Pacific Ridge School Header
Pacific Ridge School DotsA View From The Ridge
Weekly E-Newsletter
September 4, 2014
In This Issue
Bulletin Board
New & Noteworthy
Curricular Adventures
Service Learning In The Field
Parents Association
Sports on the Ridge
Beyond the Ridge
New Faculty & Staff Snapshot
Snapshot from the Ridge

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


This year's Student Council welcomed new and returning students 
to the 2014-15 school year with announcements and games. 

Bulletin Board
                          
Community BBQ & Volleyball Game on September 5th
Pacific Ridge parents, siblings and friends are invited to get in the Firebird spirit on Friday, September 5th with a community BBQ and Girls Varsity Volleyball game. Come grab a burger or snack and socialize with faculty, students and friends, then head to the gym to cheer on our Varsity Girls Volleyball players as they open their season against Temecula Preparatory School. 
Date: Friday, September 5th
Time: BBQ, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.; game, 4:30 p.m.
Parking: 2765 Loker Avenue - shuttles will run throughout the event.

Middle School Parent Coffee on September 8th

Middle School parents are warmly invited to a coffee to meet new Middle School Head Andy Wright. Enjoy coffee and conversation at Peet's with Mr. Wright, Dr. Ogle and other Middle School parents.

Date: Monday, September 8th

Time: 8:15 - 9:30 a.m.

Place: Peet's Coffee, Bressi Ranch, 2641 Gateway Road


8th and 11th-Grade Parent Information Nights
Please mark your calendars for these evening programs, which will provide information about important events and expectations for your child's school year. All meetings take place at 6:30 p.m.
8th Grade: Thursday, September 11th
11th Grade: Tuesday, September 9th

Picture Day is on Tuesday, September 16th 

Back-to-School Night on September 18th
Come prepared to meet Pacific Ridge teachers and have a mini-experience of your child's day at school. Bring along any questions you may have.
Date: Thursday, September 18th
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Athletic Center

Instrumental Music for Middle School Students  
For Middle School students who would like to play their instrument throughout the school year or would like to learn an instrument as a beginner, weekly instrumental music classes will be available on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:00 a.m. For details, please check for an upcoming email from Mr. Dziekonski, or contact him at sdziekonski@pacificridge.org.

Event Volunteers Needed

The Development Department hosts events throughout the year and can always use the help of parent volunteers. Activities include checking-in and escorting guests, event set-up, etc. Most events require a commitment of just one or two hours. Please email Monique Benjamin at mbenjamin@pacificridge.org to be added to our volunteer list. Thank you for your support!


Uniform Policy and Ordering Instructions

Curious about this year's uniform policy? Parents are kindly asked to help enforce the dress code by reviewing it with your children. Details of the policy and instructions for ordering from Lands' End are available on Haiku on the "What to Wear" page of the School Information Hub. Land's End has frequent sales, so be sure to sign up to receive exclusive online offers.
  
New & Noteworthy

 

11th & 12th-Grade Year-End Trips Announced

At the Global Programs Expo on September 2nd, enthusiastic juniors, seniors and their parents learned about the fifteen year-end trip offerings for the 2014-2015 school year. Detailed information about the trips will be available by September 5th. Just log into Haiku and go to the "Becoming World Travelers" tab of the School Information Page. The themes of this year's proposed trips include:
  • Experiencing "El Otro Lado": Making Conversations on Both Sides of the Border
  • Technology and Innovation in Mandarin: Experiencing the Rich Culture and High-Tech Society of "The Beautiful Island"
  • Building Community Out of Crisis: Youth and Urban Development in Central America
  • Rainforest Conservation: The Social, Economic and Political Methods that Preserve Wilderness Areas and Ecosystems
  • Post-Colonial Studies: Exploring the Southern End of the World's Most Epic Continent
  • Human Trafficking: Engaging with Affected Communities in the Himalayas
  • On the Road: Independence and Exploration in the Great American West
  • Designed Cities: Balancing Innovation, Prosperity, & Growth with European History and Local Culture
  • Cloud Forest Research and Outdoor Adventure: Studying Biodiversity and Ecosystem Interactions in the Andes
  • Spanish Immersion & Home-Stay Program: Exploring the Language, Culture, Arts, and Lifestyle of La Reina del Plata
  • Bright Lights, Big City: Evaluating the Business of Broadway
  • Adventure in an Uncommon Land: Pushing Your Mental and Physical Limits in the American Wild
  • Bio-Cultural Explorations in a Tropical Ecosystem: Up Close and Personal with Polynesia
  • Into the Woods: Making a Life in The Small Business of Arts
  • Overcoming Entrenched Political Conflict: Diplomacy, Dialogue, and Ongoing Challenges in Northern Ireland
Curricular Adventures

Students Search For Clues From Ancient Ancestors

9th Graders in Ancient World History launched their study of human history by inspecting the skulls of humans, simians, and human ancestors. Students examined details including brain size, cranial ridges and protruding brows, then used their observations to guess the skulls' evolutionary order. The activity is part of a unit on human evolution and integrates with 9th-grade Biology's study of the theory of evolution.

 

 

Students put their heads together to study human brain power.

 

Images from the Fringe

To see a video slideshow of students in Pacific Ridge's Advanced Theater Arts class exploring, rehearsing, and performing at the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival, click here. Many thanks go to Alison Trattner, Lesa Thode and the many families who generously supported the group's efforts to attend and participate in the festival!

 

Service Learning In The Field

Backpack Project Benefits Students In Need 

On Thursday, August 24th, Upper School students helped pack 175 backpacks for local, school-aged children in need. Students formed an assembly line in the athletic center, filling the bags with school supplies, flashcards, small toys, and notes of encouragement for the school year. The Backpack Project was completed with the help of new Service Learning partner Interfaith Community Services. Interfaith implements comprehensive programs to provide basic needs, social services, counseling, and economic development to the disadvantaged in the North County San Diego community. We look forward to our partnership and the good that we can accomplish together!

 

 

Ensuring students have the school supplies needed to succeed

 

Adding a personal touch - notes wishing the students a great school year

 

Parents Association

 

Sign Up for the Pacific Ridge Supper Club!

The Parents Association Supper Club is a fantastic opportunity to connect with other Pacific Ridge parents with children in the same grade as your own. Groups of eight to ten parents will organize dinner parties every other month (4-5 times a year) that can be held at homes, restaurants, or whatever setting works for each group. Both couples and single parents are welcome! To sign up, please click here and submit your participation form by Friday, September 12th. Groups will be formed by the end of September. Questions? Contact the Parents Association at parentsassociation@pacificridge.org.

 

Book Club Meeting on September 22nd 

The Pacific Ridge Parent Book Club will meet on September 22nd to discuss A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. The Book Club is open to all Pacific Ridge parents. For more information please email parentsassociation@pacificridge.org.

Date:  Monday, September 22nd

Place: Pacific Ridge School Library

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

 

Parents Association General Meeting on September 23rd

Join Dr. Ogle and other members of the academic team to learn more about exciting changes in leadership, programs and processes at the first Parents Association General Meeting of the year. All parents are welcome to attend.

Date: Tuesday, September 23rd

Time: 8:15 - 10:00 a.m.

Place: Carlsbad Dove Library, 1775 Dove Lane

 

Sports on the Ridge

Middle School Sports Season Taking Shape
For the past two weeks, Middle School students have been exploring their athletic options for the fall season. Students interested in team sports can choose to participate in Flag Football, Volleyball or Cross Country. Those electing to continue with Physical Education classes can chose between Skateboard P.E. or traditional P.E. Rosters and game schedules will be finalized early next week and competition begins the week of September 15th.


Coach Elsdon leads a group of 8th Graders through flag football drills.

Be a Firebird Fan!
Game times and locations for all Pacific Ridge athletic events can be found here. Schedules are subject to change, so please check regularly for accurate information.

Introducing Pacific Ridge Water Polo!
This fall, Pacific Ridge athletics is adding another sport to its growing roster of teams with the introduction of Upper School Water Polo. The developmental team, led by Coach DeHaven, will include intra-squad play and will explore scheduling games against local teams in the near future. The team has already been hard at work completing dry-land training and will hold its first water practice on September 8th at Alga Norte Community Park. For more information, please email athletics@pacificridge.org.

Beyond the Ridge

College Representatives Are On Their Way

Admission officers from colleges and universities around the country will be visiting Pacific Ridge throughout the fall. Seniors know the process to register for visits, and juniors are invited to attend sessions that happen during their free periods. Visits are being added and updated daily in Naviance. Juniors can stop by the College Guidance Office for more information, or assistance with their Naviance login. All sessions are hosted in the College Guidance Office unless otherwise indicated. 


Week of September 8th
Colby College; Drexel University; Kenyon College; Tulane University; Willamette University

Week of September 15th
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering; Lafayette College; Occidental College; University of Connecticut

Week of September 22nd
Bates College; Bentley University; Claremont McKenna College; Colgate University; Hamilton College; Fordham University; Miami University, Oxford; Northeastern University; St. Mary's College of California; University of Nevada, Reno; Boston College

Week of September 29th
Arizona State University; Boston University; Lynn University; Skidmore College; The University of Arizona; University of California, San Diego; University of Chicago; Wagner College; Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Regional Programs:

Tulane University
Date: Wednesday, September 10th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: San Diego Marriott, Del Mar

University of Edinburgh & University of Oxford
Date: Sunday, September 14th
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Viewpoint School, Los Angeles

Boston College
Date: Sunday, September 28th
Time: 2:00 p.m. 
Place: Omni La Costa Resort, Carlsbad

 

Faculty & Staff News

Welcome To Our Newest Firebird!
Congratulations to music teacher Steve Morell and his wife, Tammy, who welcomed their first child, Flynn Douglas Morell, on August 30th. Flynn weighed just under 6 pounds at birth. Mom, Dad and Flynn are doing well, and are happily getting acquainted.


 New Faculty & Staff Snapshot 

 

 

Cecilia Shrivastava, Spanish

 

Favorite book: Currently reading El Quinto Codice Maya by Tom Isbell, favorite classic is Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice

Favorite sport to play or watch: Tennis and football to watch, field hockey to play

Greatest indulgence: Foot massages/reflexology

If you make her breakfast: Masala chai and fruit  

In her free time: Reads, bakes, takes walks and spends time with family

Dream vacation: Egypt

Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina and Pittsburgh, PA

 


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
September 5th

Family BBQ

3 - 4:30 p.m.

 

Opening Day Varsity Volleyball Match

4:30 p.m.

 

September 8th

Middle School Parent Coffee at Peet's

8:15 - 9:30 a.m.

 

September 9th

11th-Grade Parent Information Night

6:30 p.m.

 

September 11th

8th-Grade Parent Information Night

6:30 p.m.

 

September 16th

Picture Day

 

September 18th

Back-to-School Night

6:00 p.m.

 

September 22nd

Parent Book Club Meeting

7 p.m.

 

September 23rd

Parents Association General Meeting

8:15 a.m.

 

September 26th

Middle School and Upper School Evening Social Events


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