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Sunday, September 6, 2015
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THIS WEEK
NEXT WEEK
- TUE, Sep 15: Minimum Day (Bell Schedule)
- WED, Sep 16: Club training, 3:15 pm, PAC
- WED, Sep 16: Girls lacrosse information meeting, lunch, D14
- WED, Sep 16: Parent Education "Brainstorm," 7:30, PAC
- FRI, Sep 18: End of first quarter
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 From the Administration |
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Student Drop Off
We want to remind families that the safest way to drop-off or pick-up your student is by coming into the M-A campus and picking up or dropping off at the front of the school. It can take some time to exit the campus so please plan accordingly; or better yet, arrange to car pool with another family.
If you do drop-off and pick-up your students outside of the school area, please be respectful of our neighbors and do not pull into or block driveways. While there is public parking along Oak Grove, west of Middlefield, the Nativity Church driveway and parking lot is private land and reserved for people entering and exiting the church only. Thank you.
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M-A High School English Language Development
Tutors Needed!
No experience necessary! Volunteers will work with two to three M-A students with the goal of helping them improve in spoken and written English. Over the course of a semester, you will get to know the students and see their progress. This is a very rewarding program for both students and their tutors. Volunteers do not need foreign language experience and the ELD teacher will give you a plan for each class meeting. Volunteers are needed on Thursdays at 9:40 to 11:20 am.If you are interested, please email colleen_anderson@comcast.net.
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Homework Help
- Need assistance with homework? After school tutoring for 9th and 10th grade students will take place in the F wing from 3:15 to 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 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 to 8:00 pm on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Students should see their counselors if they are interested in enrolling.
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Menlo-Atherton Academy Mentor ProgramThe Menlo-Atherton Academy Program is in need of 100 mentors. This year's program consists of only four carefully organized on-campus meetings. You will be provided with a specific lesson and objective before each meeting requiring minimal preparation on your end. The four dates for the 2015-16 school year are Friday, October 2, December 4, January 29, and March 11 from 9:00 to 10:30 am in the PAC Café.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and I really hope to have you involved in the program this year.
~Chris Rubin, Menlo-Atherton Computer Academy Coordinator
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From the PTA |
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Please Join the PTA!
It was great to see so many of you at Back To School Night on Thursday. We are sure you had the opportunity to see and hear about the many ways that the PTA supports your child's education. We can't do it without you! Have you joined this year? If not, you can join online at www.mabearspta.org or by mail (download the form at www.mabearspta.org and send it in with your check to the M-A office).
The PTA funds quality experiences like Challenge Day, the Parent Education Series and teacher Mini-Grants, as well as purchases essential supplies and equipment for classrooms. Please consider joining.
Thanks for your support!
~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 28 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.
We especially need small group facilitators, from 8:15 am to 3:30 pm. We will need almost 200 adult volunteers, who are critical to the success of this program. Please consider signing up!
To volunteer, pick the day you prefer and e-mail the 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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From the Guidance Office |
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Senior Parent College Night
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. |
Wondering About Schedule Changes?
A level change will only be allowed if space permits during the following time periods:
o At the quarter: October 13 to 23
o At the semester: December 14, 2015 to January 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.
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From the Foundation |
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The Foundation congratulates M-A's amazing staff for a terrific Back-to-School Night. Excitement is all over the M-A campus.
The Foundation is thrilled to support so many quality programs at this comprehensive high school. In particular, Back-to-School-Night showcased Foundation investments in staff development and class-size reduction. Great teachers who are prepared and informed about the new core curriculum are ready to deliver tailored lessons to all students.
Look for the Foundation's Annual Campaign materials in October and join the Foundation in ensuring that students get the educational excellence they deserve.
They are our future. We are their Foundation!
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Join in the fun at a party just for you!
Friday, September 11
7-11 pm
Tickets $60
For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.maauction.org. Proceeds to benefit M-A Foundation for the Future.
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From the Faculty
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M-A Math Contests
The math department is quite proud of our students' contest accomplishments and we are looking forward to another great year. School-wide math contests are held on seven different Tuesdays throughout the year during lunch. These contests are part of the California Math League, a state-wide contest where hundreds of high schools throughout the state participate, both at a state and county level.
There is a multitude of benefits for participating students. They receive extra credit in their respective math classes, are challenged, and enjoy competition with their peers. Each year we have approximately twenty winners in different categories that receive trophies and get to add this award to their college application resume. In addition, math contests give students an opportunity to engage in independent thinking that cuts across the math curriculum. We believe that students who participate in many math contests over their high school careers become more skilled at taking standardized tests, in particular the SAT's, the math subject tests and their AP math exams.
This year's contest schedule is September 22, October 20, November 17, December 8, January 12, February 9 and March 16 at lunch. Top performers who are returning this year include Andrew Yates, Jasper Fu, Kasey Love, Erik Roise and Nikita Manin.
~ Jen Payne, Math Department Chair & Gregg Whitnah, Math Contest Manager
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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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Inside M-A Leadership
All students who wish to start a club at M-A may go to www.menloathertonleadership.com and click on "Create a Club." Club training will occur on September 23 in the PAC starting at 3:15 pm. 2015 Fall Club Rush on October 2 will give clubs the opportunity to talk about their club work and recruit members. This event will be held on the Green.
Spirit Week will be from October 13-16 with the Homecoming Rally on the 16th. Our Homecoming Game vs. Aragon will be the evening of October 16 and the Homecoming King and Queen will be announced. On the following night, October 17, we will host our Homecoming Dance at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City. The doors will open at 8 pm and close at 9 pm. The dance will end at 11 pm.
For all of you with "little ones," Leadership will host its 14th Annual Trick or Treat Street on October 28 here at M-A.
Lastly, M-A will wrap up its first semester with the annual Canned Food Drive. Last year, we brought over 200,000 cans in for our Canned Food Drive! We will look to the students and local community to reign as the biggest Canned Food Drive put on by a high school in North America. All Leadership students and anyone who would like to serve food to our local community can do so by volunteering at our Distribution Day at Ecumenical Hunger in East Palo Alto on December 5.
Please visit our website at www.menloathertonleadership.com.
~Mr. Amoroso, Student Activities Coordinator
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Support M-A Athletics
M-A Boosters bridges the large gap between the funds provided by our district and what is really needed to run the top-performing sports program that we have today.
Here's where the donations are used:
- Coaching Stipends: 54.43%
- Uniforms: 28.30%
- Equipment: 17.27%
Our granting day is September 30. PLEASE help us meet our goals and support our 50 athletic teams and more than 950 athletes. There are many ways to support the athletes and the programs--donations, volunteering your time or purchasing BearWear. To donate, purchase BearWear or learn more, please go to the Athletic Boosters web site.Thank you! ~ Libby Tinsley and Valerie Ambwani, M-A Boosters Co-Chairs
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M-A Girls Lacrosse Information Meeting for Students/Players
All players interested in trying out for either the Varsity or the JV Girls Lacrosse Teams for this upcoming spring season are required to come to our annual information and preseason meeting on Wednesday, September 16, during the lunch period in Classroom D14 (Mr. Kryger's classroom). You may eat and bring your lunch to the meeting. All necessary information regarding the upcoming tryouts and season will be addressed at this meeting.
If you are interested but cannot attend the meeting, please email the Lacrosse Director and the Varsity Head Coach, Coach J, at jmittle23@gmail.com.
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Freshman Boys Water Polo Seeking Players
The M-A Freshman boys water polo team is looking for more players! If you are interested in getting into the game of water polo, now is your chance. You can have fun, get into awesome shape, meet some great friends, and learn a new sport. M-A players have gone to local, state, and national tournaments and even traveled to Italy on a club trip over the summer. Many players have gone on to play in college. It's a fun and exciting game and we historically have not cut players!
If you are comfortable swimming 50 yards and can tread water for more than a minute, we would encourage you to come out and get in the game. Even players with little to no experience are encouraged to play. The deadline to sign up for teams is extended for the Freshman team. Practices are daily Monday through Friday, some games on Saturdays.
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Water Polo All Americans
On September 4, Senior Alex Hakanson was named as an Academic All-American by USA Water Polo for 2014-2015. Sophomore Noah Smith was also honored by USA Water Polo as the Most Valuable Player of the 2015 Junior Olympics 14 & Under Boys All-American.
Congratulations to all the athletes recognized for their hard work in the classroom. Student-athletes needed a 3.6 GPA on a scale of 4.0 to qualify, and those that received a 4.0 GPA were honored as outstanding achievers.
Congratulations to Noah & Alex. Go Bears!
~ Paul M. Snow, Athletic Director, Social Studies & Sports Leadership Teacher
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Sports News
Frosh/Soph Boys Water Polo
The frosh/soph boys lost a sudden death overtime thriller to St. Ignatius (SI) 10-9 on Friday. The game was tied at 6-6 at the end of regulation, and M-A jumped to a two goal lead two minutes into overtime. But SI came back to tie it at the end of the overtime periods, forcing sudden death. On the first possession of sudden death, SI scored to end the game. Chris Lobdell led the Bear attack with three goals, while Cooper Gran, Finn Depuy and Shon Alimukhamadov scored two goals apiece.
The JV boys fought back from a three-goal half time deficit to send the game to overtime and gutted out a 12-11 victory over St. Ignatius. Freshman Finn Depuy was a force at both ends of the pool, scoring three goals, assisting on another, drawing four SI exclusions, and getting four steals. Lefty Demetri Sweezy rifled in four goals and had one assist, and Henry Marx scored three times and added an assist. Nick Andrew scored the game's first goal on a laser bar-in shot, and freshman Cooper Gran contributed a goal and an assist. The defense was anchored by Chris Lobdell's five steals and two field blocks and Davos Paquin's three steals and hard-nosed on-ball defense.
Varsity Boys Water Polo--Big Win in Opening Game of Season
The boys varsity team won big over St. Ignatius in the season opener last Friday evening. Seniors led the charge, along with sophomore Nik Caryotakis. Seniors scoring included Christian Huhn with six goals and one steal, senior Alex Hakanson with five goals, two steals and two assists, senior Jorge Pont with two goals, two steals, and four assists, senior James Calhoon with two goals, sophomore Caryotakis with two goals and one assist, and senior Spencer Gran with one well-placed lob over the opposing goalie's head. Senior Mostyn Fero was fearless in set, earning four majors and logging a steal. Senior Jack Beasley had two steals and one assist. Our triple threat goalies each had a save. Senior Jackson Goudey, junior Cameron Raff, and sophomore Noah Smith kept the score low against SI. Bears showed great teamwork in passing the ball, and our 6-on-5 offense earned five out of six attempts, and our defense held SI to just four out of nine opportunities. Final score was 18-10, a great start for MA Boys! Next week the Bears head to Bellarmine for the Schmitt tournament on Friday and Saturday. Go Bears!
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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). Dr. Siegel will share the exciting neuroscience behind the heightened social, emotional and creative energy that drives teen behavior. Between the ages of 12 to 24, the brain changes in important and, at times, challenging ways. In "Brainstorm," Dr. Siegel dispels a number of commonly held myths about adolescent behavior and demonstrates that during these years children learn vital skills, such as how to leave home and enter the larger world, connect deeply with others, and safely experiment and take risks.
The 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.
Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, M.A., Founding Director, The Parent Education Series, at cmargot@csmconsulting.net or 650-868-0590.
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SEQUOIA PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
Raising Teens with Mindfulness, Resilience,
and a Growth Mindset
An evening with Leah Weiss Ekstrom, PhD, and Fred Dillon, HopeLab
Thursday, September 24, 7:00-8:30 pm
Sequoia High School, Carrington Hall
Join Leah Weiss Ekstrom, PhD, and Fred Dillon from HopeLab for an insightful discussion of how to raise teens with mindfulness, resilience and a growth mindset. Leah Weiss Ekstrom lectures on compassionate leadership at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and teaches at Stanford's Compassion Cultivation Program (CCARE), founded by HH the Dalai Lama. In addition, Leah leads Compassion Education and Scholarship at HopeLab, an Omidyar Group research and development nonprofit focused on resilience. Fred Dillon plays a key role in shaping HopeLab's new initiative to promote human resilience and inner values through social tech innovation.
Parents, students, faculty/staff and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.
Sequoia Parent Education Series events are sponsored by the SHSEF, the Sequoia Healthcare District, and the Sequoia Union High School District.
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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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Join DFarm to Put Ideas Into Actions
Wednesdays or Thursdays, Sept 23 - Dec 17 After school, Mitchell Park Community Center Calling all teens! Rock your can-do spirit and join DFarm! Ever wonder how people come up with great ideas? We'll show you how using the design thinking process! Do you have an idea but are feeling overwhelmed about how to move forward? Connect with mentors to move your idea forward.
In our program, we don't want to talk about design thinking, we do it! Harness your natural creativity to define why and when, and our mentors will show you how and when to make it real. Whether it's a widget, a social problem, or something for your own personal development. For more information and registration, visit www.thedfarm.org or email info@thedfarm.org. |
Keep your face always toward the sunshine -
and shadows will fall behind you.
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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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