share our California lifestyle and learn more about Spanish culture right here at home! For more information, please visit livecalifornia.net or contact Lisa Campillo at lisa@livecalifornia.net.
Recycle Your Old Electronics and Help Send Students in Advanced Theater Arts to Scotland!
Bring your old computers, monitors, televisions, cell phones, ink cartridges, microwaves and other electronics to Pacific Ridge on April 26th, and All Green will recycle or dispose of them responsibly. Proceeds will help students in the Advanced Theater Arts class travel to Scotland this summer to perform at the American High School Theater Festival in Edinburgh. Thank you for your support.
Date: Saturday, April 26th
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Place: Pacific Ridge campus
Spring Cleaning? How About Spring Reading!
Ms. Cothran and the Student Reading Club are encouraging everyone on campus to develop an appetite for a good book! Students who complete 15 hours of non-school reading before Tuesday, May 6th, will be treated to a free In-N-Out lunch on Friday, May 9th. All student reading hours must be confirmed via parent email to Penni LeMasters at plemasters@pacificridge.org. Questions? Please contact Ms. Cothran or Ms. LeMasters.
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| New & Noteworthy |
A Cappella Shines at National Festival of Gold
On the afternoon of March 31st, the Pacific Ridge School A Cappella Ensemble performed at the National Invitational Heritage Festival of Gold in Chicago. Fifteen high schools participated in the festival and the top three vocal groups were selected to perform an encore at Orchestra Hall in Chicago that evening. Once again, our amazing singers outdid themselves and Pacific Ridge was selected as one of the three top performing groups. Click here to enjoy a video of their encore performance of "Loch Lomond," arranged by Jonathan Quick.
International Week at Pacific Ridge
The week of March 24th, Pacific Ridge students shared a number of special activities to acknowledge diversity, culture and family tradition. On Wednesday, the Diversity, Inclusivity, Multiculturalism and Equity (DIME) group hosted a celebratory "Who's Here?" activity in the athletic center to highlight diversity on the Pacific Ridge campus. On Thursday, the school was treated to a lively performance of Indian dance, song and drum music by several performers, including a group of Pacific Ridge Middle School singers and Dance 1 students, alumna Anisha Mudaliar, local Indian dancers and distinguished tabla drummer Arup Chattopadhyay. On Friday, students marked the beginning of Spring Break with a feast of favorite family recipes celebrating traditions at home.
Students in Dance 1 perform a lively Bollywood dance number.
Anisha Mudaliar '11 presents a traditional Indian dance.
Arup Chattopadhyay on the tabla drums
Students share tastes from home with the school community.
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| Educational Insights |
Click here to read Librarian Ellen Cothran's blog post, "The Art of Student-Centered Research."
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| Curricular Adventures |
8th-Grade Rube Goldberg Competition: Physics at its Finest
In March, teams of 8th-grade students spent several weeks creating Rube Goldberg machines to present to their Conceptual Physics classes. The complex machines, named after the famous cartoonist, take several convoluted steps to perform a simple task. Before putting their machine into action, students explained the physics of each energy transfer needed for the apparatus to achieve its desired result. On Tuesday, April 8th, five teams of finalists presented their inventions to the Middle School and a panel of judges from the community. The creative and spirited competition resulted in a two-team tie. Congratulations to winners Patrick Bjornstad, Aden Dinning, Annika Oeth, Julia Prestera, Lauren Wiehl and to all the 8th-grade inventors for their hard work and ingenuity.
Team "Inferior Parrots" steeps tea in the kitchen.
Team "Sarcastic Phoxes" powers a pin wheel.
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| Service Learning in the Field | |
Friends Assisting Special-Needs Teens Makes Connections
Upper School service learning group Friends Assisting Special Needs Teens (FAST) builds relationships with special needs students in the Carlsbad and San Marcos communities. The group partners with the nonprofit TERI organization and its schools, The Country School and The Learning Academy. Through extended visits and hands-on activities, FAST members support TERI's goal of improving the quality of life for children and adults with developmental and learning disabilities. This spring, FAST is planning an "Amazing Race" activity on the Pacific Ridge campus and a masquerade-themed prom for students at The Country School.
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| Parents Association |
Walking Club on April 17th: Encinitas Golf Course Trails
Interested in joining the walking club? Contact the Parents Association at parentsassociation@pacificridge.org to be added to the group's email list.
Date: Thursday, April 17th
Time: 8:20
Place: Starbucks in Walmart shopping center, Encinitas
Parent Book Club on April 28th
Title: The Lowland, by Jhumpa Lahiri
Date: Monday, April 28th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Library Learning Commons
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Sports on the Ridge
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Boys Varsity Lacrosse Hosts Colorado Opponents
On March 26th and 28th, the Pacific Ridge Boys Varsity Lacrosse team had the opportunity to compete against two top-ranked teams from Colorado. Players, coaches and families of the Mullen High School and Wheat Ridge High School teams "honored the game" by joining Firebird players for friendly, post-contest celebrations at Pizza Port and a barbecue at Pacific Ridge.
Upper School Home Games, Week of April 14th
Schedules are subject to change, so please check Schedulestar regularly for accurate information.
4/14/14
4:00 p.m. - Girls Varsity Lacrosse vs. La Jolla Country Day
5:15 p.m. - Girls JV Lacrosse vs. Coronado High School
4/17/14
4:00 p.m. - Boys Developmental Volleyball vs. Bishop's
4/18/14
3:30 p.m. - Girls Varsity Lacrosse vs. Francis Parker
5:15 p.m. - Boys Varsity Lacrosse vs. Carlsbad High School
  
Scores:
Coed Varsity Track
3/27/14 Dual Meet vs. Maranatha Christian & Tri-City Christian:
Girls vs. Maranatha Christian 85 24 W
Girls vs. Tri-City Christian 81 25 W
Boys vs. Maranatha Christian 36 59 L
Boys vs. Tri-City Christian 21 75 L
Click here for full results.
3/29/14 Calvin Christian Small Schools Invite:
Olivia Carter, Alexandra Carter, Carolyn O'Laughlin,
Kate O'Laughlin - 1st Place, 4x100 meter relay
Will Glockner - 4th Place, 800 meters
Carolyn O'Laughlin - 2nd Place, 300 meter hurdles, 2nd Place, 100 meter hurdles
Click here for full results.
Boys Varsity Lacrosse
3/26/14 Mullen High School (Colorado) 15 7 W
3/28/14 Wheat Ridge High School (Colorado) 11 8 W
4/01/14 La Costa Canyon High School 10 14 L
Girls Varsity Lacrosse
3/25/14 Santa Fe Christian Schools 6 13 L
3/27/14 Helix High School 14 13 W
Girls JV Lacrosse
3/27/14 Helix High School 9 6 W
Boys Varsity Tennis
3/26/14 St. Augustine High School 11 7 W
3/27/14 Francis Parker 12 6 W
Coed Middle School Tennis
3/24/14 San Diego Jewish Academy 27 23 W
3/26/14 Santa Fe Christian Schools 4 2 W
Coed Varsity Golf
3/25/14 Francis Parker 213 207 L
3/26/14 Classical Academy 218 225 W
3/27/14 Horizon Christian School 222 283 W
Girls Middle School Lacrosse
3/25/14 Wildcats 4 11 L
Boys Developmental Volleyball
3/25/14 El Camino High School 2 1 W
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| Beyond the Ridge | |
Coastline Case Studies for Juniors and Parents
Juniors and their parents are invited to learn first-hand what goes into the evaluation of college applications. College admission officers from 100 schools across the country and overseas will lead small groups of participants in a comprehensive review of several mock application files. The evening will conclude with a college fair, at which families can speak to representatives from all the schools about their respective institutions. This program is for juniors and their families only. A list of attending schools can be found in the Junior Documents folder in the Naviance Library.
Date: Wednesday, April 30th
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Place: San Diego Jewish Academy, 11860 Carmel Creek Road, San Diego
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| Class Notes | |
Sophomore Wins International Poetry Award
On March 23, 2014, Khalid Abudawas '16 was awarded the "Plate Sargio Penco" award from the International Poetry and Theatre Competition "Castello di Duino - Poetry and Solidarity Language of the Peoples." He traveled to the Castle of Duino in Trieste, Italy, to receive the award. His poem, entitled "Palestinian Fears," was the only American entry to receive an award, and was selected from nearly 1,000 submissions worldwide. The poetry competition celebrates the "care of language" as the main medium of understanding and solidarity between peoples on interpersonal, intergenerational and intercultural levels. Khalid's poem will be published by Ibiskos Risolo Publishing House along with other awarded poems and honorable mention poems.
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| Alumni News |
Alumna Follows Passions with a Purpose at Stanford Stopping by Pacific Ridge to share her love of Indian dance is only one of many activities that keep Anisha Mudaliar '11 busy. The Stanford University junior is also serving on Stanford's Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid. In her role as a student representative, Anisha helps review the policies and practices that govern the university's admissions process. Last fall, Anisha participated in the Stanford in Washington program, which enabled her to intern with the World Bank during the day, and take classes with prominent professors and policy makers in the evening. Reflecting her interest in international development, Anisha is also on the board of directors of the Stanford in Government program, which promotes student engagement in public service and public policy by organizing fully funded fellowships for Stanford students with NGO's worldwide.  |
| Faculty Notes |
Welcome to Our Newest Firebird!
Congratulations to Luke Michel and his wife Kate, who welcomed their fourth child, Miles Michel, on Thursday, March 27th. Miles weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces at birth. Mom, Dad and siblings Paolina, Lucia and James are happily getting acquainted with him.
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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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April 17th
Campaign Kickoff Reception
6 p.m.
April 18th
Lax Fest
3:30 p.m.
April 22nd
9th-Grade Travel Information Night
5:45 p.m.
10th-Grade Travel Information Night
7 p.m.
April 24th & 25th
From Up Here
7:30 p.m.
April 25th
Spring Arts Festival
12:30 - 3 p.m.
April 26th
E-Waste Recycling Event
8 - 3 p.m.
Junior-Senior Prom
7:30 p.m.
April 28th
Parent Book Group
7 p.m.
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A View From The Ridge
