Tiger Paws Newsletter - SPHS PTSA -June 2014
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June 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
Honorary Service Awards
Senior Grad Night
Reflections
Dr. Phil Fundraiser
Thank you to our volunteers
Principal's Message
A message from the PTSA President
Counselors' Corner
Wish Night
Senior Scholarships
Paper Drive
Class Notes
A Message from the 2014/15 PTSA
President
Honorary Service Awards
2014
Honorary School Service Awards
Presented May 21, 2014
Carol Rush - Certificate of
Appreciation Comfort Dogs - Therese Molina
Certificate of Appreciation
Comfort Dogs - Diane Larson Certificate of Appreciation
Joel Osman
Certificate Of Appreciation
Natasha Prime - HSSA
David Baughman - HSSA
Robert MacTavish - HSSA
Julie Giulioni - HSSA
Colleen Donovan DSSA
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A Message From Our Principal ___________________________________________________
I once heard that after reaching the age of
twenty-one, the years seem to fly by. Do
you remember when you thought that
Christmas or your birthday would never
come?! Now, they whiz by, as do our
school years. The academic years each
leave a lasting imprint, as each is different
and each is special. I usually feel that I
really need more than four years with our
students to enjoy their individual
contributions, so it seems that they leave
us too soon. Reality is, however, that they
are ready to fly and ready to excel elsewhere as they have done at
SPHS.
This year, due to a combination of hard work and excellence in
academics and co-curricular activities, we are sending the SPHS Class
of 2014 off across the country and beyond. Another key ingredient
was the outreach our counselors made to connect with a variety of
public and private institutions with a great variety of emphases to
offer students. As a result, in addition to the many students going off
to various University of California campuses (10 to Cal and 12 to UCLA,
for example) and Cal States (41 students, total), the students are
spanning out from Art Center College of Design (3), to USC (15),
Stanford (2), U. Penn (2), Columbia College Chicago (5), NYU (5), and
all points in between and beyond! For a full view of the wonderful
things our students are doing next year, please see the June 5th
edition of Tiger
that includes the map of schools, majors, employment, or military
enlistment. Meanwhile, while still on campus, our students and staff have
continued to commit to their community philanthropy and also gain
recognition for a wide range of activities. Sophia Arriola was awarded
second place in the Los Angeles Music Center's Spotlight Awards, for
all of Southern California, for her evocative photography. Helena
Roberts-Mataric took first place in Botball, a robotics competition, and
Lauren Williams won best in show at the SoPas Gallery, and Mrs. Judy
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Tiger Paws Newsletter - SPHS PTSA -June 2014
Farewell to our Seniors
Congratulations
GRADUATES
Enjoy Grad Night! The Grad Night tradition continues
for the Class of 2014 with an unforgettable dusk
'til dawn celebration! The graduates
will start their evening cruising in
Marina del Rey aboard a luxury
yacht. After enjoying music, dancing
and noshing on tasty treats on board
the FantaSea Yacht, the charter
buses will whisk the grads to enjoy
non-stop action at SpeedZone in the
City of Industry arriving back in
South Pasadena in the early
morning. Thanks to the grad night committee
of Karinna Irribarren and Mark Wilson
for creating a safe and memorable
grad night. Reflections 2014
Page 2 of 7
Sammis was named SPHS Teacher of the Year, to mention just a few
recent events. Ms. Moonesinghe's Calculus students provided prefinals mathematics tutoring for all levels of students and raised,
through donations, over $3,000 for the instrumental music program. Mr. Garrett Shorr held a contest for students and staff to cut off
twenty inches of his hair to be donated to Wigs for Kids. In addition
to donating the hair, financial donations were shared between the
Computer Club and Wigs for Kids. I would like to mention, as well,
that Michael Messian from Ecco Salon got into the act and gave Mr.
Shorr a new 'do (gratis).
At SPHS, we work really hard. We play hard, on and off the fields and
courts and pool. We appreciate one another, and we are a
family. With that family feel, there is immense pride in the
accomplishments of our students. There is also sadness when our
seniors move on to their next ventures. Luckily, we are assured that
we will always share the connection of being SPHS Tigers, and that is a
bond not to be broken. This is also the time when we welcome our
Tiger Cubs from SPMS and start the process all over with an
excitement about what these four years will mean for each of them. Bittersweet and energizing, all at once.
As we send off the Class of 2014 and welcome the Class of 2018 (Yikes
- 2018!!), I would like to share a quote that takes a more global
perspective, one that I shared with our staff and asked them to share
with students. It comes from Marian Wright Edelman, the founder of
the Children's Defense Fund: "Be a good ancestor. Stand for something
bigger than yourself. Add value to the earth during your sojourn." I
am confident that with the preparation from SPUSD and their
important and intense time at SPHS, the Class of 2014, and
those that follow, will do just that.
Thank you, PTSA and all families, for the support that created another
great year at SPHS. For most of the summer, I am still available
through email at janderson@fc.spusd.net. Enjoy a wonderful
summer. If it's like January-June, it will be by in a flash!
Janet Anderson
Reflections Theme 2014 "The World Would Be A Better A Message from the PTSA President
Place...."
Art must be submitted by
October, 2014.
Click here for more information.
Dr. Phil Fundraiser
Save the Date
September 15
Hello SPHS PTSA Community
Thank you for your support of the PTSA this
year.
It has been an honor to serve as your president.
Your gifts of becoming PTSA members, volunteering for BINGO,
attending parent programs, donations to wish night providing supplies
to the teachers and classrooms, and helping with teacher/staff
luncheons are some examples of the many activities that the PTSA
provides through your support. 
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Tiger Paws Newsletter - SPHS PTSA -June 2014
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Click here for more information I end my years of PTSA involvement with fond memories of meeting so
many people who care so very much for students and SPHS.
on our Dr. Phil Fundraiser.
Thank you to all of our
volunteers!
Copy Paper Drive
Cindy Oda Juliette Kurth Susan Ueki Colleen Donovan Michelle Richards Marie Pineda Kate Gibson Yi Pi Chiu Lin Regine Verougstraete Ruth Torres Julie Giulioni Katie Clark Special appreciation is given to the executive board and committee
members who have made my years of service so fulfilling and
productive for SPHS and the PTSA. The PTSA is so fortunate to continue
in the good hands of Deb McCurdy and the new PTSA officers. A huge
welcome to Deb and her team!
As I reflect further I want to say Congratulations to the CLASS OF 2014.
You are an amazing group of students that have represented your
school well. GO TIGERS!
I will close with a favorite quote:
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Dr. Suess
Wishing you a Wonderful Summer,
Colleen Donovan Counselors' Corner Hospitality Committee
Lisa Cavelier
Kelly Conte
Colleen Donovan
Marion Figueroa
Desiree Franco
Linda Huang
Chris Kohler
Teri Lee
Gail Lee
Alexandria Levitt
Kathleen Martin
Mika Nakagawa
Cindy Oda
Patricia Pinto-Mena
Michele Richards
DeMarais Riley
Julie Soma
Karen Tang
Lindy Yuen
Hospitality Food Donations
Maria Agnes Ablay
H. Susan An
Sam Anuakpado
Mahnaz Arbab
Veronique Avendano
Ruth Ballenger
Leslyn Barrone
Susan Bays
Debra Beadle
Cyndi Bemel
Wendy Lamb Bross
Leighann Burick
Florence Bush
Leticia Bustinduy
Ana M. Camacho
Katrina Campbell
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SPHS Counseling Corner
June 2014
Congratulations to the CLASS of 2014! We are very ecstatic and
honored to inform the community of South Pasadena to pick up the
latest Tiger Newspaper. Our diligent and energetic seniors have
earned many scholarships and are looking forward to funding their
college education with the money earned. According to the Tiger's
annual senior survey and communication with our seniors, we are
honored to report that our students have been accepted to prestigious
universities throughout the nation. The majority of the seniors will be
staying in California; an approximate 76.1% and 23.5% will be
attending a four year college out of state. Additionally we have 0.4 %
planning to attend college internationally. We will be having seniors
attending Stanford University, USC, Pitzer College, Pomona College,
Scripps, San Francisco Art Institute, Art Center of Design, UCLA, CAL,
UCSB, UCR, UCI, UCD, UCSD, CSULA, CSUF, Harvey Mudd, University of
Penn, Brown University, Wesleyan University, New York University,
Bryn Mawr College, Middlebury College, Rice, University, Washington
University, in St. Louis, and many other well-known colleges.
SPHS Counseling Team
PTSA Wish Night 2013 - 2014
On behalf of the 2013-14 PTSA Wish Night Committee, it is our pleasure
to report on another successful Wish Night Program. This year, Wish
Night raised $24,584 and funded grant applications to 63 individual
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Tiger Paws Newsletter - SPHS PTSA -June 2014
Karen Carter
Miriam Castillo
Lilia Castillo
Mary Chambers
Mingyi Chang
Ping Chen
Christine Chin
Jerilyn Chun
Melanie Ciccone
Marjorie Crowley
Elizabeth Daley
Alissa Dimock
Claudia Eggert
Yvonne Enriquez
Traci Escamilla
Carrie Folker
Paulina Fuster
Lea Gerodiaz
Julie Gower
Terre Griley
Autumn Lea Hamme
Beate Hathaway
Sherry Hodge
Esther Huang
Isabel Jang
Nancy Jones
Donna Judkins
Heidi Kato
Jennifer Kelley
Mary Kubacki
Scott Lane
Shauna Lee
Anita Lee
Sophia Li
Nobuko & Peter Maguire
Muse Mak
Elda Marquez
Joan Martinez
Rowela Matos
James Mbugua
Leticia Mendez
Nora Mendoza-Mohamadzadeh
Samantha Montes
Claudia Mostert
Christina Mullin
Imelda L. Nava
Nadine Ninomiya
Lena Ogita
Hope Perello
Karin Primuth
Mari Radzik
Mila Renken
Synthia Rios
Sarah Roberts
Kim Rollert
Heidi Sanders
Kathryn Schroeder
Lauren Schwab
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classroom teachers. Thanks to our generous SPHS families, this year's
total resulted in funding for 9 additional classrooms!
Wish Night continues to provide vital funding for our classroom
teachers. Thanks to the support of so many SPHS families, Wish Night
has been able to continue to help bridge the gap in funding available
for classroom supplies and educational resources. In these difficult
financial times, this funding becomes even more essential to our
teachers.
This year's Wish Night grants provided items for all grade levels of
Math, Science, English, Social Science, Foreign Language and Art,
including Statistics, Calculus, Finance, Theatre, Woodshop, Graphic
Design, Photography, Painting & Drawing and Special Education. Thanks to every family who helped make a difference in the lives of
our SPHS students and teachers. Your support is sincerely appreciated
and does make a difference. We look forward to your continued
support in 2014-15.
Alexandria Levitt, Wish Night Committee Chair
For a complete list of purchased items click here
Senior Scholarships
Congratulations to the
Senior Scholarship Recipients 2014
1ST DISTRICT PTA COMMEMORATIVE AWARD OF $500
Rhiannon Moore
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE SCHOLARSHIPS OF $500 PER RECIPIENT.
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Tiger Paws Newsletter - SPHS PTSA -June 2014
Dianna Scudari
Jean Shibasaki
Pam Shishima
Suzette Shults
Jennine Smith
Beth Snowden-Ifft
Darlene Sparks
BonnieTang
Ericka Thompson
Miho Tyszka
Susan Ueki-Gilmartin
Luz Uriate
Ann Voyer
Wendy Wang
Teresa Watanabe
Michelle Weetman
David & Diedre Wong
Suzanne Wright-Nava Page 5 of 7
Arthur Puu
Blair Newman
Corrine Marangi
Jason Wang
Karinna Loo
Copy Paper Drive
Honorary Service Awards
Joan Aguado
Kathleen Michel
Janet Anderson
Kate Gibson
Colleen Donovan Honorary Service Luncheon
Kathleen Michel
Colleen Donovan
Cindy Oda
Chris Kohler Teachers
welcome the No Fuss Copy Paper Drive Drive Nominating committee
Lindy Yuen
Ann Foster
Cindy Oda
Stephanie Foley
Deb McCurdy
Pictured are Kathleen Michel and Colleen Donovan presenting teachers
Audrey Toth, Anthony Chan, Sandy Bishop, with the donated copy
paper. Mini Grants
Class Notes
Suzette Shults
Kate Gibson
Colleen Donovan
Debra Beadle Senior breakfast donations
Stephanie Foley
Colleen Donovan
Chris Kohler
Dana Farrar
Susan Bays
Kate Gibson
Ching-hua Chang
Michelle Loo
Katrina Campbell
Lilia Hidalgo
Sorry if we missed your name but
many thanks. Grad Night
Mark Wilson
Karina Irribarren
Julie Gower
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It is finally time for the Class of 2014 to say
Farewell to SPHS. We appreciate
everything that the PTSA has done for us
these past four years. We are wrapping up
graduation planning. On Wednesday night,
we had the Senior Awards Night where
selected seniors were awarded scholarships
and were given recognition for their service to SPHS. We said goodbye
to the rest of the school at the Farewell Assembly last Thursday where
a few tears were shed. On Sunday night, we dressed in our graduation
best and watched performances and speeches from our talented
classmates for the last time before graduation. We hope to see you at the ceremony on Wednesday, which starts at
5PM on the football field. Tickets are required.
I have had a fantastic senior year and I would like to extend a huge
thank you to everyone who supported the Class of 2014 throughout the
years. Thank you and farewell!
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Tiger Paws Newsletter - SPHS PTSA -June 2014
James Jontz
Wendy Gutschow
Kim England
Lisa LeValley
Kate Gibson
Colleen Donovan
Kiwanis Club of South Pasadena Quick Links First District PTA
California State PTA
National PTA
Stay Up to Date!
Visit the PTSA Website located on
the SPHS Home Page for the latest
information. Page 6 of 7
For the past few months, the Juniors have
been tying up loose ends before Prom. On
April 30 we visited the site and discussed last
minute details before the dance on May 10.
The underclassmen worked coat check, while the upperclassmen
relaxed and had fun during the night. We sold over 500 tickets, which
was our goal, and with a caricature artist, magician, dinner, and photo
booths, I think everyone had a great time and that the dance was a big
success. After the dance, we threw an ice cream celebration for all of
those who helped out, and now we're done and waiting for school to
come to an end. Thank you all to those who have supported us
throughout the year, we really appreciate it!
Love, The Class of 2015
Katherine Uriatrte, Junior Secretary
Emmett Jang
Sophomore Secretary, Class of 2016
The end of the school year is imminent, and
our time as officers is ending. We had our
second to last event on the sixth, the
Annual Last Chance Dance. We had a
successful turnout, and students
appreciated the student performances,
from the two bands to the DJ. Our final project is lei selling leis for
people to present to the seniors after the graduation ceremony on
Wednesday. We have been selling them the past week at lunch and
have had sales at Open House and Baccalaureate. We plan to also sell
at Graduation, so keep an eye peeled! Thanks for a great year,
everyone.
Perah Ralin, Freshman Secretary
A Message from 2014/2015 SPHS PTSA President
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Well, another school year is just about to close -- one surrounded by
memories that will remain with us and with our students. I'd like to
wish the best of luck to all of our graduates. You have earned a place
in SPHS history and in the heart of our community -- well done! May
you continue to build on the work completed here and may the years
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ahead keep you ever curious and always exploring. In fact, that goes
for everyone, incoming freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors
alike! PTSA is honored to be a part of your educational journey!
I've thoroughly enjoyed being a part of PTSA as a Legislative Liaison
and I look forward to stepping in as President. Thank you, Colleen
Donovan, for your help, generous spirit and for the steady course you
provided. Your guidance and leadership was much appreciated and
very inspiring.
We've got a great crew on board for our executive PTSA next year, in
fact, a mostly fresh crew, and we are excited to continue to present
interesting forums for our parents, support our teachers and most of
all, positively impact our students' lives in school, at home and in the
community. We welcome you all to join us in this effort and to
participate in any and all events. Together we can work wonders!
I look forward to meeting you, getting to know you and to working
together. Enjoy your summer!
Deb McCurdy Forward email
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