[Ma-pta-enotes] eNotes 5-12-08

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

*Upcoming Events*

Wednesday, May 14 at 7:00PM, M-A Library. Adolescents Responding to Stress: Street Drugs and Other Brain Abuses vs. Mindfulness Centered Healing
Friday, May 16, deadline to purchase Grad Night tickets
Saturday, May 17, "BRAVE ENOUGH TO DREAM" COLLEGE FAIR, 8:45AM-2PM at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, 2450 Ralmar Avenue, East Palo Alto
Monday, May 19, "Athletics in College:  The "What" and "How" of the Sports-in-College Decision", 7:30-8:30PM in the M-A Library
Saturday, May 31, Pre-participation Athletic Physicals, 8:30AM to 11:30AM, BAK Physical Therapy

*Announcements*

FINAL PARENT EDUCATION SERIES EVENT! HOW STRESS AFFECTS TEENS
Wednesday, May 14 at 7:00PM, M-A Library. Adolescents Responding to Stress: Street Drugs and Other Brain Abuses vs. Mindfulness Centered Healing. The final speaker in our PTA Parent Education Series is Peter E. Newsom, M.D., a neuropsychiatrist who specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry. As an M-A parent himself, Dr. Newsom is well aware of how stress affects teens. He will expand our understanding of the effects of stress on adolescents and introduce evidence that mindfulness-centered approaches can reduce stress in teens, parents and the family. Dr. Newsom will discuss how lowering teen stress helps prevent some of the more severe disorders seen in clinical psychiatry.

Using slides from NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse), Dr. Newsom will show what happens to the brain when teens self-medicate with street drugs or prescription medications. He will also demonstrate how meditation and mindfulness practices can have a positive and lasting effect on the brain. Slides and presentation to be followed by Q & A. To RSVP for this FREE event, please contact Charlene Margot, Chair of the PTA Parent Education Series, cmargot at csmconsulting.net.

M-A ART SHOW
Please join us for our annual art students' show and competition again this spring.  It is OUR BIG EVENT OF THE YEAR, and it is for M-A Art Students exclusively.  The show is fully sponsored by, funded by, and displayed at The Great Frame Up in Menlo Park. As in past years, 45 Art Students will be selected by their art teachers to take part in the show and competition. The artists are currently enrolled in M-A's art department at all levels from beginning to advanced classes. Their artworks are done as class work, and are both two-dimensional and three-dimensional. The participating students reflect M-A's diversity, but the unique artworks produced by these students have one commonality - quality.   We promise that you'll be impressed by what you see on display.  The Reception for the Artists and Awards Ceremony will take place at The Great Frame UP on Thursday, May 22nd, 6:30 to 8:00 PM.  Show Dates: May 19 to May 30 during regular store hours. Reception Date: Thursday May 22, 6:30 to 8:00PM. Show Location:  The Great Frame Up, 1047 El Camino Real, Menlo Park.   For more information, contact Craig Le Claire, M-A Art Department, (650) 323-5311.

2008 EAST PALO ALTO "BRAVE ENOUGH TO DREAM" COLLEGE FAIR,TURNING DREAMS 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.

*Senior News*
GRAD NIGHT TICKETS:  Every Tuesday, you may purchase your Grad Night Tix outside B-21.  Bring $45 and your TWO completed forms.  If you are 18, you still must have a parent sign your forms.  The last day to purchase Grad Night Tickets is this Friday May 16, 2008! Yes, all attendees MUST have a signed permission slip to attend.

*Athletics*

TRACK AND FIELD
Menlo-Atherton's Track and Field's Varsity Girls once again dominated PALs!!! A big huge congratulations to our Varsity Girls who won their 5th title in a row!! Ashley Cogan took first place in the Long Jump with a jump of 16' and in the Triple jump (35'10).  Caprice Powell took first place in the 100 and 200. Kim O'Donnel won the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles. This was her 3rd year in a row winning this event!!!  Our girls 4x100 team came in first for the 5th year in a row with a time of 49.89!!! Adrian Carpenter, for the Boys Varsity team, came in 1st place in the 300 hurdles and a close second went to Phil Arcuni with a time  of 41.87!! Congratulations Bears Track and Field Team for a great season!!!!

LACROSSE
After defeating Menlo twice during the season, the Bears fell to the Knights in the PAL play-offs last Wednesday.  In the fourth quarter, M-A roared back and put 4 shots past the Menlo goalie.  But time ran out for the Bears and the final score was 8 - 6, Knights.  Scoring for the Bears were Kevin Flaherty, David McLaughlin, Kendall Stacey and Jeff Sklarin. Kudos to goalie Scott Sterling for many spectacular saves in the first half.

CHEERLEADING TRYOUTS
Cheerleading tryouts for next year will be held this Wednesday, 5/14 and Friday, 5/16 from 5 - 7PM and Saturday 9:30 - NOON in the old dance studio.  Anyone who is interested should come and see what cheerleading is all about.

GOLF
Good luck to the M-A Boys Golf Team tomorrow (Tuesday) as they compete in the CCS Section Finals at Rancho Canada in Carmel.  Of the 8 teams that qualified last week  (among 22 total teams in the regional competition), they placed 1st over Mtn. View, Carmel, St. Francis, Stevenson, Mitty, Palma, and Sacred Heart Prep, and are therefore CCS REGIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONS!

BASEBALL
Congratulations to the Varsity baseball team for being selected as a No. 6 seed in the CCS tournament.  M-A will be hosting its first CCS baseball game in history this Wednesday at 4:00PM.  Come cheer on your Bears as they take on No. 11 seed Santa Teresa.

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE FOR AN EVENT SPONSORED BY THE M-A ATHLETIC BOOSTERS
M-A parents and athletes are invited to an evening lecture by Jack Bowen on Monday, May 19 from 7:30-8:30PM in the M-A Library. Mr. Bowen's talk is titled "Athletics in College:  The "What" and "How" of the Sports-in-College Decision."  He will explore what it means to be a college athlete at all levels and making the decision to pursue that, including:  A discussion of the various options open to athletes in college: club sports, intramural teams, community college, Division I, II, III, "red shirt," walk-on; How to use athletics to your advantage  --  Mr. Bowen will provide sample athletic resumes and cover letters along with a suggested timeline for the process; What to do--and not to do--when pursuing acceptance to a college or university as an athlete  --  He will reference specific Case Studies in order to highlight the intricacies of the process and the unique timing involved for athletes of all sports and experience levels.  If you'd like to attend, please RSVP to maboosters at gmail.com.  Include your family name and the number attending.  You can also sign up at the desk in M-A's front office.  Your RSVP allows us to have a set of hand-outs for you on the night of the lecture.

Go Bears.   Grrrr.