[Ma-pta-enotes] eNotes for Thursday

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

HIGHLIGHTS OF WHATâ  S HAPPENING (READ eNotes FOR MORE INFO)

October 13: Robotics Team participates in Cal Games

October 18: Midsummer Nightâ  s Dream opens

October 22-26: California State Federation scholarship signups

October 29 and 30: Challenge Days for freshman

October 30: Financial aid meeting for parents of freshmen, sophomores, juniors

November 10: M-Aâ  s annual fashion show

HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE: PARENT HELP NEEDED

The PTA is forming a new committee to help the student Outreach Club with their Holiday Gift Drive. This is a great opportunity to work closely with motivated, service-oriented students and to support our community too.   We need too chairs to help the students manage the logistics of purchasing and delivering gifts for 200 local children.  Outreach Club meetings are Mondays at lunch. If you are interested in this new PTA Committee, please contact Pam Stoner, pastoner at sbcglobal.net, or Julie Brody, julie at brodyfamily.net. 

ITâ  S THAT TIME OF YEAR: PROJECT BACKPACK.  

The Outreach Community Service Club is asking for donations for Project backpack! Our goal this year is 200 backpacks. We need new or gently used backpacks to fill with necessities for the homeless. If you have any warm clothing which includes hats, gloves, scarves, warm-ups, or coats, please bring them to the M-A Career Center. We will also be in need of toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, combs, hand cleanser, mouthwash. etc.
 
We will be taking a large group of students to distribute the packs on November 30 from 3-7 p.m.  If any parent would like to help with this project, please contact Geri Nicholas at gnichola at seq.org or 322-5311 at ext. 5020. Student coordinators are Sylvia Bowditch, Eric Siegel, Sandy Nicolet, and Alissa Rubin. Donations may be sent to M-A Outreach Project Backpack at 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton, CA 94027

ROBOTICS REGIONAL

Thirty robots from all over California are converging on Woodside High School this Saturday, October 13, from 9am to 5pm, to participate in Cal Games, an exciting day of robot alliances competing against each other.  Admission is free; come check out the action and cheer on M-A's robot, #766!  

COUNTDOWN TO FASHION SHOW

More news every day: keep reading your eNotes!

Store moms needed.  Accompany kids to stores to try on clothes for the show, be responsible for transporting clothes to and from M-A, and assist the models at rehearsals and on the big day.  You need not be the parent of a senior.  Contact Lily Hurliman pronto at LHurl at aol.com to volunteer as we are having a training meeting next week.  Have a friend who would like to help?  You can work together. 

Handy with a hammer? You do not have to be a contractor, although we would love to have you join us if you are.  The main show setup is Saturday, November 3. We need a bunch of parents to help the pros who will tell us what to do to set up our rented stage. Contact Nancy Sterling at N.Sterling at comcast.net if you can help.

Fashion show tickets are now on sale!  Go to mabears.org, find "downloads" on the top bar, go to "PTA," then to page two.  Print out the order form and follow the directions.
 
Dancers.  Show dancers should have received their assignment sheets in the mail. If they have a conflict with their assignment, they have until Friday to correct it. Contact Becky Galvez at 804-2667 and leave a message or a text. 
 
Raffle...we are giving away an iPhone!  Check the ticket order form to see the prizes for our raffle. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. You can order by mail on the ticket order form or on the day of the show.

PSAT

The PSAT test will be administered at M-A on Saturday, October 20 from 7:45 to 10:45 a.m. To register, students must bring a check for $25 to their English teacher by next Wednesday, October 10. All college-bound juniors should take the PSAT to be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship program. See Ms. Strub in C-15 if you have questions about the PSAT.

 A MIDSUMMER NIGHTâ  S DREAM

Four young lovers (played by Emma Townsend-Merino, Keenan Rehlich, Kristie Nash, and Zack Clarence) meet in a moonlit forest inhabited by magical creatures in William Shakespeareâ  s most popular romantic comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream. The mischievous hobgoblin, Puck (Aaron Groom), the Fairy King (Alexander Most) and Queen of the Fairies (Emily Ota) complicate the romantic entanglements of the star-crossed lovers. Directed by senior Julia Robinson.   Come watch this International Thespian Society production on October 18, 19, 20, 26 at 7p.m. or at their October 20 2p.m. matinee in the F-Wing Amphitheater.  Tickets are $5 for students, $8 for adults and can be purchased at lunch on the green or at the door. 

For more information, email madrama at mac.com

CHALLENGE DAY UPDATE 

We now have 108 small group volunteers so we are in good shape to work with groups of five freshmen for Challenge Day, October 29 and 30. But we can always use more.  Note that after their first Challenge Day (students will be assigned to one of the two days) they will meet eight more times throughout the year in their World Studies classes to work on Rumor/Gossip Elimination, Values Lesson, Stereotype Lesson, Bully Elimination Lesson, and Harassment Lesson. At a small cost of $32 per student, we are teaching some big lessons. 

Note that there is an optional training day for small group leaders on Saturday, October 20, from 9-10 a.m. in room B-21.

CALIFORNIA SCHOLARSHIP FEDERATION
Your sophomores, juniors, and seniors can sign up for CSF the week of October 22-26 during lunch outside B-22. Applications will be available from English teachers beginning next week.  Students must bring a completed application and spring 2007 report card or transcript along with a $3 fee.  Students who donâ  t have a copy of their grades will need to pay an extra $1. For more information, see http://mabears.seq.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=188&Itemid=30&limit=1&limitstart=2

JUNGLE ALLURE

Only 16 more days until October 27 and homecoming! Homecoming tickets for this year's Jungle Allure Homecoming Dance from 8 pm to midnight at Bay Meadows are on sale NOW on the green at lunch Monday through Friday, and Fridays after school.

PARENTS OF FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS: START PLANNING TO PAY FOR COLLEGE

Costs are going up faster than most salaries, so you wonâ  t want to miss this outstanding event, scheduled for Tuesday, October 30, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Menlo-Atherton library. Join M-A college advisor Alice Kleeman and presenters from Edfund, Citigroup, and Bellarmine College Prep for an information-packed evening,  Financial aid is a complex topic, but you will walk away from the program feeling confident in your ability to analyze your options and navigate the forms.  Q&A will be provided, along with simultaneous Spanish translation 
 
Note that parents of seniors will have their own workshop with Alice in January.

RSVP to PTA Parent Education co-chairs Charlene Margot (charlenemargot at yahoo.com) or Darcy Prime (darcyprime at sbcglobal.net) 

SAVE DARFUR

Time to stop wringing your hands and find out what you can DO.  The Menlo-Atherton STAND will be hosting a "Save Darfur Rally" in the library from 6:30-8:00 on November 2. There will be a film and a presentation by Stanford students. For more information, contact Marli Ruck at tallsocks13 at yahoo.com

SPRING SAT CLASS FOR JUNIORS: GET THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR
Signups for this popular class will be Wednesday, November 14, starting before 7 a.m. (thatâ  s a.m., as in very early) in room D-20.  Only 70 students can enroll and a lottery will be held if necessary.  Gregg Whitnah will be making presentations to all pre-calculus and algebra II classes prior to November 14; juniors enrolled in other math classes may not be hearing the presentation will have to read the Trivocis for more information.  Check the next Trivocis for full details.
 
***SPORTS***

For complete information, see www.m-aboosters.org    
Driving directions to away games from M-A: http://www.m-aboosters.org/sports/drivingdir/Driving_Directions.html

WATER POLO
Varsity boys defeated Aragon 17-5 yesterday. Matt Bogott led the scoring with 6 goals, while Scott Swartz and Matt Garlock had 3 each.   Goalie Alex Popp had 3 saves.  The Bears are now 2-1 in PAL and 11-5 overall. The varsity and JV girlsâ   teams also swept Aragon, showing great teamwork as they easily maneuvered around the Dons in all their games. The JV boys had a bye, but great competition lies ahead for them at this weekend's Monta Vista tournament.  Varsity girls, undefeated in the league, travel to Modesto to play in the Western States Water Polo Tournament. GO POLO BEARS

GOLF
On October 10, our girlsâ   team met Aragon, Menlo School and Capuchino at Poplar Creek Golf Course, a par 36 course.  M-A lost to Aragon in a close match (183 to 184), beat Menlo School (184 to 189) and triumphed over Capuchino (184 to 245).  Our own Mele Latu was medalist with a score of 40.   M-A's record is now 7 and 4.
IS YOUR STUDENT PLAYING A SPORT IN THE WINTER AND/OR SPRING
Low-cost physicals are available for all M-A athletes on Thursday, October 25, from 6-7:30 p.m. at BAK Physical Therapy, 705 Oak Grove, downtown Menlo Park.  The cost is $20 and can be paid with cash, check, or credit card.  No appointment needed: first come, first served.


VOLLEYBALL
 
Congratulations to the Varsity Volleyball team for their resounding victory over Mills High School!  As the volleyball season comes to a close, don't miss the chance to see this exciting fast-paced game!  Come support the volleyball girls this Thursday, Oct. 18th, as they take on rival Sequoia High School!  JV plays at 3:15, Varsity at 4:30.  GO BEARS!!

GO BEARS!

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