Paly Link

A PTSA publication

Sunday, January 17, 2016
tower building drawing

The Paly Link is distributed on Sundays, except during school breaks and holidays.  Changes will be highlighted as New/Updated/Corrected.  To submit an article, see Submissions Guidelines.
Calendar
Monday
Jan. 18
MLK Day. NO Classes. New
Tuesday
Jan. 19
Friends of Paly Choir Meeting, 7:30pm, Library (Paly)
Wednesday
Jan. 20
Sports Booster Meeting, 7pm, 3180 Ross Road (Paly)
WednesdayJan. 27
Sophomore Parent Night,  7pm, Haymarket (Paly)
ThursdayJan. 28
What Parents & Teens Need to Know about Alcohol and Drugs (PTSA)
FridayJan. 29
Class of 2018 Parent Mtg, 8:30-10am, 526 Lowell Ave.  (Paly)
Wednesday
Feb. 3
Great Minds Speaker Series, "THE NEW DANGERS FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION", 7pm, MAC (Paly
New
PTSA and PTA AnnouncementsPTSA
Check out the Paly PTSA website
What Parents and Teens Need to Know about Alcohol and Drug Use  
Thurs, Jan. 28, 7:30-9pm, Library Conference Room
Speaker and facilitator:  Randall Ramirez, Unity Care
Part of growing up involves testing personal and social boundaries. This typically includes trying new things, including potentially harmful substances such as alcohol and drugs. Teens may be enticed to use alcohol and drugs due to stress, peer pressure, curiosity, or trying to emulate parents or adult behavior.
For this workshop, bring your teen and discover adolescent brain development and how alcohol and drugs affect the brain, the dangers of substance abuse and addiction, various drugs used by teens and their effects on the body, and what parents can do if they suspect their teen is using.
This workshop will be offered in English and Spanish.  Mandarin translation available.  Childcare will be available for families with young children. Please register via Event Brite using this link: Alcohol and Drug Workshop Any questions? Contact Dawn Billman at [email protected] or Lori Buecheler at [email protected]

PTAC Honorary Service Awards
Deadline for Nominations: Feb 12, 2016
Each year the Palo Alto Council of PTAs may bestow one of several California State PTA Honorary Service Awards to individuals or organizations that have demonstrated outstanding service to children and youth in our community.  The individuals or organization nominated must make far-reaching, notable contributions. The PTA Council HSA Committee selects persons or groups who have benefited children and youth on a district-wide or Palo Alto community level. If you know of someone or an organization that deserves to be honored at this level, please indicate their name so that they may be put into nomination when the committee meets to choose this year's recipients. The chosen recipients will be announced at our Honorary Service Award Breakfast April 22, 2016. Please use this Nomination Form to submit a nomination. Questions?  Contact [email protected]

Help for Families in Case of El Ni�o Evacuation/Flooding
The San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority recommends that families, including pets living in flood zones arrange to stay with other households in the event of evacuation or flooding during this El Ni�o winter. Super tides at the Baylands could make flooding worse/more likely. During the Super Bowl hotels and motels are expected to be full and therefore not an option for evacuees.
Are their any Paly families willing and able to take in another Paly family, possibly including pets for a few days in the event of such an emergency? Are their any Paly families who have reason to fear their homes may be evacuated or flooded and need alternate shelter until their homes are inhabitable?
If so, please email Liz Lee at [email protected] and I'll match families up. For families needing to arrange shelter, please include how many people are in your family and what pets you have. Better to have a plan and not need it than to need it and not have a plan. If you have any questions, call Liz Lee at 843-0413. Thanks!
 
Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed
The Paly Meals on Wheels program needs more volunteers to bring emergency meals to Paly families in crisis. If you're interested in being on the Meals on Wheels' list of volunteers, please email Liz Lee, Meals on Wheels Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected]. Please include your day and evening phone number(s).
Are you a family in crisis and in need of help with some dinners delivered to your door? Send an email and we'll try to help. Please include any dietary restrictions. Questions? Call me at 650 843-0413.
Paly ItemsPaly
paly viking ship logo


Adolescent Counseling Services Blog for Newsletter!  New 
Understanding and Coping with Anxiety
This article was written by Deborah Sloss, LCSW, our site supervisor at JLS Middle school. http://www.acs-teens.org/understanding-and-coping-with-anxiety/

School Commute Alert: Construction on Kingsley between Alma and Emerson
The City of Palo Alto Utilities Engineering Division will replace and upgrade the water utility distribution system on Kingsley between Alma and Emerson. See map on the second page here. Work will occur between the hours of 9am and 4pm for approximately one month. Construction will start on the south side of Embarcadero at Kingsley and Alma and will move to the north side of Embarcadero at Kingsley and Emerson. During construction, the affected blocks will be closed to vehicular traffic and detours will be posted. While the sidewalks will remain open, students who usually bike on the sidewalks on Embarcadero between 9am and 4pm are encouraged to avoid the Embarcadero Road underpass and use the Homer Avenue Tunnel or Churchill Road instead. See Paly's Walk and Roll Map for alternate routes. Questions about this project can be directed to Construction Engineer Marina Ezrina at 650-566-4519 or [email protected]

Advanced Authentic Research (AAR)
Advanced Authentic Research (AAR) is a new course offering for the 2016-17 school year and we would like to encourage all interested students to enroll.  AAR is a unique opportunity for students in grades 10-12 to do original research in an area of their choosing including Biochemistry, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, English, Government, History, Mathematics, Mathematics and Sports, Medicine, Music, Psychology, Social Science, Sound and Physics, and more.  Please check out the project our students are currently working on. https://aar.pausd.org/projects
Students will be paired with mentors/advisors who are experts in the field of the student's choosing.  The mentor will support and facilitate the student's work in the mentor's lab, office, or other appropriate environment. The student's research will be supported by the process-oriented curriculum developed by the AAR team. The curriculum is built on the following three key elements:  Personalized Learning, Integration of Knowledge and Process and Communication of Research Project.  The AAR program strives to fulfill our mission of nurturing student interest and igniting student passion through real world, hands on research. The expectation is that students will spend about 60 hours per semester (3-4 hours per week) on their project. The program is offered as a Pass/Fail option and will earn 5 credits per semester.   More information about the course can be found at http://aar.pausd.org/
Questions about the course can be directed to Deanna Chute.

Friends of Paly Choir Meeting
Tues, Jan. 19, 7:30pm, Library
Please join us as discuss choir plans for the spring semester.  Mr. Najar and Ms. Kerby have a lot planned including the Pops concert, the Spring concert, choir festivals and the kickoff to the 50th Anniversary of the Paly Madrigals' Feaste!  Questions? Contact us at [email protected]

Future of Humanity Seminar for Paly Students  New
Tuesday, Jan 19, 1:50 - 2:55 pm and following tutorial periods, Paly Room 219
Paly students are invited to join in a weekly seminar on The Future of Humanity led by Alan Walworth, a Paly parent with a Ph.D. in Philosophy from U.C. Berkeley. In addition to learning about this important and interesting subject through readings, videos, and discussion, students who wish to will have an opportunity to develop research and writing skills by authoring essays on topics related to the future of humanity. For additional details, please see http://future.yousa.net. Contact: Alan Walworth, [email protected].

Paly Sports Boosters Meeting
Wed, Jan. 20, 7pm, Weinstein home, 3180 Ross Road
Come to the first Paly Sports Boosters meeting of the calendar year at the home of co-president, Christy Weinstein. We'll get an update from Athletic Director Kathi Bowers about the winter sports season, as well as plans for the start of spring season. We're gearing up for our annual auction scheduled for Saturday, April 30th - come hear how you and your team can help with the effort!

Title: Girls Lacrosse Tryouts  New
Thurs, Jan 21, 7:30, LCR (Library Conference Room)
This is a pre-tryout informational meeting for anyone interested in joining the girls lacrosse program.  We will cover tryout expectations and questions about the season.

Sophomore Parent Night
Wed Jan. 27, 7pm, Haymarket Theatre
Please join us for an informational presentation for parents of sophomores.  Topics to include:
Life of a Sophomore, Academic Planning, Course Selective Process Overview, Role of the Teacher Advisor, What Can Parents Do?, Thinking About Post-High School Options, Gearing Up for the College Search, and more.

Class of 2018 (Sophomores) Parent Network Meeting
Fri, Jan. 29, 8:30-10 am, home of Lauren Bonomi, 526 Lowell Ave.(between Cowper & Webster)
Charles Taylor (Class of 2018 Guidance Counselor) will discuss course selection for junior year. We recommend arriving at the meeting a few minutes early, as it is necessary to start Mr. Taylor's talk promptly at 8:30 a.m. If you havegeneral questions for Charles Taylor on issues other than junior year course selection, please send them to Julie Tomz or Julia Kossack by 5:00pm Tue., Jan. 26.
We look forward to seeing you there! Questions? Contact Julia Kossack ([email protected]) or Julie Tomz ([email protected] )

'Great Minds' Speaker Series "The New Dangers for Freedom of Expression." Jeffrey Herbst  New
Weds. Feb. 3, 7pm, Media Arts Center
Paly's Media Arts Boosters continues its 'Great Minds at Campus' speaker series held in the Media Arts Center. Join NEWSEUM President/CEO, Jeffrey Herbst, for a conversation on "The New Dangers for Freedom of Expression."  Headquartered in Washington D.C., the Newseum is the only organization in the world dedicated to free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. Tickets are $10 adult/ $5 student, and must be purchased in advance through paly-macgmac-newseum.eventbrite.com. Proceeds benefit Paly's Media Arts Boosters, which supports projects and initiatives of Paly's various media arts programs. Please contact Michele Dulik with questions, [email protected].

Paly Athletics - Spring Season Important Information
Ongoing
The first day of SPRING SPORTS tryouts for non-winter athletes is MONDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2016. In order to participate in sports at Paly including tryouts, a student must be medically CLEARED. This includes registering OR updating/re-enrolling in the APPRYSE system AND having on file (with the APPRYSE system) a physical that is dated after 5/15/15. Per CCS rules, physicals are only good for one year and must be up-to-date for the entire season. Please go to http://www.paly.net/athletics/athletics and use the link for registration in the upper left hand corner (with instructions!) Please do this well before Feb 1st!  The Paly Athletic Dept will no longer accept paper registration or non-APPRYSE physical forms.  Once you have enrolled or updated the APPRYSE system, you will be able to download the proper physical form to bring to your doctor. Thanks so much for your help with this - the spring season has the most participants and getting your athlete registered well before the deadline will be a tremendous help.

Fiery Arts Glass Workshops at Palo Alto High School
March 19-20, April 16-17, May 21-22, June 4-5, 9-3 pm at Paly's Glass Studio
Yes, we have a glass studio at Paly.  These workshops are open to the public, students and parents. Here's your chance to learn to blow glass at Paly. Workshops do fill up, so, do not hesitate, sign up for a date. The 2 day weekend workshop will focus on beginning glass blowing techniques. It's an incredible, 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. Proceeds benefit the Palo Alto High School Fiery Arts. Workshop flyer To sign up, contact: David Camner, founder of Paly Glass, [email protected]
College & Career Center CCC
 
Keep up-to-date with Paly College and Career Center news and events by "liking" us on Facebook. The C&CC holds an open-house after each parent night in the Fall. There is also a wealth of information in Naviance and on the C&CC page.

Local Info Session for Summer Program  New
Tues, Jan. 19, 7 - 9 pm, Crowne Plaza Palo Alto in the Mykonos room
MEI Academy is an International School that offers transferrable credits to grade 11 and 12 students; they have 1 course & 2 course summer programs, a first semester program, a second semester program, or a combined full year program (that can also be used as a Gap year option). Each program offered travels to various parts of the world depending on the courses the students choose to take. This program also offers Advanced Placement courses, which most colleges in the United States offer accreditation for!  If you would like more information, there will be an info session at the Crowne Plaza Palo Alto in the Mykonos room on Tuesday., Jan. 19 from 7 - 9 pm.  www.meiacademy.com

Financial Aid Workshop
Tues, Jan. 26, 7pm, Menlo Atherton High School (555 Middlefield Road in Atherton) 
The State sponsors California Cash for College workshops in January and February where you ll not only get help completing your FAFSA, CA Dream Act and other forms, but students can also enter a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship. One scholarship is offered at each workshop held across the state!
Menlo Atherton High School (555 Middlefield Road in Atherton) is hosting a California Cash for College workshop Tuesday, January 26 at 7 pm. 
Logon to https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ca--palo-alto/ccfc2016/  for more information and to find other workshops in the bay area.

Summer Opportunities Education Evening 
 
Wed. Jan. 27, 7 pm, Gunn High's Library  

Gap Year Fair  
Sat. Feb. 27, 12 pm - 3:00 pm. at Los Altos High School.

Paly Community Scholarship Program application for Seniors due Jan. 29
The sponsors of various community scholarships ask Paly's Scholarship Committee to nominate and/or select students to be considered for/receive awards. To be participate in this scholarship program, students must complete the Paly Community Scholarship Application and return it to Ms. Cernobori (hard copy) by January 29th.
Please read this letter for more information about the program. Students received a copy of the program application via Schoology from their TAs but can also access the application here.
A reminder that students who want to be considered for need-based scholarships in the program must provide family financial information on the last page of the application; in addition, these applicants are also required to submit a copy of the Student Aid Report (including the EFC) they receive after filing the FAFSA along with their scholarship application.  This information is kept confidential.   Samples of acceptable EFC documentation can be found here.
Please refer to Ms. Cernobori's Nov. 20 email for information about applying for need-based financial aid using the FAFSA.  Be sure to check each campus website for deadlines and other forms required in addition to FAFSA, if applicable.
There are numerous other scholarship opportunities that students can pursue on their own; refer to the handout distributed Advisory or visit: http://www.paly.net/college/scholarship_resources

Out of State Colleges Presentation  New
Thurs., Feb. 4, 7 pm, Paly in the LCR in the library
Come learn more about out-of-state public colleges and universities. Especially in light of the State budget crisis and its impact on CA higher education, out-state-public colleges offer many benefits. Topics discussed will include:
- number of open spaces (compared to CSU and UC)
- more/different majors than CSUs/UCs
- weather and travel considerations
- Western Undergraduate Exchange program (participation and restrictions) and scholarships
- honors programs
Director - Freshman Recruitment & Admission for Arizona State University, Brad Baertsch, will present.

Naviance Demonstration for Students and Parents  New
Thurs. Feb. 25, 7pm, Library Conference Room
Come learn about some of the college and career exploration preparation tools and resources in Naviance: college maps, Paly application scattergrams, resume builder, document library, scholarships, summer enrichment opportunities, and more! Students and parents welcome.
Parents who have misplaced their Naviance registration codes, need their passwords reset, or wish to link multiple student accounts, please send an email to Karla Larson ([email protected]) referencing Naviance in the subject line and provide:
- Parent(s) Full Name(s)
- Full Names and Year in School of *all* Paly students (even grads from 2007-2015 if you used Naviance with them)
- Description of the request.
 
College Rep Visits
On Campus:

Off Campus:
Sonoma State University  1/16/16  Rohnert Park
 
Scholarships and contests/competitions expiring through January 31, 2016
Paly deadlines may be 2-4 weeks prior to public scholarship deadlines to allow for Paly TA and Guidance lead times. To learn about scholarships listed below and others login to Naviance using your user ID and password or login as a Guest with no password.  Click the "Colleges" tab, scroll to the  "scholarships and money" section, then click on the "scholarship list" link.   Click for more information about scholarship resources.

Peninsula College Fund Scholarship: Deadline 1/17                
California Association of Collectors Educational Scholarship Foundation: Deadline 1/20
Ronald McDonald House Scholarship Program: Deadline 1/20
Asian Pacific Islander Scholarship Program: Deadline 1/23 NEW                       
San Jose Scottish Rite Foundation: Deadline 1/27 NEW             
The Princeton Prize in Race Relations: Deadline 1/31 NEW
PAUSD
Free Heart Screening 
Thurs, Jan. 24, 9am-3pm, Sacred Heard School
All 12-19 year old students have been invited to participate in a free heart screening. These screenings will be conducted by the Via Heart Project whose goal it is to prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest in children with a previously unrecognized heart condition.
If you are interested in having your student screened at this event, you must register in advance because the number of students who can be screened is limited to 750.  Please register and find forms here.

Inclusion for All Students in Middle and High School in Electives and Extracurricular Activities:What does inclusion look like in Middle and High School and what can be done to improve it?
Mon, Jan. 25, 6:30-8:30pm (hospitality starts at 6pm), PAUSD Board Room, 25 Churchill
Join the discussion on how to improve the inclusion of all students (including those with special needs and disabilities) in Middle and High School electives and extracurricular activities and share success stories and best practices that benefit all. Let's come together to make our PAUSD Middle and High Schools a better place for everyone. There will be a panel discussion with PAUSD teachers from Gunn, Paly, JLS, Jordan and Terman followed by a break-out in small groups where questions can be asked. Spanish translation will be available. Sponsored by Palo Alto CAC http://cacpaloalto.org/ and PAUSD. Anyone is free to join in.

PAUSD Parent Information Session on IEPs & 504 plans (Part 2) - SMART GOALS
Wed, Jan 27, 6:30-7:30pm, SDC Room, 25 Churchill
This session is the second in a series for parents whose children receive support under an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or 504 plan. Presented by PAUSD staff, including Director of Special Education Chiara Perry, Director of Student Services Brenda Carrillo, and Coordinator of Student Services Lissette Moore-Guerra. The first session provided an overview of IEPs and 504s. Come learn and have questions answered. Presented by the PAUSD Special Education Department, Student Services Department, and co-sponsored by Palo Alto CAC,www.cacpaloalto.org  and the Palo Alto Council of PTAs.
Community Service and Service-LearningCommSvc 
Looking for ways for students to have fun, collaborate with others, work with mentors, and share passions while giving back?
Check out the resources from **Get Involved Project below (including opportunities calendar), also posted at Paly.net/service. Service-learning is supported by scholarly research as a way for students to find meaning, purpose, and Developmental Assets while navigating high school and beyond. 
 
Social Media: FacebookTwitterInstagram
Questions? Email [email protected]
 
Know of a community benefit organization or upcoming opportunity to share? 
Hundreds of nonprofits and grassroots programs have collaborated with Paly students to get involved in their interests while documenting 30,000-40,000 service-learning hours each year. Students write reflections, create programs, videos, slideshows, and service-learning magazines that inspire their collegues to make connections from classroom to community. See student-led Get Involved publications and website for list of vetted organizations by category. Email: [email protected]
 
**Get Involved Project is a social venture created with, by, and for Palo Alto students. Our work is informed and inspired by the following: Dr. William Damon/Stanford, The Path to Purpose;  service-learning Common Core advocate Katherine Berger Kaye, ; Richard N. Bolles, What Color is Your Parachute; and Dr. Denise Clark Pope/Stanford, www.challengesuccess.org
Community 
Help for Families in Case of El Ni�o Evacuation/Flooding  New
The San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority recommends that families, including pets living in flood zones arrange to stay with other households in the event of evacuation or flooding during this El Ni�o winter. Super tides at the Baylands could make flooding worse/more likely. During the Super Bowl hotels and motels are expected to be full and therefore not an option for evacuees.
Are their any Paly families willing and able to take in another Paly family, possibly including pets for a few days in the event of such an emergency? This can involve letting people sleep on the floor in sleeping bags. Are their any Paly families who have reason to fear their homes may be evacuated or flooded and need alternate shelter until their homes are inhabitable?
If so, please email Liz Lee [email protected] and families will be matched up. For families needing to arrange shelter, please include how many people are in your family and what pets you have. Better to have a plan and not need it than to need it and not have a plan. Questions? Call 843-0413.

Unmasked" is now available for online viewing New
Last summer a group of students from Paly and Gunn formed DocX Films and collaborated to create the documentary, "Unmasked"..."because we were frustrated and saddened by the clusters of teen suicides in our town. This film is an honest effort to bring the topic of suicide out of darkness so that we can open new paths of conversation and work together to find solutions to this tragedy."  Join the conversation and help break the stigma. "Unmasked" has been entered in the Student Filmmaker Awards online tournament and has progressed from a field of 32 films to the Final Four. Consider watching the film and voting for it using this link.  The current round of voting ends Sunday evening (Jan 17th) at 10:59 pm.  Helpful resources for suicide prevention are found on the DocX Films website as well as a link to watch the film after the tournament ends.  For more info contact: [email protected]

Camp MAC (journalism summer camp) registration is now open!
Don't miss out on an opportunity to experience Palo Alto High School's state-of-the-art Media Arts Center facilities this summer by participating in Camp MAC! Led by students of Paly's nationally recognized journalism program, Camp MAC introduces journalism to rising eighth and ninth grade students. Campers will learn 21st century literacy skills while building friendships across schools. Camp MAC is running a one-week session the week of Aug. 1-5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  All proceeds support Paly's Media Arts Boosters Program. For registration, prices, and more information, visit http://paly.io/campmac or contact [email protected]

2016 Palo Alto Speech and Debate Camp
Week 1: June 13-17, Week 2: July 25-29, Paly
Discover the wonders of public speaking! Conquer your fears once and for all! Learn to think on your feet! Registration for the Palo Alto Speech and Debate Camp is now open! For our eleventh year, we expect the best camp we have ever had, and we are expanding our program to fit this goal. We now offer not only Public Speaking and Debate programs, but also Impromptu Speech and Advanced LD Debate for returning students. The Palo Alto Speech and Debate Camp is the only summer camp in the San Francisco Bay Area that provides rising 6th through 10th graders with the best public speaking learning experience year after year. If you want to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to acquire valuable life skills, register today! More Info: http://palyspeechanddebatecamp.weebly.com/Contact: [email protected]

Classes at the Palo Alto Art Center
Registration open now
Mon-Sat, Art Center (1313 Newell Rd.) & Mitchell Park Community Center (3700 Middlefield Rd.)
Unleash your creativity by signing up for one of our classes. We offer classes for children, tweens, teens and adults in ceramics, painting and sculpture. All of our Art Classes are listed in our brochure. Questions? Please contact Rebecca Passarello ([email protected]) or 650-617-3509.

Palo Alto Library -- Teen Writing Club
1st and 3rd Thurs of the month, 4-5:30pm. Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Rd.
Share your passion for writing with other teens. Writing prompts, activities, and light snacks provided. For 6th-12th grade. Register here (1/7) and here (1/21)

Palo Alto Library -- Graphic Novel Book Club
Second Thurs of the month, 7-8pm. Mitchell Park Library, 3700 Middlefield Rd.
While we're on a break in December, please join the group on January 14 (Feb 11, Mar 10, Apr 14, and May 12) for a lively discussion on a graphic novel selected by the group. For adults and teens (age 16+).

SELPA 1 CAC Programs
These parent education events are sponsored by the SELPA 1 CAC (www.selpa1cac.org) an all-volunteer group of parents of children with special needs.  All of their events are free and open to anyone who feels they might benefit.  No registration is necessary.
Emotional Regulation
Wed, Jan 20, 7-9 PM, Covington Elementary School Multi, 25 Covington, Los Altos
Do you experience intense emotions or have children with behavior issues and wish you could cope better?  Dr. Yael Enav will present evidence based strategies to help parents regulate both their emotions as well as their children's.

Sixth Annual MLK Jr. Family Day of Service Co-sponsored by Youth Community Service (YCS) and the City of Palo Alto
Mon, Jan. 18, 11am-2pm, Mitchell Park Community Center
Join YCS and its partners in celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his teachings on community and service. This annual event includes speakers, local performing groups, activity tables, a children's reading corner and art projects, face painting, and information about local service opportunities. Food trucks will be present as well as local vendors selling crafts, clothing, and jewelry.  Student volunteer opportunities are also available.  This is a rain or shine event. For more information visit www.youthcommunityservice.org or call 650-858-8019. 

Grand Opening of 'Fridays at The Drop'  New
Fri. Jan 22, 6 - 9 PM Mitchell Park Community Center
High School Students are invited to the Grand Opening of Fridays at The Drop. There will be food, prizes, art activities, music by DJ Magic Matt from Wild 94.9, gift bags and more. This event is free for High School students with valid Palo Alto ID. For more information, visit cityofpaloalto.org/TheDrop, or call 650.329.2390

Learning Challenges Resource Fair
  New
Fri, Jan. 22, 6 - 9 PM, Crittenden Middle School. 1701 Rock Street, Mountain View
Have a child who needs some extra help?  Come to the Learning Challenges Resource Fair!  Sponsored by the Learning Challenges Committee and the SELPA1-CAC. A wide variety of providers will be attending the Fair, including everything from summer camps to speech therapists, social skills to transitional services, tutoring to financial planning. The Regional Center, Parents Helping Parents and several school districts will have representatives there. This parent education event is sponsored by the SELPA 1 CAC (www.selpa1cac.org) an all-volunteer group of parents of children with special needs.  Our service area includes all public school districts in Los Altos, Mountain View, and Palo Alto.  Event is free and open to anyone who feels they might benefit.  No registration is required. E-mail [email protected] or call 650-387-6745 if you have any questions.

City of Palo Alto Sustainability and Climate Action Summit  New
Sun., Jan 24, 12 - 5 PM, Jordan Middle School, 750 N California Av., Palo Alto 94303
Join us for a conversation on the future of our City, and help craft solutions to the critical issues facing us now and into the future, such as Transportation, Electrification, Water, Climate Adaptation, and Becoming a Carbon Neutral City. Keynote address will be from Marine Lt. Col. (ret.) Mark Mykleby, who led the development of climate and national security strategy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, examining how the nation can thrive in the face of climate change.  Event is free but registration required. Details and registration: http://paloaltoclimatesummit.eventbrite.com/

STEM Innovation Bowl

Sat, Jan. 30, 10am-5 pm, Santa Clara Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara
Your Free Ticket to STEM. Families can enjoy learning about the future of immersive technology: virtual reality, augmented reality, telepresence robots, computer vision, 3D video, and gaming (recommended for grades 6 and up). Younger grades will enjoy the Innovation Stations---hands-on areas---where kids can learn about circuit boards, build with blocks and straws, create mosaics using math, interact with robots and launch rockets. Sign up for your FREE tickets at santaclaraca.gov/innovation.

CodeNow Workshop
Sat & Sun, Jan.30-31, and Sat, Feb. 13
FREE for high school students to attend, applications available at codenow.org/apply. Application deadline is Wed, Jan. 13 at midnight. Flyer can be downloaded here and FAQs can be accessed at the bottom of our program webpage

Learn about the challenges and opportunities faced by Asian American children, teens and young adults  New
Wed Feb 3, 7 - 8.30pm (Q&A 8:30 - 9pm) at CHAC, 590 W El Camino Real, Mountain View
Free talk: Growing up Asian in America: Balancing emotional health and success. Come learn about the special challenges and opportunities faced by Asian American children, teens and young adults, and what their parents can do to help them.  Dr. Hoai-Thu Truong and Dr. Vickie Chang are psychologists who work with high achieving professionals.  Due to the difficulties they see with their Asian clients, they were inspired to promote emotional wellness starting at an earlier age. This talk is for Asian parents (all grades, but especially grades 6-12), Asian American high school teens and young adults, and educators.
For more information and to register see: www.drhttruong.com/asian-parent  or email: [email protected]
Sponsored by CHAC www.chacmv.org

12th Annual Sweetheart Awards - Call for Nominations

Nominations due by Feb. 10
Is there a bus driver, friend, teacher, administrator, neighbor, aide, crossing guard, fellow student, therapist, physician, volunteer or relative that has done something (however large or small) for your special needs child? Honor that person by nominating him or her for a Sweetheart Award. Submit nominations using this online form. For more information about the awards, email:  [email protected] or go to the CAC website for ceremony details, www.cacpaloalto.org.

Pediatric Weight Control Program New
When kids and families need more support to maintain a healthy weight, joining a program can be a life-changing step. The Stanford Children's Pediatric Weight Control Program is a six-month program to help kids aged 8 to 15 and their families develop life-long healthy habits. The program is now enrolling for January, with scholarships available for those who qualify. No referrals necessary, just call (650) 725-4424. Flier (English) http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/content-public/pdf/ppwcp-flyer.pdf
 
Stanford Student Shadowing for Charity
  New
Does your child want an inside look at the life of a Stanford student? Attend classes, view dorms and pick the brain of a current student for 3-hours! The $100 price will raise funds for medications for a Stanford student Pre-Med service trip. We are selling 5 sessions. Contact [email protected].

Stanford Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research 
Does your child have a diagnosis of a developmental or intellectual disability and engage in frequent problem behavior, such as aggression or self-injury? A study is being conducted study to evaluate how environmental stressors affect problem behavior in males, ages 10-18. Participation includes: 2-2.5 day visit to Stanford University, comprehensive behavioral assessment, parent interview, and non-invasive physiological measures (cortisol and heart-rate). Families will receive a full behavioral report and a $100 honorarium.  To determine your child's eligibility for the study, please complete a brief surveyContact: Rebecca Barnett, [email protected], 650-724-7395

Be Safe. Be Seen. Bike lights are required by law for riding after dusk 
With shorter days, students are commuting at dusk or in the dark.  Bicycle lights and reflectors are required by law at this time of day. Visibility begins to decline at dusk before the sun is completely down, so bicyclists are required to turn on their lights when light begins to fade.  A handlebar headlight makes a bicycle visible to others and illuminates the road so the rider can see. Tail lights and reflectors should be mounted on something stable where they won't be obscured by bags, panniers or other gear on the bike. Lights are vastly superior to reflectors, so a red light on the rear is recommended for maximum visibility.
Outfitting student bikes for a safe (and legal) ride is a smart investment. For safe school commute information, visit saferoutes.paloaltopta.org/index.shtml 

Social Skills Treatment Study Stanford Psychiatry
Does your son need help to improve his social skills? We are conducting a behavioral treatment study to help children with developmental disabilities learn eye contact and social skills. Participation involves: a 3-4 day visit to Stanford, cognitive testing, awake MRI scan, and intensive behavioral intervention. Inclusion criteria: male children age 8-15 years, diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability, and does not experience seizures. Families will receive a report of the cognitive testing and a $100 honorarium for their time. To determine your child's eligibility for the study, please complete a brief surveyContact: Rebecca Barnett, BCBA [email protected], 650-724-7395.
 
Help Improve The City's Free Shuttle Service
Many PAUSD secondary school students use the City of Palo Alto Free Shuttle to commute to school.  The city is considering improvements to the Shuttle service and they are seeking community input to guide their planning process. Here is the link to a one-minute survey:  http://cityofpaloalto.org/shuttle  Fill it out to help the city understand how they can serve students better. To learn more or to provide more input, contact the City of Palo Alto Transportation Department at [email protected] or call 650-329-2442.

Adopt A Teacher Who Needs Your Support
Make a real difference for a teacher and his/her students by "adopting" a K-8 teacher in East Palo Alto or east Menlo Park for a school year.  Provide the teacher with encouraging notes and/or small gifts of appreciation, school supplies and support for two class parties. Financial commitment $500-600, time commitment very flexible. It's easy and fun to adopt a teacher with friends. Learn more or sign up at http://ravenswoodef.org/adopt-a-teacher/ or by contacting Jennifer Wythes Vettel at [email protected].
 
Directing Change
"Directing Change" is a film contest (final deadline for film submission is Mar 1, 2016) for California high school students to help reduce mental illness stigma & support suicide prevention.  Directing Change is part of Each Mind Matters, California's Mental Health Movement.  Each Mind Matters serves as the megaphone to amplify the voices of all people who want to put an end to stigma related to mental health and create a community where everyone feels comfortable reaching out for the support they deserve. For more information visit:  eachmindmatters.org. For information on contest rules, various deadlines and FAQs please visit http://www.directingchange.org/

Love Art and Art History?
Weekly meetings held every Friday, 9:30-11 am at Art Education, 25F Churchill AvenueVolunteer docents needed to give presentations about the lives and work of Master Artists to PAUSD elementary students. Training provided by Arts Coordinator, Sharon Ferguson.  Art History background preferred but not required. Flexible hours.  For more information contact Art Education (650) 329-3939 or email Emily at [email protected]

Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University Celebrates Artists at Work 
Artists at Work on view through January 18, 2016
The Cantor Arts Center presents a major new exhibition, Artists at Work, which examines how artists become inspired, how artists make objects and how place impacts artists' work. Includes works by �douard Manet, J. M. W. Turner, Thomas Hart Benton, Sol LeWitt, Richard Serra, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and other renowned American and European artists. Also included are loaned works by contemporary artists Trevor Paglen, Garth Weiser, Hope Gangloff and Rachel Owens, among others. The Cantor Arts Center is open six days a week, Wed-Mon, 11 AM -5 PM, Thurs until 8 PM. Admission is free. The Cantor is located on the Stanford campus. Information: 650-723-4177, museum.stanford.edu.
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