|
|
PRINCIPAL'S UPDATE 
November 27, 2016
 Follow The Latest Pen News on Twitter
|
|
|
|
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and a relaxing long weekend enjoying the company of family and friends. Now we move into the busy month of December, packed full of joyous celebrations, the holiday parade, music programs, a drama production, a coffee house, our Willenberg exchange, and opportunities to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. The Panther spirit never ceases to amaze me. Go Panthers!
 2017 NICHE RANKINGS RELEASED
NICHE is out with their latest high school rankings and Peninsula High did exceptionally well. Out of over 18,000 high schools covered by the rankings, PVPHS ranked #54 in America, #6 in California, and #2 in Los Angeles.
Our rankings in some of the sub-categories include:
#28 College Readiness in America (#6 in CA, #3 in LA)
#95 Best Teachers in America (#10 in CA, #4 in LA)
#156 Best Stem Program in America (#37 in CA, #12 in LA)
The Niche 2017 Rankings are based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users.
LOS ANGELES RANKINGS
CALIFORNIA RANKINGS
NATIONAL RANKING
Full details about our Niche ratings can be found
here.
PVPUSD NAMED BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN LA
Congratulations to all our PVPUSD schools. We have been named the Best School District in LA. #146 in America, #5 in California and #1 in Los Angeles. See the details
here.
WILLENBERG EXCHANGE
Peninsula High has a wonderful partnership with the Willenberg Special Education Center, located in San Pedro. For more than 46 years, our school has partnered with the Willenberg School, with both schools visiting each other during the holiday season.
On November 30, seven busloads of Pen students will visit Willenberg for the day to provide a holiday program for all of the children attending the school. Each year our whole school and its big Panther heart, makes this our favorite event of the year. Preparation for this big day begins weeks in advance with auditions, performers practicing, supplies organized and jobs delegated. It's hard work and a long day; however, at some unexpected moment during the day everyone experiences the joy that comes from sharing time with these special students.
Students from Willenberg Career and Transition Center will be visiting our  school and performing for our student body on Wednesday, December 7th. Willenberg aims to maximize every student's potential for success in adult life. These students are between the ages of 14 and 22, and we'd like to pair each Willenberg student up with 2 Peninsula students on December 7th. If you'd like to be paired up with a Willenberg student, please sign up at the Activities Office, P115 this Monday, November 28th. As a Willenberg buddy, you will spend time with one Willenberg student during 3rd and 4th period, and during lunch as well. The sign-up sheet will go up at the beginning of lunchtime on Monday. Spots for this event fill up quickly, so don't wait!
We are also looking for buddies to be paired up with our Peninsula High Skills for Independence students and those from Palos Verdes High. For the first time, we have invited students from the Palos Verdes High School's Skills for Independence program to join us for this special event.
|
|
| Peninsula High Skills for Independence students had a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch on November 22 |
 FIRST-EVER "SENIOR PLUNGE"
Seniors- join the Class of 2017 at the Prindle Pool deck on Tuesday, November 29th during lunchtime to 'plunge' into the holidays. Grab your friends, and jump the pool together while we snap pictures and take videos of this awesome senior class. Wear your class shirt, and bring a towel and change of clothes.
 PENINSULA HIGH LOSES MONEY WHEN STUDENTS ARE ABSENT
213 students were absent on Wednesday, November 23. Last year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 197 students were absent, so this year saw an increase in absences. At $49 per student, we have lost approximately $10,437 in ADA funding. For those who can afford it, ADA reimbursement is greatly appreciated! Checks can be dropped off at the Main Office. Thank you for your support.
EMBRACE THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON
The Peninsula High community has outdone itself in planning incredible events for the month of December! We encourage everyone to embrace the spirit of the season and join in the fun! We are all going to need two weeks off to recuperate from all the activities planned for December!
 SUPPORT PEN HIGH SERVICE LEARNING LEADERSHIP
Need gifts for the holiday season? Shop at 10,000 Villages from November 19th to December 3rd! If you bring THIS FLYER, 15% of the proceeds go to support Service Learning Leadership's many community service projects! Located in Riviera Village, 10,000 Villages is a free trade store where all of their products are handmade by both men and women living in poverty in developing countries. Selling their handmade products gives them financial support so that they may feed their families and have a roof over their heads. Their products include beautiful one-of-a-kind home décor, clothing, jewelry, tableware, ornaments, bags, and other home items! Shop there so that you can support both Service Learning Leadership and these men and women living in poverty!
NASU TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE 
The Toys for Tots Native American toy drive is set to kick off on Friday, December 2nd and will run through Friday, December 16th. This is the 4th annual collection at Pen High by the student members of the NASU. Collection containers will be set up at the Holiday Boutique on December 2nd and then at the Main and Hawthorne offices through Friday, December 16th. Collection containers will also be set up at RIS and Soleado. The goal is to serve about 500 kids and to collect 1,500 toys and stocking stuffers. Toy distribution will be on Saturday, December 17th and will be coordinated with Walking Shield, a non-profit organization that serves impoverished Native American communities, and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Native American program collection facilities in Laguna Niguel, California and Pahrump, Nevada.
Please help make a needy child's holiday special and consider dropping off an unwrapped toy or stocking stuffer in the collection containers.
 PEN VETERANS CLUB HONORS THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED
For Veterans Day, the Pen Veterans Club wrote thank you notes to military veterans to thank them for their service to our country. The celebration was held at Veterans Park in Redondo Beach. Club President, John Zuercher, delivered more than 50 thank you notes on behalf of the club to the head of the local American Legion Post. The club will be looking for more ways to thank the veterans for their service during this school year.
|
|
| John Delivers Notes to Veterans |
 PVPHS MUN WINS NEARLY 60 AWARDS AT THIS MUN - A NEW SCHOOL RECORD PERFORMANCE
With over 1500 delegates competing from over 30 schools, Peninsula students were able to take in nearly 60 total awards--a new school record! On the weekend of November 19th and 20th, Peninsula High MUN traveled to Tustin High School to compete in a novice and advanced conference. Here, delegates from Peninsula and some of our Ridgecrest students were able to compete and win awards in nearly every committee in the conference including Advanced, Novice and Middle School committees! In addition, Pen walked away with the most research awards and highest overall performance in committees. Student advisor was Erika Hathaway and Co-Advisors Sam Shafiee, Ashley Zoeckler, and Sally Gerich prepared the delegates well for THSMUN.
|
|
Tustin High MUN Conference
|
Students were given an opportunity to debate topics in General Assembly, Security Council, and Specialized & Crisis Committees! Such specialized committees as the CDC debated how to deal with a possible "biowarfare" situation in the United States, and how the nation would react to such an emergency. General Assembly committees included the First Disarmament & Security (DISEC) committees that discussed militarization of outer space and 6th Legal Committee discussed international law and its jurisdiction in the form of new treaties. These and many other important issues were expertly researched and debated by Peninsula and Ridgecrest delegates on the middle school, novice and advanced level.
PVPHS performed exceptionally well in all areas - both for research and committee recognition, and in some cases, a delegate was recognized for both! The awards are as follows:
|
Novice Research Awards
Brian Su
Ryan Kim
Aimee Schmitz
Joshua Lu
Tobi Adeoye
Lenny Senaratna
Caroline Louttit
Elaine Yu
Mishal Syed
Charley Kim
Elizabeth Zhanf
Ameen Shaheen
Laura Kato
Novice Commendation Awards
Brian Su
Abby Shane
Tobi Adeoye
Lenuka Senaratna
Ava Council
Mishal Syed
Ameen Shaheen
Novice Outstanding Delegate Awards
Ryan Kim
Joshua Lu
Caroline Louttit
David Goldstein
Elaine Yu
Charley Kim
Alisha Meghani
Raza Khan
|
Advanced Research Awards
Alisa Hathaway
Theodore Shiao
Grace Whitten
Brady Sedillos
Lindsey Campbell
Kelly VonBoxtel
Samantha Stone
Irene Zhen
Mandolin Ponce
Lineth Parajon
Ricky Negishi
Bryan Hadley
Kai Kato
Advanced Commendation Awards
Natalie Wong
Alisa Hathaway
Krislyn Jobes
Natalie Lim
Suha Ahsan
Grace Whitten
Lindsey Campbell
Allison Masuda
Ryan MacGowan
Bryan Hadley
Advanced Outstanding
Delegate Awards
Brady Sedillos
Olivia Mathiesen
Novice Best Delegates
Elizabeth Zhang
Advanced Best Delegates
Sydney Bambardekar
Kai Kato
|
|
|
| Tustin High MUN Conference |
THE LARAMIE PROJECT
|
|
 |
|
Students prepare the sets for
The Laramie Project
|
|
Our Drama students will be staging
The Laramie Project over the next two weekends. This important play is based on the true story of the 1998 murder of college student Matthew Shepard. The murder was denounced as a hate crime and brought attention to the lack of hate crime laws in various states, including Wyoming.
Show times and ticket information can be found
here.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT NEWS 
Choir:
Sounds of the Season Concert
- Friday, Dec. 2nd @ Saturday, 7:30 PM and Dec. 3rd @ 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM, at the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church.
Marching Band and Color Guard:
Willenberg Visit
-
Wednesday, Nov 30, 2016
Palos Verdes Peninsula Parade of Lights
-
Saturday, Dec. 3rd, the Marching Band will help kick off the holiday season by marching in the 18th Annual Palos Verdes Parade of Lights. The parade which travels along Silver Spur Road will start at 6:00 PM.
Orchestra:
Holiday Boutique
-
Friday, Dec. 2nd - a String group and about 6 small Wind Ensembles will perform during the boutique.
Winter Orchestra Concert -
Friday, Dec. 9th @ 7:00 PM, at the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church. Early Bird reduced ticket price, $5.00, ticket price at the door will be $10.00, the concert is free for 8th graders with ID's.
Concert Band:
Concert Band Winter Conce
rt -
Wednesday, Dec. 14th @ 7:00 PM, at the PVPHS Performing Arts Center. The Concert Band Winter Concert is free.
|
PEN STELLARXPLORERS (2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS) BEGIN COMPETITION
Peninsula High has four teams participating in this year's Air Force Associations National Space Program and Competition StellarXplorers III. In its third year, the space system and satellite design competition involves problem solving in all aspects of system development and operation, emphasizing spacecraft and payload for practical tasks.
In April 2016 (StellarXplorers Competition II) our StellarXplorers Pen High teams earned first place (Regina Lee Captain, a senior) and second place (Harmont Grenier Captain, a junior). This accomplishment sparked the interest in many students so we now have 22 students competing in four teams.
On Friday, November 18th, the four Pen High teams students participated in the first of three Qualification Rounds of the StellarXplorers National Competition. The grueling 6-hour event on Friday, starting at 1 PM and ending at 7 PM, focused on finding a satellite orbit that would best survey debris from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
All our teams did a Stellar job! Our Panthers' math skills and analytical skills were definitely put to the test. This December, the next Round of Competition will involve designing a satellite. Good luck to all teams as they begin their march to qualify for the Finals in Colorado Springs in April!
Representing our Peninsula High in StellarXplorers this year are;
The Sirius Potatoes
: Regina Lee, Eugene Lin, Saahil Parikh, Sher Shah, Yodai Takeuchi
Space Team
: Harmont Grenier, Rishi Gattu, Amy Ross, David Noh, Ryan Huang, Ryan Liu
Boing:
Nathan Kim, Akira Higaki, Robert Peltekov, RJ Wakefield-Carl, Sitneng "Tim" Jiang, Ishan Gaur
Meme Explorers
: Brian Zhu, Rashel Calderon-Sanchez, Anthony Chong, Allen Qiuwang, Grant Watts
|
THE "HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE" IS THIS FRIDAY!
DON'T MISS OUT ON SOME GREAT SHOPPING!
Friday, December 2, 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
We have a great line up of vendors for you, with returning favorites and many new this year! You will find Authentic Japanese Tea, Specialty jams and jelly, Gourmet olive oil, Vintage inspired pillows, blankets, jewelry, scarves, purses, hats, and many more unique gift ideas to choose from.
26th Annual A Black & Gold Affaire!
On Saturday, March 18, 2017, Peninsula High School's Athletic Booster Club will host its 26th annual fundraiser, A Black & Gold Affaire, at the PV Golf Club.
January 4, 7:00-8:30 pm Athletic Booster Club Meeting! Community Room, S22. Please join us to hear what is happening in the world of Pen High Athletics!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE - JOIN THE ABC TODAY! It's easy to join, visit www.pvphsabc.com
|
If you missed this week's Sports Update
|
SAMUEL'S TREES - MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO FAMILIES IN CRISIS
Daniel Parkins, a Peninsula High School graduate, has started an organization called Samuel's Trees that gives three-foot Holiday trees to families with babies in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Units (NICU) of area hospitals. Each tree has about $300 worth of gift cards to varying businesses hanging with notes of encouragement to families.
Daniel and his wife Kelly lost their son Samuel at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) on December 24, 2010, and have since made it their mission to encourage and love families in similar situations. This year Peninsula High is getting involved with Samuel's Trees and you can too! What better way to give rather than just receive! We hope to give one tree to each family at CHLA with babies in the NICU (about 60 beds).
|
Seniors!
The CSU & UC application windows are now open! APPLY EARLY!!! The deadline is November 30th.
"Lessons":
Every year the counselors provide a different guidance lesson to each grade level of students.
These lessons address academic, social/emotional issues or other current and relevant topics.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016-School Counselor Lessons-Freshman
These presentations and lessons will be given to freshman students in their classes and will cover:
-Graduation requirements
-UC/CSU (A-G) requirements
-Schedule balance
-Getting involved on campus
-Learning styles
-Campus resources
Tuesday, December 6th- School Counselor Lessons-Sophomore
These presentations and lessons will be given to Sophomore students in their classes and will cover:
-Coping skills
-Self-Advocacy
-Stress Management
A letter will be mailed home soon to all Sophomore families with additional details.
|
Attention freshman and freshman parents - On
November 29
freshman students will be receiving a registration code for Naviance:WorkspaceK12.
This is a web-based guidance program designed to help conduct research about colleges, majors and careers. The program has features that will: help you conduct a detailed college search, college data comparisons, build a resume, career search, and teach you how your personality traits can link to career choices.
If you have further questions, please contact Mrs. Fuh or Mrs. Juge in the Counseling Office.
|
|
Follow Pen High on the following official sites
@CressPenhi
@pvphsasb
@pvphszoo
@pvphs_panthers
@pvphs_athletics
Have a great week!
Mitzi Cress
Principal
|
|
|
| |
|
