[Ma-pta-enotes] eNotes 2-25-08

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

*Upcoming Events*
Friday, February 29, Deadline for Foundation for the Future Challenge Grant Donations
Tuesday, March 25, 7PM, M-A Library, Stressed Out Students Survey Presentation

*Announcements*

SOS: SAVE THE DATE!
Tuesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m., M-A Library. Stanford lecturer and founder of the Stressed-Out Students project, Denise Pope, Ph.D., will address Menlo-Atherton parents with results from the SOS student survey. Her keynote presentation is part of the PTA Parent Education Series, a speaker series designed to help families learn ways to encourage the physical, emotional and academic success of our students. Don't miss it! 

PERSONAL VEHICLE USE
A separate eNote was sent regarding this, but the attachment may not have arrived in your email box.  You may download the form from the following location: the download page at www.mabears.org (it is in both the sports forms and the clubs& activities forms) or go directly to http://mabears.seq.org//index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=30&Itemid=71 and the first item under *documents* is the Personal Vehicle Use form.  If you would like to return the hard copy, please send it to Aubrey Orcutt, Menlo Atherton High School, 555 Middlefield Raod, Atherton CA 94027.  You may also contact Aubrey at 650-322-5311 x5133.

FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE: $50,000 CHALLENGE GRANT UPDATE!
More and more of you generous parents are responding to the call!  We need just 26 MORE DONORS TO CONTRIBUTE BY FEBRUARY 29th to earn $50,000 for M-A, which will be used to pay salaries this year for class size reduction, extra electives, teacher professional education and all of the M-A programs funded by the Foundation. EVERY gift is important. YOU make the difference. Please donate on-line right now at http://www.m-afoundation.org/donate.php, or send a check today to:  M-A FFF, P.O. Box 1228, Menlo Park, CA 94026. Questions? Contact Cindy Folker at cfolker at seq.org or (650)322-5311 x5206.

IN MEMORIAM
All students, staff & parents are invited to celebrate the life of MonaLisa Afuhaammango on Tuesday after school.  The celebration will be from 3:15 - 4:45PM  in the new gym.  Counselors will be available for struggling students during the day (in B-20) as well as after school.  

*Clubs*

KEY CLUB BANQUET TO BENEFIT VICTIMS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES.  The 70 members of the Menlo Atherton Key Club will host a pasta banquet fundraiser with raffle on Saturday, March 15th for the victims of the Southern California Wildfires. They expect a crowd of 100-200 people.  Invitations are extended to the M-A faculty, Kiwanis, parents and friends of Key Clubbers, and the PTA. For more information contact Key Club president, senior Ariane Khalfa, arianekhalfa at gmail.com.

OUTREACH
The Outreach Club is fundraising for children suffering from Muscular Dystrophy. We are selling Shamrocks for a $1 and all proceeds go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The donorâ  s name is written on the Shamrock and then posted in Pride Hall. We are trying to raise $800 to send one MD student to summer camp. Please send any donations to Ani Loshkajian or Kim O'Donnell in the Career Center. Checks can be written out to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. We would deeply appreciate your support on this very important project.  THANKS!

*Athletics*

BASKETBALL
The boys' varsity basketball team dominated Los Gatos in the quarterfinal round of the CCS championships, winning 71-34.  Sam Knapp had a double double with 25 points and 19 rebounds.  Richard Branning scored 13 and Peter DeFilipps and Brendan McGrath both added 11.  Bear Fans!  Come out and support the boys' varsity basketball team in their CCS semifinal game against St. Francis Tuesday at 5:30 at Foothill.  We're hoping for a great turnout because the boys always play better with a big crowd.

GOLF
The Boys Varsity Golf Team was victorious in their league season opener at Sharon Heights on Monday 2/25, avenging their 1 point loss last year, by beating Menlo 193 to 194 in a 9 hole, par 36 match.  Leading the pack was Senior Jake Toy with a 37, and Ben Jackson and team captain Nick Sako each with 38.  The Bears face St. Francis on Tuesday 2/26 in a non-league match. On Monday, March 3, they travel to Salinas to compete in the Monterey Invitational, where they placed 4th last year.

The 4th annual MA Bears Classic Golf Tournament, benefiting the boyâ  s high school golf team at Menlo-Atherton, will be held on Sunday April 27, 2008 at Coyote Creek Golf Club.  Shotgun start at 9AM, with prizes and lunch to follow.  Juniors may enter at a discounted rate.  We will have two divisions this year; best ball and scramble.  You can enter single or with a team.  Please contact tournament director and M-A parent Norm Hall at putt4doe at gmail.com.

BASEBALL
This week, Varsity plays Wednesday Feb. 27, 3:00PM at Bellarmine, and FS plays Wednesday 3:15PM here vs Woodside in a game that was originally scheduled for Feb. 16 and rained out.  

Go Bears.  Grrrr.