[Ma-pta-enotes] eNotes

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

*Upcoming Events*

Monday, December 10 â   Last day to order Fashion Show DVD

*Announcements*


FROM THE PTA

Wishing you Happy Holidays from the PTA!  There will be no December meeting but we will look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, January 9th at 8:30 in F-15.  Please come hear a heartfelt report from students about their experience at Challenge Day, important news from our Boosters, and Committee Chairs about the meaningful community events over the holidays.  It promises to be a worthwhile meeting.  Have a wonderful December.

FEED OUR FAMILIES - FINAL PUSH

With only six collection days left, we are only half way to our goal of collecting food supplies to feed the almost 400 needy families in our school community.  Please help make our Annual Canned Food Drive a success with your generous donations of non-perishable food and cash.  

There are many ways you can contribute:

You can donate to the students "canning" outside Key Market, Trader Joe's and Sharon Heights Safeway; send food or monetary donations to school with your students; drop off food or checks (made out to Menlo-Atherton Canned Food Drive) at the M-A Office; or mail donations to M-A, attention Kelly Todd.


Volunteers Needed

The donation of your time is also appreciated!  We need volunteers on Thursday (12/6 - 9:00-1:00) to help students organize the food for distribution; Friday (12/7 - 10:00-6:00) to assist families with pickup; and Saturday (12/8 - 9:00-1:00) to deliver the food to the families.  If you can help, email your shift preference and phone number to the FOF Parent Volunteer Organizers:  Diane Kelvie (dkelvie at aol.com) or Sarah Fitzgerald (sarahgfitz at aol.com).  Many thanks for your generosity.

DON'T MISS OUT!! MONDAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER THE FASHION SHOW DVD!

Remember how great the fashion show was? Would you like to share the experience with relatives or friends? It's just your luck that the Fashion Show DVD will include all of the great fashions, dances and fun from this year's show. This professionally produced DVD will have chapters -- so you can choose to watch just your favorite segment or the entire show. The DVD will also include professionally taken still pictures. Please note: the DVD will be edited to include all students-- even the ones that missed the lunch show because of CCS events.  Orders must be received by Monday, Dec 3, 2007. Order forms are in the front office at M-A or they are available on line. Drop off your order to the box at the front desk at M-A or to Gale Lane's house: 140 East Creek Dr., Menlo Park. Make your $25 check out to M-A PTA  Questions? Contact Gale at gale13 at sbcglobal.net.  Thanks for supporting the PTA!

PROJECT BACKPACK REACHES OUT TO THE HOMELESS

Over 50 M-A students traveled to San Francisco last Friday afternoon to distribute baked goods and 236 backpacks to homeless people in the Tenderloin neighborhood.  It was an amazing experience for all involved.  The people we encountered were so very appreciative of the clothing and toiletries inside the bags.  Thank you to all who donated clothing, coats, and blankets for this effort.  Special thanks to the VANS Corporation, which donated nearly a hundred brand new backpacks and fannypacks to the project.  Appreciation also goes to Mr. Ali Lopez, in San Francisco, for the help in coordinating discounted parking at his lot at the corner of Jones St. and Golden Gate Ave.  Thank you to our 20 parent drivers/chaperones who made the event possible.  Our student coordinators, Sylvia Bowditch, Sandy Nicolet, Alissa Rubin, and Eric Siegel did a super job.   It was an experience that made us all proud of our M-A Community.

ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD

The deadline for One Laptop per Child has been extended! Outreach is trying to raise money to buy solar-powered, wireless laptops for children in developing countries. Through December 31, we can buy TWO laptops for $399. Even if we can only afford one, we will know that we have changed one life for the better. We already have over $500 and are aiming for $800. If you would like to make a donation, large or small, we would greatly appreciate your contribution. Because of the time limit, donations must be made BEFORE Christmas break! Money and checks can be turned in to Geri Nicholas in the Career Center or contact Chloe Peters at chloe at yuen-peters.com to arrange a donation drop-off. Thank you!


JAZZ BAND

Looking for Holiday Gifts? Stocking Stuffers?  Shop locally by buying the M-A Advanced Jazz Band CD. CDs are only $10 and are professionally recorded and shrink-wrapped. We will even gift wrap it for you! 100% of proceeds go directly into the music program at M-A.  Contact Perryn Rowland at perrynkrowland at yahoo.com for more information or to order a copy. Copies are also available at Occasions, 826 Santa Cruz Ave.


*Athletics*

FOOTBALL

Despite a valiant effort, the varsity football team lost to Palo Alto in the final seconds of the CCS final game with a score of 14 to 7.   Led by the inspired play of Andrew Klein, the defense had another strong outing with a Klein interception and fumble recovery and a Nick Dove interception.  Troy McCabe connected with Matt Mosher for the lone M-A touchdown.   Congratulations to the PAL championship team for an excellent season and thank you to all the amazing fans who braved the frigid temperatures to come out and cheer on their Bears.


BASKETBALL

The boys' varsity basketball team started out their season with a championship effort in the Cupertino Shootout tournament.  Scoring three wins, they beat Leigh 60 to 41, Los Altos 56 to 49 (in overtime) and Cupertino 50 to44 (also in overtime).  Congratulations to Richard Branning and Peter DeFilipps who were both selected to the All-Tournament team.  Come cheer on the Bears in their next game against Gunn on Wednesday in the Burlingame tournament.

*Go Bears.  Grrrrrr.*