PRINCIPAL'S UPDATE

April 1, 2018
     

 
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LA COUNTY SCIENCE FAIR RESULTS
For the 15th year in succession, Peninsula High School research students have earned more awards than any other school entered in the LA County Science Fair. The Peninsula High Research Program is under the direction of PVPHS science teacher Melissa Klose. Congratulations to these outstanding students:

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
1st place - Hyokyung (Christina) An
2nd place - Matthew Baik
Chemistry
1st place - Allyson Ee and Albert Tan
3rd place - Saehui Hwang
Ecology
Special Recognition - Kaylen Ng
Engineering Applications
1st place - Sina Moshfeghi
Honorable Mention - Joshua Belofsky
Engineering Research
1st place - Alisa Hathaway
3rd place - Rei Landsberger
Mathematics  and Computer Science
3rd place - Elleen Kim
Honorable Mention - Suraj Anand
Physics
1st place - Leo Guo
Plant Biology and Physiology
3rd place - Yeji Cho


Sweepstakes
Hyokyung (Christina) An - WINNER
Finalists: Alisa Hathaway, Allyson Ee and Albert Tan, Leo Guo

Advancing to INTEL
Hyokyung (Christina) An

Advancing to California State Science Fair in April
Sina Moshfeghi, Yeji Cho, Hyokyung (Christina) An, Allyson Ee and Albert Tan, Matthew Baik, Alisa Hathaway, Leo Guo, Saehui Hwang, Elleen Kim, and Rei Landsberger.

Special Awards
Office of Naval Research Award - Sina Moshfeghi
Inspiring Excellence with $50 cash prize - Elleen Kim
The Cheryl Sagan Self Worth Foundation for Women and Girls with $1500 - Alisa Hathaway
California Association of Professional Scientists with $100 prize- Allyson Ee and Albert Tan, Leo Guo
US Air Force Awards - Matthew Baik and Saehui Hwang
American Vacuum Society Award - Saehui Hwang
Professional Engineers in California Governmenet Honorable Mention with Gift Card - Allyson Ee and Albert Tan

DISABILITIES AWARENESS
Throughout this week, BEST BUDDIES and FRIENDSHIP CLUB students set up a "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign to teach about respecting others and getting rid of the word "retarded". On Monday, students signed a pledge to stop using the "r-word" and received RESPECT t-shirts.


Tuesday we hosted BORN THIS WAY's John Tucker and Elena Ashmore (a Pen High alumnus), who spoke to students and performed their own songs and poems!


The finale of the week was a UNIFIED SPORTS dance performance by students in the Skills for Independence class and the SONG team. 


Huge thank you to BORN THIS WAY's John and Elena for speaking to our students! (Season 4 of the show premieres soon on the A&E network). We also want to give a shout out to Coach Loretta Alvillar and the Song girls for choreographing the dance performance and hosting multiple Unified Sports practices! Thank you to Jenna Yamada, Kaitlyn Tang, Melissa Woo and Mrs. Clovis for making this week such a success!

CLASS COMP
Thursday at lunch ASB organized an exciting Mario Kart themed class comp. The teams chased around the gym in home-made Karts trying to stomp on the other teams' balloons. The Junior class won!


PENINSULA HIGH LOSES MONEY WHEN STUDENTS ARE ABSENT
 324 students were absent last Friday (March 30). At $49 per student, we have lost nearly SIXTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS in State ADA funding for that day alone. For those who can afford it, ADA reimbursement is greatly appreciated! Checks, payable to PVPHS, can be dropped off at the Main Office. Thank you for your support.

CHOREO SHOW TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Join us for our spring dance production, Momentum 2018, coming up April 17th-19th at the James Armstrong Theater in Torrance. All shows begin at 7pm and feature over 100 PVPHS dancers. Our Advanced, Company, Coed and Intermediate classes will be represented in a variety of dance genres. Tickets are $13 and available from any Advanced or Company member. Please email [email protected] with questions.

"19 UNDER 19" - SOUTH BAY MAGAZINE
Congratulations to Pen High students Claire Easton, Kira Levin, Kaylen Ng, and Amy Ross for being included in South Bay Magazine's "19 under 19" for their unique gifts, early achievements, and potential to enrich the world. You can see the entire list of 19 honorees and their bios HERE.

CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD
Last week the annual international American Chemical Society local Chemistry Olympiad competition was held at Peninsula High School. Four PVPHS AP Chemistry students scored above the cutoff score to be eligible to take the National Exam: NiKan Ostovan (1st), Suraj Anand (2nd), Elizabeth Zhang (tied for 3rd), and Josh Masuda (tied for 3rd). Two of these four students will be advancing to take the National Exam in April. The highest scorer among the first-year chemistry students was Robert Wakefield Carl.

The American Chemical Society Chemistry Olympiad locates and recognizes high achieving students. The test is designed to test a student's knowledge of a wide variety of topics in chemistry. The test is designed to stimulate young people to achieve excellence in chemistry. Congratulations to all the students who participated!


STEM SYMPOSIUM
The annual PEF-sponsored STEM Symposium is Thursday, April 12 at the Peninsula Center. There will be demonstrations by Pen High SMERT teams as well as groups from other schools in the District.

FAMILIES CONNECTED SPEAKER SERIES
Dr Denise Pope presents: Helping Students Find Balance in the South Bay Pressure Cooker on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 from 5:00 PM  to 8:00 PM at the  Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center located at 1935 Manhattan Beach Boulevard in Redondo Beach. Register for this event online HERE.



Denise Pope, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, where she specializes in student engagement, curriculum studies, qualitative research methods, and service learning. She is the author of, "Doing School": How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students", and co-author of " and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids."


Contact Associate Principal Toombs  [email protected]

8th GRADE PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION NIGHT
Parents and guardians are invited to visit the Peninsula High campus for an orientation evening on either April 10th (Last Names A-Ma) OR April 12th (Last Names Mb-Z)
5:00 - 6:00 pm Meet teachers and advisers about classes and special programs available during freshman year. Outside the PAC
6:00 - 6:30 pm Presentations by the PVPHS Administrators in the PAC.
6:30 - 7:30 pm Attend a scheduling information presentation given by the student's PVPHS Counselor.

PVPSS SUMMER SCHOOL
It's time to get ready for Palos Verdes Peninsula Summer School open to all students entering 9th through 12th grade in the fall. This year the program will be held on our Peninsula campus from June 18 through July 6 (1st semester) and from July 9 through 26 (2nd semester). Online registration for sophomores, juniors and seniors is open now, and freshmen can start registering on April 16 at 7pm. Space is limited and enrollment is on a first come, first serve basis. Visit pvpss.com for course offerings, teachers and more information or contact the Summer School Help Desk at (310) 378-8695.

JUNIORS' LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FOR NEXT YEAR
Juniors who will be requesting counselor/teacher letters of recommendation next fall, must attend a mandatory information meeting with your counselor on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. (a late start morning).  See the following table for meeting locations:

ABC MEETING
Please join us at our next Athletic Booster Club Meeting, Wednesday, April 11, 6:30-7:30pm in the CCC. The meeting is open to all, so we hope to see you there. How are our teams doing? Hear from our student athletes and team parent liaisons!

Panther

Thank you to our current ABC members for your continued support of PVPHS athletic programs.  Your support  does not go unnoticed.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN THE ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB
VARSITY SPORTS COMPETITIONS ON CAMPUS THIS  WEEK

Baseball
Saturday @ 11am and 2pm


Remember the Titans!
 
 
BELL SCHEDULES THIS WEEK
                                                   

NO 
SCHOOL 
ALL 
WEEK



Audition questions? Email Ms. Horn ( [email protected]) 
Download the audition packets  HERE on the school website

Audition questions? Email Ms. Myrick ( [email protected]) 
or  Ms. Hendrick ( [email protected] ) 
Download the audition packets HERE on the school website


Attention Panther Parent Business Owners!!! We have a special invite for you to have our clubs and school advertise, promote and send customers to your business without any upfront cost to you! Helping our local businesses grow supports our school. Let us show you how. If you want us to help grow your business contact us at [email protected]



 Follow Pen High on the following official sites

                 @pvphs_principal

                 @pvphsasb

                 @pvphszoo

                 @pvphs_panthers

                 @pvphs_athletics

                 @pvphs_store

Spring Break
I will not be sending out a Principal's Update next Sunday, April 8. I hope that everyone enjoys their week-long Spring Break! Classes resume on Monday, April 9.

          
tracks 
 
 
Brent Kuykendall
Principal