[Ma-pta-enotes] eNotes for Monday

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING (READ eNotes FOR MORE INFO) 


March 14 and March 15: AP test signups 


March 16:  Tell Me When to Glow all-school dance in J-Building from 7 - 10 pm; robotics competition begins 


March 23: Movie night in the J building from 7 to 10 p.m; deadline for returning summer book order forms to teachers; minimum day. 


March 28: Grease begins its run 
 


CONGRATS TO QUIZ BOWL TEAM 


On Saturday, the varsity M-A Quiz Bowl team came in first place at the Bay Area NAQT championship tournament.  Out of the 26-team field, they were the only undefeated team.  They move on to the Northern California championship tournament.  Congratulations to Tom Kozlowski, Patrick Leugers, Robbie Eaton, and Benjamin Nuyens.   


CAN YOU TRUST COLLEGE RANKINGS? 


Alice Kleeman suggests that parents concerned about relative college rankings read this Washington Post article:  www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/09/AR2007030901836.html  


THE LATEST ON YEARBOOKS 


If you bought a yearbook online for your senior and received a note informing you that you needed to buy a book, ask your senior to check with her/his history or English teacher. The note was probably sent to you by mistake.   


All parents: if you have not purchased your yearbook, you have three more days to buy one (deadline March 14).  After that, yearbooks will only be available at the end of the year, first come-first served, and the price will be higher.  


Get a copy for $70 today by downloading an order form from the mabears.org website or ordering online at http://www.YearbooksOnSale.com.    


AP TEST REGISTRATION 


Sign-ups for the AP tests will be Wednesday, March 14 and Thursday, March 15 at lunch only, in the food court outside the J building.  The cost per test is $85, and checks should be payable to M-AHS.  You can write one check for multiple tests; cash is also accepted.    


If paying by check, write the following information on the front of the check: student's first and last name and AP test names (be specific).  There is a $15 cancellation fee per test if your student decides to withdraw after registration. 


Students who need financial assistance must see Monique in the front office prior to registering. 


SCHOOL VISITORS 


This Thursday, March 15, a team of visitors will be on campus to assess M-A's candidacy for the Distinguished School Award. Next week, Friday, March 23 will be a minimum day in conjunction with a visit from WASC, the accrediting commission for schools (see http://www.acswasc.org/about_criteria.htm). The WASC evaluators will visit the campus from March 25-28.  


RACK N ROLL 


Come join in the thrills as M-A's robot takes on the competition this Friday, March 16, and Saturday, March 17 from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Silicon Valley Regional Tournament that will be held at San Jose State University Event Center.  Seeding matches will be played all day Friday and Saturday morning; the exciting final rounds are scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Last year, M-A won this tournament, and the team hopes for a repeat performance. Admission is free, and all events are open to the public.  


For more information and photos of the robot, designed and built in only six weeks, see the M-A team website at www.marobotics.org 
 


XPANDING YOUR HORIZONS IN MATH AND SCIENCE 


Alice Kleeman recommends this conference for girls in grades 6-12 and interested adults.  It will be held at Skyline College in San Bruno on Saturday, March 17 from 8:15 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.   The cost of $10 includes snack, lunch, and materials.  Register by March 9 at http://skylinecollege.edu/eyh 


SCHEDULE CHANGES NEXT WEEK 


Because of the CAHSEE exam for sophomores, Tuesday, March 20 will be a 1,3,5,7 block day, and Wednesday, March 21, a 2,4,6 block day.  March 22 will be a regular 1-7 day 


ENVISIONING OUR FUTURE 


The Sequoia Union High School District invites the community to help create a new vision statement for the district.  There are still two sessions that you can attend to provide input. 


March 20 from 6 to 8:15 p.m. in the district office at 480 James Street in Redwood City.   


March 24 from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. in East Palo Alto.  (You will receive information about the location when you RSVP). 


If you would like to attend either session, you need to RSVP to Pat Gemma at pgemma at seq.org 
 


SUMMER IS ON THE WAY 


Spring is here, which means it is time to order your students' summer reading books.  Your students should have received reading lists and order forms from their English teachers; you can also find the form in the March Trivocis or download it from www.mabears.org. Complete the forms and return them to teachers by Friday, March 23.   Students are required to read these books and will need them for assignments in English next year. For questions, please email Virginia Weiss at weissland at comcast.net 


FIRST ANNUAL BAY AREA GAP YEAR FAIR 


A gap year gives high school graduates an opportunity for personal growth, potentially leading to clearer direction and greater motivation for college or whatever path the student pursues.  The gap year may include travel, cultural immersion, directed study, service or conservation projects, internship opportunities, and more.  The conference will be held at Albany High School in Albany, on March 24 from noon to 3 p.m.  For more info, contact Carolie Sly at csly at dynamy.org 


SAT PREP COURSE  


M-A's own SAT Prep is enrolling students for the session that begins March 26 and prepares students for the May or June SAT. Classes meet on campus, Mondays from 3:30-5 p.m. for math and Tuesdays, same times, for English.  The course lasts five weeks and there is a nominal fee.  Email Jane King at jccking at juno.com to enroll your students or ask questions.  
 


GREASE IS THE WORD 


Dress up in your favorite 50s costume and enjoy the fast pace and pulsating tunes of the musical Grease with stars Myles Rowland and Amanda Tachics.  This all-student production, directed by Jenni Brandon with assistance from Paolo Lopez and choreography by Sam Steele, will be the last musical staged in the soon-to-be-demolished J building.   


The show will premiere on Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m., with repeat performances on Friday, March 30 at 7 p.m, Saturday, March 31 at 7 p.m., and Thursday, April 5 at 5 p.m. (April 5 is Open House, so you can get a terrific parking space and watch a great show too.)   There will also be a special understudy matinee on Saturday, March 31 at 2 p.m.  


Don't miss it! Get your tickets ($8 regular; $5 matinee) by contacting April Paye at apaye at seq.  


JUNIOR/SENIOR PROM* 


*will be here before you know it.  This year's prom is scheduled for Friday, May 11 at the San Francisco Regency Center at 1300 Van Ness Avenue from 8 pm to midnight. Guest passes will be available April 1.  For more info, contact Jenna Carson at jcarson at seq.org. 


WANTED:  OLD COMPUTERS FOR NEEDY STUDENTS 


Do you or your business have an old computer that you do not need any more?  We will securely erase all the data, refurbish it, and send it home with a deserving M-A student who has no access +to a computer at home.  Help clear out your garage and bridge the digital divide!  Contact Sue Kayton, kayton at alum.mit.edu, 650-853-1711. 


SPORTS - 

Driving Directions from M-A to away games
http://www.m-aboosters.org/sports/drivingdir/Driving_Directions.html


FORE!  


The 3rd Annual M-A Bears Golf Classic is scheduled for Saturday, April 28 at Coyote Creek Golf Club in San Jose.  All golfers at any level are welcome to participate, enjoy a day of fun, and support the Menlo-Atherton Boys Golf Teams.  Contact tournament director Norm Hall at putt4doe at gmail.com for more info.  


MEANWHILE, OUT ON THE LINKS 


Our JV boys placed 5th among 12 teams this week in the Aragon Invitational Frosh/Soph Golf Tournament on Thursday, March 8 at Poplar Creek Golf Course.  The Bears were strong with solid 18 hole rounds by Brian Jordan (77), Peyton Smith (85) and Clark Forsaith (90).  The JV team will take on Menlo today while Varsity meets both Burlingame and Carlmont during the week. 


LACROSSE 


Ten is the magic number for the girls' JV lacrosse team.  They have now won all three of their first games of the season with a score of 10-something. 


Last Friday, Harker fell to JV Girls Lax, 10-3. Goals were scored by Alex Fanelli (2), Monserrat Benevides (2), Eileen Johnson (1), Julia Schroeder (1), Allie Foraker (1), Monika Decker (1), Taylor Wentz (1), and Janika Lintz (1). 


Meanwhile, the boys' varsity team lost a close contest vs. California High on Thursday with a 7-5 score. Scoring for the Bears were Will Hyrne with two goals, and David McLaughlin, Alex Johnson and Charlie Fitz with one each.  Goalie Bo Dunnahoo-Kirsch racked up 11 saves. 

Today the boys travel to Menlo School to start league play Varsity is at 3pm, while JV is at 5.



BADMINTON 


Practices will start this week at 3:30 on Monday, Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. on Wednesday.  There will be a practice meet on Tuesday, so players should arrive at 3 p.m. to help set up and to warm up. 


BASKETBALL 


The boys' varsity basketball team lost to Mitty on Saturday night concluding an unbelievable season.  We would like to thank everyone for their support throughout the season, especially the 6th man club.   


TENNIS 


The boys' team took the match against top-ranked Burlingame down to the wire, before succumbing 5-2.  Four of the lost matches went to a decisive 3rd set and the outcome was in doubt until the very end!  


While frosh sensation Alec Haley crushed his opponent, the most disturbing and yet entertaining match of the day was at #2 singles.  As sophomore George Horowitz battled to reach the 3rd and final set, his opponent seemed to lose his composure and became "visibly annoyed" to say the least.  George's opponent tried every gamesmanship trick in the book, but in the end, "G-money" took the match. 


The Bears will be taking on Aragon and defending champion Menlo this week. 
 


GO BEARS 


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