[Ma-pta-enotes] eNotes 3-13-08

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

*Upcoming Events*
March 17, 2008, HAPPY ST. PATRICKâ  S DAY
March 17 through March 21, 2008, SPRING BREAK
Tuesday, March 25, STRESSED OUT STUDENTS: M-A SURVEY RESULTS at 7:00PM, M-A Library
Wednesday, April 2, OUR TEENS AND ALCOHOL: EXPERTS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS at 7:00PM, M-A Library

*Announcements*

PLEASE NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE VOLUNTEER!
Please submit the name of a parent volunteer that you admire for a PTA Service Award!  M-A likes to honor individuals that have contributed in an extraordinary way.  We have an awards ceremony and luncheon in May where special volunteers are recognized.  Please look for the nomination form in the next Trivocis or on our PTA website -  www.maptabears.org.  We welcome your suggestions!  Any questions?  Julie Brody  - julie at brodyfamily.net. 

2008-2009 TRIVOCIS PROOFREADER NEEDED
Speaking of volunteersâ |Do you enjoy details? Do you enjoy keeping to a schedule and having a quick turn-around to get a job completed? Do you have good, consistent proofreading skills? The Trivocis, the monthly M-A Newsletter is looking for a proofreader for the upcoming school year 2008-2009. If interested please contact, Patty Burch ( patty.burch at gmail.com). 

LAST CHANCE TO GET YOUR NAME ON THE 2008 BIG BEAR RUN T-SHIRT!! 
The Third Annual Big Bear Run takes place Sunday May 4, 2008. Every registered runner will receive a keepsake Big Bear Run T-shirt!  Wouldnâ  t you or your child be proud to see your familyâ  s name displayed on these popular race shirts? M-A families and local businesses that are sponsoring the event at the $250 level and above will be recognized on the back of the shirt.

Itâ  s not too late to help sponsor the event and see your name around town.  The t-shirts go to print on April 8th, so please contact Michele Culhane, michculhane at pacbell.net, about sponsorship opportunities ASAP.  Also--we are always looking volunteers to help out on race day.  If youâ  re interested in helping support this community event, please contact Darci Wentz, darci at wentzhome.com or Beth Harris, elizabethharris60 at comcast.net.  Register on-line at www.Active.com or fill out the registration form in Trivocus.  Early registration is $20 for adults and $10 for students 18 & under.  GO BEARS!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Following is a list of upcoming events of interest.

PARENT EDUCATION SERIES

STRESSED OUT STUDENTS: SAVE THE DATE!
Tuesday, March 25 at 7PM, M-A Library. SOS SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN! KEPLERâ  S BOOKS SALE. Nationally noted Stanford lecturer and author, Denise Pope, Ph.D., will address M-A parents with results from the Stressed-Out Students survey.  Dr. Pope will review the data on studentsâ   attitudes towards academic stress, homework, peer and parent relationships, academic integrity/cheating, substance and alcohol use/abuse, and more. New addition! Keplerâ  s Books will offer Denise Pope's â  Doing Schoolâ  : How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Studentsâ   for sale and signing. 
 
The M-A PTA and the Parent Education Series will sponsor Denise Popeâ  s appearance so that all parents and students may attend FREE OF CHARGE. Light refreshments and Keplerâ  s book sale from 6:30-7:00 p.m. and following the event. Space is limited! Please RSVP to PTA Parent Education Co-Chair Charlene Margot, cmargot at csmconsulting.net.

OUR TEENS AND ALCOHOL: EXPERTS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
Wednesday, April 2 at 7PM. in the Menlo-Atherton library.  Spring is in the air and our students will be celebrating the change in weather, the end of finals, graduation and, frankly, just about anything. Alcohol may be available at some of their gatherings, whether big or small.  As parents, we want them to have fun, but stay safe and healthy. So what is a parent to do?  The PTA Parent Education event will feature a panel of experts to help us with this complex issue.  Our panelists will be Margaret Deanesly, MD, retired internist and founder of a support group for parents of addicts, Caroll Fowler, MFT, Director of the Family Program at The Sequoia Center, a drug and alcohol treatment and recovery center, and Chris Dunn, CADC, a program manager at the Sequoia Center.  They will be discussing questions like:  Many of us drank in high school and we're okay - is underage drinking really a problem?  I know my child drinks occasionally, how do I know if he or she has a problem?  I know my child has a problem; what do I do now?  Come hear our speakers discuss the answers to these and other questions.  Bring your questions too!

M-A ON EBAYâ |APRIL 11-20!
Pack your bags for Christmas week at Las Palapas, a gorgeous oceanfront home on a bay north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico that sleeps 18 and features a pool with swim-up barâ   and more!  Ideal for 2-3 families.  Or, for luxury closer to home, enjoy a half-day of relaxation and beauty at Inspiration Day Spa at the Sharon Heights Shopping Center in Menlo Park.  Get ready to bid on these and other fabulous items during the Foundation for the Futureâ  s first-ever ON-LINE auction, coming April 11th â   April 20th.  Watch your inbox for more information, or contact Linda Fornaciari or Trish Gump at mafoundation at yahoo.com. 

JUNIOR PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT
Attention Parents of Juniors:  Mark your calendars now for PTA Junior Parentsâ   Information Night, which will happen on Monday, April 21, 2008, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm, at the M-A Library.  The program features an information packed 60 minutes regarding senior year at M-A and overview of the year to come.  Guidance counselor Karen Ramirez will review school and district completion requirements, have Q and A, and provide informative handouts. Understanding and anticipating the calendar of events will ease the stress of senior year and help keep your senior student on track. (This is NOT a planning for college application forum, as Alice Kleeman is the acknowledged expert in this complicated area.)  The meeting also highlights PTA-sponsored events such as the Fashion Show and Grad Night celebration.  Coordinators: Kristin Gananian, gananian at pacbell.net or 854-9332 Cindy Welton, clwelton at sbcglobal.net or 854-2310.

*Athletics*

TENNIS
BEAR'S TENNIS TAKING ON ALL COMERS
After a rain delayed 1 point heartbreaking loss to SCVAL champ and nationally ranked Gunn, the Bears bounced back with a sound thrashing of perennial power Lowell of San Francisco.  The 7-0 shutout put the Bears record at 5-2.  The Bears face a stern test as they take on defending Norcal champ, Menlo this week.  The Bear squad gained some much needed strength at the doubles position with the return of doubles specialist Matt Aguilar from the basketball team.

The better the  competition, the more a team improves.  The Tennis Bear's coaching staff scheduled the toughest schedule in school history with this philosophy in mind.  The Bears have scheduled several top SCVAL teams this season, all of whom are some of the best on the Peninsula.  After taking defending Norcal Champ Menlo down to the wire, the Bears have lost two one point heart breakers to both Gunn and Monta Vista.  These are all teams that are perennial CCS seeds.  Clearly the philosophy is working as the Bears continue to scare the powerhouses by taking them down to the last matches.  Players who have turned in incredible performances as of late include George Horowitz, Carson Weiss, Lupe Talakai, Takai Tuionetoa, Noah Greenberg and Zack Wentz.

BASEBALL
The varsity baseball team defeated Mills Wednesday 16-7.  The M-A bats came alive with 14 hits spread throughout the team, including Matt Mosher's sixth home run of the season.  They face Mills again Friday at M-A at 3:15PM.

GOLF
The Boys Golf Team was AGAIN victorious over Menlo School on Tuesday, March 11 by 17 strokes at Sharon Heights, with a score of 197 to Menlo's 214.  Leading the pack was Nick Sako with an even par 36 and Jake Hall Toy with a 38.   Also scoring were Nick Chladek with 40, Ben Jackson with 41, and Peter Gruber with 42.  The Bears face Carlmont at Sharon Heights on Tues. after Spring Break.  League record is now 2-0 (and both of those wins were over Menlo!).

LACROSSE
The first boysâ   Varsity Lacrosse league game proved to be a nail-biter. At the half, Kevin Flaherty and Kevin Sheridan had each scored, but the Bears trailed the Burlingame Panthers 2-4.  In the 3rd and 4th quarters, the team roared to life. David McLaughlin and Mark Gregory each scored three times.  Hutch Moragne brought his customary fire to the midfield, and goalie Bo Dunnahoo Kirsch closed down many Panther attacks.  The final score was Bears 8, Panthers 6.  Then, on Wednesday, March 12th, the Bears crushed the Sacred Heart Gators 15 to 5.  Giving the scorekeepers plenty to do were: Mark Gregory (4 goals), David McLaughlin (3 goals), Charlie Fitz and Kevin Flaherty (2 goals) and Hutch Moragne, Nate Jackson and Robert Cooper each with one goal.  The Bearsâ   overall record is now 3 â   0.  The girlsâ   varsity lacrosse team lost a hard-fought game to Leland yesterday, 9-4.  The girls stepped up their defense and only allowed two goals in the second half.  The JV girls had an exciting 8 to 7 win over Leland!  Tiffany Kung ran all over the field and scored 2 goals. Chloe Peters scored 4 goals against a tough defense. Raissa Masket blocked numerous shots on goal. Ellora Israni and Christina Rodgers each contributed 1 goal to the final victory.

Go Bears.   Grrrr.