Testimonials

Experienced Parents, Students and Staff Speak Out

Nicole Savage (Palisades High Senior)

My name is Nicole Savage and I’m a senior at Palisades Charter High School. I’ve attended the Palisades Charter Complex from the beginning, Marquez Elementary, Revere Middle School, and Pali High. Now, as President of the Pali Ambassadors, I enlist students to conduct tours of our high school so we can share all the wonderful things about it.

What can I tell you about my experience over the last twelve years? It’s been great. I have friends I first met in Kindergarten, I’ve had some of the finest teachers ever and learned more than I can even remember. Some of my best experiences centered on music. Beginning in 3^rd grade, I took up the flute and joined the Marquez Orchestra. The program was run by Mr. Newman; and in addition to playing concerts at school, I also participated in the Honors Orchestra, which rehearsed for a one-time concert at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall. It was an amazing experience, playing before a huge audience, with top musicians from a number of different elementary schools. I continued to play for all three years at Paul Revere, in an incredible music program run by Ms. Jacques and Mr. Miyoshi. We played two concerts a year in Revere’s beautiful auditorium. There were over 400 musicians in the program and ten different orchestral groups. For two years, I was a member of the Symphony, which rehearsed two days a week and included the school’s top musicians. When the Symphony played, many in the audience thought we sounded as if we were professionals.

When I began at Pali High, I stopped playing my flute, instead opting for volleyball and soccer. But in my junior year, I discovered the Concert Choir and our amazing Director, Mr. Elson. He is enthusiastic, creative, and not only encourages us to be great singers but also great people. I have Concert Choir sixth period and I can’t think of a better way to end my school day. The Choir presents two major concerts a year and three Coffee House Fundraisers, where we sing as a group but also perform solos. In the spring, we travel up the State, singing at churches and community centers, with a major concert in San Francisco. What an awesome experience!!

My school years in the Palisades Complex have defined my childhood. They’ve given me a community and friends I think I’ll keep for a lifetime. Academically, socially, musically, athletically – I’ve been given all the opportunities imaginable. And now I’m using that experience to apply to college. Next year, I hope to be attending one of my top choices: Stanford, Harvard or Yale; and I owe a lot of those possibilities to the schools that have shaped my life.