Graduation Leis on Sale now!  New

Congratulations to the Class of 2015 and their families! Fresh Hawaiian leis are a great way to celebrate this momentous achievement. Order yours now and pick it up at Paly on the day of graduation. Go to http://www.palycheer.net and click on Graduation Leis.  Don't forget a lei for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or siblings!  It's a great way to include them in the celebration and we have several colors to choose from. All profits benefit the Paly Spirit Squad, so you're also giving back as you honor your own Paly student!

ABSOLUTE DEADLINE to Purchase Tickets for Senior Picnic and Grad Night Party  New 

MAY 22nd ABSOLUTE DEADLINE for Seniors to Purchase tickets to attend the PALY Senior Picnic and the Senior Grad Night Party. If you haven't bought your senior's ticket, do so today. We want all of the awesome Class of 2015 to attend these PALY traditional celebrations held just for them! We cannot accept reservations after May 22nd, Friday. Info on how to purchase tickets can be found on Paly.net, just click on the "Everything Senior" link. Any Questions contact, Barb Schroder, bschroder@sbcglobal.net 

Appeal to Junior Parents  New 

Traditionally Paly's Junior class hosts a Reception for the graduating Seniors and for more than 3,000 family and friends immediately following the Graduation Ceremony. Contributions of both time and dollars are greatly appreciated!

How can you help?  There are 3 ways:

(1) Donate to the event!

Suggested donation of $25 (or more) may be made by check payable to Shelly Pederson and sent to 45 Alannah Ct. Palo Alto, 94303.  Donations will be accepted through May 31.  We are nearing our goal but additional funds are needed!  Any remaining funds will be donated to our (2016) class fund for our seniors graduation activities.  And remember, next year's Juniors will host this event for our class. 

(2) Volunteer at the event!

Many hands make for light work and you will get an insider's preview to the Graduation Ceremony.  There will be two Fun shifts on June 3.  First Shift  4-6:30:Cutting up fruit and helping to set up. Second Shift: 6:30-8pm help with set up/replenish food tables as needed/clean up.  Indicate your availability in this Google doc 

(3) Bakers!

We need 30 volunteers to make 4 dozen homemade cookies and 10 volunteers to make 4 dozen brownies.  Please deliver to Paly Kitchen by 4:00 pm June 3.  ALL BAKED GOODS MUST BE NUT FREE.

Thank you for paying it forward!

Graduation Reception Co-Chairs-- Shelly Pederson (sped1728@gmail.com) Lisa Branson (bransonlisab@gmail.com) Kelly Cook (kellyccook@gmail.com)

May 26, 27, 28, Jun 1, 2, Library/Student Center

This amazing program was started 4 years ago and serves dinner to students who are studying for finals in the library during the extended hours of 4 - 8 pm. The nights for the program will be May 26th, May 27th and May 28th, June 1st and June 2nd. Dinner is served from 5:30 - 6 in the Student Center. Staff are available to help students during the  extended hours. If you are available to help coordinate the food for these very appreciated dinner please contact Mary Ellen Bena, mbena@pausd.org. 

www.acs-teens.org or Merrett Sheridan, Paly Site Director (650) 833-4244.  Read http://www.acs-teens.org/dating-violence-is-your-teen-at-risk/ 

Paly Sports Boosters meeting  New

Wed, May 20th, 7pm, Anderson/Look home, 1401 Parkinson Avenue 

Come to the May Paly Sports Boosters meeting at the home of co-president, Melissa Anderson. We'll get an update from Athletic Director, Jason Fung, recap of the auction success and hear about plans for the next school year including fundraising and construction.  

Baccalaureate Service 

New Summer Glass Workshops

May 23-24, June 6-7, June 20-21, July 11-12 9am-3pm at Paly's Glass Studio

New Fall & Winter schedule:   Sept. 12-13, Oct. 10-11, Nov. 14-15, Dec. 12-13

Due to popular demand, we added summer weekend glass workshops at Paly. Also check out the new Fall dates. Workshops do fill up fast, so sign up for a date. The 2 day weekend workshop will focus on beginning glass blowing techniques. It's a memorable, fun, hands-on experience. Repeating students progress from their last session. Advanced sign up required. Class limit is 4. Teens and adults. $375 per person. Open to the public. Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto High School Fiery Arts and Sculpture classes. Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto High School Fiery Arts. To sign up, contact: David Camner, founder of Paly Glass, dcamner@pausd.org.

Mental Health Awareness Month  New 

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, check out the following upcoming parent education events on teen stress co-sponsored by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and El Camino Hospital.
No registration is needed.  For more information, please go to http://www.pamf.org/mental-health.

Stress within the Asian Teen Community New  

Mon May 18, 11am-12pm, El Camino Hospital, Mountain View Campus, Conference Rooms A&B (Ground Floor)

Discussion will focus on awareness of cultural factors to consider in identification and treatment of mental health conditions for Asian American adolescents.

Teen Stress and Stress Management New 

Mon, May 18, 12-1pm, El Camino Hospital, Mountain View Campus, Conference Rooms A&B (Ground Floor)
Dr. Becker will discuss the different stressors faced by teens and adaptive ways that they can manage. A focus of the presentation will be on the importance of sleep and opportunities for parents to encourage healthy habits.  

Youth ages 14-18 Needed for Stanford University Study on Mood and Sleep New

Ongoing Stanford Study
My name is Anda Gershon, Ph.D., and I am a researcher in the Department of Psychiatry at Stanford University. I am currently conducting a research study that investigates how sleep dysregulation might influence mood in adolescents with and without bipolar disorder. I am recruiting youth ages 14-18. This is a paid study that will involve a visit to the Stanford Psychiatry department, two nights of sleep assessment at home, and three weeks of short daily questionnaires about mood and sleep. Participants will also wear a watch-like device that measures movement. At least one parent must agree to be interviewed during the visit to Stanford. Participants will be compensated up to $215 for participating in this study. For more information, please contact the Daily REST Study team at dailyrest@stanford.edu or 650-736-2689.

Classroom Volunteers Needed in September - An Hour a Week Could Change a Student's Life

Ongoing

Looking for parents to sign up now to begin volunteering in September to assist in K-4 classrooms one hour per week in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park.  Assist teachers in the classroom with individualized instruction much like you may have done in your own child's school.  These classes in the Ravenswood district have no parents helping and no PTA -- thevolunteers make a real difference. The organization provides orientation/training and coordinates everything. More Info? www.allstudentsmatter.org.  Have questions or want to sign up?  Contact Carolyn Blatman at CBlatman@aol.com    

Palo Alto Children's Theater presents Hot Dog Season 

Thurs, May 21, 4-5:30 p.m. Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Rd.

Join in on the first and third Tuesdays every month for special writing prompts, guest speakers and more! It's a great way to practice writing skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Thurs, May 28, 7-9 p.m. Rinconada Library, Embarcadero Room, 1213 Newell Rd.

Francisco Jim�nez reads from his new book in his award-winning memoir series, Taking Hold: From Migrant Childhood to Columbia University. Jim�nez leaves everything behind in California - a loving family, a devoted girlfriend, and the culture that shaped him-to attend Columbia University in New York. Register HERE for this free event.

Paly Math Camp 

Mathcounts Camp: 6/15-19, 1-4 pm, Jordan Middle School

AMC Camp: 6/22-26, 1-4 pm, Jordan Middle School

Paly Math Camp offers individually paced training and one-on-one teaching, with rigorous curriculum taught by former USAMO/USAJMO and AIME qualifiers as well as a math teacher, all from Palo Alto high schools. These camps will be suitable for any student who enjoys math and will be fun for students of all ages and math levels. Mathcounts Camp is intended for incoming PAUSD middle schoolers who want to learn problem-solving techniques geared more towards Mathcounts. AMC Camp is intended for PAUSD students who want to learn problem-solving techniques geared more towards the AMC 8 and AMC 10 series. If you are interested in registering, please fill out the following form: http://goo.gl/forms/Ritq14Bb2s.Contact palymathclub@gmail.com

SummerArts@Menlo Classes for Grades 6-12

Mon-Fri, June 22-26, 9am-3pm, Menlo School, Atherton

Menlo School is pleased to announce the 2015 session of SummerArts@Menlo! To visit our website, Click here Classes will be held on the Menlo School campus in the new Creative Arts and Design Center, a beautiful space to create art. Classes will include Musical Theater, Studio Art, Contemporary Dance and Hip Hop, Percussion, Acting, Creative Writing, Photography, and Sculpture/Installation. Instructors include Menlo School faculty as well as professional guest artists.

Fees: $375 plus materials. Questions? summerarts@menloschool.org Course descriptions and sign up available here: https://www.menloschool.org/experience/summer-arts-menlo.php 

Relay for Life Palo Alto

Filmmaking Summer Workshop for Teen Directors and Actors 

Mon, Aug. 3-Fri. Aug. 7, 10am-4pm, Cubberley Center, 4000 Middlefield Rd.

A Theatre Near U Film Academy offers joint workshops in film directing & film acting for 13-18 year old artists. Join ATNU's 2015 Summer filmmaking workshop. Held from 10am until 4pm every day, directors and actors will watch films, dissect films, and make short films throughout the week long session. The intensive will provide 30 hours of in-depth training, in-person and/or Skype discussions with current film industry experts and, some original video to take home and share. Directing Fee $425.00, Acting Fee $250.00. Info & register http://atheatrenearu.org/home/category/slate/

Executive Function Boot Camp  

Summer 2015! (GUNN High & Near Sequoia High School.)

Got Disorganization? (Academic, Time Management, Thinking, Planning)  Had too many academic camps and tutors without successfully getting your kiddo to organize his/her thoughts, writing, backpack, assignments/projects, reading, time management, and note taking? That may be because your child needs a different kind of approach--a therapeutic intervention for Executive Function (or dysfunction of the centers of the brain that deal with organization, prioritization, impulse control, sifting, sequencing, self awareness (metacognition), higher order thinking with reading comp and writing, visualization for short/long term memory, conceptually understand & sensing time for estimating, predicting, & more. It's 34 hours of therapy over a two week boot camp (but only half day so your kiddos don't burn out), then follow through at school and w/parents. Email exfunctionbootcamp@gmail.com for details.