Education Guide 2016

education education educatio n &enrichment &enrichment

EXTRA EFFORT

a special presentation by

THE PASADENALEARNS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES AREA STUDENTS WITH THE EDGE NEEDED TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY

WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

PARENTS AND STUDENTS SAY MODERATION IS THE KEY IN ASSIGNING HOMEWORK

TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT

WELL-CONSTRUCTED RESUMES CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

PERSISTENCE PAYS

WITH A LITTLE HELP, LUCK AND WORK YOU’LL FIND THE FUNDS NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR ACADEMIC GOALS

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PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY

YOUR GUIDE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER-PASADENA AREA

T HE DIGI T DIVI A L DE

PU S HIGH D TO U EDU -TECH NVEIL N CAT ION ELEME EW MAS NT I N T ER PL A N

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education &enrichment 5

BRIDGING THE FUNDING GAP A growing disparity in investment between public and private higher education systems jeopardizes the state’s future prosperity and success

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ART FOR LIFE My Masterpiece program exposes local school children to Pasadena’s world-class arts institutions

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EXTRA EFFORT The PasadenaLearns after-school program provides area students with the edge needed to succeed academically

11 WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH Parents and students say moderation is the key in assigning homework

13 TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT Well-constructed resumes can have a big impact on college admissions

15 PERSISTENCE PAYS With a little help, luck and work you’ll find the funds needed to accomplish your academic goals

17 THE DIGITAL DIVIDE PUSD to unveil new high-tech element in Education Master Plan

19 SELECTED PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY 26 BRIGHT BLUE-COLLAR MARKET Trade schools are a wise option for those looking to save time and money en route to stable careers ABOUT THE COVER: Photo illustration by Stephanie Torres

EDITOR Kevin Uhrich DEPUTY EDITOR André Coleman ART DIRECTOR Carla Cortez ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Stephanie Torres PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Rochelle Bassarear, Richard Garcia WRITERS Sheila Mendes Coleman, Carl Kozlowski Rebecca Kuzins, Jana J. Monji, US Rep. Adam Schiff ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Dina Stegon SALES AND MARKETING Lisa Chase, Brenda Clarke, Leslie Lamm OFFICE ASSISTANT Ann Turrietta HUMAN RESOURCES Andrea E. Baker BUSINESS MANAGER Linda Lam CONTROLLER Kacie Cobian ACCOUNTING Sharon Huie, Teni Keshishian PUBLISHER Jon Guynn SOUTHL AND PUBLISHING V. P. OF OPERATIONS David Comden PRESIDENT Bruce Bolkin

CONTACT US PHONE (626) 584-1500 FAX (626) 795-0149 MAILING ADDRESS 50 S. De Lacey Ave. Suite 200 Pasadena, CA 91105 ©2016 Southland Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Bridging the Funding Gap A GROWING DISPARITY IN INVESTMENT BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEMS JEOPARDIZES THE STATE’S FUTURE PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS

BY ADAM SCHIFF Adam Schiff

In the next few weeks, letters (and emails) will be arriving at our home informing my daughter, Alexa, of the results of her college applications. As any parent who has gone through the process with their child can attest, it is a mixed blessing. The college visits that we have made together have been wonderful and will provide lifelong memories; the stresses of grades and scores and the application process itself are another matter entirely. And while it was a treat to visit college campuses throughout the state and nation, I could not help but be struck by a growing disparity in investment that became apparent between public and private universities.

It has been over 30 years since I graduated from Stanford and my brother from Cal. Apart from the fact that neither one of us could get into those schools now, I do not remember there being an obvious difference in the facilities at either campus.

The dormitories, laboratories, classrooms and new construction seemed roughly equivalent, at least from the point of view of young uninformed students. Certainly, there were profound differences in architecture, but neither one seemed lacking in investment.

On my recent visits throughout California to both public and private universities, I was struck by the phenomenal new construction going on at many of the private schools. New dormitories and residence halls, new dining facilities, state of the art engineering buildings and abundant access to broadband and new technologies were just a sample of what we saw at the private colleges. And while there was certainly evidence of some new construction at the public schools, all too often the classrooms reminded me of those I sat in 30 years ago and that is not meant as a compliment.

I realize, of course, that investment in physical infrastructure is only one metric — and certainly not the most important — when it comes to higher education. But I do know from my service on the Budget Subcommittee on Education in the California State Senate more than a decade ago that the lack of new facilities and a growing backlog of deferred maintenance can be the canary in the coal mine when it reflects a lack of overall investment. Couple this with the reports we heard from many students that they are having trouble getting the classes they need, and alarm bells should begin to go off.

The UC system has long maintained a commitment to providing California’s students with access to a high quality and affordable

education. Student populations at the UCs include an extraordinary number of students from disadvantaged, underrepresented, or low-income communities. In fact, more than 90 percent of UC’s undergraduate aid is awarded based on financial need and 42 percent of students come from first-generation families — no small feat for the country’s largest public research university system.

State investment right now accounts for only about 10 percent of our UC system’s overall budget. Without more public support our schools will be forced to consider options that betray their founding principles, including an enrollment cap or increasing the number of out-of-state student admissions.

Earlier this year, I was encouraged to see Gov. Jerry Brown work with UC President Janet Napolitano on an agreement that provides additional resources for UC’s budget while maintaining an in-state tuition freeze for an additional two years; the state Legislature also provided a $25 million increase in state funding for UC to enroll an additional 5,000 students. While this is a sign of progress, it is still nowhere near the level of investment that our state will need to preserve access for our students to an affordable college education and thus, a ladder for social mobility and economic opportunity.

The governor’s new budget, if approved, provides $3.41 billion in state funding for the UC system in the next academic year, an increase of 4.7 percent from this year. Thankfully, this is enough to stave off an increase in tuition costs for the year. I hope this will be part of a continuing trend of upward investment in our public universities.

California residents made significant investments in statefunded education at its inception, believing it key to the state’s future prosperity and success. It still is. And a healthy competition between public and private colleges has always spurred both on to greater achievement. These beliefs and practices created the quality higher education systems we have today — at University of California, the Cal State system and community colleges. The growing disparity in investment between the public and private systems, if left unaddressed, spells a very uncertain future for these superb institutions and raises profound challenges to upward mobility for our residents. ■ US Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, represents California’s 28th Congressional District.

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Art for Life

MY MASTERPIECE PROGRAM EXPOSES LOCAL SCHOOL CHILDREN TO PASADENA’S WORLD-CLASS ARTS INSTITUTIONS

BY REBECCA KUZINS On a recent trip to the Pasadena Museum of History, Kristyn Webster’s fourth-grade students from Hamilton Elementary School drew a picture of a fountain near the Fenyes Mansion. After deciding how to approach the project, Nikki began sketching and was obviously enjoying herself. “I like art,” she said. “I have this box at home with lots of paints. I sketch something first and then I paint it.”

Nikki’s answer would have pleased officials with the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), who since 2008 have administered My Masterpieces, a program that seeks to teach elementary school students about the visual arts. The program provides 9,000 students with in-class instruction enhanced by field trips to local cultural institutions.

Jen Olsen, PUSD’s arts education coordinator, was working at the Norton Simon Museum when the school district began organizing the program. “I sat down with museum colleagues, and very few PUSD teachers were taking kids on field trips to museums,” she recalls. The few students who made these trips came from what she describes as the “well-resourced schools.”

My Masterpieces sought to level the playing field by arranging field trips for all elementary school kids, empowering them to learn about and appreciate the arts. “No matter what your background is, this is your city,” Olsen says. “And as a citizen

you should know and feel comfortable going to all of the arts organizations.”

The program begins in kindergarten, when students who study the life cycle of butterflies visit Kidspace Children’s Museum to make their own butterflies and learn more about plants and animals. First-graders visit Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens to discuss how people care about each other by looking at paintings, such as Mary Cassatt’s “Breakfast in Bed,” which depicts a mother embracing her daughter.

Second-graders are introduced to public art by taking a tour of Pasadena, viewing artworks near City Hall and along Colorado Boulevard. In the third grade students initially board Side Streets Project’s bus and learn woodworking by making functional objects. They later visit Gamble House to see how functional objects, like lamps, chairs or architectural features, can be forms of art.

Fourth-graders studying California history learn about the state’s art by visiting the Pasadena Museum of History and the Pasadena Museum of California. Some fourth-grade teachers also invite members of the Pasadena-based California Art Club to teach students about plein air painting.

Fifth-grade students view some of the classic paintings and Asian art at the Norton Simon Museum and tour the Armory Cen–continued on page 8

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ter for the Arts, where Olsen says the contemporary art exhibits “blow their minds.” During the program’s final year, sixth-graders visit the USC Pacific Asia Museum to view artworks, learn about the Silk Road, and participate in workshops in which artists show them how to do calligraphy and make mandalas.

Although the activities at Gamble House and the Norton Simon Museum predate the program, the other institutions needed time to create activities for My Masterpieces. For that reason, PUSD gradually phased in the program, initially operating it at only four elementary schools in the 2008-2009 school year. Four schools were added to the program each year until 16 schools participated.

My Masterpieces originated with Joan Palmer, a board member of the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF), who in the mid-2000s chaired Cultural Nexus, a community effort to advance art and culture in Pasadena. Olsen explains that Cultural Nexus, which was adopted by the city in 2007, sought to have schools, arts organizations and the city “all work together seamlessly to provide cradle-to-grave arts education experiences,” including activities for children.

During the 2007-2008 school year PUSD teachers worked with representatives of local arts organizations to create a curriculum for My Masterpieces, looking to discover what Olsen describes as the “sweet spot”: the types of classroom activities that can be translated in a museum setting.

“The timing was critical,” says Angela Parris, PEF development director. “This was the time that arts education was being drastically cut.”

Annual operating expenses for My Masterpieces are between $80,000 and $100,000, with a large portion of this amount allocated for bus transportation for field trips. The cultural institutions participating in the program offer their services without charge to PUSD. The PEF, which raises about $12 million a year for PUSD programs, provides some of the funding for My Masterpieces.

Parris says the program is valuable because, “From the time [PUSD students] come to kindergarten, if they continue to the sixth grade, they’re going to have a very in-depth experience at every cultural institution in Pasadena that the nonpublic schools cannot match.”

My Masterpieces obtains additional funding from individual donors, corporations and charitable foundations, including the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation and Capital Group Companies.

Olsen says the program’s success can be measured by surveys, in which teachers are asked if they note differences between students who have participated in My Masterpieces and those who have not. Many middle school teachers maintain participants are more comfortable using art materials and expressing themselves through the arts.

“They also know about the institutions,” she adds. “Before, when kids visiting a museum were asked if they had gone to a museum before, maybe two or three hands would go up. Now on every tour every hand is up.

“That means something,” Olsen says. “These kids know how to answer questions about artwork. They know how to about art, how to slow down and look at it. You can see the impact.” ■ Hastings Ranch Nursery School is located at 3740 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena. Call (626) 351-9171 or visit hrns.org.

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Extra Effort THE PASADENALEARNS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES AREA STUDENTS WITH THE EDGE NEEDED TO SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY

BY REBECCA KUZINS Most students in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) go home at the end of the school day, but about 3,000 students remain on campus to participate in enrichment classes and receive academic instruction. These kindergarten-through-12th-graders are enrolled in PasadenaLearns, an after-school program operating at 23 schools.

Maria Tolliver, the program’s coordinator, explains the goal of PasadenaLearns “is to expose students to a variety of opportunities they don’t usually get during the school day. We seek to broaden their horizons, to provide more opportunities to learn skills and do new things.”

For children whose parents work and are not home when the school day ends, Tolliver says PasadenaLearns “provides a safe place for kids to be after school. They get to really maximize their time after school in terms of new activities and experiences.”

PasadenaLearns’ classes are typically offered in four nine-week blocks, with each school choosing a theme for each block reflecting its curriculum. At Franklin Elementary School, for example, “Imagination” was the theme of one block during the current 20152016 school year. Site Coordinator Linda Voong says the enrichment classes selected to complement this theme were “Click It Up!” a photography course; “Ask Google,” in which students learn to use search engines in order to conduct research for school assignments; and “Recycled Art,” in which students create artwork from recycled materials.

Esperanza Muñoz, site coordinator at Wilson Middle School, says the theme for PasadenaLearns during the current school year is “The Wilson Times,” in which students will be exposed to different periods of history during each block of courses. The first block, “The Time of Genesis,” focused on early civilizations; “The Middle Ages” featured lessons in architectural history, with students building churches, castles and other features of medieval realms. As part of the curriculum for “The Enlightenment Period,” students will earn about the history of the printing press and will create their own newsletter.

Some of the other elementary and middle school enrichment courses provide instruction in computer coding, design and engineering, nutrition and cooking, visual arts, performing arts, graphic design, foreign language (Mandarin, Spanish, Armenian), video making, web design, poetry and journalism, as well as sports activities such as golf, tennis, basketball, dance/cheer and soccer.

In addition, kindergarten-through-eighth-grade students can enroll in academic courses such as Book Club, in which they develop their reading and language skills, and Problem of the Day, in which groups of students solve a daily math problem. Students can also receive assistance with their homework.

PasadenaLearns sponsors the Science Olympiad, an annual sci-

ence competition in which second-through-eighth-grade students compete in tests and hands-on activities, with one school designated the overall district winner.

High school students participating in PasadenaLearns can also enroll in numerous enrichment courses, including computer coding, driver’s education, health and fitness, CPR/first aid certification, visual arts, performing arts and dance.

The College Access Plan class helps students with the college application process, including writing their personal statements and applying for scholarships.

Career Exploration seeks to prepare students for the work force.

Fulcrum Leadership Development aims to enhance students’ leadership skills, teaching them to collaborate and work as a team, solve problems and resolve conflicts. High schools also offer SAT/ACT preparation classes, one-on-one tutoring and sports activities.

PUSD students must fill out an application to enroll in the afterschool program. They are selected on a first-come first-served basis and have to re-enroll every year. Students must also apply for PasadenaLearns’ summer program, which features enrichment activities, academic classes and field trips. Tolliver says about 1,800 students were enrolled in last summer’s program.

PUSD has operated PasadenaLearns since 1999 and provides some of its funding. Financing also comes from two state programs — the After School Education & Safety Program, which offers money to elementary and middle schools, and the 21st Century High School Asset Grant.

A site coordinator at each school supervises the program. Classes are taught by PUSD teachers and about 200 youth leaders, who are also district employees.

In addition, service providers who are not district employees teach some of the specialized courses. For example, Rayuela, a Spanish immersion program, teaches enrichment classes in Spanish at Jackson and San Rafael elementary schools. Instructors from the Los Angeles-based Harmony Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to music education for low-income students, teach beginning string classes at Longfellow Elementary School and stage a concert featuring student performers.

In the future, Tolliver says she would like the program to offer engineering and science courses and provide more “hands on” experience for children to build and create things. Students in one class, she explains, built roller coasters, while kids studying medieval history during the summer made coats of arms, catapults and shields.

Through these and other activities, she says, PasadenaLearns gives students “a place to go where they get into lots of new and interesting things they wouldn’t get to do if they were just going home after school.” ■ EDUCATION GUIDE 2016 PASADENA WEEKLY

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When Enough is Enough PARENTS AND STUDENTS SAY MODERATION IISS TTHE HE KEY IN ASSIGNING HOMEWORK

BY SHEILA MENDES COLEMAN When it comes to homework, how much is too much?

Is more homework for kids in grades one through 12 better for them or counter-productive?

The debate over homework and its effectiveness as a learning tool has changed as educational practices have evolved over the past several years.

In that time, the country has seen a decided shift in attitudes toward homework; parents and students alike have become more vocal about demanding moderation when it comes to how much is assigned, and how often.

When homework is given in excess, critics say, it not only places undue stress on the student and ceases to be an effective learning tool, but it can also lead to a lifetime of anxiety and insecurity over meeting expectations.

According to the National Education Association (NEA, nea. org), “Savvy educators know that the right assignment can engage students on a more meaningful level and lead to better student involvement in the classroom.”

The difference between 30 minutes of homework per night in one second-grade class and an hour or more in another, often comes down to the coin toss of being assigned a teacher with a more “old-school” approach to homework, and one with a more relaxed philosophy on the subject.

Diane Lundy, a Pasadena resident, remembers the nightmare homework time used to be with her daughter, Jade.

“It was the same thing every night; she’d end up tired and crying and barely finishing — or not finishing at all — and I’d be frustrated, exhausted and feeling like tearing my hair out. I kept thinking, ‘She’s only 10 years old,” Lundy said. “Why are they giving her so much to do at night?’”

After a semester or two, Lundy saw the light and put Jade in a school with a more progressive approach to homework. After that, she

and Jade’s lives — and relationship — improved immeasurably.

“Now we get it done, but there’s less of it, and she seems to learn more,” Lundy happily reports.

The internet offers a plethora of choices for after-school educational enrichment. Sites like i-Ready (curriculumassociates. com), by Curriculum Associates, and ABCmouse.com (abcmouse. com) are but two of the many sites that offer fun and imaginative ways for children to strengthen certain skills, or reinforce lessons learned in class. They’re also ideal choices for school breaks and vacations, with colorful graphics, games and word problems designed specifically to motivate, nourish and inspire young minds.

Today, there are also several outstanding websites devoted to offering online-tutoring and supportive-assistance to students of all ages. Websites like Fact Monster Homework Center (factmonster.com/homework), Scholastic Homework Hub (scholastic.com), BJ Pinchbeck’s Homework Helper (bjpinchbeck. com) are excellent resources for general and specific homework assistance.

With the inception of California’s new Common Core Standards, defined by the California Department of Education as “Educational standards [that] describe what students should know and be able to do in each subject in each grade … having the same standards helps all students get a good education, even if they change schools or move to a different state,” along with the increasing pressure on school administrators to produce top scores on standardized tests, some schools have returned to the practice of assigning homework at rates many parents consider excessive.

“Rote tasks like worksheets are often easy to assign and easy to grade, but not always the most effective tasks for learning,” said Dr. Cathy Vatterott, professor of education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, in an article in NEW Today. “The Common Core Standards will require students to operate at higher levels of thought,” Vatterott said.

“Engaging tasks that allow for choice and ownership result in deeper and more permanent learning.” ■

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Take the Spotlight WELL-CONSTRUCTED RESUMES CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

BY CARL KOZLOWSKI It’s not enough to make good grades, ace your SATs or write a killer essay if you want to get into a great college like the Southern California top-tier trifecta of UCLA, USC and Occidental College. If you’re hoping to send your kid to any of those three schools, or off to the Ivy League, admissions departments are going to be taking a long look at their overall high school resume.

Grades do come first, as schools check to see how challenging a student’s curriculum was. This means that students should take at least five core courses every semester. Even better, students should take AP, IB and honors classes if they think they can get good grades in them, and should be aware than most colleges create their own GPAs for prospective students based only on the core subjects of English, math, science, social science and foreign languages.

Two more things to note about grades are that admissions departments respect slightly lower grades in tough courses to straight A’s in easy classes. Also realize that high scores on the SAT or ACT do not make up for low grades in actual classes.

Yet the really intriguing part of the admissions process comes in considering a student’s use of their time aside from their studies.

Finding a few important activities to get deeply involved in will help develop impressive leadership skills, as well as initiative and results.

How a student spends their free time during summer vacations can even make the difference in attending the school of their dreams. Picking wisely on summer activities, work and hobbies

that show responsibility and dedication are essential parts of the overall image one presents to schools.

The same principle applies in sharing special talents with schools, spotlighting an applicant as someone who can be an interesting and vital part of the student body. Send in a portfolio of creative writing or a CD or DVD of special talents.

Of course, the dreaded personal essay will always be a key component of a student’s overall presentation. A great essay should be highly personal and provide insight into your personality, values and goals as you define your life story for the world.

Along the same lines, letters of recommendations from teachers and guidance counselors can provide great stories with insight into your intellectual curiosity, special skills and positive character traits. Don’t bother sending in letters from family friends, even if they’re well known.

Don’t forget to be enthusiastic! Admissions officers can tell which prospects are energized campus visitors and are brimming with positive energy in their interview, and it’s also important to maintain ongoing contact with the admission office. Setting up the tour and interview early in the process can make a big difference.

And finally, students should show that they are intellectually curious by showing extensive interest in reading in addition to learning from all the other aspects already discussed above. The key is to show you have a passion and aptitude for a few things that can make a difference in the world, and the world will open itself to you. ■ EDUCATION GUIDE 2016 PASADENA WEEKLY

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Persistence Pays WITH A LITTLE HELP, LUCK AND WORK YOU’LL FIND THE FUNDS NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR ACADEMIC GOALS

BY JANA J. MONJI If you’re looking to enrich your life and learn something new, you’re also probably calculating the costs, which become higher each year. Just know there are a number of different resources available to help you achieve your academic goal as a student, new or old.

For high school students, the first stop should be at the office of their career or academic counselor, with a second stop planned at local libraries. If you hope to study within Pasadena city limits, you might check out the local colleges. Pasadena has several institutes of higher learning: Caltech, Fuller Seminary, Art Center College of Design and Pasadena City College. There’s also Occidental College in Eagle Rock, and Cal State, LA, both in easy commuting range.

Four of these institutions are private, meaning big bucks are required to attend, and both Caltech and Art Center have specific areas of focus and exceptionally high standards, with high tuition fees to match. So you’ll want to inquire about the kinds of scholarships, grants and other means of financial aid that is available.

PCC is the least expensive, but it’s helped jumpstart more than a few high-profile careers. NFL players such as Don Burroughs, and musicians like Alex and Eddie Van Halen and Kim Carnes, writers such as Octavia E. Butler and actors such as George Reeve, TV’s “Superman,” all attended classes there. Jackie Robinson started at PCC before jumping to UCLA. In 2015, the PCC Foundation held its first scholarship gala and raised more than $950,000 for scholarships to the two-year school.

High schoolers, undergrads, grad students (masters and doctorate) and post-baccalaureates interested in earth science research and technology can apply for DEVELOP, a NASA-sponsored internship that focuses on practical application of the space agency’s earth science research and development at 10 locations nationwide. The program consists of three 10-week terms per year. Students get to experience science in a professional setting, but the application process is highly competitive. (http://www.pathwaystoscience.org/edit_www/programhub.aspx?sort=NAS-Develop) Scholarships aren’t just for teens and twenty-somethings with college aspirations. The Pasadena Art Alliance offers grants and awards annually (since 1976) for unconventional as well as established institutions of higher learning. To commemorate its 60th anniversary, the Alliance just established the PAA Impact Award which will give up to $25,000 to an organization that impacts

youth through contemporary art education.

Organizations throughout Los Angeles County are eligible, with preference given to Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley groups.

Applications are due Feb. 1. (http://www.pasadenaartalliance.org/ awards/) The PAA’s other grant programs provide funds for artists, exhibitions, educational programs and art-oriented nonprofit institutions. Proposals are due in September of each year. This past year, 29 grants were awarded from the 38 qualified proposals for a total of $285,000. (http://www.pasadenaartalliance.org/grants/) The Huntington Library is an independent research center with holdings in British and American history, literature, art history and the history of medicine and science. Each year it awards over 100 fellowships (150 for 2016-17) of different durations and terms to scholars from all over the world. This year’s fellowships included a professor from Stony Brook University who is researching “Admirals as Heroes: Military and Naval Adventuring and British Masculinity in the Long 18th Century,” as well as local scholars from the Cal State, Fullerton (Kevin Lambert, “Symbols and Things: English Mathematics and British Physics, 1800-1860”) and UCLA (Matthew Fisher, “Out of the Ashes: The Cotton Library Fire and the Founding of the British Museum”). The deadline is in November. (http://www.huntington.org/webassets/templates/content.aspx?id=566) There are other forms of scholarships that are more about getting wet than receiving a diploma. The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center has a scholarship fund that helps provide access for children, families and seniors to this world-class facility. In 2009, the fund provided over $325,000 in financial assistance that included community programs, sliding scale financial assistance and reduced fees for seniors. (http://www.rosebowlaquatics.org/community_programs_scholarships.php) Yes, higher education is expensive, and only getting more so. But it is attainable with the help of a financial counselor and a little bit of extra effort in hunting the high number of scholarships currently available to students of every kind and at every level of achievement. ■ EDUCATION GUIDE 2016 PASADENA WEEKLY

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The Digital Divide PUSD TO UNVEIL NEW HIGH-TECH ELEMENT IN EDUCATION MASTER PLAN

BY ANDRÉ COLEMAN In this quickly expanding Information Age, more and more school districts are moving toward digital technology to teach students, including Pasadena, with Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) officials set to present plans to go digital in the Education Master Plan.

“We have a digital divide in Pasadena,” said Pasadena Unified School Board member Patrick Cahalan, who works in Information Technologies at Caltech.

“Not every student has a computer or even Wi-Fi. A lot of students use their parent’s phones to access the net.”

California launched a free digital textbooks initiative in 2009.

In June 2013, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school district in the country, approved an estimated $1 billion plan to purchase 640,000 electronic tablets, which would provide every student in the district with the electronic devices.

Georgia state law requires that electronic copies of K-12 textbooks be made available for use by students, and the San Diego Unified School District has distributed 78,000 digital textbooks to teachers and students since 2011. The followng year, they purchased 26,000 iPads for district use.

In November 2010, the US Department of Education released its National Education Technology Plan, which included a blueprint on improving learning with technology. One of its top recommendations is the use of more mobile devices in the classroom, which it says is “the technology students already have.”

According to the Digital Textbook Playbook — a guide to help K-12 educators and administrators build digital learning experiences for students in districts across the country — Florida has mandated that all K-12 instructional materials must be provided in electronic format by 2015-2016.

West Virginia has already replaced social studies print textbook purchases with digital textbooks.

Cahalan said he’d like to see the district establish a plan that

would allow schools and libraries to use libraries. According to the FCC, nearly 60 percent of schools in America lack sufficient Wi-Fi capability to provide students with 21st century educational tools.

Far too many schools have no Wi-Fi at all and others have subpar Internet connections.

“I’d like to see us work with the city which has free Wi-Fi. We need to hook up to some type of widely available wi-fi service so everyone has equitable access to the Internet.”

Cahalan also said that he expects about 10 percent of the tablets to be broken, which could cost the cash strapped district even more money.

“The trickiest part is getting everybody on board,” Cahalan said.

“It makes no sense to buy one device for every student if the teachers are not going to use them.”

“I want all students to be able to learn from digital textbooks,” said President Barack Obama in his 2011 State of the Union Address.

According to the 2013 NMC Horizon Report on K-12 education, one of the major roadblocks in implementing technology into the classroom is the reluctance of unprepared teachers.

“All too often, when schools mandate the use of a specific technology, teachers are left without the tools (and often skills) to effectively integrate the new capabilities into their teaching methods,” according to the report. “The results are that the new investments are underutilized, not used at all, or used in a way that mimics an old process rather than innovating new processes that may be more engaging for students.”

Cahalan said that the common perception that this generation is smarter tech wise than their teachers is not a major roadblock.

“They are better equipped in some ways,” said Cahalan. “It’s slightly misleading. The skills and the familiarity the kids have are centered around social media and certain applications, but they still need to assess the validity of the information and be able to cite it.” ■ EDUCATION GUIDE 2016 PASADENA WEEKLY

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Selected Private Schools YOUR GUIDE TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER-PASADENA AREA

NON-RELIGIOUS AGBU HIGH SCHOOL 2495 E. Mountain St., Pasadena, 91104 (626) 794-0363 agbuphs.org ENROLLMENT: 156 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th

CHANDLER SCHOOL 1005 Armada Drive, Pasadena, 91103 (626) 795-9314 chandlerschool.org ENROLLMENT: 449 TUITION (APPROX.): $20,350-$22,335 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-8th

THE ALMANSOR CENTER 1955 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena, 91030 (323) 257-3006 redesignlearning.org ENROLLMENT: 118 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-22 yrs ALTADENA BOYS & GIRLS ACADEMY 2151 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, 91001 (626) 345-0540 ENROLLMENT: 20 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-1st ARCADIA COLLEGE PREPARATORY 145 E. Duarte Road, Arcadia, 91006 (626) 576-8868 arcadiaprepschool.org ENROLLMENT: 50 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th ARIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL 693 S. Euclid Ave., Pasadena, 91106 (626) 793-3741 ariamontessori.net ENROLLMENT: 72 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-K ARROYO PACIFIC ACADEMY 41 W. Santa Clara St., Arcadia, 91007 (626) 294-0661 arroyopacific.org ENROLLMENT: 150 TUITION (APPROX.): $15,000 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th CAMELLIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL 922 E. Mendocino St., Altadena, 91001 (626) 794-2244 ENROLLMENT: 26 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-K CAMPBELL HALL 4533 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood, 91607 (818) 980-7280 campbellhall.org ENROLLMENT: 1,116 TUITION (APPROX.): $29,200-$34,400 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-12th

FLINTRIDGE MONTESSORI 1739 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (818) 790-8844 flintridge-montessori.com ENROLLMENT: 120 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-K

HATHAWAY-SYCAMORES, NPS 2933 N. El Nido Drive, Altadena, 91001 (626) 395-7100 hathaway.sycamores.org ENROLLMENT: 25 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-12th

CHILD’S WORLD SCHOOL 1540 Manley Drive, San Gabriel, 91776 (626) 258-2870 ENROLLMENT: 80 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: Nursery, PK, K

FLINTRIDGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL 4543 Crown Ave., La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (818) 790-1178 flintridgeprep.org ENROLLMENT: 511 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 7th-12th

HIGH POINT ACADEMY 1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road, Pasadena, 91107 (626) 798-8989 highpointacademy.org ENROLLMENT: 339 TUITION (APPROX.): $13,100-$15,300 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-8th

CRESTVIEW PREPARATORY SCHOOL 140 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (818) 952-0925 crestviewprep.org ENROLLMENT: 250 TUITION (APPROX.): $16,398 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-6th

FOOTHILL PROGRESSIVE MONTESSORI 4526 Indianola Way, La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (818) 952-0129 foothillprogressivemontessori.com ENROLLMENT: 75 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th

HILLSIDE SCHOOL AND LEARNING CENTER 4331 Oak Grove Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (818) 790-3044 ENROLLMENT: 60 TUITION (APPROX.): $16,100 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 7th-12th

DELPHI ACADEMY 11341 Brainard Ave., Lake View Terrace, 91342 (818) 583-1070 delphila.org ENROLLMENT: 171 TUITION (APPROX.): $13,950-$16,530 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-12th

FRIENDS WESTERN 524 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, 91104 (626) 793-2727 friendswesternschool.org ENROLLMENT: 47 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-6th

HILLSIDES EDUCATION CENTER 940 Avenue 64, Pasadena, 91105 (323) 254-2274 hillsideseducationcenter.org ENROLLMENT: 86 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-12th

FROSTIG SCHOOL 971 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena, 91107 (626) 791-1255 frostig.org ENROLLMENT: 90 TUITION (APPROX.): $30,900 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 1st-12th

HOGG’S HOLLOW EDUCATION CENTER 4490 Cornishon Ave., La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (818) 790-1700 hoggshollowschool.com ENROLLMENT: 30 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-K

DRUCKER SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT 1021 N. Dartmouth Ave., Claremont, 91711 (909) 607-9064 drucker.cgu.edu ENROLLMENT: 350 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: Graduate EXCELSIOR SCHOOL 1539 E. Howard St., Pasadena, 91104 (626) 398-2388 excelsiorschool.com ENROLLMENT: 105 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th FAIR OAKS ACADEMY 2704 Fair Oaks Ave., Altadena, 91001 (626) 248-8408 fairoaksacademy.com ENROLLMENT: 49 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-8th FIVE ACRES THERAPEUTIC SCHOOL 760 W. Mountain View St., Altadena, 91001 (626) 798-6793 5acres.org ENROLLMENT: 69 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-10th

HALSTROM ACADEMY 35 N. Lake Ave., Ste. 250, Pasadena, 91101 (626) 500-0050 halstromacademy.org ENROLLMENT: Flexible and Customizable 1:1 schedules TUITION: Varies by fulltime or part time.

AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 6-12

LA CAÑADA PREPARATORY SCHOOL 4490 Cornishon Ave., La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (818) 952-8099 thelearningcastle.com ENROLLMENT: 390 TUITION (APPROX.): $12,200-$13,965 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-8th

HARRIET TUBMAN 36 W. Montana St., Pasadena, 91103 (626) 794-5620 ENROLLMENT: 45 TUITION (APPROX.): $6,000 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-2nd

LINDSAY SCHOOL 2450 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, 91001 (626) 720-4728 ENROLLMENT: 14 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th

HASTINGS RANCH NURSERY SCHOOL 3740 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, 91103 (626) 351-9171 HRNS.org ENROLLMENT: 90 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK, 2-5 years

LYCEE INTERNATIONAL OF LA 30 N. Marion Ave., Pasadena, 91106 (626) 793-0943 lilaschool.com ENROLLMENT: 120 TUITION (APPROX.): $14,800-$17,700 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian

Continued on page 20 2015 PASADENA WEEKLY EDUCATION GUIDE 2016

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Selected Private Schools Continued from page 19 NON-RELIGIOUS MEHER MONTESSORI SCHOOL 943 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena, 91001 (626) 798-1171 mehermontessori.org ENROLLMENT: 150 TUITION (APPROX.): $8,565 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 1 1/2 - 12 yrs OAK KNOLL KINDERHAUS MONTESSORI 1200 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, 91104 (626) 345-9929 okkms.org ENROLLMENT: 120 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-9th OUR SCHOOL 1800 E. Mountain St., Pasadena, 91104 (626) 798-0911 ourschoolofpasadena.com ENROLLMENT: 58 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-K PACIFIC OAKS CHILDREN’S SCHOOL 714 W. California Blvd., Pasadena, 91105 (626) 529-8011 pacificoakschildrensschool.org ENROLLMENT: 220 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian PASADENA WALDORF SCHOOL 209 E. Mariposa St., Altadena, 91001 (626) 794-9564 pasadenawaldorf.org

ENROLLMENT: 265 TUITION (APPROX.): $11,330-$21,970 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-10th ADVANCED EDUCATION ACADEMY 4490 Cornishon Ave., La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (818) 952-1900 ENROLLMENT: 15 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 5-12th POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL 1030 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, 91106 (626) 396-6300 polytechnic.org ENROLLMENT: 868 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-12th RENAISSANCE ACADEMY 536 E. Mendocino St., Altadena, 91001 (626) 765-9358 renaissanceacademy.com ENROLLMENT: 145 TUITION (APPROX.): $5,340 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-12th ROSEMARY SCHOOL 36 S. Kinneloa Ave., Suite 110 Pasadena, 91107 (626) 844-3033 rosemarychildren.org ENROLLMENT: 37 TUITION: N/A AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 7th-12th

ST. GREGORY A. & M. HOVSEPIAN SCHOOL 2215 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, 91107 (626) 578-1343 hovsepianschool.org ENROLLMENT: 221 TUITION (APPROX.): $600-$700/month AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th SAN MARINO MONTESSORI SCHOOL 444 S. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, 91107 (626) 577-8007 sanmarinomontessori.org ENROLLMENT: 200 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th SEQUOYAH SCHOOL 535 S. Pasadena Ave., Pasadena, 91105 (626) 795-4351 sequoyahschool.org ENROLLMENT: 238 TUITION (APPROX.): $26,465 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: K-8th SOUTHWESTERN ACADEMY 2800 Monterey Road, San Marino, 91108 (626) 799-5010 southwesternacademy.edu ENROLLMENT: 140 TUITION (APPROX.): $19,750--$47,850 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 6th-12th

(626) 449-2919 villaesperanzaservices.org/children ENROLLMENT: 80 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-12th WALDEN SCHOOL 74 S. San Gabriel Blvd., Pasadena, 91107 (626) 792-6166 waldenschool.net ENROLLMENT: 210 TUITION (APPROX.): $19,323 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-6th THE WAVERLY SCHOOL 67 W. Bellevue Drive, Pasadena, 91105 (626) 792-5940 thewaverlyschool.org ENROLLMENT: 321 TUITION (APPROX.): $13,620-$24,840 AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: PK-12th WESTRIDGE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 324 Madeline Drive, Pasadena, 91105 (626) 795-1153 westridge.org ENROLLMENT: 481 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Nonsectarian GRADE LEVELS: 4th-12th

VILLA ESPERANZA SCHOOL 2116 E. Villa St., Pasadena, 91107

RELIGIOUS ALL SOULS CATHOLIC SCHOOL 29 S. Electric Ave., Alhambra, 91801 (626) 282-5695 allsoul.ca ENROLLMENT: 75 TUITION (APPROX.): Varies AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: PK-3rd ALVERNO HIGH SCHOOL 200 N. Michillinda Ave., Sierra Madre, 91204 (626) 355-3463 alverno-hs.org ENROLLMENT: 170 TUITION (APPROX.): $15,700$19,500 foreign students AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th ARCADIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1900 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia, 91006 (626) 574-8229 acslions.com ENROLLMENT: 215 TUITION (APPROX.): $7,458-$8,718 AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 2660 E. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, 91107 (626) 793-2089 school.abvmpasadena.org 20

ENROLLMENT: 309 TUITION (APPROX.): $5,195-$7,985 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: K-8th THE BARNHART SCHOOL 240 W. Colorado Blvd., Arcadia, 91007 (626) 446-5588 barnhartschool.org ENROLLMENT: 220 TUITION (APPROX.): $12,857-$14,510 AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: K-8th BETHANY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 93 N. Baldwin Ave., #B, Sierra Madre, 91204 (626) 355-3527 bcslions.org ENROLLMENT: 199 TUITION (APPROX.): Varies AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th B’NAI SIMCHA JEWISH COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL 1434 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena, 91227 (626) 765-9831 bnaisimcha.org ENROLLMENT: 55 TUITION (APPROX.): $310-$630/month AFFILIATION: Jewish GRADE LEVELS: 2 yrs-PK

EDUCATION GUIDE 2016 PASADENA WEEKLY

CLAIRBOURN SCHOOL 8400 Huntington Drive, San Gabriel, 91775 (626) 286-3108 clairbourn.org ENROLLMENT: 305 TUITION (APPROX.): $12,925-$21,050 AFFILIATION: Christian Science GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th EMMAUS LUTHERAN SCHOOL & PRESCHOOL 840 S. Almansor St., Alhambra, 91801 (626) 576-1501 emmauslutheranchurch.org ENROLLMENT: 140 TUITION (APPROX.): $6,180 AFFILIATION: LCMS GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th FIRST PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOL 101 S. Atlantic Blvd., Alhambra, 91801 (626) 282-9936 fpsch.org ENROLLMENT: 60 TUITION (APPROX.): $16,000 AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY 440 Saint Katherine Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (626) 685-8300 • fsha.org ENROLLMENT: 385

TUITION (APPROX.): $22,765-$50,215 (boarding) AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th THE GOODEN SCHOOL 192 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre, 91204 (626) 355-2410 goodenschool.org ENROLLMENT: 165 TUITION (APPROX.): $13,385-$15,590 AFFILIATION: Episcopal GRADE LEVELS: K-8th GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL 6338 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park 90042 (323) 255-2786 goodshepherdla.org ENROLLMENT: 80 TUITION (APPROX.): $450/month AFFILIATION: Lutheran GRADE LEVELS: PK-6th HARAMBEE PREPARATORY 1609 N. Navarro Ave., Pasadena, 91103 (626) 798-7431 harambeeministries.org ENROLLMENT: 39 TUITION (APPROX.): $7,000 AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: PK-5th

RELIGIOUS HOLY ANGELS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 360 Campus Drive, Arcadia, 91007 (626) 447-6312 holyangelsarcadia.net ENROLLMENT: 300 TUITION (APPROX.): Varies AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th HOLY FAMILY 1301 Rollin St., South Pasadena, 91030 (626) 799-4352 school.holyfamily.org ENROLLMENT: 316 TUITION (APPROX.): $6,435 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: K-8th IMMACULATE HEART SCHOOL 5515 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, 90028 (323) 461-3651 immaculateheart.org ENROLLMENT: 700 TUITION: (Current year) $14,600 AFFILIATION: Catholic College Prep GRADE LEVELS: 6th-12th JOY CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL 425 Sierra Madre Villa Ave., Pasadena, 91107 (626) 389-8500 joychristianpreschool.com ENROLLMENT: 40 TUITION (APPROX.): Varies AFFILIATION: Protestant GRADE LEVELS: 2 yrs-K JUDSON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 1610 E. Elizabeth St., Pasadena, 91104 (626) 398-2476 judsonschool.org ENROLLMENT: 140 TUITION (APPROX.): $450-$950/month AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: K-10th LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL 3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, 91107 (626) 351-8951 lasallehs.org ENROLLMENT: 710 TUITION (APPROX.): Varies AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th LAKE AVENUE CHURCH SCHOOL 393 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, 91101 (626) 844-4755 lakeave.org/lac-school ENROLLMENT: 218 TUITION (APPROX.): $313-935/month AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: PK-K MARANATHA HIGH SCHOOL 169 S. St. John Ave., Pasadena, 91105 (626) 817-4000 maranatha-hs.org ENROLLMENT: 679 TUITION (APPROX.): $17,750 AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th MAYFIELD JUNIOR SCHOOL OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS 405 S. Euclid St., Pasadena, 91101 (626) 796-2774 mayfieldjs.org

ENROLLMENT: 515 TUITION (APPROX.): $19,504 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: K-8th MAYFIELD SENIOR SCHOOL 500 Bellefontaine St., Pasadena, 91105 (626) 799-9121 mayfieldsenior.org ENROLLMENT: 332 TUITION (APPROX.): $24,450 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th MENTOR AVENUE PRESCHOOL 308 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, 91106 (626) 396-7008 mentoravenuepreschool.com ENROLLMENT: 30 TUITION: Varies AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: 2 yrs-K NEW HORIZON SCHOOL 651 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena, 91103 (626) 795-5186 newhorizonschool.org ENROLLMENT: 187 TUITION (APPROX.): $6,505- $12,487 AFFILIATION: Islamic GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th PASADENA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1515 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, 91104 (626) 791-1214 pasadenachristian.org ENROLLMENT: 400 TUITION (APPROX.): $3,300-$14,580 AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th PASADENA MONTESSORI SCHOOL 280 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, 91101 (626) 792-0115 pasadenamontessori.com ENROLLMENT: 45 TUITION (APPROX.): $425-$625 AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: PK-K PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOL 511 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, 91505 (818) 846-8141 providencehigh.org ENROLLMENT:ENROLLMENT: 419 ENROLLMENT: 419 TUITION (APPROX.): $15,450-$15,950 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th RAMONA CONVENT SECONDARY SCHOOL 1701 W. Ramona Road, Alhambra, 91803 (626) 282-4151 ramonaconvent.org ENROLLMENT: 252 TUITION (APPROX.): $13,025 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: 7th-12th SAHAG.MESROB ARMENIAN CHRISTIAN 2501 Maiden Lane, Altadena, 91001 (626) 798-5020 sahagmesrobschool.org ENROLLMENT: 188 TUITION (APPROX.): $575-$625/month AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: Nursery-8th

ST. ANDREW SCHOOL 42 Chestnut St., Pasadena, 91103 (626) 796-7697 saspasadena.com/index.php ENROLLMENT: 228 TUITION (APPROX.): Varies AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th

TUITION (APPROX.): $4,750-$16,730 AFFILIATION: Episcopal GRADE LEVELS: PK-6th ST. MONICA ACADEMY 2361 Del Mar Road, Montrose, 91020 (818) 369-7310 stmonicaacademy.org ENROLLMENT: 247 TUITION (APPROX.): $5,300-8,595 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: 1st-12th

ST. ANTHONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1905 S. San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel, 91776 (626) 280-7255 saintanthonyschoolsg.org ENROLLMENT: 190 TUITION (APPROX.): $390-$425/month AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th ST. BEDE THE VENERABLE SCHOOL 4524 Crown Avenue, La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (818) 790-7884 stbedeschool.net ENROLLMENT: 270 TUITION (APPROX.): $5,050 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: K-8th ST. EDMUNDS NURSERY SCHOOL 1175 S. San Gabriel Blvd., San Marino, 91108 (626) 792-7742 stedmundsnurseryschool.org/ ENROLLMENT: 106 TUITION (APPROX.): $330-697/monthh AFFILIATION: Episcopal GRADE LEVELS: 3 yrs-PK ST. ELIZABETH PARISH SCHOOL 1840 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, 91001 (626) 797-7727 principal@saint-elizabeth.org ENROLLMENT: 215 TUITION (APPROX.): $5,400 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: TK-8th ST. FELICITAS AND PERPETUA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2955 Huntington Drive, San Marino, 91108 (626) 796-8223 ssfp.org ENROLLMENT: 279 TUITION (APPROX): $4,600-$7,300 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: TK – 8th ST. FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL 200 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge, 91011 (818) 790-0325 sfhs.net ENROLLMENT: 650 TUITION (APPROX.): $14,400 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th ST. JAMES PARISH DAY SCHOOL 1325 Monterey Road, South Pasadena, 91030 (626) 799-6906 sjcsp.org ENROLLMENT: 131 TUITION (APPROX.): $3,400-$8,000 AFFILIATION: Episcopal GRADE LEVELS: Nursery-K ST. MARK’S SCHOOL 1050 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena, 91001 (626) 798-8858 saint-marks.org ENROLLMENT: 331

ST. PHILIP SCHOOL 1363 Cordova St., Pasadena, 91106 (626) 795-9691 stphiliptheapostle.org/school/ ENROLLMENT: 542 TUITION (APPROX.): $5,830-$10,470 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: K-8th ST. RITA ELEMENTARY 322 N. Baldwin Ave., Sierra Madre, 91204 (626) 355-6114 st-ritaschool.org/ ENROLLMENT: 282 TUITION (APPROX.): $5,250 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: K-8th SAN GABRIEL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 117 N. Pine St., San Gabriel, 91775 (626) 287-0486 sangabrielchristian.org ENROLLMENT: 403 TUITION (APPROX.): $8,395-$9,215 AFFILIATION: Christian GRADE LEVELS: PK-8th SAN GABRIEL MISSION ELEMENTARY 416 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel, 91776 (626) 281-2454 sgmission.org ENROLLMENT: 202 TUITION (APPROX.): $4,750 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: K-8th SAN GABRIEL MISSION HIGH SCHOOL 254 S. Santa Anita St., San Gabriel, 91776 (626) 282-3181 sgmhs.org ENROLLMENT: 232 TUITION (APPROX.): $7,250-8,350 AFFILIATION: Catholic GRADE LEVELS: 9th-12th SAN GABRIEL SDA ACADEMY 8827 E. Broadway St., San Gabriel, 91776 (626) 292-1156 sangabrielacademy.org ENROLLMENT: 253 TUITION (APPROX.): Varies AFFILIATION: Seventh Day Adventist GRADE LEVELS: K-12th WEIZMANN DAY SCHOOL 1434 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena, 91107 (626) 797-0204 weizmann.net ENROLLMENT: 73 TUITION (APPROX.): $14,456-$18,096 AFFILIATION: Jewish GRADE LEVELS: K-7th

For more information, see the directory of services on page 23 EDUCATION GUIDE 2016 PASADENA WEEKLY

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EDUCATION GUIDE 2016 PASADENA WEEKLY

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Directory of Educators and Services A PLUS ADVENTIST CHILDREN’S CENTER (Founded in 1981) is a year-round, non-profit preschool committed to providing a safe, secure loving environment where children ages 18-months through 5 years of age can learn and explore and we have summer camp for ages 5-9 years old. We believe that a lower student to teacher ratio provides a better education by allowing more individual attention. As a church-based Christian school, A Plus stresses intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual development. We offer a fun, stimulating environment where children learn through play and hands-on experience. The mission of A Plus Adventist Children’s Center is to serve the Glendale Community by providing a loving Christian atmosphere where our children can be nurtured as they grow.

234 N. Isabel Street, Glendale (818) 241.9353 – www.aplusadventist.com ALL SOULS CATHOLIC SCHOOL At All Souls World Language Catholic School, we recognize that speaking multiple languages considerably heightens one’s ability to learn, lead, and love. As California’s flagship dual language Catholic school, we’re happy to start our Junior High program that builds on our strong 50/50 elementary immersion curriculum. Our nurturing educators teach daily in Spanish, Mandarin, and English, to children who are as diverse as they are curious. Our school starts with 4-year olds and allows them to continue through 8th grade. All Souls inspires children to use their God-given gifts to serve others and build relationships for life. The communication skills, adaptability, empathy, and faith students develop during their years with us are the tools they will need to navigate the challenges of the 21st century.

29 South Electric Ave. Alhambra 91801 (626) 282-5695 – www.allsouls.la ALLIANT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Take Your Career to the Next Level. The reality of underemployment has been a concern for students everywhere in the last half decade – and in many cases has been a deterrent to attending college and earning a degree. Good news is, employment rates have steadily improved in the last five years, with the underemployment rate falling below 10% this past year. Not sure if a college degree will improve your job prospects? Been waiting on the economy to improve before going back for your Master’s? Don’t delay any longer. Alliant International University offers a wide array of Doctorate, Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in five professional fields – Psychology, Education, Business, Forensic Studies and Law – that can help you get into that dream career.

Learn more at alliant.edu. (866) 825-5426 ALTADENA CHILDRENS CHRISTIAN CENTER At ACCC, the families of the children in our programs who range in age from 2 months to prekindergarten find programs that meet the needs of the whole child within a developmentally appropriate framework. Our family-centered approach helps to nurture healthy partnerships between teachers and parents as we all work together to support the children. We are eager to help families from diverse backgrounds to discover that ACCC is the best place for their child’s early education. Join us for our summer programs which combine fun and learning and nature!

Contact Director Toni Boucher at (626) 797-6142 or visit accc-kids.org.

ALVERNO HIGH SCHOOL Alverno High School is a progressive Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women dedicated to preparing them to function in a society as informed, knowledgeable persons, who have the requisite skills to make and implement mature decisions about complex problems.

Alverno’s mission is to empower each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be and since 1960, Alverno has empowered more than 4,500 women to meet that goal.

200 North Michillinda Avenue, Sierra Madre 91024 (626) 355-3463 www.alverno-hs.org ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Distinguished by our next generation technology, robust academics, championship athletics, Spanish program and strong sense of community, Assumption is a TK – 8 Catholic school rooted in the message and mission of a faith based education. With transitional kindergarten (ages 4 and up) in its second year, we nurture an active ten year investment with our students and families, where everyone feels a sense of genuine belonging and connection well beyond graduation. High expectations, coupled with skilled, differentiated instruction across the grade levels, are provided by our teachers, many of whom have advanced degrees. Students are nurtured to be confident, compassionate and well balanced individuals who are sought after, and accepted to our area’s finest high schools. We are committed to being financially accessible and academically exceptional.

Visit our website: www.abvm-school.org or call (626) 793-2089. Come be part of a vibrant, innovative learning community.

BARNHART SCHOOL Accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Barnhart is distinguished through its focus upon Early Literacy, Writers’ Workshop, the Virtues Program, conversational Spanish at all grade levels, daily PE and a stellar middle school program where students are graduating with acceptance to their top choice high schools. We believe that education is a lifelong comprehensive human experience. Therefore, in addition to a robust and rigorous academic base of subjects, we provide a full range of co-curricular programs including music, art, technology, Spanish and PE. In middle school, we further extend learning to include classes in public speaking, life skills, woodshop, theater arts, yearbook production, student leadership and much more. Barnhart is known as an affordable, “down to earth”, diverse community. We invite you to take a tour and talk with our parents and students. Come meet our dedicated team of professionals, share some time in our community, and watch our students in action!

240 W. Colorado Blvd., Arcadia. barnhartschool.org (626)446-5588 CHAMPIONS KARATE Champions Karate has been serving the community for 25 years. We offer classes for all ages and feature a Black Belt staff with at least 2 instructors at all times. Our curriculum is age appropriate and teaches practical self-defense skills in a fun, family oriented environment. Our children’s classes focus on character development that builds confidence, self-esteem, awareness, focus, discipline, and respect. We also work with parents and teachers to help improve grades at school and focus at home. Parents are also encouraged to train with their children. Our adult classes focus on the philosophy and proper use of the techniques taught in Hapkido. If you are interested in a great workout, we offer a fitness class that will get you sweating and having fun.

947B W. Duarte Rd., Monrovia (626) 821-0024 CRESTVIEW PREPARATORY SCHOOL Crestview celebrates its 30th birthday this year, and continues to remain true to our founding mission: to embrace, encourage, and engage our community of involved parents and curious children. Our class sizes allow personalized differentiated instruction. Teachers and specialists collaborate within and across each grade to create a dynamic atmosphere. While teaching methodologies change, and new tools emerge, our approach using appropriate interdisciplinary strategies is constant. Our curriculum integrates technology throughout the program, and includes music, art, Spanish, gardening, performing arts, physical education, service learning— and we offer many enrichment opportunities-from band to debate. We invite you to visit our campus! Crestview is an independent, coeducational K-6 school, serving communities from Hollywood to Sunland, from the San Gabriel Valley through the San Fernando Valley. www.crestviewpreparatory.com 140 Foothill Blvd # A, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 (818) 952-0925 FRIENDS WESTERN SCHOOL Friends Western School is a cooperative private elementary school (K – 6) in Pasadena founded on the Quaker principles of community, harmony, integrity, equality and simplicity. The only Quaker co-op in Southern California, FWS offers a host of unique advantages such as small class sizes, with a student/teacher ratio of 14:1 or better; individualized learning that encourages and honors each child; curriculum that supports academic growth as well as social and emotional development; a creative environment with weekly art, theater and yoga classes; and an emphasis on community, where students become stewards of the world around them through entrepreneurial service projects and more. A proud member of the national Friends Council on Education, FWS values diversity and welcomes families of all faiths and no faith.

524 East Orange Grove Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 817-2481 FriendsWesternSchool.org GLENDALE ADVENTIST ACADEMY Founded in 1907, Glendale Adventist Academy is a K-12 college preparatory school dedicated to empowering young men and women with spiritual commitment, strong academic preparation, and leadership skills. We provide a Christ-centered learning environment where students, parents, and teachers can experience the presence of God in a spirit of affirmation. Our progressive curriculum challenges and fosters the highest academic development, and our values-laden, ethically driven focus involves students in service and a commitment to their local and global communities. The curriculum maintains a rigorous program of college preparatory courses, religious education, community outreach, art, music, athletics, drama, and enrichment opportunities, promoting a life-long love for learning. The school is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

700 Kimlin Dr, Glendale, CA 91206 - (818) 244-8671 www.glendaleacademy.org Continued on page 24 EDUCATION GUIDE 2015 PASADENA WEEKLY

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ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Continued from page 23 HALSTROM ACADEMY For students looking for an alternative to the traditional classroom, Halstrom Academy’s personalized one-to-one approach to teaching and flexible scheduling options helps students in grades 6-12 succeed in school. Students with ADHD, Dyslexia, or social anxiety, or students with special scheduling needs such as athletes and artists, welcome Halstrom’s small, nurturing learning environment. Since 1985, Halstrom Academy has helped more than 16,000 students achieve educational success with the 1:1 instruction model it pioneered. Knowing that optimum learning occurs when the learner actively participates in the process, Halstrom teachers tailor instruction to each student’s skills, interests, needs, learning style and pace. Grades 6-12; WASC Accredited; UC/CSU Certified and NCAA Approved. Open enrollment for full-time and part-time students.

Visit halstromacademy.org, or call (866)-590-7560. 35 N. Lake Ave. Suite 250, Pasadena HIGH POINT ACADEMY Celebrating 50 Years: High Point Academy’s Golden Summer of Fun. High Point Academy offers a 4-week summer camp (K-8) and extended care Summer Club. Incoming HPA Kindergarten students are encouraged to attend. High Point’s summer options have expanded to include a new 2-week kindergarten program to assist your child in transitioning from home to school. Also new a 1-week pre-summer camp option Pre-Summer Fun, Science, and Exploration Camp (1-6) and a weekly option Vex Basic Kits and Minecraft Mods Adventure Camp (4-6). Your child will explore technology and science, play sports and games, review academics, create artistic masterpieces, and most importantly make new friends. All children are welcome.

For more information, please visit our website www.highpointacademy.org or call (626) 798-8989.

IMMACULATE HEART SCHOOL Immaculate Heart offers beloved traditions and a distinguished history, with more than 10,000 graduates. Founded in 1906 by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Catholic school remains true to its original mission: the intellectual, spiritual, moral and social development of young women. Its hillside campus, conveniently located near Griffith Park, welcomes students of geographic, ethnic and religious diversity. Virtually 100 percent matriculate to college. The school’s curriculum features 17 Advanced Placement courses, 14 honors classes, and 50 UC and Cal-State approved elective courses. IH fields teams in basketball, cross country, diving, equestrian, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Students participate in community service, retreats and liturgies, theatrical productions, the visual arts, and more.

Bus transportation serves the Pasadena area!

5515 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028. www.immaculateheart.org (323) 461-3651 JUSTINE SHERMAN & ASSOCIATES, INC. Justine Sherman & Associates is a nonpublic agency serving the speech-language, orofacial myology, and educational needs of young toddlers through adults. We strive to provide our clients with exceptional therapy and support so that they may achieve their greatest potential.

Call (626) 355-1729 or visit www.justineshermanslp.com.

KIDSPACE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Spring Camp for ages 5 to 9 at Kidspace investigates the wonderful world of nature in an exciting, weeklong camp! Children will take on the role of little detectives, as they embark upon adventures to discover the mysteries of the natural world, from botany and pollination to animals and adaptation. Choose from either PUSD or LAUSD spring break weeks – registration is NOW OPEN! Seven different weeks of Summer Camp, exploring animals, outer space, mad science and more, will also be offered between June and August. Kidspace Camps combine fun curriculum with exploratory free play in an active, hands-on environment. Transport your child to a world of exploration and adventure where they will create lasting memories.

Learn more at www.kidspacemuseum.org.

LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER ACADEMY & SPORTS CAMP La Salle High School is dedicated to excellent student performance in academics, arts & athletics.

La Salle Summer Academic Institute is for 5th to 12th graders. Courses provide opportunities to hone skills and to learn new concepts in the more relaxed environment of summer. Students earn high school academic credit in some courses, and many courses satisfy UC standards. Sports Camps are available throughout the summer for student athletes.

(626) 696-4300 www.lasallehs.org MARANATHA HIGH SCHOOL Take a Closer Look at Maranatha High School For 50 years, Maranatha has filled a unique role as the only non-denominational Christian high school in the San Gabriel Valley. Today, the school continues to be an unapologetically Christian school, excelling in academic excellence. Maranatha inspires its students to use their gifts to serve locally and worldwide. Excellent college preparatory education in a Christ-revering context has resonated with families who have voted Maranatha the Best Private School four years in a row! Maranatha not only offers 33 Advanced Placement and honors courses, and has proven exceptional in the arts and competitive in athletics, with both CIF and State level wins last year.

Take a Closer Look at Maranatha on Tuesday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. at their prospective family information night.

Learn more at www.maranathahighschool.org/acloserlook.

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MENTOR AVENUE PRESCHOOL Located in the heart of Pasadena, Mentor Avenue Preschool students are engaged in the joy of discovery. Everywhere there is fun and excitement while learning through art, science, music, cooking, games and other activities. Our loving staff encourages independence in the younger students, especially in the area of potty training, along with healthy eating habits and good table manners. Class projects involve team work in order to build good social skills. Our innovative approach to the outdoor classroom inspires a natural learning environment. Mentor Avenue Preschool is a Christian Preschool dedicated to providing quality early childhood education, while nurturing Christian Values, to prepare children for kindergarten and beyond.

308 N. Mentor Ave. Pasadena (626) 396-7008 www.mentoravenuepreschool.com MT SIERRA COLLEGE Mt Sierra College has been proudly serving its students and the community for the past 25 years.

Today the institution continues to evolve, offering Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, Business Entrepreneurship, Network Communications, Information Technology, Game Arts, Visual Effects, Digital Video, and Graphic Design. In August of 2015, the College received the San Gabriel Valley Readers’ Choice Award from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

Beginning 2016 the college relocated to 800 Royal Oaks Drive, Suite 101, Monrovia CA 91016 Call today to tour our new campus (626) 873-2100 NORTH-WEST COLLEGE For the past 50 years, North-West College has provided thousands of students with opportunities to start their career in health care. With several campuses in Southern California, including our Pasadena campus, we continue to educate students with programs such as Vocational Nurse, Medical Assistant and Dental Assistant, among others. With a professional faculty and a topnotch support staff, we are committed to our students’ success, and are recognized as a leader in career education. In addition to our programs and fields of study, we help our graduates with a Placement Assistance Program (for those who qualify) to find gainful employment. Contact us at (888) 592-5762 or online at www.nw.edu, and find out why North-West College students are highly sought after by prospective employers. Classes are starting soon; contact us today!

530 E. Union St. Pasadena, CA 91101 PASADENA CHRISTIAN Pasadena Christian School welcomes students from preschool to 8th grade (with half and full day options for preschool ). PCS students enjoy a well-rounded academic program that guides them to become life-long learners with a commitment to serving Christ and our community. With specialized instructors in art, music, computers, sports and science, our graduates are accepted at the top high school programs in the region. PCS believes in partnering with the family to guide our students to pursue excellence in all they do.

1515 N. Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena (626) 791-1214 WWW.PASADENACHRISTIAN.ORG PASADENA LANGUAGE CENTER Discover a new culture, learn a new language! Pasadena Language Center’s mission is to provide cultural awareness and language instruction in over 30 languages. Our small group classes for adults and children are perfect for any level: beginner, intermediate and advanced. You have the option to choose from a wide range of language programs including weekly classes, intensive classes, weekend intensive, full immersion classes, ESL classes, kids classes, family classes, or private instruction. Our experienced instructors are native speakers passionate about sharing their language and culture. We keep the rates affordable so that anyone can learn a new language.

Pasadena Language Center, 46 Smith Alley, Suite 240, Pasadena. Call (626) 844-5003 or visit www.pasadenalanguage.com PASADENA WALDORF Pasadena Waldorf School is a fully accredited Waldorf School educating students from Early Childhood through High School with two campuses in Altadena. The importance of play and imagination are guiding principles within Waldorf early childhood education. Waldorf high school students explore deeply satisfying liberal arts curricula that most do not encounter until university levels. Throughout high school, PWS students have numerous opportunities to expand their world view – and with this passion for learning and ability to think critically, Waldorf students are actively sought by top ranked schools – and accepted into their first choice college or university. World humanitarian and social reformer Rudolf Steiner developed Waldorf education, eurythmy, biodynamic farming, and anthroposophical medicine.

Call the Admissions Office (626) 794-9564 to tour the school. www.pasadenawaldorf.org PERFORMING ARTS CAMP Performing Arts Workshops, voted the BEST camp in LA Parent Magazine. Kids spend their SPRING BREAK and SUMMER DAYS in any of PAW’s award-winning camps, including: Musical Theater, Guitar, Filmmaking, Stage F/X Makeup, Magic, or Photography! Campers are led by nurturing, skilled instructors who work together to bring out the best in each child. To join, all a child needs is a curiosity and a passion for performing, whether they are novices or seasoned thespians. This year, kids will perform: TEEN BEACH MUSICAL, JUNGLE BOOK, SLEEPING BEAUTY, CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and ALICE IN WONDERLAND. PAW truly provides the ultimate “Arts” experience from rehearsal to performance. Each show is free and open to family

and friends. Locations include Pasadena, Studio City, Northridge and LA! www.PerformingArtsWorkshops.com - (310) 827-8827 PROJECT SCIENTIST Project Scientist offers a Summer STEM Academy at Caltech and year-round STEM Expeditions when school is closed for holidays or in-service days. Girls are immersed in STEM, learning from a tailored curriculum facilitated by highly skilled educators, hands-on experiments, field trips, and interactions with female STEM role models. We serve girls ages 4-12, and provide them with a community of like-minded individuals who enjoy exploring through the sciences and celebrating their accomplishments.

“I loved that Addison came home referring to herself as a scientist and talking about experimenting and not being afraid to keep trying. I’ve tried to instill that in her in the past— but camp made it click! There is a whole new confidence. She’s always loved these things but her time at Project Scientist gave her a sense of seeing herself as a scientist and explorer…

THANK YOU!!”

— Project Scientist parent, Julia www.projectscientist.org SOUTHWESTERN ACADEMY Now located in Montrose, St. Monica Academy is an independent, coeducational Catholic school founded in 2001 for grades 1-12. It provides a rigorous education of mind, heart, and character that prepares students to be active Catholics who have interiorized their faith and who truly live out gospel values. It is committed to forming students in faith by presenting the Catholic religion as a rich and coherent body of thought. They are formed in reason through a classical pedagogy and curriculum that emphasizes logical thought and a careful reading of the Great Books.

Students are formed in virtue by reading the lives of saints and heroes and by seeing the daily practice of kindness, modesty, and cheerful living by their teachers and peers.

2361 Del Mar Road, Montrose, CA 91020 - (818) 369-7310 www.stmonicaacademy.com SPEF SUMMER SCHOOL Southwestern Academy is a college preparatory, independent, boarding/day school, offering middle & high school instruction. We welcome American and international students to our two distinct campuses located in San Marino, California, and Rimrock, Arizona. For 93 years, students, alumni, teachers and staff alike consider Southwestern home. We offer programs to strengthen students through small classes - normally of eight to twelve students - with personalized lessons, achievement grouping, safe environments, and especially by supporting student achievements through an involved, nurturing, caring staff who create an environment for individual student success. We’re looking for intelligent, active young people who are ready to participate in the school’s varied activities and classes. We also welcome your application if you’re not experiencing success or fulfillment in school, but are willing to try to do better work with our support.

We invite you to find out more about Southwestern Academy at www.southwesternacademy.edu, “Where you Belong.”

SPEF SUMMER CAMPS A.C. GREEN BASKETBALL CAMP-Campers will be challenged on and off the court, practicing basketball skills, as well as participating in leadership and character development.

NEXT GENERATION CODING CAMP - A coding boot camp that gives students an introduction to the world of computer science.

GOLF ACADEMY CAMP - learn the fundamentals of golf as well as advanced skill building for more experienced golfers.

SPEF ART CAMP - spend a week exploring your artistic side while working with a variety of materials and styles.

SPANISH IMMERSION ART CAMP - students continue their Spanish language development while having fun with theater arts, visual art and dance SOCCER CAMP- work on your soccer skills while getting outside and working off that summer energy. Foot work, positioning, offense and defense strategies and scrimmaging will be included.

Online registration now available!

For information go www.SPEF4kids.org or call (626) 441.5810x1163.

SPACE Change your life today by exploring the arts in your neighborhood arts center! We offer workshops for children and adults, including painting, drawing, ceramics, creative writing, photography and more. SPACE also offers a great place for birthday parties, as well as camps, a teen art club and more. SPACE is at 1506 Mission St., South Pasadena.

For more information, call (626) 441-4788 or visit spaceartscenter.com.

ST. BEDE THE VENERABLE St Bede is a fully accredited, co-educational K-8 Catholic school where faith, academic excellence and personal character are our top priorities. The faculty are committed to developing compassionate, service-minded young leaders. Grades 5-8 compete in flag football, basketball and volleyball with local schools through the Catholic Youth Organization. Graduates matriculate to the area’s best schools including Flintridge Prep, Flintridge Sacred Heart, La Salle, Loyola, Mayfield Senior, Notre Dame, Polytechnic and St. Francis. Our tuition is among the most competitive in the area and we have openings available in all grades. To find out more, join us at

Parent Information Night on January 28, 2016 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm or stop by our Open House on January 31, 2016 at 10:00 am. Private tours also available.

For more information email communication@stbedeschool.net 4524 Crown Avenue, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011. Phone (818) 790-7884 www.stbedeschool.net ST. EDMOND’S St. Edmund’s Leads Way in Early Education. For the third consecutive year, St. Edmund’s Nursery School has been voted the best preschool in the San Gabriel Valley. A leader in early childhood education, St. Edmund’s offers young children a challenging academic program that addresses the developmental needs of each child in a warm and nurturing environment. Small class sizes, expert staff, a thriving art and music program, and an active parent community all ensure that children graduate from St. Edmund’s ready to succeed in school and in life. St. Edmund’s students are joyful, resilient, lifelong learners — an excellent foundation for future academic, social and spiritual development. The school embraces a philosophy of education that offers challenging, age-appropriate academics while fostering basic skills, values, manners and an inclusive religious curriculum. The result: knowledgeable, responsible and caring children.

For more information, visit stedmundsnurseryschool.org or call (626) 792-7742.

ST. ELIZABETH PARISH SCHOOL Since 1919, St. Elizabeth School exists to serve a diverse community with a commitment to the development of responsible, life-long learners. Standing at the base of the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains, St. Elizabeth has an expansive, welcoming campus, with a variety of learning environments equipped with the latest, interactive technology. The school offers transitional kindergarten through 8th grade. Our junior high is fully departmentalized and offers 7th and 8th grade students the opportunity to take elective classes in a variety of curriculum. Our performing arts program is well-known throughout the community and includes theater, music, dance, and vocal performance. We also have a well-established sports program. The message of Jesus Christ is present throughout the school community. Please consider St. Elizabeth School.

1840 N. Lake Avenue Altadena, CA. 90032 (626) 797-7727 www.saint-elizabeth.org ST. MONICA ACADEMY Now located in Montrose, St. Monica Academy is an independent, coeducational Catholic school founded in 2001 for grades 1-12. It provides a rigorous education of mind, heart, and character that prepares students to be active Catholics who have interiorized their faith and who truly live out gospel values. It is committed to forming students in faith by presenting the Catholic religion as a rich and coherent body of thought. They are formed in reason through a classical pedagogy and curriculum that emphasizes logical thought and a careful reading of the Great Books.

Students are formed in virtue by reading the lives of saints and heroes and by seeing the daily practice of kindness, modesty, and cheerful living by their teachers and peers.

2361 Del Mar Road, Montrose, CA 91020 - (818) 369-7310 www.stmonicaacademy.com ST. PHILLIPS Has enriched the lives of the children in the greater Pasadena community for over 85 years. We are a K-8 Catholic, parish school with two classes per grade serving over 550 students. The school’s modern, urban campus features an advanced technology platform that supports a broad range of web-based research and instructional resources, dedicated classrooms for art, music, and Spanish…and beautiful Holy Angel Hall that also serves as a gymnasium and theatre. St. Philip graduates attend outstanding Catholic, private and public high schools. Since 2010, nine have been high school valedictorians and many more have served as student body presidents, captains of sports teams, leads in drama productions, and leaders in campus liturgy and community service programs. St. Philip the Apostle School is located at 1363 Cordova Street, Pasadena CA 91106. Visit us at our annual Open House on January 24, 2016 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

For more information go to www.stphiliptheapostle.org/school or contact Colleen Welsh, Development Director at (626) 795-9691 ext. 449.

THE CHILD EDUCATIONAL CENTER, CALTECH/JPL COMMUNITY The Child Educational Center (CEC) offers innovative, child-centered, nurturing care in a unique play- and nature-based environment at seven sites in Pasadena and La Canada, including Caltech. Our programs are designed for children ages six weeks to grade six, and provide outdoor learning, highly-qualified teachers, and excellent ratios. The CEC offers year-round enrollment opportunities to all community families, based on availability. The CEC’s Infant-Toddler and Preschool program in La Canada is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC ).

Learn more at ceconline.org or call (818) 354-3418.

THE LEARNING CASTLE/LA CAÑADA PREPARATORY Review, reinforcement and advancement are not only the primary goals of our Summer- School Program, but also the fundamental ingredients for a successful transition between grades. With small, teacher-to-student ratios, TLC/LCP’s program is the smart choice to keep your student sharp over summer.

(818) 952-8008 (818) 952-8099 www.thelearningcastle.com EDUCATION GUIDE 2016 PASADENA WEEKLY

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Bright Blue-Collar Market TRADE SCHOOLS ARE A WISE OPTION FOR THOSE LOOKING TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY EN ROUTE TO STABLE CAREERS

BY CARL KOZLOWSKI

There was a time in America when getting your hands dirty on the job was a proud sign of hard work and an honest day’s effort.

From construction workers, mechanics and elevator repairmen to plumbers, factory workers and electricians, those skilled-trade careers — also known as blue-collar jobs — were the lifeblood of America’s middle class and a vital path to attaining the American Dream.

But in the decades since World War II, as the federal government helped millions of military veterans receive funds to pay for college, those manual labor positions fell in public esteem. As a result, the nation is facing a critical shortfall in the jobs that are essential to our entire way of life, with an estimated 10 million manufacturing-related jobs alone projected to be unfilled in 2020.

But attending vocational schools doesn’t always mean getting your hands grimy for a living. Vocational degrees can lead to well-paying jobs like electrician, mechanic, machinist, pharmacy technician, nuclear technician, and dental hygienist, with room for growth and managerial potential in each field.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average age of American skilled workers is 55 years old, meaning that their impending retirements will sustain the massive amounts of open positions. Thus, now is a great time to consider trade schools and vocational training programs —and one great advantage of this option is that it’s often best to train in the area where you are already located, meaning there is no need to incur expensive relocation costs.

Southern California is packed with numerous skills-training programs and schools for those with high school diplomas, with the site trade-schools.net offering info on many of them broken down by zip codes and job categories.

The site indeed.com is just one of many prime sites listing open positions that are willing to train employees on the job.

Yet right here in Pasadena, the Foothill Employment & Training Connection offers a job search resource center, computers, fax, Internet, career counseling, skills upgrade training, job search workshops, job fairs, social services, older worker and youth 26

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programs, employer services and veteran programs. The center is located at 1207 E. Green St., Pasadena. Call (626) 796-5627 or visit foothilletc.org.

Now that you’ve seen your broad local options for training and the demand in the national labor market, here are a few other factors that stand in favor of considering trade school as an educational alternative.

One is time.

A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years of study, which means that people who enter the workforce after receiving one aren’t doing so until age 22. That shaves some years off of a person’s career and can be considered an opportunity cost for experiencing the “real world” hands-on instead of being in a classroom.

Plus, a four-year program usually makes you take classes outside of your major to fulfill credit requirements. Unless you enjoy spending time in a classroom, it may seem unnecessary to pay for extraneous credits and courses.

Another is cost.

According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2015–2016 school year was $32,405 at private colleges, $9,410 for state residents at public colleges, and $23,893 for outof-state residents attending public universities.

The average trade school degree costs $33,000 over two years, which, compared to a $127,000 bachelor’s degree over four years, means a savings of $94,000 and two years of work experience and getting paid. Plus, research gathered in 2012 suggests that the average college student debt load is $29,900, and that number rises to $36,327 when factoring in interest. Conversely, the average debt load for students graduating from a two-year technical school is $10,000, roughly 70 percent less than the four-year graduate.

The Economic Policy Institute notes that overall, the unemployment (8.5 percent) and underemployment (16.8 percent) rates for college graduates under the age of 25 are nearly double what they were in 2007. With that in mind, and millions of skilled-labor positions that need to be filled, the trade-school option is one that is looking ever wiser. ■

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EDUCATION GUIDE 2016 PASADENA WEEKLY