In This Issue - May 12, 2016
Snapshot from the Ridge

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


Campus or campsite? In preparation for their Yosemite trip, tenth graders spent Monday's grade-level time perfecting the art of tent assembly.  

Bulletin Board

Tonight: Celebrate Pacific Ridge Senior Artists! 
All members of the Pacific Ridge community are invited to celebrate the talent of this year's senior visual artists. The show will feature paintings, drawings, designs, and more by Advanced and AP art students in the Class of 2016. 
Date: Thursday, May 12th
Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Community Hall  
Tomorrow: Firebird Fan Opportunities and Tailgate!
On Friday, May 13th, Firebird Boys Varsity Lacrosse and Boys Varsity Volleyball continue their quest for division domination! Lacrosse travels to rival Santa Fe Christian for the CIF Division I Quarterfinals at 4 p.m., while Boys Volleyball hosts Lutheran High School for the Division IV Quarterfinals at 7:00 p.m. The Athletic Department will offer a bus to shuttle students from Pacific Ridge to Santa Fe Christian and back, departing at 3:15 p.m. (meet by the Athletic Center) and returning at approximately 6:15 p.m. Moreover, to celebrate all our spring teams, on Friday evening before the volleyball game, there will be a tailgate in the parking lot next to the athletic center. The party starts at 6:00PM. All Firebirds are invited, and high fives will be awarded to everyone who puts on spirit wear! Go Firebirds!
Date: Friday, May 13th
Times & Places: 4:00 p.m., Boys Varsity Lacrosse at Santa Fe Christian; 6:00 p.m., tailgate party by Athletic Center; 7:00 p.m., Boys Varsity Volleyball vs. Lutheran High School.

Class of 2016 Parent Celebration on May 19th
Parents of seniors: We would like to celebrate your commitment to the growth of your children and the Pacific Ridge community with a special dinner event on May 19th. Please check your mailbox for an invitation with more details, and be sure to RSVP to Nisa Conway at nconway@pacificridge.org.
Zombie Prom Promises To Be A Ghoulish Good Time!
Set in the atomic '50s and scored to all original musical numbers, this year's Middle School musical, Zombie Prom, tells the classic tale of good girl meets bad boy, with a nuclear twist! Tickets are going fast! Be sure to purchase yours today at vistixonline.com.
Dates: Friday, May 20th and Saturday, May 21st
Times: 7:00 p.m. with an additional 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday
Place: Avo Theater, 301 Main Street, Vista



You Won't Want To Miss Science Extravaganza! 
Come to a science show unlike anything you've experienced before. Don't think "high school science fair." Instead, think Cirque du Soleil or Blue Man Group! On Friday, May 20th, Pacific Ridge students will be presenting a series of theatrical science experiments, all set to music, with dramatic staging and lighting. Science Extravaganza! is free, family friendly and open to the whole community. It will knock your socks off!
Date: Friday, May 20th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: La Costa Canyon High School Theater, 1 Maverick Way, Carlsbad

Summer Programs and Sports Camps at Pacific Ridge
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.



ARCC "Friends and Family" Travel Scholarships 
Adventures Cross Country, the organization that helps design, operate and staff many of Pacific Ridge's global trips, is offering reduced prices on several summer programs. In order to achieve gender and age balance among trip groups, ARCC is currently seeking additional male students for the following discounted service and adventure trips:   

9th and 10th-Grade Boys
Dominican Republic; June 29 - July 12th; $1200
 
9th through 12th-Grade Boys 
Ecuador and the Galapagos; June 28 - July 18; $1500 
Costa Rica; June 29 - July 12; $1200
Bali and Sumatra; June 27 - July 14; $2000
Thailand; July 16 - July 29; $1200

8th and 9th-Grade Boys
Costa Rica; July 6 - July 26; $2000

For more information about the summer trips, click here. Or contact ARCC at 415-332-5075 and mention the "Friends and Family Scholarships."

New & Noteworthy

Science Extravaganza Sneak Peek Wows Students, Faculty
During last week's Community Life, students and faculty got a sneak peek of the entertaining and educational evening in store for attendees of this month's Science Extravaganza. Students began the presentation with a reverent unveiling of the Periodic Table, then proceeded to manipulate its elements through a series of dynamic science experiments with surprising and often explosive results! The joyous exploration of chemical kinetics cast students as both scientists and narrators, and the audience was rapt as the action unfolded to some of rock's greatest hits. The Science Extravaganza will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 20th at the La Costa Canyon High School theater. The free, family-friendly event is open to all community members. Click play on the video below for a preview of the fun!


9th-Grade Students Get a Taste of China  
On Monday, May 2nd, the ninth-grade class took a field trip to Clairemont to visit a Chinese supermarket and Chinese restaurants ahead of next month's China trip. The day provided an opportunity for students to bond and have fun while learning basic language skills, exploring a new area and enjoying Chinese cuisine. During a scavenger hunt, small groups of students visited bookstores, grocery stores and tea shops while completing assigned tasks. The experience encouraged students to work together to meet challenges in an unfamiliar setting - skills that will certainly come in handy while exploring all China has to offer. 



Homeland Security Advisor Joins Spark Sessions
On May 4th, students enjoyed lunch with a side of career advice from Kelly Wilson, a Protective Security Advisor for the Department of Homeland Security. As part of Spark Sessions, a lunchtime conversation series featuring presenters working in STEAM fields, Ms. Wilson shared her career path, which has included work as an Emergency Management Agency Chief, an INTERPOL liaison, a Technical Intelligence Analyst in the United States Army, and more. She encouraged students to look to the future when considering job opportunities in emerging fields and gave advice on making the most out of any job position. If you have a suggestion for a future Spark Session speaker, please contact Eva Schmidt at eschmidt@pacificridge.org.



Tony Award-Winner Ben Vereen Tours Campus
Tony award-winning actor Ben Vereen stopped by Pacific Ridge on Monday, May 3rd. The celebrated entertainer was on campus for a meeting, but made time to drop by the theater room and say hello to Theatre Arts teacher Fredreka Irvine and senior Catherine Ames, who won Best Actress in the 2015 Ben Vereen Awards and went on to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. Students were eager to show Vereen around the new Arts & Technology Building and hear about some of his initiatives to make the arts accessible to all.

Breaking News: Catherine Ames received word this week that she was once again nominated for the Ben Vereen Awards. While the senior will be unable to attend the competition this year, she can bask in the glow of another nomination and her friendship with one of Broadway's most revered performers.


Tony-award winning star Ben Vereen and senior Catherine Ames, the 2015 Ben Vereen Awards "Best Actress" and 2016 nominee.

Curricular Adventures 

8th Graders Find Global Engagement Close To Home  
On May 6th, the 8th-grade class split up for an afternoon of cultural discovery at Chicano Park and language immersion in Tijuana. At Chicano Park, students learned how peaceful protest led to the park's establishment in the 1970's, and how it became one of the largest assemblages of public murals in North America. The group also created reflective projects that included photography, creative writing, sketching, poetry, Spanish-English translations, and STEAM-based interpretations of the park's art and history. In Tijuana, the group toured a local Adult School and heard the personal stories of the school's students and teachers. At lunch, many students enjoyed local dishes including mole, horchata and jamaica, for the first time. Then, during the wait to cross the border back into the United States, students studying Spanish had the opportunity to put a recent unit on "market" vocabulary into use while negotiating with vendors.  



Stage Combat Expert Gets Students "En Garde"
Last week, Advanced Acting students engaged in combat. Threatening eye contact was made, fists were thrown, swords were brandished. Even Theater Arts teacher Fredreka Irvine couldn't resist getting in on the scrap. The aggressive-looking but harmless melee was the work of Benjamin Cole, a professional actor and fight choreographer. Cole, a member of the Society of American Fight Directors, instructed students on how to heighten physical tension on stage without sacrificing believability or actor safety. During a three day master class on stage combat, the group learned the proper technique for slaps, punches, foot stomps, sword fighting, and more!     



Service Learning In The Field 

Sports Force Donates to Autism Research Institute 
On Wednesday, May 4th, Upper School Service Learning group Sports Force, donated $1,000 to the Autism Research Institute (ARI). Students raised the money through clever on-campus marketing and fundraising efforts such as making and selling milkshakes to classmates. The group donates annually to ARI as part of its mission to raise awareness and funding for autism research through sports events. Last year, Sports Force hosted a 100-player lacrosse tournament. This year, the group worked with Upper School Service Learning group FAST (Friends Assisting Special Needs Teens) to host disabled students from a local school for an afternoon of kickball.  



Class Notes

Juliana Fan '16 Honored By Princeton's Race Relations Prize Committee
Congratulations to senior Juliana Fan on being recognized by the Princeton Prize in Race Relations Committee of San Diego for her work as co-founder and leader of the Pacific Ridge Race Relations conversation group. The group promotes racial harmony, understanding, and respect by calling attention to race issues. Juliana will be awarded with a Certificate of Accomplishment during a May 13th ceremony at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. 



Parents Association 

Final Supper Club Social of the School Year
All Supper Club members are invited to attend 
the Supper Club Social on the evening of Sunday, May 15th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Come enjoy a relaxed evening with other parents as the school year draws to an end. Invitations with additional event details have been e-mailed. If you did not receive an Evite, please notify the Parents Association at parentsassociation@pacificridge.org.

Parents Walking Club on May 19th 
Join the Walking Club for an invigorating beach walk and good conversation on May 19th.  
Date: Thursday, May 19th
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Meet at Better Buzz Coffee located at 578 S. Coast Highway, Encinitas (between D Street and E Street)

Parent Book Club Meeting on June 6th 
The Book Club will be discussing Old Filth, by Jane Gardam at its next meeting. All parents are welcome to attend.
Date: Monday, June 6th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Pacific Ridge Library

Interested in Serving on the WeCare San Diego Consortium?
The Parents Association is seeking a volunteer interested in serving as a Pacific Ridge representative on the WeCare San Diego Consortium. WeCare is a group of independent schools that presents nationally acclaimed authors and speakers on topics of interest to parents in the community. The Pacific Ridge representative will work with representatives from a number of independent schools in San Diego County to organize this next school year's two events. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please send an email to parentsassociation@pacificridge.org.

Sports on the Ridge

Come Cheer on the Firebirds at Friday Games and Tailgate!
4:00 p.m. - Boys Varsity Lacrosse away at Santa Fe Christian
6:00 p.m. - Firebird Tailgate by Athletic Center - open to all!
7:00 p.m. - Boys Varsity Volleyball hosts Lutheran High School*
*CIF Mandated entrance fees for this event are $9 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. The Athletic Department will cover the fees for the first 100 students in attendance.*

Monday, May 16th
CIF Division I San Diego Individual Tennis Playoffs - Pacific Ridge senior Joon-ha Bae will compete at 1:00 p.m. at Barnes Tennis Center.

Girls Varsity Track & Field Wins Pacific League 
Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Track and Field team for winning the 2016 Pacific League Championship! The girls team finished the season 14-0, undefeated in league. This is the team's third, consecutive undefeated season and Pacific League Championship. Thirteen Girls Track and Field athletes will represent Pacific Ridge in the Coastal Conference Finals Thursday night.
 


 

Scores:

Coed Varsity Track
5/6/16 Pacific League Meet #4
Cole Hardin - 2nd place, 110m Hurdles 39''; 3rd place, 100m
Travis Headapohl - 1st place, 3200m; 2nd place, 1600m
Lenny McCline - 2nd place, High Jump
Kent Snodgrass - 2nd place, Triple Jump
Olivia Carter - 1st place, Long Jump; 2nd place - 100m; 1st place - 100m Hurdles 33''; 1st place, 4x100 Relay
Gianna Bacher - 1st place, 300m Hurdles 30''; 2nd place - 100m Hurdles 33''
Hanna Maerowitz - 1st place, Triple Jump

Girls Middle School 'A' Basketball
5/3/16 Tri-City Christian Schools (SCMSL Playoffs) 32 8 W
5/3/16 Rancho Santa Fe (SCMSL North Championship) 22 31 L 

Boys Varsity Tennis
5/3/16 Point Loma High School (CIF First Round) 12 5 W

Boys Varsity Lacrosse
5/3/16 The Bishop's School 7 15 L
5/6/16 Santa Fe Christian Schools 9 10 L

Boys Junior Varsity Lacrosse
5/3/16 The Bishop's School 4 11 L
5/5/16 Linfield Christian 3 10 L

Boys Middle School 'A' Lacrosse
5/7/16 East County 8 6 W

Girls Varsity Lacrosse
5/4/16 Santa Fe Christian Schools 11 7 W
5/7/16 San Diego High School (CIF First Round) 10 3 W

Girls Middle School Lacrosse
5/7/16 United 9 9 T

Boys Varsity Volleyball
5/4/16 Del Lago Academy 3 0 W
5/6/16 Classical Academy High 3 0 W

Boys Junior Varsity Volleyball
5/6/16 Classical Academy High 2 1 W 

Girls Sand Volleyball
5/3/16 Tri-City Christian Schools 3 0 W
5/5/16 Sage Creek 1 2 L

Beyond The Ridge 

Boston College Eagle Overview at Pacific Ridge on May 15th
Boston College will host a public information session on the Pacific Ridge campus on May 15th.
Date: Sunday, May 15th
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Community Hall

Coastline Case Studies for Juniors & Parents on May 17th
Juniors and their parents are invited to learn first-hand what goes into the evaluation of college applications. College admission officers from 90 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. 
Date: Tuesday, May 17th
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Place: High Tech High North County; 1420 W San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92078
 
College Admissions Officers Panel on May 18th 
Join a selection of admissions officers for a discussion about the college admission process and ongoing trends. This event is open to all Pacific Ridge parents, and is especially recommended for parents of juniors. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Date: Wednesday, May 18th
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Location: Community Hall 
'Eight of the Best Colleges' Event on May 19th 
Prospective students and their parents are invited to attend informational meetings with representatives from Connecticut College, Grinnell, Claremont McKenna, Haverford, Kenyon, Macalester, Colorado College and Sarah Lawrence.
Date: Thursday, May 19th
Time: 7:00 p.m. 
Location: Marriot Mission Valley, 8757 Rio San Diego Drive

'Exploring College Options' Event on May 22nd
San Diego families are invited to "Explore College Options" with five of the nation's leading universities: Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, UPenn and Stanford. Student/parent Information sessions will include brief presentations describing each institution; as well as up-to-date information about selection practices, financial aid, and other issues related to selective college admissions. 
Date: Sunday, May 22nd 
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Marriot Mission Valley, 8757 Rio San Diego Drive
RSVP:www.exploringcollegeoptions.org

Transition to College Tailgate & Improv on May 24th
The Class of 2016 and parents are invited to celebrate the year's successes and look to the exciting year ahead by participating in the time-honored, college tradition of tailgating. In addition to a casual feast and lawn games, families will be entertained by the Pacific Ridge Improv team acting out a few humorous college transition scenarios.
Date: Tuesday, May 24th
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Community Hall and West Parking Lot 

Camp College for the Class of 2017 on May 25th - 26th
Camp College is a mandatory and invaluable workshop designed to provide Pacific Ridge juniors with the information and materials needed to begin the college application process. Camp College will reconvene in late summer, when students will begin working on the Common Application. 
Dates: Wednesday, May 25th and Thursday, May 26th
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 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

May 13th
Firebird Tailgate
6 p.m.

May 14th
Junior-Senior Prom 
5:30 - 10:45 p.m.

May 15th
Boston College 
Eagle Overview
2 p.m.

May 18th
College Admissions
Officers Panel
7:30 - 9 a.m.

May 19th
Parents Walking Club
8:30 a.m.

May 20th
Science Extravaganza
7 p.m.

Zombie Prom
7 p.m.

May 21st
Zombie Prom
2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

May 24th
Transition to College Tailgate and Improv
6 - 8 p.m.

May 25th
Camp College
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

May 26th
Camp College
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 6th
Parent Book Club
7 p.m.

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