• How students cope with the academic pressure they face
• How to reduce academic stress without sacrificing achievement or engagement
• 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.

Next, the Bears had the 3-day Newark Invitational Tournament. Game 1 against Monte Vista was a tight match from beginning to end. The Bears trailed by a few points throughout the game but never stopped responding to Monte Vista's baskets. Jaimie Kirkpatrick had a great showing with 12 points followed by Angela Langi with 8 points. The Bears ultimately lost (40-45). Game 2 against Newark was a completely different match-up. The Bears grabbed an early lead which they held the entire game. Kline was a dominant force, scoring 30 points with Auer contributing 14 and Kirkpatrick 10. Kyra Sheeper added 6 points and Bailey Lentz, Emily Roberts and Langi each had 2 resulting in a final score of 68-30. In the conciliation championship game against San Ramon, the Bears struggled to keep pace. Seven players contributed to the effort including Kline with 23 points. In the final few minutes, the Bears were within 3 points but couldn't pull in front, leading to a 43-48 loss.

Girls Varsity Basketball - The Bears played 5 games over the break, finishing with a huge win over Palo Alto. In the first game, the girls lost to Presentation (44-33) at M-A. The game began as a defensive struggle and was tied at 5 after the first three minutes. However, Presentation went on a 14-0 run and led 30-11 at the half. In the third quarter the Bears rallied back led by Ofa Sili and Naomi Baer who both had 10 points on the night. With 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Presentation's lead had narrowed to 9 points, but the Panthers made their free throws and put the game away.

Next, the Bears participated in the Newark Memorial Cougars Classic Tournament. In the first game the girls blew out Balboa (San Francisco) 48-15. The Bears' youth was on display with freshman Carly McLanahan and Greer Hoyem combining for 13 first half points. In the second half, the Bears' defense held the Bucs to 4 points while M-A guards Annalisa Crowe and Maddy Kim hit 3-pointers to put the game away. In the second game the Bears lost to Newark 55-52. After dominating the paint in the first period the Bears' shooting went cold, and the Cougars roared back to take a 3 point lead at the half. In the third quarter, M-A re-took the lead with posts Megan Sparrow and Sili scoring 9 of their combined 23 points on the night. The lead changed many times until the Bears missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer which would have tied the game. In the final game, the girls lost to Monte Vista (53-44). M-A took a 14-7 lead in the first period but the Mustangs took over the game. The Bears mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, closing the gap to 8, but the Mustangs made their free throws and put the game away. Sparrow was the M-A Player of the Tournament.

On Saturday, the girls defeated Palo Alto 43-36 at M-A. Early in the game, Baer scored the first 2 of her 8 points to give the Bears the lead. By the half M-A led by 5 points with Sparrow and Sili scoring in the paint and from the 3-point arc. In the second half the Vikings attempted to come back by shooting 3-pointers and stepping up their press. The Bears had answers for both, limiting the Vikings to a single 3-point conversion and drawing fouls from the Palo Alto press. Early in the fourth quarter, while in double bonus, the Bears scored 12 points from the line to put the game away.