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PRINCIPAL'S UPDATE 
December 11, 2016
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HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK
- Monday is National Human Rights Day, sponsored by our LGBT United Club.
- Tuesday is a Class Comp in our amphitheater, so students are encouraged to wear their class colors.
- Wednesday is Holiday Day; wear those holiday sweaters, socks and Santa hats!
- Thursday is the Wrong Holiday Day, so bring out those Halloween costumes, or shirts from St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's Day, 4th of July, or whatever you feel like! That day we'll also be distributing the Holiday Grams that were purchased this past week and next week. That night join us for our Holiday Coffee House, during which many of our talented students will be performing holiday songs.
- Friday (minimum day), come cozy to school in your pajamas!
 HUMAN RIGHTS DAY - Stand up for someone's rights!
Human Rights Day is observed every year on December
10, so
Peninsula High will honor this
special
day tomorrow. It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe December 10th of each year as Human Rights Day.
Human Rights Day calls on everyone to stand up for someone's rights! Disrespect for basic human rights continues to be wide-spread in all parts of the globe. We must reaffirm our common humanity. Wherever we are, (in the community, at school, at work, and on social media), we can make a real difference.
Together, we can take a stand for more humanity. It starts with each of us. Step forward and defend the rights of a refugee or migrant, a person with disabilities, an LGBT person, a woman, a child, indigenous peoples, a minority group, or anyone else at risk of discrimination or violence.
Peninsula will be celebrating Human Rights Day by reminding everyone that  "Hate Is Not a Peninsula High Value."
Human Rights Day was created as a way to make sure every person receives the respect they deserve, and that is a Peninsula High value. Peninsula High School teachers have always been committed to helping ALL students feel comfortable and safe on campus. To emphasize this commitment, faculty members will promote their classroom as a safe zone for all students and will wear ribbons of support. Our school community will have the opportunity to pledge support of human rights by signing a commitment to end hate on campus, in the community, and in the world.
Thank you to our "LGBT United Club" for organizing the activities in honor of Human Rights Day.
 PVPHS EDUCATORS RECOGNIZED BY STANFORD
Ms. Alvillar and Ms. Dibble both received recognition from Stanford University last week for their dedication as educators and mentors who have contributed to the futures of their students and their community. Ms. Alvillar, as Peninsula's Songleading Coach and Activities Office Assistant, brings enthusiasm and spirit to our campus on a daily basis. Ms. Dibble, as an Honors- and AP-level English teacher and Link Crew Coordinator, somehow finds a way to blend academic rigor with joy in her classroom every single day. But don't just take my word for it; these testaments from recent PVPHS graduates-now undergraduates at Stanford-say it all:
"Loretta [Alvillar]'s kindness and ability to connect with students are exemplary. The fact that she was able to make a large public school feel like home each day is a testament to her dedication to students. Her willingness to listen, to get to know students as individuals and to support them through both good and bad days is one that all Peninsula graduates will miss and cherish."
--Michael McFarland
PVPHS Class of 2016
Stanford Class of 2020
"Educators like Ms. Dibble are typically reserved for the movies. She wears tap shoes to teach iambic pentameter and performs Shakespeare alongside students. Each class is an adventure: an intellectual or literal trek across campus. Through stretching comfort zones and discovering strengths, she turns classmates from uneasy strangers to supportive collaborators. Being Ms. Dibble's student is a gift, as one gains a lifelong mentor, cherished friendships, and a stronger sense of self."
--Hope Schmalzried
PVPHS Class of 2016
Stanford Class of 2020
We are proud that both of these exemplary educators are part of our Panther family! Congratulations, Ms. Dibble and Ms. Alvillar!
 SERVICE LEARNING LEADERSHIP ANNUAL CANNED GOOD DRIVE
Panthers! It's that time of the year again!
From December 8th  until December 15th, Service Learning Leadership is hosting their annual Canned Food Drive!
They would love for you to donate cans during your 3rd period. All donations will  go to a great cause, The LA Food Bank. The LA Food Bank has given numerous opportunities in helping others deal with food insecurities. The 3rd period class that collects the most cans will receives a grand trophy. CAN you dig it? Yes, We CAN!!
 LINK CREW CELEBRATES "FRESHMAS" WEEK (Lucky Freshman)
This past week, Link Crew got into the holiday spirit with the Class of 2020 by celebrating our first annual FRESHMAS WEEK!
Monday started with crafting hot cocoa kits at lunch in the amphitheater, Tuesday and Thursday leaders held an "Orange Elephant" gift exchange in Ms. Dibble's room, and Friday a game of Santa Says was played in the amphitheater with the freshmen who hosted 8th graders from neighboring private schools for shadow day. Special recognition goes to Eve Albino, Danial Shelburne, and Madeline Kim, the 4th
period Link Crew Leaders who envisioned this week as their first quarter project proposal...and then brought their ideas to fruition in this fun and festive week that we plan to celebrate for years to come!
WILLENBERG SCHOOL VISIT
Our partnership with Willenberg Career and Transition Center continued on Wednesday, December 7, when thirty-six students from Willenberg joined us at Peninsula for the day. Sixteen students from PVHS's Skills for Independence program and eleven students from PVPHS's Skills for Independence program also joined in on the fun! One hundred thirty Pen High students greeted our visitors as they came off of the buses, and then participated in games, crafts and tours of the school. Everyone ate lunch together and then joined the rest of the school together in the gym during lunch for a heartwarming holiday show, performed by the Willenberg students and their incredible teachers. The gym was packed! After the show, the students enjoyed an impromptu dance party, "getting down" to some of their favorite 'High School Musical' songs. It was a memorable, festive and joyful day on our campus!
The Principal of Willenberg, Mrs. Tina Mangoian, presented Peninsula High with a plaque commemorating this long-term relationship between our schools. Mr. Jim Kinney, who recently passed away, was acknowledged for beginning this special exchange almost half a century ago. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in planning, performing and helping in the Willenberg Holiday fun.
AMERICAN MATHEMATICS COMPETITION
 The 68th Annual American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at Peninsula High School from 7:00AM to 9:00AM. Our school will be on a late start schedule to accommodate these competitions which are open to all students. According to the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), AMC 10 and AMC 12 are "America's longest-running and most prestigious math contests. Many well-known colleges and universities request scores from these contests and use them for recruiting and admissions." You may learn more about these competitions at MAA website. Interested students should sign up in S45 during lunch on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday this week. Please bring $5 cash or check payable to PVPHS Math Team. If you have any questions, please email
[email protected]
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 HOST FAMILIES NEEDED FOR VISITING STUDENTS FROM KOREA
Fifteen students from the Dae Cheon High School in Korea will be visiting Pen High School from Tuesday 2/7/17 to Friday 2/10/2017 (3 nights and 4 days) to experience an American school and home life. We are looking for host families for 15 male students during their visit to Pen High School.
If you are interested please contact Mrs. Sunja Han at [email protected] or Mrs. June Choi at [email protected]
HOST FAMILIES NEEDED FOR VISITING STUDENTS FROM JAPAN 
Fifteen students from Toyama Daiichi High School in Japan will be visiting Pen High School from Wednesday 3/8/17 to Thursday 3/16/2017 (8 nights and 9 days). This is Toyama Daiichi's second visit to Pen High. We are still looking for host families for 5 students (female or male) during their visit to Pen High School. If you are interested please contact Ms. Iwami at [email protected].
SHOP AT BARNES AND NOBLE AND PEN LIBRARY BENEFITS
 Baby, it's cold outside... and that means it's time to head to Barnes & Noble for your holiday shopping. On Tuesday, December 13 our library is hosting a book fair at Barnes & Noble Books, 21500 Hawthorne Blvd. Torrance. Musicians and carolers will provide entertainment while you shop. 20% of purchases, excluding digital products, will benefit our Peninsula High School Library.
You must present this VOUCHER
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Thank you to Mrs. Lipton for this month's library case displays!
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 In-N-Out ON CAMPUS?
Ready to sink your teeth into a freshly made, old fashioned, juicy hamburger? We will be having an In-N-Out Burger on Wheels serving lunch on our school campus January 18th. Pre-sell tickets are the only way you will be able to get a fresh burger, bag of chips, and a soft drink. Tickets will be sold in Room S30 for $5, starting January 4th. Only $5 for In-N-Out, chips, and a drink? What a Deal! All proceeds will be supporting our school's AVID program. Thank You for your support.
SPEECH AND DEBATE
As the Peninsula Debate team continues to participate in and support our local forensics league, last weekend, the Peninsula debaters attended the second West Bay League Tournament. The placements were determined by the total number of wins out of three rounds; those who won at least 2 received an award. In Lincoln Douglas Debate, Kristen Lu finished 5th place as a freshman at the varsity level, and Ishan Gaur finished 15th. Atul Jalan and Brian Kong were the champions in the Varsity Policy division. In Varsity Public Forum Debate, Sarah Geist and Maddie Oehler finished 10th. Last but not least, Zack Foltz and Michael Wagreich in Open Parliamentary Debate finished 3rd place.
 PLEASE COME TO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16
Friday, December 16th is a minimum day. I ask that students please come to school that day so that we do not lose ADA
. PVPHS lost approximately $10,560 of State funding on the minimum day before Winter Break 2015! We lose $49 a day for each student that is absent, whether for illness, religious reasons, vacation, or personal days. ADA (Average Daily Attendance) is only paid if a student is present for at least 1 period per day or on an approved Independent Study.
If you would like to make a $49.00 ADA reimbursement donation for each day your child is absent, please turn it in to the Main Office. This donation will help ensure that PVPHS can continue to deliver the quality education that students and parents rightly deserve and expect. Your donation is used for instructional needs and classroom supplies at PVPHS. Thank you for considering the option above and thank you for your continued support of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School!
MUSIC DEPARTMENT 
Concert Band Winter Concert
- Wednesday, December 14th @ 7:00 PM, at the PVPHS Performing Arts Center (PAC). The Concert Band Winter Concert is free.
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| Friday Night's Pen Orchestra's Winter Concert was Amazing |
SHADOW DAY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS
On Friday, fifty private school 8th graders spent the day at Peninsula High, shadowing a student in the typical classes that a freshman would take. We hope this gave these students a chance to learn more about Peninsula High and will help them decide if Pen High is the "right fit." After a parent presentation, the administration led a tour of the campus.
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| PEN HIGH WELCOMES PRIVATE SCHOOL FAMILIES |
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Pen High Korean Club celebrating the season
by enjoying spice rice cake and kimbab
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PEN HIGH'S BEN SMITH PRESENTS FOR NSTA
Environmental Science AP teacher Ben Smith was selected to give a presentation in Portland, Oregon.
Selected by the National Science Teachers Association, Ben Smith recently traveled to Oregon to present "Ecology and Biodiversity Labs: The Environment in Three Dimensions", sharing lab & field investigation resources with 90 classroom teachers and field naturalists in a 60 minute workshop at the NSTA Fall Conference.
PEN VEX TEAMS COMPETE
Yesterday, two Peninsula High VEX Teams competed against the best VEX Teams in Southern California. Teams (3050A and 3050B) were undaunted and off to battle at 7AM in the morning in Lancaster, California. Both Teams 3050A and 3050B competed extremely well, and went all the way to the semifinals, and then the final where they won 2 of the 4 matches. In addition to reaching Semifinals, Team 3050B and Team 3050A made an alliance for a better strategy to win since they have practiced together since July. The two teams understand how to play together and how to win it. Both teams will have another competition next week. Although team 3050A has qualified to compete for the State Title, they are still competing to sharpen their skills for the State Round. Team 3050B is working hard to make it to the State Final. Peninsula teams are off to a great start.
SEVEN PEN HIGH CYBERPATRIOT TEAMS COMPETE
Round II of CyberPatriot IX was very exciting, yet challenging. Yesterday, Peninsula High CyberPatriot students started competing at 7:45AM and continued for six intense hours in the Air Force Association's (AFA) National CyberPatriot Round 2 competition. Seven Pen teams (6 members each) including our first ever Peninsula High Civil Air Patrol Club, competed against over 3,300 teams across the United States (including Puerto Rico), Australia, Brazil, Germany, Hungary, Southeast Asia, Republic of Singapore, and Canada. Each team's knowledge of Windows 8, Ubuntu/Linux, Windows2008 server, Cisco, and Packet Tracer was thoroughly tested. Our Peninsula High teams did an outstanding job and we are proud of their Cyber expertise. Mr. Twiet, Mr.
Grenier, and Mrs.
Grenier
have provided a very positive foundation by promoting team work and sharing their extensive knowledge to assist the teams. Scores from Rounds 1 and 2 are added together to determine team placement into one of three tiers for the State Rounds: Platinum, Gold, and Silver. These tiers have cyber security challenges of different degrees of complexity. After the online State Round, the top teams advance to the Regional Rounds.
HOUR OF CODE
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SMERT SPONSORS HOUR OF CODE FOR THE COMMUNITY
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 HOUR OF CODE
Last week, Peninsula High participated in The Hour of Code, a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. Thank you to Engineering Department Chair, Hassan Twiet and his students for organizing and teaching, HOUR OF CODE, or perhaps we should call it many hours of code. Each day students in grades K-12, and adults from the community participated in coding on computers in our SMERT building. Thank you to all our SMERT students who volunteered their time to teach coding.
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Faris Ashai
Nader Atout
Lucas Audero
Zhiyu Cai
Lindsey Campbell
Derek Chau
Ryan Chau
Maggie Chen
Violet Gao
Yijing Guo
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Alisa Hathaway
Minjin Kim
Shaun Kim
Kastur Koul
YeWon Kweon
Jeong Lee
Ryan Lee
Nigel Leo
Jay Majmudar
Alyssa Makishima
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Conner Rehm
Aryan Sanyal
Malia Sato
Sybil Snow
Lisa Takai
Sophia Wang
Brandon Watanabe
Samuel Wong
Shawn Yazdani
Zhiren Ye
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THANK YOU BOEING
Boeing Satellite in El Segundo hosted our AP Physics students on Friday. The students were able to walk the floor of Boeing's High Bay facility. Satellites are constructed and tested in the High Bay just before launch. A special thank you to Rob Stefan and Keith Watts (Peninsula Parents) for organizing and leading the tour. We greatly appreciate all the members of our community who sponsor amazing opportunities for our students.
ENGINEERING SPEAKER INSPIRES STUDENTS
On December 6, President Sonali Loomba and Vice President Tori Wong of the Society of Progressive Engineers invited guest speaker Rajeev Kumar to share his knowledge and experiences as an electrical engineer. Mr. Kumar has worked in several locations around the globe which all focused on the designing and manufacturing of microchips and controllers. He now works as the Director of Product Development at Infineon Technologies which sells its chips to Apple, IBM, Intel, and many other large corporations. Not only did Mr. Kumar discuss the processes of technological development and adjusting to the needs of the consumer, but he also brought samples of microchips that were encased in a silicon layer for students to see. Mr. Kumar taught about the agreements between different components in the designing of a product, what to expect in the engineering industry, and the importance of building a strong foundation in high school. The students were very fortunate to listen to such an experienced and intelligent engineer and would like to thank Mr. Kumar for his time and effort.
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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.
THANK YOU to our A Black & Gold Affaire Sponsors as of 12-9-16
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Varsity $1000-$2499
Steve & MaryBeth Kane
Bo & Jennifer Kelly
Frank & Marta Merola
Marc & Jolene Meskin
Kuni & Candi Takeda
Richard & Liz Umbrell
Junior Varsity $600-$999
Robert & Martha Zane
Frosh/Soph $300-$599
George Cashman
Ferdows Family
William & Elaine Jow
Steve & Romy Martz
John & Tina Quinn
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Panther Patron $100-$299
Louie & Marcella Bozanich
Chris & Christine Collins
Ciro & Elisa Fidaleo
Chris & Nicole Graves
Ken & Tomoko Hatae
JJ & Michelle Jongkind
Eric & Janet Louie
Prakash & Kathy Mansukhani
Jill Masuda
Yogi & Tiffany Matharu
Mark & Debbie Simpkins
Judy Law Torok
Bin ao & S. Wang Family
Michael & Meagan Webb
Friends
John & Jean Baskovich
Eugene Lee
Lucas Family
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We ask each family of an athlete to become a sponsor, or donate an auction item! To Become a Sponsor: Contact Julia Parton Rosas at [email protected], or visit
www.pvphsabc.com
Upcoming Event:
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!
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If you missed this week's Sports Update
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FROM TEEN MAGAZINE
Following are helpful articles on teens and the holidays!
FROM OUR SCHOOL NURSE - WENDY KELLER
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Flu season has begun on the Peninsula. Please consider getting your student a flu shot. It takes two weeks to fully be in effect. It cannot give you the flu. It cannot prevent the flu, but it can lessen the severity and the length of time it takes to recover from the illness. Finals will soon be upon us after we return from the holidays. Stay healthy! Stay well!
PVPHS SOPHOMORE GUIDANCE LESSON
On December 6th, 2016, the PVPHS counseling team conducted a guidance lesson for the entire sophomore class. The discussion-based lesson covers four different vignettes, each covering a social-emotional issue that a typical high school student might face:
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PSAT
 Congratulations to Pen High students who took the PSAT in October - our scores were very impressive!
Sophomores and Juniors can view their individual scores on the College Board website starting Monday. You will need to set up an account if you haven't already.
Freshmen may pick up their PSAT 8/9 score report and test booklet from the Student Store all this week. You must show your id card to pick up your scores!
Naviance: Workspace K12
On Tuesday, (11/29) Freshmen students received registration codes to Naviance Workspace K12. This is a web-based guidance program designed to help conduct research about colleges, majors and careers. The program features detailed college searches, college data comparisons, resume building, and career searches.
If you have further questions, please contact Mrs. Fuh or Mrs. Juge in the Counseling Office.
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Cal Grants: California Student Aid Commission has started the process of offering Cal Grant Awards for those attending college in California next year. Seniors who completed the FAFSA application are automatically considered for Cal Grants, unless you opted out of the GPA Verification process earlier this year. GPA Verification has been processed for Peninsula High School, if you believe for any reason that your GPA was not uploaded, please see Mrs. Arico in the CCC immediately.
Please check your email often for updates. Students should log onto Cal Grants through the csac.ca.gov web site and register for a Web Grants 4 Students account. These accounts provide you with the resources, information and tools needed to assist you with the college financial aid process. WGS will allow you to manage your Cal Grant account(s) online by letting you view updates, make school changes, make address changes, make corrections, and post leave of absence requests.
Scholarship Opportunities: Please check Naviance for Scholarship opportunities! Some great National and Local scholarships are available with applications due starting in early January. Check back regularly as new scholarship opportunities become available and are updated throughout January.
Planning Ahead: The PVPHS Counseling Department and the CCC will host several upcoming events. Please see our calendar of events
here.
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BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE PHOTO GALLERY
WE HAVE BEEN ADDING TITAN PICTURES
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SENIOR CLASS HANDEL'S FUNDRASIER
This Wednesday, December 14th, the PVPHS Class of 2017 is hosting a fundraiser at Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt in Redondo Beach ALL DAY!
The address is
1882 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
. Present the following flier for 20% of your order to go the senior class:
JUNIOR CLASS BLAZE PIZZA FUNDRAISER
This Friday, on Minimum Day, the PVPHS Class of 2018 is hosting a fundraiser at Blaze Pizza on PCH from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
Come out to enjoy some build-your-own pizza for lunch on this minimum day while supporting the Junior class! The money raised goes towards awesome Junior events and spirit giveaways for the Class of 2018. Parents and students of all grades welcome. Come out and support! Present the following flyer:
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Follow Pen High on the following official sites
@CressPenhi
@pvphsasb
@pvphszoo
@pvphs_panthers
@pvphs_athletics
REFLECTIONS FOR THE HOLIDAY
I wish the Panther Community a relaxing winter break and hope that each of you enjoy the "gift" of spending time with your family and friends. I wish you peace, abundance and joyful moments!
The next Principal's Update will be on Sunday, January 1, 2017
Mitzi Cress
Principal
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