2016 10 27 bmi falleducationguide2016

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OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 11

OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2016 Noon - 3:00 p.m.

Campus tours!

Last tour begins at 2:00 p.m.

Meet our teachers!

Art, Robotics, and MakerSpace Demonstrations!

Music Performances!

All are welcome!

Ramona Convent is a Catholic College-pRep high school for girls in grades 9-12. We are a WelComing Community where high standards and expectations ensure a tRansfoRmative eduCation for every young woman.

When students graduate from Ramona, they face the future with an extRaoRdinaRy eduCation in their pocket; with a global vision fueled by Catholic, snJm values; with an independent spiRit and confident leadeRship skills; with Ramona sisters by their side and a legacy of more than 125 yeaRs of exCellenCe at their back.

RAMONA. FOR LIFE.

1701 West Ramona Road ● Alhambra, CA 91803 ● (626) 282-4151 ● www.ramonaconvent.org

12 |OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016

Fall Education guide 2016

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Fall Education guide 2016

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OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 13

Clairbourn School

By May Ruiz

I

t was 90 years ago when a wife and mother, Emily Bourne, decided to hold classes for her young daughter, Claire, and three of her friends from her home in San Marino and established Clairbourn School.

Today the school serves 266 junior preK to eighth grade students on a beautifully landscaped eight-acre expanse on Huntington Drive in San Gabriel and continues to provide an education based on its founder’s teaching philosophy.

Dr. Robert Nafie, headmaster, describes, “Clairbourn’s education is centered on character and leadership development through honesty, respect, responsibility, citizenship, and spirituality. Its model of education focuses on the application of learning, being willing to stipulate that all students have the potential to accumulate knowledge. When correctly applied, intellectual and academic knowledge naturally finds expression in leadership, and from there to the lifting of aspirations and expectations of the community at large.”

Students hail from San Gabriel and adjacent cities – Pasadena, Arcadia, and San Marino – reflecting a high level of cultural, ethnic, religious and economic diversity. Over 50 percent of families self-report as being ‘diverse’ and a significant number of them receive tuition assistance.

Clairbourn is divided into pre-school – junior pre-K and pre-K; lower school – K-fifth

grade; and middle school – sixth to eighth grade.

An outstanding teaching staff of 25 gives instruction in small class sizes, where the student/teacher ratio is 9-1. There are 21 full time teachers, and ten full-time specialists.

Over 36 percent of faculty have advanced degrees and they have an average tenure of 14 years.

Known for its rigorous standards, Clairbourn offers a curriculum that prepares students for accomplishment in top independent high schools. A demanding humanities and arts program is balanced with a strong focus on math and science.

The school’s elementary grade students are immersed in a STEAM program where hands-on activities engage them in scientific inquiry and empower them to participate confidently and successfully. Kindergarteners through fifth graders are taught applied mathematics using a systemic progression of skills, with a strong focus on real-life problem solving.

Clairbourn’s middle school science program – life, earth, and physical – consists of hands-on labs and activities that provide students with concrete examples of concepts promoting curiosity, exploration, and further experimentation. Additionally, all middle schoolers participate in a Science, Technology or Math Fair and an Engineering Design Challenge annually. The math curriculum

comprises of a regular and an accelerated track. The accelerated track is designed to allow students to complete Algebra I by the end of their eighth grade.

By middle school students learn 3D design, computer simulations, digital photography, robotics, stop motion animation, and digital art design in addition to word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.

School-owned iPads are used by first through third graders in the classrooms; fourth and fifth graders use school-owned laptops for writing and research activities.

Middle schoolers have a “Bring Your Own Laptop” program.

The Arts program in all grade level encompasses visual arts, music, drama, and public speaking.

One of the highlights of middle school at Clairbourn is the Huntingtower trip, an exchange program conceived by Dr. Robert Nafie in 2000 for students to become global citizens. In the 16 years since its inception, friendships and ties have been kept between Australian and American families as younger siblings stay with the same hosts as older siblings in previous years.

A trip to Costa Rica, which began over 12 years ago, gives seventh and eighth graders a science adventure, with Spanish exposure built in.

Several campus events get the entire Clairbourn community actively involved. The

Book Fair held in mid-October is an annual favorite. An Entrepreneurial Fair, now in its third year, encourages kids to be businessminded and inventive; it attracts even the youngest students to participate.

Improvements in facilities enrich the student as well as parent experience. The library was recently remodeled and has expanded the reading space available for kids.

The David Orndorff conference room was inaugurated at the beginning of the school year and has since become a favorite spot for book talks, and will later be used for student council and parent association meetings. The Paciorek batting cage will be constructed in the spring for Clairbourn athletes.

High school applications counseling starts in seventh grade to help students understand their options and how to prepare and apply. Students are required to take an interview preparation class, attend high school tours, and meet with admissions directors on campus. Clairbourn graduates go on to the most highly selective secondary institutes in the Pasadena area and boarding schools in California.

The Clairbourn community is at once close-knit and loyal – alum students come to visit often and former parents still volunteer for activities long after their children have left for college. It is this steadfast engagement that makes Clairbourn a school apart from all others.

Lives of IMPACT Begin at....

WESTRIDGE AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN GRADES 4-12 Learn how Westridge girls take on academic challenges, are intellectually adventurous, and are prepared to live lives of meaning, contribution, and impact.

For more information or to RSVP for an open house contact: 626.799.1053 ext. 256 or admissions@westridge.org

OPEN HOUSE PROGRAMS:

November 5 January 7

324 Madeline Drive, Pasadena, CA 91105 • Westridge.org Bus transportation available from Los Feliz and the San Fernando Valley

14 |OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016

Fall Education guide 2016

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Foothill Oaks Academy

By May Ruiz

A

t a small private school on Bradbourne Avenue in Duarte, called Foothill Oaks Academy (FOA), students as young two years old toddle into classrooms to learn under the guidance of caring experts who understand that this is a significant period in children’s development.

Created in 2011 through a merger between Anita Oaks School, which had been on the current campus since 1990, and Carden of the Foothills School in Monrovia, FOA has a combined total of over 100 years of delivering quality education and instilling core values to young children. The school boards and administrators developed the best methods and style gleaned from each school.

Teachers from the two institutions became the faculty of Foothill Oaks. The heads of both schools serve as co-directors, and Nancy Lopez remained on as the current principal.

She was responsible for expanding the science, technology, and music programs, as well as building the curriculum that exceeds California standards and on a par with other private schools’.

FOA recognizes the uniqueness of each child and provides every one of them the opportunity to reach his or her unlimited potential. It fosters an environment that blends ambitious academic program with varied enrichment activities. Students are encouraged to become lifelong learners and confident risk-takers, unafraid to accept challenges and

capable of growing into contributing, productive members of society.

Enrolment is kept consistently at 115 students who come from a wide area of the San Gabriel Valley, including Arcadia, Monrovia, Temple City, Pasadena, and Altadena to the west, to Glendora, La Verne, and Rancho Cucamonga to the east.

Twenty-five teachers are on the staff, 80 percent of whom have been teaching at FOA (or at Anita Oaks or Carden of the Foothills before that) for over ten years and 20 percent under a decade. Many of the faculty members hold advanced degrees.

Small class sizes make for an engaging classroom atmosphere. In pre-school, the student/ teacher ratio is 8-1; while in K-eighth grade, it’s 12-1.

From the moment preschool children, aged two to three, enter the gates of Foothill Oaks, they experience a variety of developmentally appropriate activities. Four- and five-year-olds in transitional kindergarten (TK) take morning classes to prepare them for reading, written language, and identification of basic math concepts; they are taught music, French and technology in the afternoon.

In kindergarten five-year-olds get their first exposure to in-depth academics – math, reading, writing, science and social studies.

Read-aloud sessions help build their listening and comprehension skills. Physical educa-

tion, French, art, music, special science, and technology round out the kindergarten week.

The foundational skills students gained in their early years at Foothill Oaks are challenged progressively through fifth grade, preparing them for the demanding middle school program. Science, social studies and geography lessons are taught at each grade level.

When they reach middle school, students receive in-depth instruction in language arts, history, geography, math, science, and Spanish. Teachers implement a variety of creative approaches in each subject and emphasize critical thinking skills.

Foothill Oaks offers enrichment courses from kindergarten through eighth grade. Art classes combine history and appreciation, with projects relevant to the artists and techniques studied.

Elementary students are introduced to French culture, basic vocabulary, foods, and projects as they get older. In middle school, the curriculum consists of a three-year Spanish program that enables most students to enter a Spanish Two or Honors class in the ninth grade.

Music is a participation- and enjoymentbased class. All students listen to a variety of music from different composers, and prepare for performances, which may include skits or short plays.

Physical education is emphasized in

Arroyo Pacific Academy

each grade level using activities designed to promote muscle development, and increase physical stamina. FOA is part of the Foothill Sports League where its athletes play against local private schools.

The technology curriculum begins with basic introduction, and goes on to guided use, to exploring and navigating operations and applications. By the end of the elementary years, word processing, collaboration tools, and technology-based presentations are learned and applied. Middle school students continue their multi-media and educational social networks learning.

Field trips are integrated in student activities. Fifth graders spend two nights at Rawhide Ranch to study animal science, vaulting, animal care and riding instruction.

Sixth and seventh grade students go on marine biology camp and science adventure camp on alternate years. And eighth graders head to Washington D.C. for a history/government-based field trip.

FOA graduates attend selective high schools where they take with them the selfdiscipline, coupled with an awareness of the world around them, they learned during their years on campus.

They are a testament to what principal, Nancy Lopez, describes as “Foothill Oaks’ long, rich heritage of strong academics and character development designed to produce moral, ethical, and productive citizens.”

OPEN ENROLLMENT

FIND YOUR PATH

A Personal Approach to Education in a College Preparatory Environment • • • •

10:1 Student/Teacher Ratio Individualized Education Programs Visual, Media, Music & Performing Arts Programs International Programs I-20

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Admissions

Robert Nguyen, Admissions Director admissions@arroyopacific.org www.arroyopacific.org

41 West Santa Clara Street Arcadia, CA 91007 (626) 566-2280

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OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 15

My Family’s Independent School Experience

By May Ruiz

H

aving children is a lifelong commitment that brings with it tremendous joy as it begets vast responsibilities. One of every parent’s primary concerns when raising kids is ensuring them an education that not only teaches reading, writing, math, and science but also prepares them for life beyond school.

My husband and I decided to give our daughter a private school education and that journey began when she was only two years old. I enrolled her in a co-op where parents are expected to work alongside a teacher and an assistant teacher in class.

It turned out to be a really fun experience for both of us. My daughter and I enjoyed being at school two mornings during the week. She learned to draw and sing; I handed out snacks and drinks, cleaned after the little kids and them took them to the potty.

My daughter stayed at the co-op for only one year. The following school year, she attended a Montessori school. It was there that she learned reading, writing and math. Having helped out in the classroom the previous year, I also assisted the teacher and her aide.

By the time my daughter was four years old, she had outgrown the Montessori system. She was ready for traditional education and our quest for the right inde-

pendent school commenced.

Pasadena has several outstanding private schools but the competition to get accepted to one of them is fierce. We went on countless campus tours and applied to six schools; she was waitlisted on all but one, and it was in La Canada. Like in her previous two schools, she did extremely well in class, was adored by her teachers, and was well-liked by her classmates.

Private schools are completely funded by parents and tuition only covers a portion of what’s needed to run them; the parents association has to raise funds for enrichment programs. To fill the library or add books to its current offering, for instance, the association holds book fairs. So in addition to driving kids on field trips, I also volunteered for the book fair. Then I got braver and chaired the spring auction.

This benefit gala is usually a school’s largest fundraiser and proceeds from it are used for field trips, or to get computers for the classrooms.

The drive from Pasadena to La Canada, though, got too tiring for both of us; she couldn’t stand sitting in the car for long. I had kept in touch with the admissions director at one of the private schools where she had been waitlisted. My daughter reapplied and luckily got accepted when a family had to relocate and leave the school.

La Salle High School

I was ecstatic – the school is a mile away from our house!

My daughter excelled in class, even played the piano for the entire school during morning assembly. I was again involved in the parent association. One year I managed the school store which carried snacks and drinks for after-school sports, provided pizza and drinks for dances, and even sold school uniforms, sports clothing and gym bags.

In the first ten years of my daughter’s life, she had attended four different schools. In all of them students were expected to excel in academics, have a passion for artistic expression, and possess an athletic ability. Besides raising funds, parents were counted on to be partners in their children’s education – ensuring that the kids came to school prepared to do the work.

In middle and high school, my daughter attended the school of all schools in Pasadena. Every student and parent for miles around want to be there, and applying to it is sport. I found out that its culture is vastly different from all the ones she previously attended when I signed up for the book fair. I was very excited to sit in the very first meeting and had a lot of ideas, only to be told it wasn’t a fund-raising event. In fact, this school had no other

fund-raising activity besides the annual fund.

My daughter was there for seven years, the longest she had ever stayed in one school, and had the best time. She found like-minded friends, was challenged by the vigorous curriculum, and earned the admiration of teachers.

I, on the other hand, wasn’t welcome on campus. To be fair, no parent was made wanted on campus. In fact, when I inquired about parent-teacher conferences in high school, the ninth grade dean informed me there was no such thing. Teachers were busy with students and didn’t have time to talk with parents. The only time parents stepped on campus was if their children had either academic or behavioral problems.

This school did not have the community atmosphere I expected. While my experience there hadn’t been pleasant, I am grateful for the fine education my daughter received. And, at the end of the day, that was what mattered.

My daughter graduated from high school two years ago and is now a thirdyear student at the third-ranked university in the United Kingdom. She’s fully engaged in campus life and enjoying being selfreliant – skills she learned from her early education.

Now is the Time to See Maranatha for Yourself

(L to R) Noelle Simpson, Brad Campbell, Rose Zhang, Head of School Dr. Steven Sherman, Principal John Rouse, Samantha Gonzalez, Kymani Joachim, and Natalie Maljian -Courtesy photo

L

a Salle High School, a Catholic, coeducational High School that appeals to students of all faiths. La Salle’s Mission: Nurture, Inspire, Challenge and Motivate the students entrusted to its care results in a rigorous college preparatory environment that enables diverse and academically capable

students to become extraordinary people.

There are 16 advanced Placement courses, 14 honors courses, an award-winning four-year visual and performing arts department, a robust Student Leadership program, honor and service societies, student clubs, championship robotics and Academic

Decathlon teams and 22 varsity athletic teams produce a healthy, safe and supportive community atmosphere for all students.

In the last five years 99.5 percent of our graduates enrolled in college with 90 percent attending four-year institutions. Please join us Nov. 6, for our Open House.

For more information please visit, www.lasallehs.org.

With a long standing reputation of 51 years, Maranatha High School is the only non-denominational Christian High School in the San Gabriel Valley offering an excellent college preparatory education in a Christcentered environment. Now is the time to take a look at why so many families are choosing Maranatha for their child’s education.

Maranatha offers 36 Advanced Placement and honors courses and has continually proven to be

exceptional in the Performing and Visual Arts, as well as competitive in athletics with both CIF and State level wins, making it a wonderful home for the all-around diverse student. In addition, Maranatha students participate in a wide variety of clubs, and serve others through mission trips and service projects, both locally and globally.

Furthermore, Maranatha’s faculty are known for spending time in and out of class getting

to know students and investing not only in their academic growth, but their social, relational, and spiritual growth as well. The school sees their faculty as “changed lives, changing lives”.

Interested in discovering what Maranatha is all about? Maranatha High School opens its campus and warmly invites all prospective families to the annual Open House on Saturday, November 5, 2016, starting at 10:00.

Learn more at www.maranathahighschool.org/openhouse.

16 |OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016

Fall Education guide 2016

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CLAIRBOURN School

It’s admissions season, and now is the time to tour private schools.

Founded in 1926, Clairbourn School is a top independent provider of fullspectrum education for preschool through eighth grade students. Now with after-school offerings, new outdoor learning spaces and vegetable gardens, a brand new technology lab, and newly refreshed athletic facilities and a swimming pool, Clairbourn remains a stand-out educational institution with an experienced, professional teaching staff.

The eight-acre campus, with state-of-the-art security, is welcoming,

beautiful, and spacious, and the classrooms are equipped with the latest educational technology.

Current parent Shelley Coolidge, who is serving as the Clairbourn Families Association President for the 2016 to 2017 school year, describes Clairbourn as: “ … a school with both a high academic standard as well as a supportive and nurturing environment.

Clairbourn emphasizes character, respect for one another, and responsibility for one’s community, as well as giving back—qualities the leaders of tomorrow most need.

My children have

thrived in this kind of school environment. Students have the opportunity to participate in endless activities. They become natural public speakers because they have so many opportunities, both large and small, to speak and perform in front of their peers. As a result, Clairbourn students are welleducated, well-spoken, well-rounded, and wellprepared for high school.”

Clairbourn is fully accredited by CAIS and WASC. To book a tour online visit http://tinyurl. com/bookatour4me, call admissions at (626) 2863108, or go to the website at www.clairbourn.org.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: www.clairbourn.org.

New Campus for Arroyo Pacific Academy in Arcadia

www.playsmarterbasketball.com

626-482-8267

coachmarquis@gmail.com

Coach Richard Marquis of the Play Smarter Basketball Class Program has traveled throughout Mainland China with parents and students of his Play Smarter International Basketball Camp.

Coach Duke Xie Main contact for Chinese speaking parents

ENGLISH 626-482-8267 e-mail coachmarquis@gmail.com

CHINESE 626-321-2008 e-mail playsmarterbasketball@ gmail.com

All classes are 100 % GUARANTEED! If not completely satissed after the rst day of class, all money will be returned. Go to the Play Smarter website: www.playsmarterbasketball.com. See JOIN US section and complete all Information. A Play Smarter coach will contact you.

A new dramatic building will rise along N. Santa Avenue in Arcadia when Arroyo Pacific Academy expands its campus. Two additional buildings will join the Clarke Center encompassing two parking plazas and interconnecting walkways. New Science labs and Humanities classrooms will bring the campus to the same exceptional standards as the current Arts and Technology Center.

The College and Career Center, library and dining facilities as well as new administrative offices will also be contained in the new buildings.

The new campus is adjacent to the Metro Gold Line Bridge on Santa Anita Avenue and the Metro Station in Arcadia which will give ease of commute to students living along the

Gold Line corridor and further afield. Students will be offered reduced cost Metro passes to encourage their use of the Metro.

Construction is expected to begin soon and be completed by the beginning of the 20172018 school year in September.

To celebrate its new campus and to begin its

20th anniversary celebrations in 2018, Arroyo Pacific Academy will be able to expand its enrollment in the new facilities. President Philip Clarke is offering Scholarships of $5000 (per year) to local applicants for next school year.

Current students may receive similar scholarships if they sponsor an applicant for the new school year.

Each local elementary/middle school principal is being given a $5,000 scholarship to be awarded to a student intending to enroll at Arroyo Pacific Academy.

This is in addition to the personal scholarship the applicant will receive directly when they register and will be a substantial incentive to make a private high school experience affordable for more students.

For more information please visit, www.arroyopacific.org

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Fall Education guide 2016

OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 17

La Salle High School

By May Ruiz

L

a Salle High School (LSHS) was established in early 1955 when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles began construction on a new secondary school on the corner of East Sierra Madre Boulevard and Michillinda Avenue in Pasadena. The Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles invited the Christian Brothers, whose reputation for innovative excellence in education dates back to 1680, to administrate the new institution. This created a Roman Catholic college preparatory school enriched by the tradition of La Sallian education developed

by St. John de Baptist de la Salle, founder of the Christian Brothers.

In November of that same year, construction started on the school’s main building which housed eight classrooms, science labs, mechanical drawing and typing rooms, library, bookstore, audio-visual room, cafeteria, locker room, and offices. The Brothers’ residence and chapel were also built.

During the 1956-1957 schoolyear, LSHS officially opened with Brother Celestine Cormier, FSC, as its first principal, and admitted 117 ninth grade boys from 14 nearby communities. By 1964 enrollment had grown to 450 students and a faculty of 11 Christian Brothers and six lay teachers.

In 1965, the Michillinda wing of the school was completed – with a library, biology lab, five additional classrooms, an assembly hall, student bookstore, seminar room and faculty offices.

Formal discussions about the possibility of making La Salle a co-ed school took

Students (left to right) CJ Rettig, Ramona Stanley, Camille Bent, Alexis Lazaro, Cameron Lu, and Joshua Ng, flank new principal, Mrs. Courtney Kassakhian (center). - Photo by Bryan Ossa

place in 1986. With that, construction of a girls’ locker room and a Band Room also started. And so in the Fall of 1991 women were admitted to La Salle for the first time.

Coincidentally, the school also fielded its very first football team.

To meet the growing needs of students, La Salle embarked on an expansion project in 1996. This project included the relocation of the school library, a new dining hall, a 200seat amphitheater, and an expanded weight room. It also added a three-story wing which extended down Michillinda to accommodate four state-of-the-art science labs, general classrooms, student life office, chapel, dance studio, faculty center, and administrative

Experience Immaculate Heart

A Private, Catholic, College Preparatory School for Grades 6 – 12 “Educating the Hearts & Minds of Young Women Since 1906”

Immaculate Heart High School & Middle School

• Academic Playday for Eighth Graders – Saturday, November 12, at 9 a.m.

• Middle School Open House – Saturday, December 3, at 1 p.m.

• High School Open House – Sunday, December 4, at 1 p.m.

• Middle School Entrance Exam – Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.

• High School Entrance Exam for Admission & Merit Scholarships – Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 8:30 a.m.

5515 Franklin Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90028 • (323) 461-3651 • www.immaculateheart.org

offices. The improvements allowed for an enrollment of 750, and a richer educational setting for students and athletes.

A special anniversary liturgy and reception at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels capped La Salle’s 50th anniversary celebration on May 15, 2007.

Today LSHS has 700 students from ninth to 12th grades, with two-thirds of incoming freshmen who are Catholics. 15 percent of its enrolment are from low income families and receive full or partial assistance through the scholarship fund.

The largest private high school in Pasadena, LSHS offers a diversity of opportunities for a balanced education. Students have

a choice of 16 advanced placement and 15 honors courses; an award-winning fouryear visual and performing arts department, including a regionally known film and digital media concentration; a robust Student Leadership program supporting elected and appointed student officers; honor and service societies; student clubs; and robotics.

With 22 varsity teams rounding out their campus experience, La Salle students enjoy four years in a healthy, supportive community.

La Salle’s college counseling office offers a wide range of college tours including one in Orange County in the fall. A Bay Area college visit takes students to UC Berkeley and UC Davis, University of the Pacific, St. Mary’s University, University of San Francisco and San Francisco State University.

In March, they tour in the Los Angeles area and go on the UCLA, Loyola Marymount, and USC campus.

In the past five years, 99.7 percent of graduates have gone on to college, with 87.4 percent going to four-year institutions.

Last year, La Salle welcomed a new principal, Courtney Kassakhian. In her principal’s message, she reinforces the school’s heritage and tradition, “We foster a community environment in which there is love, respect and acceptance of each person. A unique partnership between talented students, supportive parents, and gifted and dedicated faculty and support staff makes such a family environment possible.”

Immaculate Heart Launches 111th Year of Scholarship & Service Immaculate Heart is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school for young women in sixth through 12th grades.

Steeped in beloved traditions, Immaculate Heart offers a distinguished history, with more than 10,000 graduates.

Founded in 1906 by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the school remains true to its original mission: the intellectual, spiritual, moral and social development of girls. Its hillside campus, centrally located in Los Angeles near Griffith Park, welcomes students of geographic, ethnic and religious diversity. Virtually 100 percent of IH students matriculate to college, including to the most prestigious universities in the country, with

many students earning substantial merit scholarships.

I m maculate Heart’s challenging academic curriculum offers 18 Advanced Placement courses, including the new AP Capstone course. Only 600 high schools across the country have been invited to offer this four-semester course which begins with

a seminar class and culminates at the end of two years with a defended research project.

Immaculate Heart’s Catholic identity is rooted in service to others and social justice. Last year, students contributed more than 14,000 hours of community service.

Additionally, students engage in leadership roles throughout campus, with a third of the student body serving in student council and board positions among more than 30 clubs and organizations. Nearly a third of all high school students also play at least one IH sport. Immaculate Heart fields teams in basketball, cross country, diving, equestrian, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

For more information, visit our website at www.immaculateheart.org.

Fall Education guide 2016

18 |OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016

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Westridge School for Girls

By May Ruiz

I

n 1913, at a time when girls were expected to grow up to become housewives, a forward thinking and accomplished architect and teacher, Mary Lowther Ranney, founded a school to provide education for women who want to attend college. Westridge School opened its doors to its first 21 students on Madeline Drive in Pasadena.

103 years later, Westridge is home to 500 girls from fourth through 12th grade who are intellectually adventurous, critical and independent thinkers. They are leaders and active participants in an active and purposeful community.

Westridge has an extensive curriculum that covers the humanities, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and the arts. Over 100 courses, including 15 advanced placement and eight honors courses, are offered in the middle and upper school.

The school’s distinctive humanities program helps girls develop their sense of self, giving them the confidence to express their thoughts clearly and in a strong voice. Discussions on English and cultural studies and history begin in the early grades. All upper school students take AP English and are prepared for seminar-style courses with faculty members guiding dialogues that focus on interpretation, evidence, and learning from others’ approaches to texts.

An incredibly high percentage of Westridge juniors and seniors take AP science classes, with a vast majority taking science during all four years of high school. STEM courses are analytical and laboratory-based where students get deeply involved in understanding method, presentation, and articulating and defending conclusions.

Westridge offers a Research in Science elective which pairs students with universities and research institutions including Caltech, Occidental College and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Seniors learn from scientists at Caltech and Children’s Hospital and take part in hands-on research in computational biology, particle astrophysics, cellular biology, and environmental geology.

In the summer of 2015 the school debuted the STEAM Work design Studio which offers hands-on disciplinary work creating, inventing, and building. It is open for class and individual work by students in all grades in three areas – 3D design and printing, coding and robotics, and electronics and circuits.

Upper school science lecture and lab spaces are outfitted with wireless laptops for every student; sixth, seventh, and eighth grades have 1-1 tablet program.

Westridge has 68 teachers, with 61 percent holding advanced degrees; eight faculty members hold doctoral degrees.

About 50 percent of the faculty members have been with Westridge 10 or more years and 73 percent have been teaching there five years or more. The lower school has two homeroom classes; the average class size in middle and upper school is 15 students, with a student/faculty ratio of 7-1.

The Westridge Tigers compete in basketball, cross country, equestrian, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and water polo. In the past 15 years, honors have included 13 Prep League Championships, four California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section (CIF-SS) individual championships, five CIF-SS Quarter Final appearances, one CIF-SS Team Championship, and one CIF State Quarter Final appearance.

The counseling office offers a college tour each spring and hosts over 25 events every year. Each fall, representatives from more than 130 colleges and universities visit the campus to meet with seniors.

Three counselors hold semester-long seminar courses for juniors and seniors, evening forums, financial aid workshops.

A comprehensive “case study” featuring dozens of college representatives is offered.

The class of 2016 received 267 acceptances to 114 colleges and universities. 70 percent of those who applied

through early action gained acceptance; four out of 47 students got full merit scholarships; 75 percent earned one or more scholarships from the schools to which they were accepted. 55 percent matriculated to their first choice school, 85 percent to one of their top three choices.

Elizabeth McGregor, head of school, says about Westridge, “Being a girls’ school opens up incredible programmatic opportunities that speak directly to girls and issues of special concern to them, as well as to let girls’ voices be present in all settings. For instance, the theme for our year is ‘Lean In and Lean In Together’, inspired by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s book and non-profit of the same title. The idea is to encourage women to pursue their ambitions and to demonstrate how when women collaborate and celebrate and support each other, we all go further and support the common good.

And we’re thrilled to be collaborating with Archer School for Girls, Marlborough School, and Marymount High School in a program called L.A. Girls’ Schools Lean In Together, to empower young women across our schools to support and lift one another up to their greatest potential.”

Westridge offers much more than an exceptional education – it prepares girls to become leading advocates for women everywhere.

Ramona Convent i where high When students with a global vis Westridge Creates Ramona Convent with R Impactful Women

Westridge School for girls offers challenging academics and leadership development

- Courtesy photo

Westridge is an independent school for girls in grades four through 12 with a mission to educate intellectually adventurous thinkers, and courageous, compassionate leaders.

The school balances challenging academics and leadership development with a focus on the human side of education, includ-

ing development of sense of self and consideration of an individual’s responsibility to others and the world.

As a result, Westridge students and alumnae are confident women, creative thinkers, and catalysts for action who are living lives of impact.

The school’s Pasadena campus, home to 500 stu-

dents, combines historic architecture and modern, state-of-the art facilities including its new STEAMWork Design Studio. The Westridge curriculum includes strong academic, arts, athletic, and human development programs, enhanced by small class sizes and a comprehensive college counseling program.

Learn more at www.westridge.org.

How does an engineer think, design, and solve problems? Ramona students taking the new Engineer Your World course will find out by solving open-ended problems such as designing and building a pinhole camera for handicapped people, an earthquakesafe building for India, and a drone that can capture images from earth.

Through a partnership with the National Science Foundation, the University of Texas, Cockrell School of Engineering, and the College of Education, students will complete a comprehensive yearlong engineering curriculum and earn college credit.

Freshman Kamila Campos shared “I enjoy working collaboratively with students from different grades and skill levels. My team members have helped me learn about complex for-

mulas and calculations and how they relate to engineering functions.”

Ramona is a Catholic

nity where high standards and expectations ensure an extraordinary education for every young woman.

When students graduate from Ramona, they face the future with an extraordinary education in their pocket; with a global vision fueled by Catholic, SNJM values; with an independent spirit and confident leadership skills; with Ramona sisters by their side and a legacy of more than 125 years of excellence at their back.

Come visit us on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. for campus tours, teacher introductions, Art, Robotics, and MakerSpace demonstrations, and music performances.

All are welcome! Preregistration available at www.ramonaconvent.org. Ramona Convent Secondary School, 1701 W. Ramona Rd, Alhambra, CA 91803, (626) 282-4151

1701 W

college-prep high school for girls in grades 9-12. At Ramona, we prepare for life!

We are a welcoming commu-

Learn more at www.ramonaconvent.org

Fall Education guide 2016

BeaconMediaNews.com

Play Smarter Basketball

Our youth basketball development training classes have the best coaching staff available anywhere. Most of our staff were top athletes in their high schools and universities, giving them professional experiences. Our staff is second to none.

We are proud of our many years of success in developing young boys and girls into outstanding athletes and helping them to prepare for their high school teams. Hav-

ing such great coaching staff allows our students to build their self-esteem and confidence, aiding them with individual skills as well as needed game knowledge.

Basketball is a great sport for children to stay in shape while working with others. It starts with learning which foot to put first, meeting new friends, and having fun in the process. They need experience in order to figure out if this is a sport they want

to further pursue.

Parents, we know it takes a knowledgeable, experienced staff like ours for students to continue to moving forward in the sport they play. Our Play Smarter program wants both our parents and students to like our staff and development program, for any reason a parent does not like our PSB program, we will return all of your money after their child’s first day of class.

For more information please visit, www.playsmarterbasketball.com

OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 19

Educational Excellence at High Point Academy

High Point Academy is an independent co-educational kindergarten through eighth grade school nestled in the beautiful foothills of Pasadena. For over 50 years, High Point has provided a strong commitment to academic excellence and innovation and the academic, social, and ethical development of the whole child within a balanced approach to education. Service learning, technology, athletics, arts, vocal and instrumental music, world languages in Spanish and French, library, and green sustainable living are embedded in our enriched curriculum. We offer physical education five days each week, an iMac technology center, an impeccably main-

tained campus as well as a dedicated faculty and staff.

This year the High Point faculty collaborated to create a newly updated K through eighth grade Curriculum Guide that captures our enriched programs.

High Point created and launched a new Strategic Plan. As High Point embarks upon the next chapter in its journey, we do so with a sense of optimism and with the strength borne of our rich history and traditions.

On our beautiful campus, the Six C’s of a 21st century education are in full bloom,

with students embracing Creativity, Critical thinking, Communication/ public speaking, Character education, Collaboration, and Cross-cultural understanding.

Every strategic goal and priority are still guided by one overarching consideration: “Will this goal/priority further advance High Point’s mission of awakening the joy of learning in students and the pursuit of academic excellence?” At High Point, it is and always will be about the students.

High Point invites you to see our community for yourself at one of our upcoming open houses. www. highpointacademy.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT, WWW.HIGHPOINTACADEMY.ORG

La SaLLe open HouSe

Sunday, November 6, Noon to 2:30pm Meet our students, teachers and coaches. Enjoy continuous campus tours, refreshments and student presentations.

La SaLLe HigH ScHooL C o l l e g e

P r e P a r a t o r y

Learn•Serve•Lead 3880 East Sierra Madre Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91107 • Telephone 626.351.8951 • www.lasallehs.org

La Salle High School

Date: October 12, 2016

20 |OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016

Fall Education guide 2016

High Point Academy Awakening the

JOY

JOY

of Learning

ADMISSION EVENTS 2016-2017 OPEN HOUSES 9:00-11:00am November 17, January 19 TOURS 10:30-11:30am (RSVP Required) November 1, 8, & 10 December 1, 6, 8,& 13 January 10 & 12 www.HighPointAcademy.org (626) 798.8989

BeaconMediaNews.com

Barnhart Celebrates its Middle School’s 30th Anniversary and New Look for the 2016-2017 School Year

Founded in 1959 by Santa Anita Church, Barnhart, a K - 8 school located in Arcadia along historic Route 66, is taking pride in celebrating its Middle School’s 30th Anniversary.

Foundational elementary programs focus on academic excellence in core subjects plus Spanish, daily P.E., Art, Music, a virtues program, and experiential field studies. Barnhart’s Middle School (serving sixth through eighth grade) continues those studies with rigorous high school prep and offers challenging classics such as woodshop and life skills. In addition, middle school electives include drama, screenwriting, advanced band and more, such as the opportunity to participate in division-winning, after-school sports programs. In addition, the school’s diversity committee educates and celebrates many cultural traditions throughout the school year.

While Barnhart’s anniversary commemorates its

Barnhart celebrates 30 years in Arcadia

history, there are other exciting new developments.

The school held a tree dedication honoring sycamores in the heart of the campus; these trees inspired their new logo. And, in true Bobcat community spirit, every student played a part in the festivities, decorating rocks for the ceremony.

“Barnhart is continuing to embrace our tradition of academic excellence and

- Courtesy Photo

balanced learning, and we sought out our new mark to better showcase our students, program and our dynamic community,” said Tonya Beilstein, Barnhart’s interim head of school.

Other campus décor was revealed such as wayfinding signage, kindergarten/first grade classroom refurbishments, and turning their Harvest Garden into an outdoor classroom.

Fall Education guide 2016

BeaconMediaNews.com

OCTOBER 27, 2016 - NOVEMBER 2, 2016 | 21

Local College Uniquely Prepares Students for Lifelong Careers Mt Sierra College Designed BA & BS Programs in Media Arts, Information Technology and Business with Industry Needs in Mind

Academic Programs

Winter Quarter starts

January 9, 2017

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Arts and Design

with concentrations in

Game Arts and Design Visual Design Visual Effects and Digital Video

Bachelor of Science Degrees in Network Communications Business Administration Business Entrepreneurship

as well as

Information Technology

with concentrations in

Computer Information Technology Information Security

The best-kept secret in the San Gabriel Valley is offering unique BS & BA programs that help prepare students for very rewarding and successful careers in industry.

Mt Sierra College’s new campus in Monrovia is located near the centers of technology, entertainment, business and the arts here in Southern California. Mt Sierra’s Bachelor’s degree programs offer graduates the chance to pursue lifelong careers in: • Media Arts • Business or • Information Technology.

“Our goal is to provide the best possible foundation that will serve our graduates -- in their first jobs as well as throughout their careers”, stated Dr. Jon Persavich. “At Mt Sierra, the degree is not the end of this journey; it’s the beginning of an exciting and rewarding career.”

Our Career Services department assists with job placement when they are ready to graduate.

Even long after graduation, they can return to the classroom to take courses and remain marketable in their chosen fields.

All Classes on Campus

Mt Sierra College offers ~ 25,000 square feet of space dedicated to student learning. The College provides instruction in state-of-theart laboratories as well as spacious, traditional classrooms. And classes are small, up to 25 2.) Gain Cutting Edge Knowledge & Skills the students, to focus on individualized attention.

Industry Demands Each of our three leading-edge programs includes In short, all of this adds up to carving the most up-to-date knowledge. Our technology enhanced course content was all developed out a future. Our graduates are well-prepared by industry professionals and augmented with for exciting, successful careers in Media Arts, hands-on application in core class labs. With the Business or Information Technology. most current technical skills, the transition into -Dr. Persavich industry is as smooth as we can make it.

“

Why Mt Sierra?

3.) Personalized Service Dr. Persavich explains that people choose Mt We pride ourselves on providing each student Sierra mainly for three very compelling reasons: with individualized assistance, from admissions to graduation. Our small class sizes maximize learning opportunities, and students can gain 1.) Prepare for a Lifelong Career Here, students learn from instructors who are professional experience through internships. We experts in their specialized industry. They learn also assist with financial aid (if qualified) and not only theory and concepts, but also practical one-on-one academic advising. real-life application of what they’ve studied.

”

An Excellent Choice

Mt Sierra College offers a winning combination of technology, creativity, and general education.

Fully accredited by ACCSC for over twenty years, the College’s bachelor degree programs undergo continuous review to ensure that students are receiving the education they need to begin -- and succeed in -- their lifelong careers.

Take a step toward your career today!

Attend our Open House. Come see our new campus! Register at: mtsierra.edu/winter-open-house RSVP to our Workshop: Build a CGI robot using Maya 3D software from Autodesk®. Register at: mtsierra.edu/workshops Apply for Admission at mtsierra.edu/apply-now

Contact Us :

888. 865.2100

mtsierra.edu info@mtsierra.edu 800 Royal Oaks Drive Suite 101 | Monrovia, Ca 91016