[Ma-pta-enotes] eNotes

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

DONâ  T HIT THE REPLY KEY INSTEAD OPEN AN EMAIL AND SEND IT DIRECTLY TO THE PERSON YOU WANT.

*Upcoming Events*

Friday, February 1:  QUAD vs. Sequoia

Saturday, February 2, C-Wing â   WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL

Tuesday, February 12, MINIMUM DAY

Tuesday, February 12, Parent/Coach/Athlete meeting, 7 â   9:30 p.m., Ayers Gym

Wednesday, February 20, Parent Education Series, Your Teens Mental Health

*Announcements*

WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL IS HERE
The Winter Arts Festival is fast approaching. Saturday, February 2nd from noon to 4PM M-A students will be singing, playing music, staging plays, displaying photography, dancing, showing films all in the C-Wing that afternoon.  Come support the Arts at M-A and be part of the growing Arts community at M-A.

OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE 
If you are looking for a meaningful way to help the M-A Community, a great way is to give $5 and $10 gift certificates from Safeway, Target, or Walgreens.  These certificates will come in handy to our Student Support Fund. Students with a legitimate need will receive a certificate from Administration so that they can buy food or a necessity.  This extends giving throughout the year, not just during the holidays.  Please consider bringing gift certificates to the Administration Office â   give to Sandy Nelson.  Thank you!  Your gift will be greatly appreciated

NEED SUPPLIES?
Need a pencil for Mr. Wong's math test?  Need goggles for Mrs. Caryotakis's chemistry lab?  Need a pen for Ms. Strub's in-class essay?  Stop by the Student Store at lunch for your basic school supply needs!!!  

PARKING PERMITS AVAILABLE
Attention Juniors & Seniors:  If you have been on the waiting list for a parking permit - wait no longer.  Check the list on the main doors to see if your name is on the list for a parking permit.  See Ms. Nelson in the AVP office for further questions.
OUTDOOR ED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED (OAK KNOLL SESSION)
Outdoor Education needs cabin leaders!!  Remember to wonderful event back in elementary school?  YOU can be a part of creating a great memory for a group of young kids.  Oak Knoll is in need of cabin leaders.  Come pick up an application in the new Community Resource Center in B-20.  Applications are due ASAP!

PTA NEWS AND CONTACTS
OK, so the January PTA meeting went way too long, and we are SO SORRY.  Please forgive us and come back.  Our hearts are in the right place, as we are trying to be inclusive with information and dialogue.  We promise to keep the agendas WAY shorter, and we have invested in a green-yellow-red meeting light to keep reports on a timely track.  Next week's PTA General Meeting will focus on financial issues, with the Treasurer's Report and extra Mini-Grant requests by administration and faculty to spend much of our well-earned surplus in a prudent manner.  Please join us on Wednesday, February 6, 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. in Room F-15.  Your humble Presidents, Pam Stoner and Julie Brody.  Questions or comments, please contact us at pastoner at sbcglobal.net, or julie at brodyfamily.net.  

NOMINATIONS FOR PTA BOARD, COMMITTEE CHAIRS, SITE COUNCIL!
The Nominating Committee will be working hard to find committee chairs and PTA Board Members over the next month. We are also looking for a parent interested in working on the SDMSC (Shared Decision Making Site Council). If you would like to nominate yourself, or a friend, please contact Patty Burch at patty.burch at gmail.com. There are many opportunities to work on the M-A Campus and directly with students.  It is a great way to stay connected to your teenager and to work with other parents to benefit M-A and the community.  The SDMSC is composed of students, faculty, and administrators and a parent.  This council governs school-wide teaching and learning and deals with professional development, curriculum, and other important issues concerning M-A.  We hope to hear from you!

WINTER FORMAL TICKETS AVAILABLE
Winter Formal tickets are on sale now and you will never guess where we are going this time!  Itâ  s a Rendezvous in PARIS! Get ready and have the night of your life on February 22.  Tickets are on sale this week outside B-21.  For this week only get your singles tickets for $35 and Couples for $60.  All students must have a picture ID to purchase tickets.  If you are bringing a guest, you must have a completed Guess Pass and a copy of their picture ID.  Do NOT wait too long to get a taste of The Most Romantic City in the World!  Buy it now before the prices go up!

NEW ELECTIVE COURSE AVAILABLE â   â  THE COLD WAR CLASSâ  
A new class is being formed at M-A for next year.  The infamous Mr. Florio will once again teach the Cold War class.  This elective focuses on the Cold War the first semester and on modern international diplomacy the second semester.  Because the Cold War class IS an elective, the course work is the lightest of any of Florio's other courses, but you still get the distinct M-A privilege of a Florio-taught class.  If you are interested in learning more, there will be an informational meeting at lunch in B-10 on Wednesday, B-10 on Wednesday.

DIPLOMA NAMES
Attention seniors: Your diploma names are now posted in Pride Hall near the career center. Please check that your name is correct. These are the names that will appear on your diploma. If you need to make a change please see Maria Ibarra in the Guidance office.  

*Guidance & Career Center*

CSF SIGN UP WEEK- California Scholarship Federation sign-ups are February 4-8 during lunch outside the library. Applications are available from your English teachers this week starting Wednesday or from M-A's website: http://www.mabearspta.org/csf.html.  Required: Completed application and Fall 2007 report card or transcript along with $3 fee. If you need to request a copy of your transcript, $1 fee will be added. Queries: Alice Hom  at dnahom at aol.com
Students who are interested in spending a semester "studying peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability" should come to the Career Center on Tuesday, February 5, during the lunch period to meet with a representative from The Woolman Semester (see www.woolman.org).  Juniors, seniors, and first-year post-grads can participate in this program that includes seminar-style course work, enrichment classes, a service-learning trip, and a wilderness week.  Come learn more at lunch on Tuesday!  No need to sign up in advance, and feel free to bring your lunch.

*Clubs*

OUTREACH AND SCHOOLS FOR PEACE
There will be a brief meeting Friday at lunch in G11 to prepare for a car wash on February 9th to raise funds for Father Kiriti's Kenyan school and Greg Mortensen's Central Asia Institute.  If you were in Mr. Welsh's AP US History class last year you are encouraged to continue this work to fund schools for young women in Africa and Pakistan.  If you are interested in helping the Outreach and Schools for Peace clubs please attend Friday's short meeting.

GSA CLUB
Come to the Gay Straight Alliance club meeting this and every Friday at lunch in C13. See you then, GSA!

EPA YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
Do you live in East Palo Alto?  Do you want to make a difference in your community? Please come to the Community Resource Center, room B-20, today at lunch.  The City of East Palo Alto is recruiting members for its NEW Youth Advisory Council.  Have your voice heard!!  Come to B-20 and talk to Miki Cristerna if you are interested in joining.  

MASH IT UP CLUB
And if you can not wait to dance the night way or even learn to impress your date at winter formal, come to the Mash It Up Club that meets on Wednesdayâ  s at E-3 from 2:00-3:00.  Where you can bust a move and learn hip hop steps.  Now sweat baby, get legit, jump up, go crazy!

*Athletics*

Spring Sports Parent/Athlete/Coach meeting is Tuesday, Feb 12, 7-9:30 pm in Ayers Gym.  Note:  the meeting is confirmed for Ayers Gym, NOT the library.

SOFTBALL
Attention all ladies interested in trying out for softball tryouts are currently going on everyday from 3:30 to 5:30 on the softball field, rain or shine.  All are welcome, all you need is a glove and cleats. Hope to see you there.

SOCCER
Join the girls soccer team for their final home game of the season TODAY out on the turf.  We will be honoring our seniors:  Kim, Madeline, Betsy, Elise, Stephanie, Callie, Yuly, Ashley, and Katie.  Come cheer us on vs. Burlingame at 2:45!
Congratulations to the Girls frosh/soph soccer team for an impressive 2-0 shutout against Terra Nova in a torrential downpour at Skyline College yesterday!  Goals were scored by Franchesca Milinovich and Kelly Stanskey.  Securing her 6th shutout of the season was sophomore keeper Brigid McCurdy.  Next up...Burlingame, here at Coach Parks field.

BASKETBALL
The boys' varsity basketball team notched another league win with a victory over Half Moon Bay Wednesday 80-30.  Brendan McGrath scored 24 points and Richard Branning added 23.

School site http://www.mabears.org/ 

PTA Web site http://www.mabearspta.org/

M-A Boosters site www.m-aboosters.org

M-A Foundation site http://www.m-afoundation.org/