[Ma-pta-enotes] eNotes from M-A

[ma-pta-enotes at listserv.seq.org]

Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to transmit the eNotes this week.  The eNotes staff apologizes for the inconvenience and will do our best to continue to publish the eNotes on our normal twice-weekly schedule."  

For general information about M-A, including up-to-date news about school events and the calendar, visit our website: www.mabears.org 

HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT’S HAPPENING (READ eNotes FOR INFO)

October 24: Special presentation on teen sleep\

November 8: Eighth grade info night

November 15: Sign up for College Entrance Exam Prep course (juniors only)

DREAM BIG: GET SOME SLEEP

On Tuesday, October 24 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the M-A library, the M-A PTA will be presenting a special session with Mark R. Rosekind, founder and president of Alertness Solutions.  The topic is Adolescence: Sleep Challenges of the Teenage Years, and he will be discussing the basics of adolescent sleep needs, techniques for calculating your child’s sleep deficit, reasons that sleep is sooo important, and tips that will help you help your teen achieve better sleep habits.  The program includes a Q&A.  Dr. Rosekind is an internationally recognized expert on sleep performance and practical strategies.  Questions?  Please contact Julie Brody (julie at brodyfamily.net) or Pam Stoner (pastoner at yahoo.com)


SENIOR PARENTS: GIVE YOUR STUDENTS A REASON TO SMILE

The class panorama photo will be taken on the football field during lunch on Wednesday, October 25.   Your seniors can obtain order forms in their classes or in B-21.

FRESHMAN CHALLENGE

Sign up to help with M-A’s incredible annual freshmen challenge.  If you can lead a small group or help with event logistics, please sign up to work on campus on Monday, October 30 and/or Tuesday, October 31 between 7:15 am and 3 p.m.

A training session for small group leaders is scheduled for Saturday, October 28 from 9-10 a.m. at M-A.

For more info or to sign up, email coordinators Margie Lawrence at mlawrence at mppc.org or Betsy Bowersox at Betbowe at earthlink.net


IS THERE AN EIGHTH GRADER IN YOUR HOUSE?

Eighth grade information night for the M-A class of 2111 is Wednesday, November 8, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. in the J building. All eighth grade students and their parents are invited to meet Denise Plante, school administrators, counselors, teachers, coaches, and students.   For more information: http://www.mabears.org//content/view/138/30/

The Saturday prior to information night, November 4, we invite eighth grade families to tour the campus between 1 and 3 pm.  Tours, led by leadership students, will leave from the flagpoles at the front of the campus.  Questions?  Please contact Leslie Mayerson at lwmayerson at yahoo.com

PROJECT BACKPACK

Help clothe the chilly: bring your travel-sized toiletries and other essentials (toothbrush, toothpaste), jackets, warm clothes, and especially backpacks to A-4 in the office.  Outreach will give all items will be given to the poor and homeless in San Francisco.

LUNCH MADE EASY

You can prepay for your students’ school lunches simply by writing a check for the amount you wish to prepay and sending it with your student to give to any food kiosk attendant or mailing it to SUHSD Food Services 480 James Avenue Redwood City, CA  94062.   

Be sure to include your student's ID number on the check.  If the check is for more than one student, each ID needs to be listed with the amount for each.  Checks should be payable to SUHSD Food Services.

After receiving the check, Food Services will mail a PIN to your home address.  The student simply enters the PIN at any food kiosk to access the money in the account. Questions? Call 369-1411 extension 2590.

OUR LIBRARY NEEDS YOUR BOOKS

If you have extra copies of the following books, the M-A library would be glad to take them off your hands so that students can use them for extra credit assignments.  Please drop the books off at the library.

Crane: Red Badge of Courage
Hillerman: A Thief of Time
Hosseini: Kite Runner
Hunt: Across Five Aprils
Kolbert: Field Notes from a Catastrophe
Mathabane: Kafir Boy
McCullough: 1776
Preston: Hot Zone
Shaara: Gods and Generals
Shaara: Killer Angels
Silverstein: Radioactive Boy Scout

NO NEED FOR CONFLICT

Conflict Resolution is now available to all members of the Menlo-Atherton community. Remember problems are just solutions in work clothes. If you or a friend has a dispute, please come to A-4.


FASHION SHOW MEMORIES

If you would like a copy of the show DVD, email John Bowley at johnbowley at comcast.net. There are also order forms available in the M-A office and a very festive box where the order form and check may be deposited.  Cost is $25 per DVD

THE EASY WAY TO GIVE TO M-A

eScrip is an easy and wonderful way to donate to our schools at no extra cost to you.  But it’s a good idea to log into your account at www.escrip.com to make sure your credit cards are up-to-date (eScrip won’t tell you when they expire but will stop contributing to M-A) and that M-A is on the list of recipients for your account.  

If you see M-A listed under your name on eScrip, terrific.  Otherwise, please click on "my escrip" to log in and add M-A (our group ID is 136550465).  While you're there, check to see that your credit cards are up to date (you may need to update expiration dates) and add your Safeway or Macy's card.  Any questions, please call Emily Liggett at 322-5533 (or emligget at pacbell.net) Thank you for your support of M-A!

DIRECTORY CORRECTION

Big Band Dance should be listed as FRIDAY, March 2, 2007 in the calendar portion of the new directory.

HOMEWORK FRUSTRATIONS

Does your student need help with homework?  Help is available after 7th period in the library Monday through Thursday.

AND FOR SPECIFIC HELP WITH ALGEBRA…

Your student should stop by room C-4 during 7th period and after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.  Get the full 4-1-1 from your student’s algebra teacher.


FOR JUNIORS ONLY

Enrollment for the College Entrance Exam Preparation (CEEP) a spring semester course offered only during period 0 (7 a.m every morning) to help juniors improve their SAT math, critical reading, and writing scores, will take place on Wednesday morning, November 15, at 6:30 a.m. in Room D20.  The course is taught by veteran teachers Gregg Whitnah and Liane Strub, and is limited to 70 juniors. If more than 70 register, a lottery will be held, with results posted outside room D20 by 1:40 p.m. that day. The November 15 meeting will include a 45-minute orientation to CEEP.

For more information on the course, see the October Trivocis or email gwhitnah at pacbell.net

WANTED: OLD COMPUTERS…

Working or not, for deserving M-A students.  If your family or your business has computers to donate, please contact Sue Kayton kayton at alum.mit.edu, 650-853-1711

MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

Do you have an upcoming event that you would like publicized to our Partner Schools in October? If you or your organization, club or committee has up upcoming M-A event that may be of interest to partner school families (music/art/dance performance, parent education, etc.), please send you submission to Charlene Margot, PTA Partner School Liaison, charlenemargot at yahoo.com. Space is limited, so keep your message short (event description, date, time, location, ticket price).

WHO’S GOT THE BUTTON?

PTA Co-President Leslie Airola needs a volunteer to design and produce campaign-style buttons for staff.  Email her at lairola at gmail.com  

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2007 YEARBOOKS

Yearbook order forms are now available on line at the M-A website. You can either download an order form or pay with a credit card on line!  You can also go directly to Jostens at http://shop.jostens.com/customer.asp?CID=130520&mscssid=FWVFBWF2SGP99GVL477PHM5RULSUAMH1 (be careful if you copy/paste the foregoing into your browser—some of the letters may drop off the end and will have to be manually appended).  Price for the yearbook is $65 until January 19.  If you have questions or would like to buy a personal dedication page for your senior, please email the staff at MA_yearbook at yahoo.com

***SPORTS***

FALL SPORTS AWARDS

November will be here soon, so make sure you have this event on your calendar: Thursday, November 16 at 7 p.m. in the J building.  All coaches, parents, and athletes are invited. 


TENNIS

The girls’ tennis team thrashed the previously undefeated San Mateo team 6-1, bringing their record to 11-0.  The Bears are only one match away from a perfect season.



Can the girl's BEAR water polo team "catch" the Los Altos EAGLES?  Come find out tomorrow, Friday the 13th, as our varsity girls play at home @ 7 pm in the beautiful Spieker pool.  Free entry!

CONDITIONING FOR ALL

Head Track & Field Coach Vic will be running strength and conditioning course four days a week for all student athletes that want to get stronger, faster, and better conditioned no matter what sports they play. 
 
Meet at the track on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3-5 p.m. and/or Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2:15-4:30 p.m. to participate.  Students will also be using the weight room.  Cost: lots of hard work, lots of fun, and an occasional plate of cookies, brownies, turkey sandwich, or other treat for the coach.  Contact Coach Vic with any questions at 650-218-5209

WINTER SPORTS

If your students are interested in basketball, soccer, or wrestling, make sure they stop by the vice-principal’s office to pick up a sports packet.  The packets must be complete and returned to the office by November 10.  

GO BEARS! 

Do not respond to this email.  To send a submission or be removed from the eNotes distribution list, email eNotes coordinator Maria Flaherty at m-apta at seq.org.  Be sure to tell her the year that your child or children will graduate (2007, 2008, 2009, or 2010) in your message.  You can access old eNotes at the archives at www.seq.org/pipermail/ma-pta-enotes/