In This Issue - February 25, 2016
Snapshot from the Ridge

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


These stunning stained glass pieces, handmade by alumnae Keara Geckeler '15, Samantha Robinson '15, and Meghan Grogan '15 for their Senior Signature project last year, are currently on display in the Arts & Technology Building, 

Bulletin Board

Reporting Absences, Late Arrivals, and Early Dismissals 
Pacific Ridge constantly works to achieve real-time accounting of attendance to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. If your child will be absent, arriving late, or leaving early, it is imperative that you contact the 24-hour attendance line at 760-579-4902. Please leave a voicemail message with the following details: student's name; student's grade; the reason for absence, late arrival, or early dismissal; and name and relationship to the student of person calling. Please visit the "Policies, Procedures & Forms tab on the Haiku School Information Page for more details on attendance protocol. 
    
Upper School 'Night of More Fun' on February 26th
A sequel to "Night O' Fun," the Upper School "Night of More Fun" on February 26th boasts multiple movie screenings, a video game room, ping pong, open mic, free tacos, and more! 
Date: Friday, February 26th
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Mullady Hall 
Cost: Free  

Middle School Social Event on February 26th
Middle School students are invited to a fun evening of open gym, dodgeball and movies on February 26th in the Pacific Ridge Athletic Center. Snacks and beverages will be provided.
Date: Friday, February 26th
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Athletic Center 
Cost: Free

9th-Grade Parent Coffee on March 4th 
Freshman parents are invited to an evening coffee on March 4th. 
This month's conversation will focus on the upcoming Student-Led Conferences and will include a student panel. This event is specifically designed for families who joined the Pacific Ridge community this year, though anyone interested in knowing more about Student-Led Conferences is invited. Treats and coffee will be served.
Date: Friday, March 4th 
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Place: East Reading Room

Music and Dance Concert on March 5th
On Saturday, March 5th, Pacific Ridge Performing Arts will present a music and dance concert featuring all of the school's instrumental music and dance ensembles. The performance is free of charge and open to all.
Date: Saturday, March 5th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Athletic Center

Curriculum Night for Sophomores and Juniors on March 9th
Current sophomores and juniors and their parents are invited to Pacific Ridge's annual 11th and 12th-grade Curriculum Night on Wednesday, March 9th. The theme for the event is "Setting Up for Success." Faculty members will discuss course offerings for the 2016-2017 academic year, and a panel of current juniors and seniors will reflect on their experiences with choosing classes and balancing their schedules. 
Date: Wednesday, March 9th
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: East Reading Room  

Designing New Perspectives on March 17th!
Pacific Ridge families and friends are invited to "view the world through different lenses" during an evening presentation featuring celebrated engineering advocate Deanne Bell and world-renowned photojournalist Dewitt Jones. Both speakers are sure to inspire with their unique perspectives on innovation, creativity, and vision. This event is free and open to the public. Invite your friends! For more information, or to reserve your tickets, click HERE.
Date: Thursday, March 17th
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Pacific Ridge School Athletic Center
Tickets: Free; reservations required (note: students will hear from the speakers during the school day)



Pre-Event Parent Reception on March 17th
Please join us for a Pacific Ridge parent cocktail reception prior to Designing New Perspectives on March 17th at 5:30 p.m. Come enjoy appetizers, drinks and the company of other parents before hearing from our speakers. We look forward to seeing you! To RSVP, contact Monique Benjamin at mbenjamin@pacificridge.org.

Annual Fund: Going Strong, But We Still Need Your Help!  
Thank you to our amazing faculty and staff for once again leading the way with 100% participation in the Pacific Ridge Annual Fund!  We hope that our parent community, currently at 65% participation, will follow this inspirational example. All gifts are tax-deductible, and every gift counts equally toward participation. Click here for more information, as well as links to donate or pledge online. Please contact Nisa Conway, nconway@pacificridge.org, with any questions.
Sign Up for Spring After-School Extension Classes! 
Check out this set of exciting, after-school extension courses that allow students to make, create and collaborate in an informal learning environment. The spring session runs from mid-March through mid-May and courses are open to both Pacific Ridge students and students from the larger community. Courses include Video Game Design, Broadcasting Team, Tinkering Lab, Ceramics Studio, guitar lessons and piano lessons. Sign up and bring a friend! Click HERE for more information and to register. Contact Mr. Dziekonski at sdziekonski@pacificridge.org with questions.


Summer Programs and Sports Camps Announced
From June 20th to early August, Pacific Ridge will be offering a number of summer programs available to all students in San Diego's North County. Choices include non-credit academic and other classes for middle and high school students, the Firebird Program for rising 5th through 7th graders, and sports camps for children in elementary school through high school. For more information and to register, please visit the 2016 Summer Programs page on the Pacific Ridge website.



Educational Insights

Voices From the Ridge: "Modern Mythmaking": 9th-Grade Dean Sarah Peeden reflects on how the freshman class combined Homer's Odyssey with self-exploration to create the Muse Project Museum.

blog
Dr Ogle's Blog: "The Art of Conversation" and how Pacific Ridge students excel at it.


Worth Reading: Dr. Ogle recommends "Mistakes Were Made," a recent article from Harvard Ed. Magazine. Look for quotations by former Pacific Ridge history teacher Noah Rachlin!

New & Noteworthy

Delicious Designs Showcased at Flipped! Burger Competition 
On February 10th, students were treated to a campus burger barbecue hosted by the Advanced Topics in Design class. The cookout celebrated the class's recent project for which students created burger restaurants, from concepts and logos, to images of "real" meals and architectural sketch-ups. This year's concepts included Astro's, a retro, space-themed burger joint and Burger Bar, a laid-back beach eatery. Faculty members flipped burgers while students chowed down and perused the designs, voting on their favorite. Nearly 180 ballots were cast, and in the end, it was winner Astro's and its promise of "Out of This World Burgers and Shakes" that left students hungry for more.





Paralympic Gold Medalist Inspires With Tale of Perseverance
During a Community Life hosted by upper school service learning group Opportunities for Athletes, Challenged Athletes Foundation representative Alana Nichols shared her powerful story of perseverance in the face of adversity. Nichols, a natural athlete, was just a teenager when a snowboarding accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. Years later, after stumbling upon a wheelchair basketball pickup game in her university gym, Alana realized her athletic career wasn't over. She went on to compete in the Paralympic Games in basketball and para-alpine skiing, winning five medals - three of them gold. Alana's speech helped launch an Opportunities for Athletes' fundraiser. The group hopes to raise enough money to purchase a wheelchair for a disabled rugby athlete. Click here to learn more or donate.



Tijuana Teachers Spend a Day at Pacific Ridge   
On February 5th, five teachers from CETYS Universidad, a high school and university in Tijuana, spent a day at Pacific Ridge comparing and contrasting teaching practices on the other side of the border. CETYS teachers sat in on classes, met with Pacific Ridge faculty members and students, and made plans for future collaborative projects between the schools. For the past several years, students and faculty from CETYS and Pacific Ridge have interacted through everything from basketball games to language immersion field trips. The strong relationship between the two schools continues to foster rich discussions, cross-cultural friendships, and opportunities for global engagement.



Curricular Adventures 

Hollywood Film Composer Visits Vocal Ensemble
On Tuesday, February 9th, music composer Larry Groupé presented to Vocal Ensemble students about the creative, logistical and business aspects of composing scores for film and TV. Mr. Groupé has won Emmy awards for his scores to the documentary films Jonas Salk: Personally Speaking and Residue. He also wrote the score for the 2000 film, The Contender, which starred Joan Allen, Gary Oldman and Jeff Bridges.



Students Express Creativity Through Ceramics 
This semester, students in Intro to Visual Arts and 8th Grade Studio Art learned ceramic techniques through the creation of a variety of pottery items from sculptures to piggy banks. They practiced skills such as coiling, layering, and glazing with help from Nancy Gordon, a local artist and art teacher whose work has been displayed at galleries and museums locally and nationally.  



Students Ring In The Chinese New Year 
A few weeks ago, Middle School students in Dr. Nielsen's Chinese class welcomed the Year of the Monkey by making dumplings, crafting Chinese lanterns, and brushing up on celebratory Chinese phrases. Click the video below for a short glimpse into the festivities.


Service Learning In The Field

Hands of Peace Presents at Seacrest Village
Pacific Ridge upper school service learning group Hands of Peace supports the national non-profit organization of the same name in developing peace building and leadership skills among Israeli, Palestinian and American teens. On February 9th, nine Hands of Peace members visited Seacrest Village, a North County retirement community, to deliver a presentation about the organization's mission and programs. Many of Seacrest Village's residents are of Jewish descent, and those who had visited Israel were encouraged to bring along a picture or artifact from their trip. Students loved hearing the residents' fascinating stories and sharing perspectives on a country that has undergone such dramatic change.


Class Notes

Pacific Ridge Students Take the Stage At Storied Venues   
On February 4th - 8th, Pacific Ridge sophomore Rachael Bell, junior Jared Pollard, and senior Liam Spooner performed in New York City's Carnegie Hall as part of the 2016 High School Honors Performance Series. Rachael and Liam performed with the Honors Concert Choir, while Jared played french horn with the Honors Symphony Orchestra. The following week, on February 13th, Rachael, along with sophomores Chris Ong and Anurag Aiyer, performed with the California All-State Honor Choir at the Saint Joseph Cathedral Basilica in San Jose. Congratulations to all the student performers on gaining such memorable stage experience! 


The Honors Concert Choir performance at Carnegie Hall.

Parents Association 

Used Uniform Sale on February 26th
The Parents Association will hold a Used Uniform Sale on Friday, February 26th. Don't miss this opportunity to re-stock or replace uniform pieces your child is missing or has outgrown. Please remember that payments must be made by cash or check only. Uniform items generally range in price from $2 to $15.   
Date: Friday, February 26th
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Athletic Center Lobby

Walking Club on March 11th 
Join the Walking Club on the morning of Friday, March 11th to exercise and socialize with fellow parents. Check back next week for details regarding time and location of the walk. 

Book Club Meeting on March 21st
The Pacific Ridge Parents Book Club will meet on Monday, March 21st to discuss The Signature of All Things, by Elizabeth Gilbert. All Pacific Ridge parents are welcome to attend.
Date: Monday, March 21st
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Pacific Ridge School Library

2016-17 Parents Association Board Members Wanted!
Are you interested in getting more involved at Pacific Ridge by joining a dynamic group of parent volunteers? The Parents Association is looking to fill several board positions for the 2016-2017 school year. The Parents Association supports the school through events and programs that connect students, parents, faculty and staff, including Fall Fest, Gingerbread Breakfast, Supper Club, and more. Board members help direct these programs, recognize faculty and staff through the Holiday Gift Drive and spring Staff Lunch, and assist the school through AmazonSmile, eScrip, used uniform sales and the Book Buddies textbook exchange. If you are interested in learning more about available openings, please contact the Parents Association at parentsassociation@pacificridge.org.

Sports on the Ridge

Girls Varsity Basketball Gets Visit From Olympic Champions
Earlier this month, the Girls Varsity Basketball team had the opportunity to meet with a group of Olympic champions when four members of the San Diego Stars dropped by the team's afternoon practice. The Stars, Women's Basketball Champions of the 2003 National Senior Olympics, compete in a local, Women's Over-50 league that is part of the Senior Women's Basketball Association. Many of the San Diego Stars players attended high school during a time when opportunities for female athletes were limited or non-existent. Through the SWBA, they are able to become the athletes they once dreamed of. The Firebirds loved spending time with the Stars, asking for advice, swapping stories, and shooting hoops. 



Upcoming Home Games
Schedules are subject to change. Please check Schedulestar 
regularly for the most accurate information.

3/1/16
4:00 p.m. - Boys Junior Varsity Volleyball vs. Bishop's School 
5:30 p.m. - Boys Varsity Volleyball vs. Bishop's School 

3/2/16
4:00 p.m. - Girls Varsity Lacrosse vs. Coronado High School 

3/3/16
4:00 p.m. - Boys Varsity Volleyball vs. San Diego Academy
5:30 p.m. - Boys Junior Varsity Volleyball vs. San Diego Academy



 
Scores:

Boys Varsity Basketball
2/10/16 Calvin Christian School of ESC 59 51 W
2/12/16 Tri-City Christian Schools 60 42 W
2/19/16 Escondido Charter 43 52 L

Boys Junior Varsity Basketball
2/10/16 Calvin Christian School of ESC 52 28 W
2/12/16 Tri-City Christian Schools 42 48 L
2/19/16 Escondido Charter 23 53 L

Girls Varsity Basketball
2/10/16 Calvin Christian School of ESC 52 28 L
2/12/16 Tri-City Christian Schools 42 48 L
2/19/16 The Rock Academy 32 56 L

Boys Varsity Soccer
2/9/16 La Jolla Country Day School 2 2 T
2/16/16 The Bishop's School 1 7 L
2/18/16 Santa Fe Christian Schools 2 5 L 

Girls Varsity Soccer
2/9/16 La Jolla Country Day School 5 1 W
2/11/16 Escondido Charter 2 2 T

Beyond The Ridge

Senior Parent Coffee on February 26th
All 12th-Grade Parents are invited to attend an informal coffee on Friday, February 26th. College Guidance representatives will be presenting and answering questions on topics including managing the acceptance letter wait, supporting decision-making, housing deposits, connecting real-time tax forms with FAFSA, and more.
Date: Friday, February 26th
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Location: Community Hall 

Practice ACT With Writing on February 27th
On Saturday, February 27th, a full-length practice ACT with Writing will be offered for sophomores and juniors. The registration link has been emailed to all students and their parents and also appears on the Naviance login home page. Questions? Please contact College Guidance at collegeguidance@pacificridge.org.

Standardized Testing Primer and Updates on March 8th
Parents and students interested in learning more about recent changes to standardized college admission tests are invited to attend an evening presentation by Adam Ingersoll, founder and principal of Compass Education Group and a nationally-renowned expert on college admissions testing. He will discuss recent changes to the PSAT, the newly redesigned SAT (to be administered for the first time on March 5th), and recent adjustments to the ACT.
Date: Tuesday, March 8th
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Community Hall

North County Happenings

"Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight" at New Village Arts
La Marquise du Châtelet was a mathematician, a physicist and the toast of the Enlightenment. So why then is the Marquise not better known? Perhaps Voltaire put it best when he said du Châtelet was "a great man whose only fault was being a woman." Now, directed by New Village Arts Executive Artistic Director and Pacific Ridge parent Kristianne Kurner, the brilliant play by Lauren Gunderson resurrects this fascinating personality.
Dates: Through March 6th
Show Times: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; matinees on Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. & Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Place: New Village Arts Theatre, 2787 State Street, Carlsbad


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

February 26th
Senior Parent Coffee
7:30 - 9 a.m.

Used Uniform Sale
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Upper School Social Event
6 - 9 p.m.

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

February 27th
Practice ACT with Writing
8:30 a.m.

March 4th
9th-Grade Parent Coffee
2 - 3 p.m.

March 8th
Standardized Testing
Primer and Updates
5:30 - 7 p.m.

March 9th
Curriculum Night
6:30 - 8 p.m.

March 17th
Designing New Perspectives 
6:30 p.m.

March 21st
Parent Book Club 
7 p.m.

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