Monday, December 15 through Thursday, December 18 - Final exams (see schedule)
Thursday, December 18 - End of first semester
Friday, December 19 - NO SCHOOL for students

NEXT WEEK

Monday, December 22 through Friday, December 26 - Winter Break, NO SCHOOL

SAVE THE DATE

Monday, December 29 through Monday, January 5, 2015 - Winter Break, NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, January 6 - First day of second semester; schedule distribution begins at 7:30 a.m. in the New Gym
Wednesday, January 7 - Financial Aid Night for seniors and their parents, 7 p.m., PAC Cafeteria; Spanish language session in the Library. (see article)
Tuesday, January 13 - Math contest at lunch
Tuesday, January 13 - Sophomore Parent Information Night, 7 p.m., PAC Cafeteria
Wednesday, January 14 - February TriVocis article deadline
Wednesday, January 14 - SUHSD Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Administration

Final Exam Schedule

	8:45 to 10:45 a.m.	11a.m. to 1 p.m.	1 to 3 p.m.
Monday, December 15	Classes*	Classes*	Period 6 Final
Tuesday, December 16	Period 0 Final	Period 1 Final
Wednesday, December 17	Period 2 Final	Period 3 Final
Thursday, December 18	Period 4 Final	Period 5 Final

* On Monday, December 15, classes will be held beginning at 8:10 a.m. for 30 minutes each.

Financial Aid Night for Seniors and Their Parents - This event will take place on Wednesday, January 7 at 7 p.m. in the PAC Cafeteria. Come learn about financial aid and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Please RSVP. After you RSVP, click the link to print and bring the worksheet to Financial Aid Night.

Conferencia de Asistencia Financiera en "College" para estudiantes seniors (grado 12) y sus padres Miércoles 7 de Enero a las 7 p.m. Asista para aprender acerca de la ayuda financiera para estudiantes en "college." También aprenderá como llenar la solicitud gratuita para esta ayuda financiera llamada FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), así como la solicitud financiera Dream Act. Habrá dos sesiones que tendrán lugar al mismo tiempo: una en inglés (en la cafetería PAC) y la segunda en español (en la biblioteca). Para la conferencia en inglés, favor de confirmar su asistencia. Para la conferencia en español, no es necesario confirmar su asistencia. No deje de asistir ya que "college" está al alcance de todos! Cuidado de niños estará disponible.

AP Calculus BC 2015 Summer Dates - Each year M-A offers AP Calculus BC as a three-semester course with the first semester being held during the first four weeks of summer. In 2015, the Calculus program will be offered from Monday, June 8, through Thursday, July 2, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. An informational meeting for all parents with students currently in Precalculus will be held on Tuesday, January 20, at both 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Room D-20. If your student is not currently enrolled in Precalculus but you are interested in learning about the AP Calculus BC program, you are also welcome to attend this meeting.

M-A's Own PSAT/SAT Prep - Parents and students who need to reach Jane King should use jccking@att.net, starting immediately. The former address has been cancelled.

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PTA News

Reflections Arts Competition - This year marked the first year M-A has participated in the National PTA's Reflections Arts Competition. The students created a work of art based on the theme "The World Would Be a Better Place If...." Three students from M-A will be advancing to the District level:

Taylor Fryling for her painting Beach Bliss in the Visual Arts Category
Alexandra Watson-Tremellen for her film The World Would Be A Better Place If We Start Right Here in the Film Production Category
Jerry Liu for his composition Drought, Death, Water in the Music Composition Category

Congratulations to all students who entered and to those students whose work is advancing to the District level. Good luck!

Used Computers Needed - If your family or company has surplus computers, please consider donating them to the PTA. All information is securely erased. The computers are then reloaded with software, and are either sent home with needy students or placed in classrooms at M-A. To donate, please contact Sue Kayton at kayton@alum.mit.edu or 650-853-1711. Visit the Computer Donation Program which lists other equipment that is also needed.

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Foundation News

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go... Wise and simple words from the venerable Dr. Seuss. And here, with a nod to Dr. Seuss and rainy weather, are words from the Foundation's Executive Director to inspire you to give to the Foundation.

The Executive Director in the Office

By Cindy Folker (courtesy of Dr. Seuss)

The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play.

So I sat in the school all that cold, cold, wet day.

I sat there with thoughts of improving an M-A education.

And I said, "How I wish there was a strong Foundation!"

Too wet to go out and too cold to call donors.

So I sat in my office, trying not to be one of the moaners.

So all I could do was to Sit! Sit! Sit! Sit!

And I did not like it. No, not one little bit.

And then my phone RANG! So I answered the call.

And a donor said "I have great news for all!"

Then I checked my email! The same good news appeared!

A donor wrote with a message that left me cheered!

They said "I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny.

But I plan to donate lots of my money!"

"I know that the Foundation funds programs for all M-A students.

And improving the educational experience is a plan that is prudent."

More electives, excellent teachers, smaller classes,

Guidance counselors, college advising, and programs to ensure everyone passes.

My relief was tremendous and I knew all would be fine

As long as M-A families step up to the line!

So will you join with others to keep our school great?

All it takes is a moment, there is no time to wait!

Please donate today at Foundation for the Future to make your secure online gift or mail a check to M-A Foundation, P.O. Box 1228, Menlo Park, CA 94026.

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Parent Education

The Well-Balanced Student

Denise Pope, PhD, Stanford University, Challenge Success

Tuesday, February 3

7-8:30 p.m. in the M-A PAC

Please come to an outstanding presentation by Dr. Denise Pope, nationally and internationally recognized educator, award-winning lecturer at Stanford University, and co-founder of Challenge Success, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the well-being, engagement, and integrity of students.

Today's high-pressure, fast-paced culture can interfere with healthy child development. When we are too focused on test scores, performance, and grades, we may deny kids the time and energy they need to effectively tackle the demanding work of growing up. This workshop examines the tensions that can occur between students, parents, and educators over issues such as homework, grades, and the culture of competition. Research-based strategies to create healthier home and school environments will be shared. In this presentation, you will learn:

How students today are coping with the academic pressure they face
Ways you can reduce academic stress without sacrificing achievement or engagement in school
Strategies to increase resilience, creativity, and well-being for your child

Please register at Eventbrite. M-A Parent Education Series events are free, sponsored by the M-A PTA, the Sequoia Healthcare District, and the Sequoia Union High School District. This event is also made possible by a grant from the La Entrada PTA.

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

The Parent Education Series is on Facebook! Now you can "like" us on Facebook! The Parent Education Series Facebook page will keep you posted about upcoming SUHSD Parent Ed events, research on parenting and education, community events, and more.

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Athletics

Check out the Athletics Calendar!

Congratulations! Water polo player John Knox was voted all CCS 2nd team and was selected to play in the CCS Senior and CCS versus NCS All-Star games.

Holiday Gifts M-A Style! Visit M-A Athletic Boosters for stocking stuffers, PJ's, and outerwear. Click "Bear Wear" in the left column. Also, this year the Boosters have partnered with Kasumisou Gallery. They have sterling silver M-A spirit bracelets and M-A picture frames -- perfect for stocking stuffers and sports and graduation photographs. During checkout, be sure to put the Community Partner code 9402700 in the box above "Submit order." M-A Athletic Boosters will receive a percentage of your total order (not just M-A items). Photos of M-A items can be found on the Athletics Boosters home page.

Weekly Sports Wrap-Up

Girls JV Soccer - This week the Bears had a pair of pre-season matches against cross-town rival Sacred Heart Prep. The first match on Wednesday was away at SHP and was played to a nil-nil draw. Tentative play from both sides kept things quiet in the first half; in the second half M-A managed two great shots on goal, one punched out by the SHP keeper and the other just missed tucking inside the left post.

In the second match on Saturday morning, the Bears defeated SHP 2-1. Playing away at San Mateo in the Burlingame Tournament, M-A played with more confidence and controlled much of the match. Holly Pounders opened the scoring at the 15:30 mark going far post from the right point to make it 1-nil. The Bears would make it 2-nil at 25 minutes in as Caroline Holliday had a tap-in on a cross from the right wing through goal area from Joanna Vollrath. One minute into the second half, SHP answered back scoring on a lob shot that just snuck under the crossbar, but the M-A defense refused to concede any further and held them off for the remainder of the game. The Bears will return to San Mateo on Saturday, December 20 to take on Woodside in the next leg of the tournament.

Girls Varsity Soccer - On Wednesday, the team suffered its first loss to cross-town rival Sacred Heart Prep on Wednesday afternoon at the Bears' home field. The Gators scored in the 14th minute on a header off a corner kick. The half ended with Sacred Heart ahead 1-0 and the Gators out-shooting the Bears 7-5. In the second half, the same Sacred Heart duo teamed up a second time to put the Gators up 2-0 in the 31st minute of the half when the midfielder slipped a pass through the M-A defense where the center forward was able to finish. The final score was 2-0 in favor of Sacred Heart Prep.

The Bears got back on track with a dominating 5-0 win over Woodside Priory on Saturday at San Mateo. This was the 2nd game in the Burlingame Tournament for both teams. The Priory squad, with only 12 active players for the game, were no match for the M-A Bears who out-shot the Panthers 17-1 in the first half on the way to a 4-0 halftime lead. M-A got on the board in the 13th minute when a lob from Sasha Geonzon found the head of Katie Guenin for the first goal of the match. In the 25th minute, Sarah McLeod slipped a ball to Nicole Salz who took it down the right flank and scored. Kelsey Reed put M-A up 3-0 when she converted a free kick from outside the box in the 30th minute. Salz added a 2nd goal just before the half on a feed from Julia Moreton. In the second half, the Bears were content to knock the ball around and keep possession for much of the half. The Panthers managed to get off more of an attack in the second half, but the only goal of the half came from Bears sophomore Josephine Cotto on an assist from McLeod to put the Bears up by the final score of 5-0.

M-A moves to 2-1-1 in the preseason and next takes on Christopher High School in the final game of the Burlingame tournament on Saturday, December 20 at Burlingame at 11 a.m.

Girls JV Basketball - M-A continued its undefeated pre-season with wins against Silver Creek and Homestead this week. Great rebounding by Angela Langi, a steal by Ashley Tiznado, and strong defensive play under the basket by Kyra Sheeper, allowed the Bears to dominate offensively. Delilah Kline had a total of 19 points, Natasha Auer scored 8, Langi added 4, and Emily Roberts hit a free throw scoring the final point of the game in a decisive 40-21 victory.

Against Homestead, the Bears came out strong from the beginning holding the lead throughout the first half which ended with a score of 29-21. In the second half, the girls took control of the game with a dominant offensive showing. Excellent team work between Sheeper and Kline resulted in 7 points scored within 5 seconds. Kline led the team with a total of 29 points. Auer added 11 followed by Jamie Kirkpatrick and Maddie King with 7 points each. Baily Lentz also scored. The final score was 58-29. On Friday, December 19, the JV girls take on local rival Menlo School at 3 p.m.

Girls Varsity Basketball - Coming off of a big tournament win over the weekend, the girls faced another unbeaten team, Silver Creek, in a rematch of last year's CCS second round game. While the Bears won last year, on Wednesday they lost 45-31 at Silver Creek. In the first quarter, M-A opened an 11-6 lead on 4 points from Megan Sparrow. The second quarter was a different matter as the Raiders went on a 9-0 run and the Bears were limited to 2 points from the free throw line. In the second half the Bears could not hit their shots while the Raiders hit 3-pointers and put the game away. M-A was led by Ilana Baer who scored 11 points.

On Friday night, the Bears traveled to Homestead where they defeated the Mustangs 57-38. Homestead took an initial 4-0 lead, keeping M-A off the score board for the first 4 minutes. However M-A recovered to take a 21-16 lead at the half on strong shooting from Sparrow and I. Baer and great defense from Naomi Baer and Erin Goode. In the second half Ofa Sili scored 10 of her team high 16 points while Carolyn Watson added a bucket and an assist to put the game away. With the win, the Bears improve to 4-1 having played all games on the road. This week the Bears travel to Menlo for a 6 p.m. game on Friday, December 19.

Boys Varsity Basketball - The Bears evened their pre-season record at 3-3 with a 3rd place finish in the Burlingame Lions Club 8-team Invitational at Burlingame High School. In the first round game, Eric Norton's 3 point play with 5 seconds left gave the Bears the lead, and the Gators' final shot at the buzzer went awry to give the Bears a hard-fought win over Sacred Heart Prep, 51-49. Down 9 at the half, M-A regained momentum and cut the lead to 1 going into the final quarter. Prep took their final lead, 49-48, with 20 seconds left, on a 3-pointer, setting the stage for Norton's heroics. Norton and Ryan Cole led the Bears with 16 points each, while Blake Henry added 6. Cole also garnered 10 rebounds.

In the second round, M-A faced perennial nemesis, Half Moon Bay. The Bears played a solid first half and were up 3 at the break, 21-18. Shooting went cold in the second half for the Bears, who scored only 11 points, and the Cougars were able to come back to win, 42-32. With four 3-pointers, Lucas Fioretti led the Bears with 12 points. HMB went on to win the tournament and remain unbeaten in pre-season at 6-0. In the battle for 3rd place, M-A faced Valley Christian. It was a game of streaks as M-A was up 9-4, was down 24-15 and then tied the game at 26. The lead changed hands a few more times, before M-A walked off with a 36-33 win. Bradley Stillman scored 9 points while Norton and Henry added 6 points each.

This week, M-A travels to Menlo School, Friday, December 19, 8 p.m. in what is usually the most spirited game of the season. Don your best maroon and be there. On Saturday, December 20, 7:30 pm, M-A is at Serra in the Merv Harris Classic.

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Community News

Study on Preparing for College - Silicon Valley high school students who are applying to college in Fall 2014 are being recruited to participate in a study on how high school students and their families prepare for college. Participation involves three personal interviews, each approximately one hour long, spaced out over the school year. Students will be compensated $30 for each interview. At least one parent or guardian must also agree to be interviewed three times during the school year. For more information about this study, please contact Johanna Massé at johamass@umich.edu or (310) 488-4670.

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Quote of the Week

Well, tests ain't fair. Those that study have an unfair advantage.

It's always been that way.

~ Allan Dare Pearce

BearNotes Submissions

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