Pali Institute Blog

Wow, what a day it has been. From early morning hail showers to scattered thundershowers, we have definitely been on our toes all day. I can say that this is not our typical June weather. Usually we are experiencing temperatures in the low 70s with sunny skies.

But when we do receive this unexpected weather, all that we can do is adapt and be flexible. This involves changing class schedules where needed, moving outdoor classes indoors, and above all, making sure our students are having a great time.

And we are happy to say that the students of Tijeras Creek and Wagon Wheel are having a great time. They have been troopers today and have not let the overcast skies dampen their enthusiasm. This added challenge to the week has ensured that none of us has fallen into the dreaded “June Swoon.”

While Thursday’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and highs in the low 60s, we will keep our fingers crossed. No matter what Mother Nature throws our way, Pali Institute will keep providing its high level programming.

Have a great day, and stay dry!!!

As Memorial Day nears, we are preparing for the end of our Winter/Spring 2009 season. It is that time of year where we start saying “see you later” to our staff members. With the summer camp season quickly approaching, many staff members are gearing up for their summer adventures.

At this time, we would like to say “see you later” to four staff members who have either finished their season at Pali, or who will be finishing their season this week.

Marion and Andy - Good luck in your future endeavors on the East Coast. It has been a joy, an honor, and a privilege to have worked with you.

Alissa and Greg - Have fun in Minnesota and Coastal California this summer. We cannot wait to hear about your amazing adventures in August.

After Memorial Day, Pali Institute has three weeks of programming left. As we look towards the end of the 2008-2009 school year, we cannot help but reflect on the new friendships made and experiences had.

Happy Memorial Day, and enjoy the unofficial start of summer.

Throughout the school year, Pali Institute sees a fairly even split of 3 day and 5 day school trips. It is rare when all but one school in a given week is a 5 day trip.

This was the case the week of May 11-15. Of the six schools that visited, 5 were scheduled for 5 day trips. This was truly a unique opportunity for our staff to make lasting connections with the students that came. We were able to learn a great deal about the students lives, where they come from, and who they are.

We would like to thank the students and teachers from Northpark Elementary School, Pinecrest Canyon Country School, Hillsborough School, Adat Ari El Day School, Temple Israel of Hollywood Day School, and the Oakwood School for making this week “another great week of OE.”

What our staff has learned this week from the students will stay with us forever. We hope that we were able to make the same impact on your lives as you made on ours.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Pali Institute would like to extend some belated Happy Mother’s Day wishes to all of our staff’s mothers, all who work at Pali that are mothers, and to all of our visiting teachers that are mothers. Without the love and support of mothers, we would not be the people who we are today.

Speaking of mom and family, the Pali Institute family actually comes together from all over the United States and abroad. Even though we are located in Southern California, only 4 of our staff members are California born and raised. Being able to draw staff from the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, the Northeast, and abroad, Pali Institute’s program consists of our WASC and AEE accredited curriculum and the experiences of our instructors. Our instructors impart the culture of their hometowns to students, and students share the culture of Southern California to our instructors.

More information regarding the Pali Institute staff can be found in the “Staff Profiles” section of our webpage. Also, if you are interested in applying for a position at Pali Institute, please visit the “Employment” section of our website. We would love to add you to the ever growing and diverse Pali Institute family.

Now that the month of May is upon us, Pali Institute will be looking forward to sunny skies, warm temperatures, and a busy month. Throughout this month, we will see 26 school groups here at Pali. This is our busiest month of the school year based on the number of schools attending. Students will be coming from far and wide: LA, Orange, and San Diego counties in California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona.

This week we are pleased to welcome students from Rancho Pico Junior High School, Kirk O’ The Valley School, Pinecrest School Woodland Hills, and the Summit School of Ahwatukee in Arizona.

On a side note, speaking of “May Flowers,” the Pali Greenhouse is looking great. Recent plantings include a 1,400 square foot flower bed of native wildflowers along with an apple tree. This has been a great addition to our curriculum, and a student favorite.

Well, the weather at Pali has taken a turn for the warmer this week. After receiving a light dusting of snowfall Tuesday night into Wednesday morning of last week, we are experiencing sunshine and HIGHS in the mid 60s to mid 70s. While the temperatures are on the rise, the weather can be unpredictable from day to day, so check the forecast before your scheduled trip.

Pali Institute is also happy to welcome students from Las Vegas this week. Martha P King Elementary School and St. Viator School students are here learning in our beautiful mountain environment. Throughout the rest of this school year and into next, we are tickled to have the opportunity to educate a fast growing number of students from Las Vegas.

Pali Institute is on Spring Break from March 30 - April 3, 2009. We will resume our programming on April 6, 2009 when we have 3 schools arriving. This Spring Break is much deserved after Pali saw over 1,800 students in the month of March. That is an average of 450 students per week. We are proud to say that March 2009 was the busiest month Pali Institute has ever seen.

Take Care, and thank you to everyone who made March 2009 a great success.

Pali Institute is excited to be hosting Etiwanda Intermediate School and Heritage Intermediate School this week! We have a fun week planned, with a ton of exciting classes and activities. Our staff is getting pumped up and getting things ready for you all as I write this blog! The weather and the scenery are beautiful. We are expecting cold to mild weather this week, with temperatures in the high 50s during the day and dipping into the low 30s at night. We can’t wait to see you here!