[Ma-pta-enotes] eNotes 4-17-08

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

*Upcoming Events*

April 11 through April 20, M-A ON EBAY.  Look for exciting opportunities.
Monday April 14 - Tuesday April 29 - STAR testing; avoid making any medical or other appointments during school hours. 
Monday, April 21, 2008, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm, at the M-A Library, JUNIOR PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT

*Announcements*
 
M-A ON EBAY CLOSES THIS SUNDAY - BID NOW!
Get into the action at http://www.maauction.org!   Our first on-line fundraising auction closes at 9PM on Sunday, April 20th.  Do not miss your chance to win popular goods and services, fabulous luxuries, one of kind treasures and great bargains.  Outbid?  You can still help our school with a Fund-A-Need bid for technology upgrades, on-line resources or books for the M-A library.  The Foundation for the Future thanks you for your support!

SPRING CARNIVAL
Are you ready for some spring on spring action?  Hereâ  s a great fundraising opportunity for clubs. The Spring Carnival is coming up, if your club would like to run a booth at the spring carnival, sign-ups will be held in B-21; feel free to come anytime during the school day to sign up. If you have any questions, please talk to our junior class officers, Rei Nakamura or Jessica Truax.  Please support the Bears!

SELF PORTRAITS BOOK SOON AVAILABLE
Ms. Gilbertâ  s ESL2 students have been working very hard on their essay writing titled: â  Self-Portraitsâ   for the last few months. Finally, these amazing true stories and their artwork have been published as a real book in both softcover and hardcover versions. You should really read this book and check out their fabulous artworks and essays! Thanks to Ms. Beers, this book will be available for your reading enjoyment in the M-A Library in the near future.  Congratulations to all and each student of Ms. Gilbert for their fine job.

THE BIG BEAR RUN NEEDS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VOLUNTEERS needed the morning of Sunday May 4th for the 3rd annual Menlo-Atherton High School Big Bear Run.  The time commitment is 2-3 hrs. Please contact Cindy Newton (Stanske) if you are available to help with this very fun event at newton_c at sbcglobal.net or 650-327-2201.

*Guidance*

DRIVERS EDUCATION AVAILABLE AS 7TH PERIOD CLASS NEXT YEAR
Students who still need to complete Drivers Education can do so by taking it as a 7th period next year. Please see your Guidance Counselor to sign up for 7th period Driver's Ed. This class is open to all students.

COMING SOON, 2008 EAST PALO ALTO â  BRAVE ENOUGH TO DREAMâ   COLLEGE FAIR
TURNING DREAMS TO INTO REALITY 
Saturday May, 17, 2008, 8:45AM-2PM at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, 2450 Ralmar Avenue, East Palo Alto, Ca 94303.  The annual College Fair offers separate workshops for parents and students in both middle and high school AND students interact with over 60 college reps, including from Ivy League universities from across the country.  For further information, please contact Dorthy Burnside, Parent Involvement Coordinator, Sequoia Union High School District, 480 James Avenue, Redwood City, Ca 94062 650-369-1411, ext. 2317, 650-306-8870, dburnsid at seq.org.

*Clubs*
The Best Buddies Club is going to host a Chevy's Fundraiser Night on Wednesday, April 23rd.  Flyers will be passed out next week at school.  Please bring your family and friends to come out and support Best Buddies Club!

*Athletics*

FOOTBALL (ALREADY?)
Is your M-A student interested in playing football next season?  Parents are invited to a meeting on Monday, April 28 at 7pm in the M-A Library with Head Coach Bob Sykes to review the spring/summer and fall football schedule and learn more about the upcoming season.  Please contact Coach Sykes at coachrsykes at yahoo.com with any questions.  

LACROSSE
The girls varsity lacrosse team beat a much improved Palo Alto High team Tuesday afternoon by a score of 7 to 3. Alex Fanelli and Casey Barnett had 3 goals each and Margho Dunnahoo-Kirsch had 1 goal. Allie Foraker tossed in an assist and Raissa Masket had 9 saves at goal.  The unstoppable JV lacrosse team racked up another win today against Paly. Final score was 14 to 5. Chloe Peters and Christina Rodgers lead the scoring with 4 goals each. Tiffany Kung and Megan Lazar each had 2 goals. Ellora Israni and Hilary Benedick each had one goal. Cat Carragee was essential with her ground balls and excellent passing. Ameena El-Bibany and Ashley Starr were solid on defense. Raissa Masket helped out the team with her saves at goal.  What a great team effort by all!

Having defeated the Serra Padres 11 - 4 in their first league encounter, our boysâ   Varsity lacrosse team was disappointed to lose in overtime 7 - 8 on Wednesday.  The game was evenly matched from start to finish. At the half, the score was 5 - 4, Serra.  At 7- 7, the game went into overtime and the Padres scored. Scoring for M-A were David McLaughlin and Kevin Flaherty with two goals each.  Charlie Fitz, Jeff Sklarin and Kevin Sheridan also hit the back of the net.  On Monday, we will celebrate our seniors before taking on the Woodside Wild Cats, our last home game.  Senior Day for Boys Lacrosse is Monday, April 21 at 3:30PM.  Come out to congratulate our seniors and stay for an exciting game against Woodside!  Seniors to be recognized are: Hutch Moragne, Kendall Stacey, Matt Boyle, Kevin Flaherty, Chris Sorenson, Bo Dunnahoo-Kirsch, Chris Calverese, Scott Sterling, Michael Suhr and Alex Lattin. Congratulations to all!!

BADMINTON
The Varsity Badminton suffered a close loss against South San Francisco High School, 5-10. A tough opponent, three of the 15 games went into three set matches, all being lost in close games.  Highlights include Cedric Brossard and Evan Amato's amazing win, Heidi Galbraith's strong return to the team as our number 1 Women's singles (after a month long leave due to injury, Heidi lost in a split match), and Nora Ng-Quinn and Dillon Garibaldi's win at number 1 Mixed after a very close game.  The Badminton Bears play El Camino on Thursday, April 17 at El Camino.

TENNIS
In hurricane like conditions, the Bear's Tennis Team took on San Mateo at their windswept courts.  The Bears needed a win to secure 3rd place in the league and the 2nd seed in the PAL Playoffs next week.  The Bearcat players are a scrappy bunch and know how to exploit the home court conditions to their advantage.  Although the Bears easily defeated San Mateo in their 1st meeting, the M-A team was wary of the many challenges facing them at their opponent's home courts.  The seasoned Bear squad got off to a slow start, trying to figure out the direction of the winds, while the Bearcats, playing as if it was a calm summer day took an early lead.  The veteran Bears regrouped and one by one, dispatched their opponents, ultimately taking the match, 7-0.  After taking on Mills this Thursday at M-A for the final regular season match, the Bears will enter the PAL Playoffs as the second seed and will vie for a spot in the CCS Playoffs!

BOY'S TENNIS PREPARES FOR PALs  The M-A Boy's Tennis Team took on Mills in the last match of the regular season.  The Bears wanted to finish in peak form as they prepare for the PAL Playoffs next week.  The Netters are at the top of their game as they destroyed Mills in less than one hour, crushing them 7-0.  Singles players, George Horowitz, Alec Haley, Carson Weiss and Alden Mitchell lost only 6 games between them.  The Bears take on San Mateo on Monday at 3:30 at M-A in the 1st round of the PAL Playoffs. 

GOLF
On Monday night, our Bears braved extremely cold and windy conditions at Crystal Springs golf course to defeat Sequoia 203 to 231.  Nick Sako was the match medalist with a 1 over par 37, followed by strong scores from Nick Chladek shooting 38 and Jake Hall Toy carding a 40.  Then, on Tuesday, a Sequoia sweep!!  The Bears Varsity Golf Team once again dominated Sequoia in  their home match at Sharon Heights on Tuesday, April 15, defeating them 198 to 216.  Leading the pack was medalist Nick Sako with a 2 under par 34, followed by Jake Hall Toy and Brian Jordan, each carding 39.  The Bears face Burlingame on Thurs. April 17 and again on Tues. April 22 to complete league play.

Go Bears.   Grrrr.