M-A TODAY! Watch M-A Today!, M-A's announcement show by students and for students, live on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:45 a.m. on High School Cube. To view past episodes, subscribe to M-A's YouTube channel. Thank you for watching!

SAT 2015 CLASS SIGN-UPS - In the current TriVocis you will find information about the 2015 spring SAT class. The signup date is Tuesday, November 18 prior to 7:45 a.m. in room D-20. A lottery will be held if necessary to see which 70 students are enrolled. Mr. Whitnah is giving short presentations about the class to as many Pre-Calculus, Algebra II/Trig and Algebra II classes as he can. Juniors enrolled in other math classes may not be hearing the presentation and will need to depend on the TriVocis article for information. Announcements and posters will also be reminders of the enrollment process. Mr. Whitnah has received two questions in regards to the TriVocis article. In response, the SAT class will end on Friday, May 1 and a student's grade in the class will be determined strictly by effort which includes homework and taking tests. The actual performance on the practice SAT tests will not be part of the student grade.

PARENT INPUT ON THE M-A CAMPUS - LBA, the architects in charge of formulating the Campus Master Plan under the auspices of Measure A, would like to receive parent input on the M-A campus. This input will be used when identifying the areas of highest concern as well as those parts of campus that meet with general approval.  Please take a few moments to complete the survey. The PTA, school administration and all those in charge of creating the Campus Master Plan greatly appreciate your time and input. 
 

JUNIOR PARENT COLLEGE INFORMATION NIGHT - This event will be held in the PAC Cafeteria on Wednesday, November 19, from 7 - 9 p.m. This is a CHANGE IN DATE from the originally scheduled event, January 20. College adviser Alice Kleeman will talk to parents of juniors (no students at this event, please, just parents) about college admission, careers, scholarships, financial aid, and more. After a brief presentation, there will be an informal question and answer session. Please, only parents of juniors should attend. Simultaneous translation into Spanish will be available.

DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANNING SURVEY - Parents, the Sequoia Union High School District is seeking your input regarding upcoming strategic planning for our district. Please be on the lookout for an email from the district with a 10-15 minute survey where you can have a voice in visioning for the future of our high schools. Your participation is greatly appreciated!
 

CANNED FOOD DRIVE 2014: READY, SET, CAN! - The annual canned food drive kicks off on Tuesday, November 4. This is a chance for the M-A community to rally around the growing number of San Mateo County residents who cannot afford enough food to provide for themselves and their families. According to the Second Harvest Food Bank website, 1 in 4 people in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties are at risk for hunger. Many of them are children, and some are our neighbors, classmates, or acquaintances.

To help alleviate hunger and draw attention to the hunger problem in our midst, the Leadership class coordinates an annual, award-winning canned food drive. This year M-A is again partnering with Second Harvest to ensure that families continue to have access to food sources beyond the canned food drive. Here are ways that you can help: 

• When shopping for your family, please add a few extra cans to your cart and drop them into the Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB) barrels. M-A students will be handing out the list of most-needed items requested by Second Harvest. 
• Consider donating online. Enter "high school" in the Online Food Drive box and select Menlo-Atherton High School so that your gift can be properly credited to the M-A outreach effort. 
• Some students conduct food drives in their neighborhoods: encourage yours to start that tradition! 
• Every student is encouraged to sign up for canning. Students do not have to be in the Leadership class to participate. Students can sign up in room B-21, or contact Mr. Amoroso at mamoroso@seq.org or Mr. Senigaglia at jsenigaglia@seq.org. If you would like to receive food, please leave a message on an anonymous M-A voicemail at 650-322-5311, ext. 50250.

Questions can be directed to Lori Cohen and Paula Rash at feedourfamilies@mabearspta.org. Thank you for joining the fight against hunger!

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 REFLECTIONS ARTS COMPETITION - DEADLINE for entries is TUESDAY of THIS WEEK! Calling all filmmakers, singer/songwriters, choreographers, photographers, writers, and artists; NOW is the time to turn in your entries! You may download the entry forms and rules from the M-A PTA website or get them from any of the M-A Fine Arts teachers. Please review the rules carefully and make sure you complete the "Artist Statement." There is a box in the main office to deposit your work. The due date for entries is Tuesday, November 4, so good luck to all entrants!

CALLING ALL SENIORS! - Mark your calendars now for the 2015 M-A Fashion Show starring YOU - the senior class! The 2015 Fashion Show is set for Saturday, March 21. Put it on your calendars now. There is a MANDATORY MODEL MEETING for all seniors wanting to be a part of the show Wednesday, December 3, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the PAC. 

Challenge to Increase Giving: It's a $300K Great Day @ M-A!

It's a Great Day at M-A and You Can Keep It That Way!

Help raise an additional $300,000 to benefit M-A students by donating for the first time or donating more than you have before! Four generous supporters of M-A want to motivate YOU to give more before year-end: Donate by Wednesday, December 31 and NEW donations or the INCREASE in your donation over last year will be matched up to $150,000. This will result in $300,000 in increased support for M-A students! Donate online today at www.mafoundation.org or mail a check to: 

Menlo Park, 94026

Have you experienced trouble on your computer when trying to make a donation online?  Your browser may have cached our old website info. Clear your browser's cache or try a different browser. Still having problems?  Contact Cindy Folker at cfolker@seq.org or 650-322-5311, ext. 50206.

Make Our Kids Smile: Support our Foundation by Shopping on AmazonSmile!

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support our Foundation every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at AmazonSmile, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to our organization. Simply choose Menlo Atherton High School Foundation from the list of registered organizations.

Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible.

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M-A PARENT EDUCATION SERIES

Special Coffee Talk

Get Connected! Talking to Your Teen About Sexual Health

Wednesday, November 5

Talking about sexual health can be one of the most difficult and anxiety-provoking parenting tasks. Join Abi Karlin-Resnick, Executive Director, and Perryn Reis, Director of Research and innovation, from Health Connected (formerly Teen Talk Sexuality Education), the SUHSD's provider of comprehensive sexuality education, in a fun and interactive workshop to learn how you can create an environment of comfort and trust with your child to discuss their emerging sexuality.

Get tips on how to talk about sexuality in the context of your family's values about sex and relationships and create clear boundaries for your children while allowing them to explore this important developmental milestone.

Attendance will be limited to 25 parents on a first-come basis. Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

Please sign up today at Eventbrite.

M-A Parent Education Series events are free, sponsored by the Menlo-Atherton PTA, the Sequoia Healthcare District, and the Sequoia Union High School District.

For more information, contact Charlene Margot, Parent Education Series Program Director, at cmargot@csmconsulting.net or 650.868.0590.

SEQUOIA PARENT EDUCATION SERIES

Performing Gender: Why It's Important to Support Your Teen's Identity 

Anthony Ross, M.S. Ed., Outlet Program Director

Thursday, November 6 

7 to 8:30 p.m., Sequoia High School MPR

Join Anthony Ross from Outlet for an eye-opening conversation about "performing gender" and the role gender plays in developing teens' identities. In this workshop, parents will learn how to support their teens' gender identity and sexual orientation by creating a welcoming environment for all kids to thrive. Founded in 1997, Outlet empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth and builds safe and accepting communities through support, education, and advocacy. Outlet envisions a world that embraces, empowers, and celebrates LGBTQQ youth.

Register for this workshop through EventBrite. Refreshments and simultaneous Spanish translation will be provided (contact Mayela Ramirez, Parent Center Coordinator, 650-369-1411 x 63105).

Sequoia Parent Education Series events are free, sponsored by the Sequoia High School Education Foundation, Sequoia Healthcare District, and Sequoia Union High School District.

M-A PARENT EDUCATION SERIES

A Conversation about College Admission 

Alice Kleeman, M-A College Advisor, and Kirk Brennan, Director of Admission, USC

Wednesday, November 12

7 to 8:30 p.m., M-A PAC

Join Alice Kleeman, M-A College Advisor, and Kirk Brennan, Director of Admission at USC for an open-ended discussion on the college admission process. Don't miss this great opportunity for juniors and seniors to learn about the college admission process! Parents, students, faculty/staff, and community members are welcome.

Register for this event through Eventbrite. Spanish interpretation will be available.

For more information about the Sequoia Union High School District and M-A Parent Education series, please contact Charlene Margot, Parent Education Series Program Director, at cmargot@csmconsulting.net or 650-868-0590.

WOODSIDE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES

The Second Goal Parent®: Developing Winners in Life through Sports

Thursday, November 13, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Woodside High School MUR

In this interactive workshop (60 minute presentation followed by a 30 minute Q & A), parents learn how they can help ensure their student's athletic experience yields healthy, developmental (physical, social, and mental) outcomes that will serve them far beyond the playing field.

Parents who attend this workshop will be able to:

• Match their behavior as parents to goals for their student's youth sports experience
• Teach their children about the importance of a growth-mindset
• Understand what is expected of them as a sports parent
• Learn how to talk to your child about a bad game (the ride home)

Positive Coaching Alliance is a national non-profit developing "Better Athletes, Better People" by working to provide youth and high school athletes with a positive, character-building youth sports experience.

Register for this event through EventBrite. 

Woodside Parent Education Series events are free, sponsored by the Woodside PTSA, the Sequoia Healthcare District, and the Sequoia Union High School District. Parents, students, faculty/staff and community members welcome! 

For more information, contact Charlene Margot, Parent Education Series, Program Director, cmargot@csmconsulting.net or 650-868-0590.

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M-A ORCHESTRA - The M-A Orchestra has been invited to attend the National Band and Orchestra Festival in Carnegie Hall on Thursday, April 2 through Sunday, April 5, 2015! As a way to help defray the trip costs the Orchestra will hold a fundraising concert on Monday, November 17 at 7 p.m. in the PAC. Suggested ticket donation prices are $15/Adults and $10/Students and Seniors. Each person attending the concert will choose one student to which their ticket monies will go to and that student's trip costs would be credited in that amount.

M-A'S ANNUAL BIG BAND DANCE - 

• WHAT:     M-A's Annual Big Band Dance!
• WHEN:    Saturday, November 22
•                 7 - 8 p.m. early opening for seniors (65+) -- admission FREE, although                               donations accepted
•                 8 - 11 p.m. for students ($10) and general admission ($25) 
• WHERE:  Ayers (old) Gym on M-A High School Campus
• HOW:       Purchase tickets here 
• FREE:      Dance Lessons included during the event

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• Email proofread submissions to BearNotes@mabearspta.org by Thursday midnight.
• Please keep submissions concise and include the organization name, event, date, time, location, and contact information, including website URL.
• All submissions are subject to editing by the PTA.
• For the PTA policy on BearNotes publication, please go to the M-A PTA website.
• M-A PTA does not endorse third-party events or submissions, nor take responsibility regarding the content of any third-party websites.

Go Bears. Grrrr!

Thank you from the BearNotes Staff: Cindy Butler, Dianne Child, Pam Fernandes, Sue Olson, Jenny Pont, Kelly Stewart, and Bobbie Wood