In This Issue - January 14, 2016
Snapshot from the Ridge

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


What lies at the end of the rainbow? Pacific Ridge School!

Bulletin Board

Bird's Nest Items For Sale Tomorrow!
The Bird's Nest Student Store is having a huge New Years sale! The store has a full inventory, so students can purchase merchandise on the spot without advance ordering. Crew-neck pullover sweatshirts, pullover hoodies, sweatpants, T-shirts and full-length Nike leggings will be available for prices ranging from $15 - $40. Students can stop by Community Hall during lunch to stock up on Pacific Ridge gear!
Date: Friday, January 15th
Time: Lunch
Place: Community Hall

No School on Monday, January 18th
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 

 
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: Thursday, January 21st
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
Place: Athletic Center Parking area

Middle School Social Event on January 29th 
Middle School students are invited to a Hawaiian bash! The evening social includes a dance, games, and a pizza dinner. All tickets will be sold at the door. The dance is being hosted by the New Haven Night Shelter Upper School Service Learning Group, and proceeds from the event will be donated to the group's namesake shelter in Cape Town, South Africa. The group will also be selling South African flag t-shirts at the event for $10.
Date: Friday, January 29th
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Place: Middle School Reading Room
Cost: $5

Winter Semi-Formal in the Enchanted Forest!
Upper School students are invited to venture into the enchanted forest for this year's winter semi-formal. Great music, snacks and refreshments will be offered. Tickets go on sale next week.
Date: Saturday, January 30th
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Place: Mullady Hall
Cost: $12 in advance; $15 at the door

9th-Grade Parent Coffee on February 1st 
Freshman parents are invited to an evening coffee on February 1st. This event is designed to give parents information about supporting students as they prepare for orations as well as provide general information about the global travel trip to China.
Date: Monday, February 1st
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Place: East Reading Room

Tickets On Sale Now for All Shook Up!
Tickets are now available for Pacific Ridge's 8th annual musical production! Show dates for All Shook Up are Friday, February 5th and Saturday, February 6th at 7:00 p.m., with an additional matinee at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. All performances will be held at Vista's AVO Playhouse. It's 1955, and into a square little town in a square little state rides a guitar-playing roustabout who changes everything and everyone he meets in this hip-swivelling, lip-curling musical fantasy that'll have you jumpin' out of your blue suede shoes with such classics as "Heartbreak Hotel," "Jailhouse Rock," and "Don't Be Cruel." Click here to reserve your seats now!



Tinkering Camp @PRS Offered Over February Break
Looking for something to do over the February vacation? Tinkering camp is a 4-day project-based camp where students collaborate, design and build, using real tools and materials (power tools, 2X4s, plywood, etc.). The camp is facilitated by parent/architect/graphic designer Kim Viernes, who has been inspired by and trained at tinkering school san francisco. This class is open to Pacific Ridge students and students from the larger community, grades 6 - 12. Sign up and bring a friend! For more information, please visit the After-School Extension page of our website.
Dates: February 16th - 19th
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Place: Arts & Technology Center

Parents: Interested in Learning About Robotics?
The Pacific Ridge Upper School Robotics team is looking for volunteers to help with hosting an on-campus league match on Sunday February 7th from 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. No experience is necessary - just a willingness to volunteer and get inspired by an enthusiastic community of future engineers. Questions? Please contact Mr. Park at bpark@pacificridge.org.

Hands of Peace Seeks 2016 Host Families
Hands of Peace, a unique interfaith program developing peace-building and leadership skills in Israeli, Palestinian, and American teens through the power of dialogue and personal relationships, is seeking enthusiastic host families for its 2016 San Diego Summer Program. The program will take place from July 13 - August 1st, on the Pacific Ridge campus. Families interested in hosting one or two teen participants or a staff facilitator can contact Family Coordinator Tamara Kabban-Miller (tjkabbanmiller@gmail.com) for more information. 

Read the Latest Edition of the Ridge Report
Click here to read the latest edition of the Pacific Ridge student-run newspaper, The Ridge Report. The digital publication requires the password "firebird" for access. In this issue, student-journalists argue that Odyssey author Homer was colorblind, reflect on a winter break trip to the Land Down Under, and wax poetic about a certain leafy green vegetable.

Educational Insights


Please click here to read Dr. Ogle's latest blog post about Wellness Week 2016. 
New & Noteworthy

Alumni Return to Campus to Catch Up, Share Advice
On January 6th, more than 45 alumni stopped by campus to reconnect with favorite faculty members, explore the new buildings, and share their wisdom with current upper school students. During Alumni Panel Discussions they gave advice on dealing with awkward roommates, making time to study, and taking advantage of all the amazing groups and activities college has to offer. The alumni expressed gratitude to Pacific Ridge College Guidance for helping them find schools that fit their ambitions and interests, and to the Pacific Ridge faculty for preparing them for the academic rigor of university courses. 





Fayaz Nawabi Offers Perspective on Islam  
During last week's Middle School Community Life, imam and lecturer Fayaz Nawabi shared his unique background and offered students a broader perspective on Islam in America. Though Nawabi has already worked in a variety of industries, including video gaming and sports radio, he is currently pursuing a degree in Public Administration and City Planning. He is also a Hafiz (one who has memorized the Quran) and serves as the Public Relations and Outreach Representative for the Council on American Islamic Relations San Diego Office. During Nawabi's presentation he dispelled some media-perpetuated myths about Islam and encouraged students to ask questions and learn more for themselves.  



Curricular Adventures 

Muse Project Museum Shows Creativity of Freshman Class
This year, 9th graders augmented their understanding of Greek mythology and Homer's Odyssey by using modern methods of storytelling to create their own personal mythologies. On Wednesday evening, January 13th, students presented their projects to their peers and families. In classrooms throughout Mullady Hall, "Muse Projects" demonstrated creative, and often sophisticated applications of STEAM. Students used filmmaking, photography, social media, graphic design, and more to support their narratives. In projects ranging from handmade books to video games and a 3D-printed original chess set, students showed ingenuity, playfulness and introspection in their storytelling.


Experiencing modern myths on iPads


Chess anyone?

Service Learning In The Field

Service Learning Panelists Discuss Social Justice 
Students currently in the social justice rotation of the 9th-grade Service Learning program have been exploring the topics of race and wealth inequality in America. Last Wednesday, they heard from a panel of Upper School Service Learning students and community leaders who are attempting to address social change through their organizations. The goal of the panel was to show students how issues such as poverty can be addressed at a systemic level; and how charitable acts, including donating clothes or food, can be combined with policy work, political advocacy, and community organization to create meaningful, sustainable change. Many thanks go to panelists Andrea Gaspar from the American Civil Liberties Union; Sarina Lynn from Educational Enrichment Services; Alyssa Martindale '17, representing Hands of Peace; and Arthi Haripriyan '16 and Sarah Tatsumi '16, who discussed their work on homelessness.



Parents Association 
    
Senior Parent Grade-Level Party Scheduled for This Sunday 
The Senior Parent Grade-Level Party will take place this Sunday, January 17th, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. An Evite has been sent that includes additional details. Please contact the Parents Association at parentsassociation@pacificridge.org if you did not receive the Evite. 

Used Uniform Collection and Sale on January 21st 
Has your child gone through a growth spurt? Does he or she need some additional uniform items? The next used uniform sale will be held on Thursday, January 21st. Payments must be made in cash or by check. Please also consider donating gently used uniform items to the Parents Association by bringing them to the sale or by dropping them off at the reception desk in the Middle School Building year-round. 
Date: Thursday, January 21st
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Athletic Center Lobby 

Book Club Meetings for January and February Scheduled 
The Pacific Ridge Parents' Book Club will meet on Monday, January 25th and February 22nd. This month, the club will discuss Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff. For those looking to start reading the club's next book, Between the World & Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates has been selected for February. All Pacific Ridge parents are welcome to attend. We hope to see you there!
Date: Monday, January 25th; Monday, February 22nd
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Pacific Ridge School Library

Class Notes

Alexander Yang Wins U.S. Kids Golf Regional Championship 
Congratulations to 7th grader Alexander Yang on winning the U.S. Kids Golf Regional Championship on December 22nd. The Holiday Classic tournament was played at the PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Alex shot a 70 and 68 for a two-day combined score of 6 under par. He won the boys 13-14 division by nine strokes. This win adds to what is already an impressive golf resume: Alex shot an incredible 62- 63-78 (-18) during a youth tournament this summer, and finished second at the 2015 Junior World Golf Championship.      


Alex poses next to a hole where he made Eagle from 100 yards.

Sisters Contribute to 'World-Record' Kindness
Senior Annie Meitchik and her sister Katie, a freshman, helped set a Guinness World Record as part of the 2015 Great Kindness Challenge. The challenge called for schools throughout the nation to submit colorful, cut out handprints, which were used to decorate the walls of the Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA. The 181,946 handprints collected were used to cover more than 6,000 square feet of wall space. Both Annie and Katie submitted handprints on behalf of Pacific Ridge and helped to create the collage. The record-breaking work of art continues to brighten the spirits of hospital patients and staff.



Sports on the Ridge

Alumni Soccer Game a Kick For Old Times
On Friday, January 8th, Pacific Ridge Firebird alumni and current members of the Boys and Girls Varsity Soccer teams enjoyed an afternoon of fancy footwork, friendly competition and lots of laughter. While no score was kept, the game reunited former players and friends and was a winning venture for all. For more photos, please visit Pacific Ridge's Facebook page.



Boys Varsity Basketball Hosts Firebird Classic Tournament
Last week, the Boys Varsity Basketball team hosted and competed in the Firebird Classic tournament. Eight teams from public and private schools around the county participated. The Firebirds posted wins against Guajome Park Academy, Hilltop High School, and San Pasqual Academy before falling to Montgomery High School in the 3rd place game. Congratulations to senior Noah Kuo, who was named to the all-tournament team, and thank you to all of the parents who helped make this event a success!  



Back-to-Back Home Basketball Games Tomorrow!
Join us on Friday, January 15th, as Firebird Boys  Varsity and JV Basketball face off against Mar Vista High School in back-to-back home games. The JV game tips off at 5:30 p.m., with the varsity game following at 7:00 p.m. We hope the Pacific Ridge community will come out in full force to support our terrific student-athletes and kick the weekend off with some wonderful competition!

P.E. Uniforms Available For Purchase
The Athletics Department has P.E. uniforms available for purchase. Each set is $20 ($10 for shorts, $10 for shirts), cash preferred. Students can purchase the uniform in the Athletics Office during school hours. 

Home Games, January 18th through January 23rd
Schedules are subject to change. Please check Schedulestar 
regularly for the most accurate information.

1/19/16
3:00 p.m. - Girls Middle School 'A' Soccer vs. Maranatha Christian
3:30 p.m. - Girls JV Basketball vs. The Bishop's School
3:30 p.m. - Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Francis Parker

1/20/16
3:30 p.m. - Boys Middle School 'A' Basketball vs. Horizon Prep
4:30 p.m. - Boys Middle School 'B' Basketball vs. Horizon Prep

1/21/16
3:30 p.m. - Boys Varsity Soccer vs. La Jolla Country Day

1/22/16
3:15 p.m. - Boys JV Soccer vs. La Ja Jolla Country Day
3:30 p.m. - Boys Middle School 'A' Basketball vs. Santa Fe Christian

1/23/16
1:00 p.m. - Boys JV 'B' Basketball vs. The Bishop's School 

 

 
Scores:

Boys Varsity Basketball
1/5/16 Guajome Park Academy (Firebird Classic) 45 36 W
1/6/16 Hilltop High School (Firebird Classic) 60 38 W
1/7/16 San Pasqual Academy (Firebird Classic) 74 40 W
1/9/16 Montgomery High School 57 47 L

Boys Junior Varsity Basketball
1/6/16 La Jolla Country Day School 8 46 L

Boys Junior Varsity 'B' Basketball
1/9/16 The Bishop's School 28 52 L

Boys Middle School 'A' Basketball
1/5/16 Rancho Santa Fe Middle School 19 48 L
1/6/16 Army & Navy Academy 39 28 W

Boys Middle School 'B' Basketball
1/5/16 Rancho Santa Fe Middle School 30 36 L

Boys Middle School 'C' Basketball
1/5/16 Rancho Santa Fe Middle School 13 29 L

Girls Varsity Basketball
1/8/16 Canyon Crest Academy 7 71 L
1/9/16 Tustin High School 10 53 L

Girls Junior Varsity Basketball
1/8/16 Canyon Crest Academy 4 60 L

Boys Varsity Soccer
1/5/16 Vista High School 0 4 L

Boys Middle School 'A' Soccer
1/8/16 Santa Fe Christian Schools 2 2 T

Girls Varsity Soccer
1/7/16 Tri-City Christian Schools 5 0 W

Girls Middle School 'A' Soccer
1/8/16 Santa Fe Christian Schools 5 0 W

Beyond The Ridge

Summer Opportunities Fair on January 27th 
The annual Summer Opportunities Fair is coming up on Wednesday, January 27th. This year's event will include a presentation on best practices for pursuing academic and outside interests over the summer, as well as sessions on scholarship searches and understanding the changes underway in standardized testing. Vendors will be on hand to share information on various summer programs. 
Date: Wednesday, January 27th
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Mullady Hall





In a community that fosters academic excellence, ethical responsibility, and global engagement, Pacific Ridge School prepares students for college and a purposeful life.

Pacific Ridge School | www.pacificridge.org

January 17th
12th-Grade Parent Party
5 - 8 p.m.

January 18th
No School
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 21st
Blood Drive
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

January 25th
Parent Book Club
7 p.m. 

January 27th
Summer Opportunities Fair
6:30 p.m.

January 29th
Middle School Social Event
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

January 30th
Upper School Winter Semi-Formal
7 p.m.

February 1st
9th-Grade Parent Coffee
5 p.m.

February 5th
All Shook Up
7 p.m.

February 6th
All Shook Up
2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Quick Links


Family Login 
PRS Student Newspaper
Password: firebird