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THIS WEEK
- MON, Aug 24: Assembly schedule
- TUE, Aug 25: Assembly schedule
- WED, Aug 26: First Wednesday block day schedule
- WED, Aug 26: M-A Parent Education, 7 pm
- THU, Aug 27: First Thursday block day schedule
- FRI, Aug 28: Welcome Back Dance, 7-10 pm
- FRI, AUG 28: M-A Freshman Parents' Party, 7:30-11 pm
NEXT WEEK
- TUE, Sep 1: PTA general meeting, 8:45 - 10 am, PAC Café
- THU, Sep 3: Back to School Night, 6:15 pm
- FRI, Sep 4: Minimum day
UPCOMING
- MON, Sep 7: Labor Day observed, NO SCHOOL
- TUE, Sep 8: Senior Parent College Night, 7 pm, PAC Café
- WED & THU, Sep 9 & 10: Picture Make-up Days
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Welcome to Menlo-Atherton and the 2015-16 School Year!
Dear Menlo-Atherton Community:
We are off to a running start and I have seen many eager and smiling faces navigating their way around our construction zone, participating in classroom activities, and enjoying seeing friends!
I enjoyed meeting families at the Freshman Parent Coffee on Monday and shared some tips to keep in mind as your child starts school (mostly for our 9th grade students). As I mentioned at the coffee, I have a 9th grade son who started high school two weeks ago, so as a parent, understand the successes and challenges that may come up.
- Be ready to hear anything: "Good day, bad day, didn't know where something was, love this teacher, this class is...."
- Discuss friends and a hangout space for lunch. If your child needs a connection to a social group, the student support center in B-20 is a great place to start!
- Guide your child to use resources: School Loop, M-A Bears website, older sibling, friends - but give them the autonomy to access the resources and to inform you how they want to use them.
- Encourage your child to get a locker in the AVP office.
- Send your child to school with a morning snack and lunch; remember our lunch starts close to or at 1:00 p.m. each day. While we will have 11 food service lines, as students get used to ordering, the lines will move slowly. Have them bring a water bottle- we have 4 water refill bottle stations (including two filtered stations, one in our PAC Café and one in B-21, Leadership room).
As I noted in my letter sent home (also posted on School Loop), make a family transportation plan to get to and from school. If you drive to the campus, expect a wait if you drop off close the 8:45 am start time and at 3:15 pm, getting out of the parking lot.
Update on Enrollment:
We continue to enroll students; two weeks ago we weren't expected to meet our projected enrollment of 2,239 students, but due to recent enrollments, now it looks like will exceed that number. While most class sizes are reasonable, our biggest priority this week is reducing class sizes in some courses with larger enrollments, while also trying to minimize the impact on students as soon as we can. Counselors will let students know if there will be a change, and again, we are hoping for minimal impact.
What to Expect Next Week:
Students will participate in class assemblies on Monday 8/24/15 or Tuesday 8/25/15 for an introduction to policies at M-A. We will also have all of our after school supports up and running next week:
- Need assistance with homework? After school tutoring for 9th and 10th grade students will take place in the F wing from 3:15-4:30 pm, Monday through Thursday with Math in F-8, Science in F-11, Social Studies in F-17 and English in F-18, as well as the Writing Center in F-9.(11th and 12th grade students welcome).
- Need a place to do homework? Our Homework Center will be open in the Library from 3:15 pm to 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday (any grade welcome).
- Need to recover credits? We will also have a credit recovery lab for students to make up courses online (using Cyber High) in L-1 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Students should see their counselors if they are interested in enrolling.
Meet & Greet with the Principal:
Finally, please join me for a Meet & Greet with the Principal on Monday August 31st in our PAC Café at 6:00 pm J.C. Farr, our new Administrative Vice Principal, and Mai Lin Nyugen, our new College Advisor will join me. Please join us for casual conversation and some light refreshments!
M-A News & Noteworthy:
- Rising seniors Jonathan Cogan and Thomas Fuller took their NorCal crew Men's Light 8+ through three days of Florida humidity and heat -- "like rowing inside a dishwasher" -- to win the US Rowing Youth National Championship on Sunday, June 14, 2015, in Bradenton, FL. With Jonathan rowing and Thomas coxing, their boat won both the qualifying heats and their final race by open water, to claim the title for fastest Light 8 crew in the country.
- Lance Powell, AP Environmental Science and Environmental Chemistry teacher, was honored at the White House this summer as one of twelve national Presidential Innovation Award winners for environmental educators.
- Mona Klein, recently retired Home Economics teacher, received the California Department of Education's Program of Excellence Award for her outstanding Consumer and Family Studies and Food Service Hospitality Programs.
Thank you for all of the amazing support from parents, students and staff. I look forward to a fabulous 2015-16 school year.
~ Simone Rick-Kennel, M-A Principal |
Follow Principal Kennel on Twitter
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 Senior Parent College Night
Dear Parents of Seniors:
I am thrilled to be joining this fabulous school, and it's been a sincere pleasure meeting many students and parents already. Please plan to attend:
Senior Parent College Night
Tuesday, September 8, at 7 pm in the PAC Café
This is an informational night for parents only. The event will be simultaneously translated for parents who prefer to hear the information in Spanish. I hope to see you there! In addition, I am periodically sending important emails to students with useful information about college visits, recommendation letters, deadlines, and more. My door is always open to students who have questions or concerns about their applications.
~ Mai Lien Nguyen, College and Career Advisor
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Wondering About Schedule Changes?
A level change will only be allowed if space permits during the following time periods: o During the first two weeks of the school year: Aug 18 to Sep 1
o At the quarter: Oct 13 to 23
o At the semester: Dec 14, 2015 to Jan 8, 2016
For a student to drop a class and not have it show on his/her transcript, please request the change by September 29, 2015. The last day to withdraw (Withdrawal Pass - WP, or Withdrawal Fail - WF) from the first semester class is November 3, 2015. However, this will show up on the transcript. ~ Silvia Torres, Head Guidance Counselor
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Please Join the PTA!
JOIN THE PTA - Each school year, the PTA spends more than $100 per student to purchase essential classroom materials, supplies, and equipment, and to fund outstanding programs like Challenge Day and mini-grants for teachers. We are able to do this thanks to generous donations from you. Joining the PTA is simple! To sign up now, just click the button below. (Or you can fill in the form from your registration packet and mail or deliver it to the office.)
Your donations are vitally important to our students' success. Thank you!
~Amy McLanahan and Lara Hoyem, M-A PTA Membership Co-Chairs
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Volunteers Needed for Challenge Day 2015 -- Be the Change!
Join us Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, October 26, 27, and 28th for this important one-day workshop that promotes compassion, communication and community building among the Class of 2019. It's a great way for parents of all students to get involved at M-A. This one-day commitment helps our teens break down barriers and create new levels of empathy and respect. Come participate in one of the most meaningful volunteer opportunities of the year.
Adult volunteers are critical to the program's success. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Small Group Facilitator: 8:15 am - 3:30 pm
- Registration: 8:00 am - 9:15 am
- Lunch: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
To volunteer, pick the role and date that works best for you, then e-mail your preference (be sure to specify the date) to Julie Quinlan at challengeday@mabearspta.org. Please put "Challenge Day Volunteer" in the subject line. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our students!
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Attention Freshman Parents: A Fun-Filled Fiesta You Don't Want to Miss!Come join the party while your freshman is off at the M-A Welcome Back Dance and meet and mingle with the parents of the Class of 2019. Sip sangrias poolside, dine on fine Mexican fare andcelebrate the start of a new school year at M-A!Friday, August 28th
7:30pm - 11pm1260 Bay Laurel Drive, Menlo ParkPurchase tickets at www.maauction.orgHosted by the Baker, Dineen, Hoffman, Moss, Mullarkey, Weil and Zell Families Proceeds to benefit M-A's Foundation for the Future __________________All other grade-level parent parties are also on sale atwww.maauction.org
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M-A Today and Streaming Events
We're looking for season and yearly sponsors! If you'd like to see your business or cause on a banner next to an M-A Today broadcast or live stream, get in touch at matoday@seq.org.
M-A Today!, our bi-weekly show, airs Fridays and Tuesdays starting at 10:45 am. These episodes will then be posted to our youtube channel. Our show airs live on Channel 28 for Comcast subscribers, or on our streaming service at http://thecube.com/event/m-a-today-318779. We'll be doing our best to live stream many sporting and PAC events, so stay tuned for announced dates.
Email matoday@seq.org if you're interested in becoming a sponsor, have questions, or requests for announcements, segments, or streaming.
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Student Club News
Do you like the TV show Jeopardy? Now YOU can buzz in to answer questions. The Quiz Bowl club meets at lunchtime on Wednesdays and Thursdays in room B-10. Everyone is welcome. For more information, visit www.suekayton.com/QuizBowl.htm.
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M-A Parent Education Series
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Overloaded, Underprepared, and Far from Ready
for Adulthood
An evening with Julie Lythcott-Haims, Denise Pope, and Maureen Brown
Wednesday, August 26, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
M-A Performing Arts Center (PAC)
Register today! Only a limited number of tickets remain for this event. Sign up at
Join Denise Pope and Maureen Brown, co-authors of Overloaded and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids, and Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success, in discussion of their new books.
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 open to parents, students, faculty/staff, and community members. Simultaneous Spanish translation will be available.
For more information, contact Charlene Margot at cmargot@csmconsulting.net or 650.868.0590.
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M-A PARENT EDUCATION SERIES and KEPLER'S BOOKS PRESENT
Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain
An evening with Dr. Daniel J. Siegel
Wednesday, September 16
Event starts at 7:30 pm - Doors open at 6:30 pm
M-A Performing Arts Center (PAC)
The Peninsula Arts & Letters and Kepler's Books are pleased to bring internationally acclaimed author and UCLA psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Siegel to the M-A Performing Arts Center (PAC). This special evening is presented in partnership with the M-A Parent Education Series and Menlo-Atherton High School.
Dr. Siegel will share the exciting neuroscience behind the heightened social, emotional and creative energy that drives teen behavior showing parents how to turn one of the most challenging developmental periods in their children's lives into one of the most rewarding.
Event is open to parents, students, faculty/staff, and community members. Kepler's Books will offer sales of Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain.
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The Parent Education Series on Facebook
Now you can like us on Facebook! The Parent Education Series Facebook page will keep you posted about upcoming parent education events, articles on parenting, schools and education, community parent events and more: https://www.facebook.com/ParentEdSeries.
Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, M.A., Founding Director, The Parent Education Series, at cmargot@csmconsulting.net or 650.868.0590.
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Stanford Adolescent Sleep Study
Stanford University is currently conducting a study to help teens (14-18) go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. The treatment involves use of a light device that is placed by the teen's bedside and flashes periodically throughout the night. Teens also meet for four sessions with a licensed psychologist at Stanford to learn about sleep and strategies to improve sleep. The paid study requires completing a sleep diary daily for five weeks. To participate, please contact the Zeitzer Laboratory at teensleep@stanford.edu or (650) 725-7767. |
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They are useless. They can only give you answers.
~ Pablo Picasso on Computers
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From the BearNotes Editors
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Spanish Translation Editors Needed!
The BearNotes team would love to offer a full Spanish translation of the BearNotes newsletter each week to better support our Spanish-speaking community. We are hoping to find 2-4 bilingual parents (or students?) who could volunteer their time for a quick-turnaround translation. The job would require 1-2 hours on Saturdays every other week. If you could fill this role, please send a note to bearnotes@mabearspta.org. Thank you! |
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How to Submit Articles
Please keep articles short and focused. Longer TriVocis-style articles are welcome, but keep the most important info in the first paragraph. (Longer articles will show only the first paragraph in the BearNotes email and then continue on the M-A PTA website.)
- Email proofread submissions by midnight Thursday to bearnotes@mabearspta.org.
- Please do not send attachments. Send article content in the body of the email.
- Include details such as the event, date, time, location, contact info, and URL.
- Consider including a Spanish translation of your article for critical info. (Please email BearNotes if you need help with translation.)
- All submissions are subject to editing by the PTA.
For the PTA policies on BearNotes publication, please visit 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. |
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Want BearNotes in Your Inbox Every Week?
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