The Trailblazer

End of Year Edition • June 11, 2010

Announcements

Summer Information • Grades 7 – 12
Information regarding the 2010-2011 school year will be mailed on July 30th. This mailing will include student schedules, book ordering lists and instructions, as well as information about school programs and procedures. Students will also receive the title of the required summer reading book at that time. English teachers request that students read the summer reading book close to the start of school so that it is fresh in their minds when it is discussed at the start of school.

If you are interested in selling or buying used textbooks, a used book sale will be held on Saturday, August 7th on the Upper Campus. More information will be included in the summer mailing.

Class of 2011 Senior T-Shirts Now on Sale
T-shirts and sweatshirts for the soon-to-be-seniors are currently on sale. Our goal is to have all seniors ready for their "inauguration" on August 31st decked out in their specially designed class shirts! If you are interested in purchasing a shirt or sweatshirt (or both), please download the form and return it with your payment no later than June 19th. Forms and payment may be dropped off to Stacy Feliz in the Upper School office or sent by mail to Alison Brown c/o Sierra Canyon School, 20801 W. Rinaldi Street, Chatsworth, 91311.

2010-2011 School Directory
Each year the Sierra Canyon School Directory is published by the SCS Parent Association for use by our school community. We depend on each family to provide accurate, updated information for their listing. In our continuing efforts to conserve resources, we ask that you complete the online Directory Update Form.

Since e-mail has become Sierra Canyon’s primary means of communication with parents, it is extremely important that you include an e-mail address for at least one parent. If you do not want this e-mail address published in the Directory, please be sure that you don’t check the box next to it.

Online Directory Update Form

A PDF version of the form is also available to download. You can type your information directly into the space provided, print a hard copy of the form, and then mail it to:

Sierra Canyon School
Attn: Mel Wanamaker
11052 Independence Avenue
Chatsworth, CA 91311

Please take a few minutes to complete the form and submit it to the School. All information must be received by June 11th to be included in the 2010-2011 Directory. Directories will be sent home with your student the first week of school in September.

Thank you for your prompt attention. If you have plans to move this summer, or have any questions, please contact Mel Wanamaker at m1amaker@aol.com.

Headlines

Lower School Message

Dear Lower School Parents,

We opened the year celebrating the Medieval Faire theme and spent many hours traveling the castles of the world sharing tales of Chaucer and Canterbury and of King Arthur and Camelot. Last week, at our 6th Grade Candlelighting Ceremony and our EK and K presentations and celebrations, more tales were shared: ones of growth, change, independence, trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, fairness, citizenship, kindness, and citizenship. A similar evolution was present at all grade levels and experienced by every student-learner this school season.

While you are on your various summer excursions, the children are in summer camps, and our faculty are rejuvenating themselves, we will be preparing Sierra Canyon for our new and continuing students’ arrival in the fall.

In the lives of these young children, you are each a main character. We salute you and them for believing in and making possible happy endings and new beginnings for our children. To that end, we bid you a short farewell and look forward to seeing all of you on August 31st when we usher in another year of academic excellence at Sierra Canyon. Have a delightful summer!

With heartfelt thanks and gratitude,

6th Grade Celebration Video

Watch Our Garden Grow!
Our dream of a community garden on the Lower Campus is now a reality, thanks to the talents and dedication of Halle Yuhan (Abigail ’20 and Sarah ’22) and Heather Bilson (Hattie ’20). Along with the tireless assistance of the maintenance crew, these two moms spearheaded the transformation of the small, grass area between the 1st and 3rd grade classrooms into a beautiful garden.

During the groundbreaking on Friday, May 28th, the Lower School students had the opportunity to fill the planting beds with amended soil. “I love helping the environment—it’s fun,” said one 1st grader as she enthusiastically poured a bucket of soil into a planting bed. The students also voted to choose what color roses should adorn either side of the arbor at the entrance to the garden. Following the groundbreaking by the students, parent gardeners were then invited to stop by after school to get their hands dirty and do some planting in the prepared garden beds.

With the help of many, our community garden is now resplendent with young vegetables and flowers taking root. We hope that you will stop by regularly to visit our garden and join us as we watch it grow!

Garden Slideshow

On Your Marks! Get Set! Flip the Switch!
It’s May 21, 2010 and the Sierra Canyon parking lot is filled with 8th grade students scrambling all around and checking that they have everything. There are making last minute adjustments on the cars they have been working on for two months. The sombreros of the El Sombrero Muchacos dominate the cluster of 8th graders. The Masters of Ceremony Miranda L. and Melissa M. open the races. The starters kneel over their cars waiting for the magic words to flip the switch. The catchers stand at the finish line with fear in their eyes. The possibility of not catching their car is hanging over their heads like the sword of death or, something worse…public ridicule. Kids cram themselves on the sidelines to see the cars take off. The finish line is crowded with timers, recorders, and spectators. Timers have their fingers ready to hit the start button the minute the flag comes down. And after two months of anticipation the cry of “Ready, Set, GO!” pierces the air.

In addition to the main race there was a separate race for Super Solar Cars. These cars were much faster than all the cars in the main race. The two Super Solar Cars were designed by The Solar Nukes and The Titans of the Sun. The Titans of the Sun’s Super Solar Car had a time of 4.7 seconds. Unfortunately The Solar Nuke’s car spun out of control and crashed into the stands; so they were disqualified.

The finals consisted of the eight teams with the best times out of the twenty-one teams in the race. In third place was the Sexy Speeders with a time of 6.15. Their team members were Kyra A., Oliver D., Delanie S., and Sebastian S. “We feel fantastic! We barely made the finals, but we did it. And we got trophies!” The Suntastic 4, which included Lara A., Ginger C., Kendall J., and Tyla S. came in second with a time of 5.94 seconds. “We feel amazing! We worked so hard and to take home second is amazing!” Then finally The Smooth Operators came in first place with a time of 5.89 seconds. The team consisted of Bryan A., Parker C., and Darryl S. “We feel great! Everyone doubted us at first, but we came out strong and won it all!”

At approximately one o’clock all the team members and spectators started to disperse. They went to class, home, and back to work. The winning teams lingered longer to celebrate their victory. The other teams slowly trailed off. The 2010 Solar Car Races were over and they were fantastic. See you next year!

Alison H. ‘14

Eighth Grade Pinning Ceremony
June 3rd was a special day for the members of the Class of 2014. To mark the significance of their passage from Middle School to Upper School, a Pinning Ceremony was held on the Upper Plaza. After a welcome from James Skrumbis, Head of School, their grade level leader, Ms. Jenny Hernandez, gave them parting advice, their president, Miranda L., recounted the memories they shared as a class, and classmate Mia R. shared memories of her Sierra Canyon experience. Mrs. Irene Allert, Middle School Director, addressed the importance of courage, followed by the pinning of each student by his/her Advisor.

Mr. Fred Melcher, a teacher who was chosen by the students to speak, reminded the students about the importance of hope. The symbolism of our school seal, which is on the pins that the students received, was explained by Mr. Sanjé Ratnavale, Upper School Director, who also welcomed the students to 9th grade. After the ceremony, the Class of 2014 went to Universal CityWalk for lunch at the Hard Rock Café.

Pinning Ceremony Slideshow

Lindsey E. ’14 Places First in Optimists Oratorical Contest
Three days after culminating her Middle School experience at the 8th Grade Pinning Ceremony, Lindsey E. ‘14 presented her speech on “Cyber Communication: Progress or Problem?” at the final competition of the Optimists Oratorical Contest. Coached by English teacher Fred Melcher, Lindsey won the first round in April, advanced to and won the second round in May, and faced winners from other Southern California schools in the final round on Sunday, June 6th in Santa Maria. Speaking within the five-minute time limit, she impressed judges with her memorized presentation, her animated delivery, and the power of her writing. The Optimists Club awarded Lindsey with a $2,500 scholarship that will go in her name to the college of her choice after she graduates from high school. Congratulations, Lindsey!

Le Grand Concours 2010
On Saturday, May 15th, three highly dedicated and talented students, Jackson R. ‘14, Arnav C. ‘14, and Fiona R. ‘14, received the accolades from the American Association of Teachers of French at the 2010 National French Contest for their exceptional accomplishment. Jackson achieved the rank of 8th in the nation, Arnav and Fiona both ranking 10th.

This year over 100,100 students participated in the 2010 National French Contest throughout the nation, including 2,272 in Southern California. This year, for the first time at Sierra Canyon School, the French National exam was administered to 31 students in 7th and 8th grades. In addition to the students’ achievement already mentioned, nine students achieved a rank of honorable mention.

Honorable Mention
Alexi C. ‘15
Madison F. ‘14
Jessica F. ‘14
Madison H. ‘14
Scott L. ‘14
Claire M. 14
Chelsea M. ‘14
Deepika S. ‘14
Camille S. ‘14
Tess W. ‘14

This is a great success and I extend my congratulations to all recipients and also to all participants. Felicitations a tous!

Ines du Cos de La Hitte
French Teacher

Athletics

Middle School Sports Awards
During a Middle School Assembly on May 19th, the following sports awards were given. Congratulations to these outstanding student-athletes!

Coaches’ Award
This award is presented to the student-athletes who brought pride, unity, and hustle to their team by their enthusiasm, dependability, vitality, and unfailing spirit. The positive, can-do attitude of these student-athletes provided inspiration and encouragement to their teammates, no matter what the score and no matter what the circumstances.

Athlete of the Year
This award is presented to four students in Middle School, one boy and one girl each from seventh and eighth grades. An Athlete of the Year is a student-athlete who was a top athlete on his/her respective team and consistently demonstrated outstanding athleticism, sportsmanship, and good citizenship on and off the playing field. In addition, an Athlete of the Year embodies all of the qualities of a Trailblazer and represented his/her team and our School with pride.

Go Trailblazers!