In This Issue - June 16, 2016

Bulletin Board

New & Noteworthy

Class Notes

Parents Association

North County Happenings

Snapshot from the
Ridge

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

Notes & Nostalgia: On Monday, students filled classmates' yearbooks with memories, inside jokes, and heartfelt sentiments.

Bulletin Board

Summer Reading Books Available to Purchase on MBSDirect!

The summer reading module of our online bookstore, MBSDirect, is open for business. In it you'll find all summer reading requirements and options arranged by discipline and course, ready to purchase from MBS. If you prefer to purchase your summer reading books from other vendors, that is perfectly fine. This is simply an option for your convenience. Not sure which courses you need to prepare for? We suggest waiting to purchase summer reading books until mid-July when course schedules come out. MBS's week of free shipping is scheduled for the week after course schedules are published. Looking forward, our 2016-17 school year module in MBS will be open for business very soon.

Book Buddies - Save Money on Textbooks!

The Pacific Ridge Parents Association is pleased to announce that Book Buddies is coming back this year! The Book Buddies website was created to facilitate the buying and selling of used textbooks within our school community. Sellers can post books for sale and buyers can find books for purchase with this easy-to-use online "bulletin board." Textbook selections are currently being finalized for next year. and course schedules will be published in July. Look for an email soon with the link and directions on how to use the site.

Join Pacific Ridge at the Old Globe on August 28th

For the 7th year in a row, Pacific Ridge families are invited to an evening at Balboa Park's beautiful Old Globe Theatre. This year's performance is Shakespeare's Love's Labor's Lost, a delightful romantic comedy that follows the exploits of three schoolmates who swear off romance just before the ill-timed arrival of three beautiful women. A link for ticket sales, complete with a promotional code for Pacific Ridge families, is on its way. In the meantime, mark your calendars for the 6:00 p.m. pre-show picnic and 8:00 p.m. performance on August 28th, and be on the lookout for a summer email with more information.

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.

New & Noteworthy

Eighth Graders Celebrate Promotion to Upper School

The last day of school, Tuesday, June 13th, was marked by an important rite of passage, as Pacific Ridge eighth graders were promoted to high school in a formal yet lighthearted ceremony in the Athletic Center. In addition to words of congratulations from Middle School Head Andy Wright and 8th-Grade Dean Kelly Clampett, a group of faculty members took turns addressing the rising 9th-grade students to offer bits of wisdom, humorous sentiments, and heartfelt wishes. Mission Awards were given to Middle School students who demonstrated a commitment to various aspects of the Pacific Ridge mission statement. Then, each student was individually recognized and crossed the stage to receive a diploma. Upper School, here they come!

Students Share Global Travel Experiences

In between Tuesday's Middle and Upper School ceremonies, the Pacific Ridge community had the opportunity to learn more about this year's amazing global travel experiences during Global Rewind. Students manned tables throughout campus displaying trip artifacts and photographs; created murals and artwork depicting their adventures; and shared anecdotes and reflections from their time completing service work, immersing themselves in cultures and exploring landmarks around the world.

Upper School Students Awarded For Academic Excellence, Commitment to Mission, Contributions to Community

On Tuesday afternoon, Upper School students were acknowledged for a number of achievements. National Merit Scholars, Cum Laude Society, and World Language Honors Society members were commended, and a number of rising seniors received college book awards sponsored by colleges and universities around the country. Mission awards were presented to students in grades 9 through 12, and three additional awards honored seniors who have most embraced Harkness learning, academic integration and service to the school. Congratulations to all Pacific Ridge students for your many accomplishments this school year!

Learning Center Named In Honor of Peyton Bray

During the Upper School Award Ceremony, Pacific Ridge's departing Head of School Life and Facilities, Peyton Bray, was honored through the naming of the school's learning center - henceforth known as the Bray Student Learning Center. In an emotional speech, Dr. Ogle praised Mr. Bray for a "capacity to give to those in need that is truly unparalleled." For the past eight years, Mr. Bray has worn many hats at Pacific Ridge. He has directed student activities, student discipline and student support; taught journalism, math, and woodworking; and managed everything from the school calendar to facilities. Thank you, Mr. Bray, for your work, energy, compassion and friendship. You have left an indelible mark on Pacific Ridge, and you will be missed.

Head of School Life and Facilities Peyton Bray

with sons Cosmo '16 and Tennessee '19

Class Notes

Bell '18 and Aiyer '18 Selected for All-National Honor Choir

Congratulations to sophomores Rachael Bell and Anurag Aiyer on being selected for the National Association for Music Education's 2016 All-National Honor Choir. As part of the Mixed Choir Ensemble, Rachel and Anurag will join top high school musicians selected for the Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz Ensembles for a November performance at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. They will be conducted by Anton Armstrong, Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf College in Minnesota.

Parents Association

Parent Book Club Summer Reads

The Book Club has selected the following titles for summer reading: Drinking in America: Our Secret History,by Susan Cheever and Wishful Drinking, by Carrie Fisher. The group will meet in late August to discuss both novels. Stay tuned for more details.

If you are interested in volunteering for Parents Association activities for the 2016-2017 school year, please contact the Parents Association at parentsassociation@pacificridge.org.

North County Happenings

Carlsbad Student Leader Academy Seeking Applicants

The Carlsbad Student Leader Academy - a new leadership development program hosted by the city, The YouSchool, The Servant Leadership Institute, and Carlsbad Unified School District - will begin its inaugural session this fall. Carlsbad residents in grades 9 - 12 who are interested in discovering more about themselves and their gifts through civic education and community projects are encouraged to apply by August 1st. The 10-week program will be held once a week for two hours in the evening. The academy will be offered three times a year with a maximum of 30 students a session. For more information, or to apply, visit www.carlsbadstudentleadershipacademy.com.

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