Volume LIII, Issue II

Principal: Jacqueline McEvoy
PTSA President: Preeva Tramiel
Co-Editors: Stephanie Klein, Marcia Yeates, Elliott Sopkin

From the PTSA President

The PTSA had some great October activities.  Susan McDonnell led a team of gracious and willing volunteers in serving lunch to the staff during the October 12 Staff Development (aka teacher in-service) Day, and Linda Gargiulo and Kathy Borsos coordinated a very successful College Fair on October 15.   Stacy Mason, our VP of Programs, and Carrie Manley and Wendy Kandasamy, the Education Chairs of the Palo Alto Council of PTAs, brought a candidate’s forum to Paly that took place just before our general meeting on October 18. The forum was a superb way for the school and community to get a good sense of who the six candidates for School Board are. Dr. McEvoy did a wonderful job of moderating, and about 50 people came to see and hear the forum.

The timing of this newsletter precludes me from reporting on Spirit Week, but I can thank the class spirit week parent coordinators for helping Allye Mullins in this stress-relieving week of fun.  In descending class order (2008 to 2010) they are: Melissa Kaiser, Tess Byler, and Darren Kerr.  Sharing the duties for 2011 are Barbara Meliska and Jen Rivelli.

 November 7 is the deadline for the fall round of Viking Grants ($2500 max per teacher), and Fast Track Grants (up to $500 per teacher) are ongoing. These grants are given to teachers who can use the money to enhance the learning of their students while supporting Paly’s core values and expected school-wide learning results (ESLRs).  For more information, including what an ESLR is, read the grant guidelines on the PTSA website: http://www.paly.paloaltopta.org/viking_grants.html.

Our Executive Board meets Thursday, November 8. Kathleen Woods, Paly’s new drama teacher, has promised us a taste of the fall show, so if you are free at 11:30 a.m., drop by the English Resource Center in the library—the meeting is open to all.   Friday, November 16 is Turkey Day.  Anne Stewart and Mego Tracy are coordinating this lunchtime event, where students collect canned goods, get a great turkey lunch for a couple of bucks, enjoy the displays put on by the art students, and revel in the season.  While side dishes usually come from outside vendors, the turkeys themselves are donated and carved by parents, so get those ovens going, or learn where pre-cooked turkeys are sold.

Have a wonderful November.

Preeva Tramiel
Paly PTSA President

Thank you,

Preeva Tramiel, Paly PTSA President

From the Principal

Dear Paly Family and Friends,

As we approach the winter months at Paly, the campus is alive with dozens of school and community activities.  Whether it is a football game, a music concert, the Club Fair, parent meetings, the College Fair, or student presentations in a classroom, I am so impressed with the sense of community and integrity exhibited by every member of our school community.  The high expectations we have for our students are modeled by the adults, and when there is an issue or problem, we come together to resolve it.  We may not always agree, but I believe we are all willing to do the work necessary to ensure that Paly continues to be the leader among model high schools. 

One of the activities that marks this season is Spirit Week – a week long event beginning on October 29 that celebrates Homecoming and school spirit.  Each day is filled with special events including costumes and contests.  Each class participates and accumulates “spirit points” every day. There are float builders and there are spirit dancers; there are t-shirts (the faculty has its own this year!) and there are floats. All of these activities culminate with the Friday night football game and the Saturday night Homecoming Dance.

Student leadership, led by our Activities Director, Allye Mullins, does an amazing job of planning and conducting all of the week’s activities.  I know many of our Paly parents have volunteered their time (and their driveways) for float building and other types of support.  Please join us at the game and cheer on our Paly football team coached by the CCS Football Coach of the Year, Earl Hansen!

In October, we presented our annual school goals to the PAUSD School Board.  These goals have been discussed with the Site Council and the Education Council and will be the basis for our school improvement work for 2007 - 2008.  We are in our final year of our most recent six-year accreditation and will begin the accreditation approval process for the next six years this spring.  Three of our goals are carried over from previous years.  The fourth addresses the self-study we are required to do for accreditation.

Goal 1:      Our school community will provide students with skills development and knowledge relating to post-secondary options, such as career options, technical training, travel, community service, and higher education.

Goal 2:      Our school community will work together to improve the academic performance of underrepresented minority students, specifically to reduce the achievement gap.

Goal 3:      Our school community will work collaboratively to reduce student stress through a balance of academic, extra-curricular, and leisure activities for better overall health habits and academic performance.

Goal 4:      Our school community will conduct a data-driven schoolwide self-study as the first step in the accreditation process for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

At the district level, the High School Task Force continues to wrestle with the strategies the district will need to put in place to address our growing enrollment at the high schools.  The committee is considering a variety of options, and I have been impressed with the thoughtfulness and concern of all of its members.  Throughout the process, the committee has focused on relationships and personalization on our high school campuses as a priority for our work.  The underlying question is this: How do we address growing enrollment in the district while maintaining the excellence of our two existing high schools?   The High School Task Force will be making its recommendations to the superintendent in early December. 

Lastly, I urge every one of you to vote in the November election for the PAUSD school board.  There are six candidates vying for three seats.  These are the people who will be making the decisions that will affect every student in Palo Alto.  I had the privilege of moderating one of the candidates’ forums, and I was extremely impressed with the passion and commitment of each of the candidates.  Now it is your turn to show your passion and commitment to the education of your own sons and daughters as well as all students in the PAUSD by participating in this election.  Please vote in the November 6 election. 

I want to thank all of you for your support and the warm welcome you have given me over the past few months.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline McEvoy
Principal

Site Council Update

At the September 24 meeting, all members heard a report on the latest developments from the state and the district. Everyone was introduced to the final report on 2006-07 and the School Plan for 2007-08. It was decided to continue work on last year’s areas of focus: student stress and the achievement gap.  Elections for officers were held.  Co-chairs are Katy Hall and Kenyon Scott and Lorraine Brown is secretary.  At the October 15 meeting, the Council made a calendar of the year's responsibilities. The Council approved the final report, the 07-08 Plan and the budget; all will now be submitted to the School Board. Principal McEvoy explained the timeline for Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) activities.

The next meeting has been changed to NOVEMBER 5; this meeting will be a consolidation of those originally scheduled for October 29 and November 19.  The November  5 and December 3 meetings will include time for the two focus groups to meet.

Please check the Paly Link, the PTSA /Site Council website and the agenda posted in the main office for the subjects to be discussed at each meeting.   Members of the community are invited to address the Council on non-agenda items at the beginning of each regular meeting.  Minutes are posted in the front hall of the Tower Building. Meeting dates are listed in the Paly Reporter calendar and on the Paly Link. Everyone is welcome to attend. Further questions or comments can be addressed to Edie Miller, Site Council Coordinator, 329-3710 ext 7301 or emiller@pausd.org.

The Paly Site Council meets on Mondays, usually twice a month, and is composed of four parents, four students and eight staff members.
Parent Representatives: Lorraine Brown, Elspeth Farmer, and Katy Hall, and Ning Xu (who has graciously filled the vacancy created when Hillary Freeman’s work kept her from attending meetings).
Student Representatives: Abbie Havern (12), Jenna Lose (11), Olivia Diamond (10) and Scott Zhuge (9).
Staff Members: Principal Jacquie McEvoy, Carla Guerard, Kenyon Scott, Jaclyn Edwards. Hilary McDaniels, David Cohen, Mary Ellen Bena and Malati Murthy

Academic News

Special Education

Paly Special Education is proud to benefit and assist all students at Paly.
 
We would like to welcome our five new master teachers in the department that includes 11 credentialed teachers and 20 paraprofessional adult aides.

We have begun a new freshman SDC "academy" that includes a double period of English and embedded academic skills and another period of social skills. This was initiated to help our SDC students be more successful in general education classes in the future. These classes are being taught by Jake Halas and Justin Cronin.
 
Our DD classes are returning to Gunn High School to work in the Gunn Café. This partnership helps our students develop and practice vocational and social skills.  These classes are also participating in the District’s Transition Program through the Veterans Hospital.  Here, students from all special education classes rotate through many job opportunities that are offered at the VA.
  
The Special Education Department would like to thank the following people for their generous time and/or donations to our department:
 
Greg Mak
Marcia & Walter Kortschak
Mara Yarp
Myrna Soper
The Petersen/Stevenson Family
Cherie Sopkin
Jack Lawrence
Caroline Malloy

  Paly PTSA News

Join the Conversation at a Parent Network Meeting

Project 2011 (Freshman Parent Network)
Thursday, November 15, 8:45-10 am, Suzanne Callahan’s home - 955 Hamilton Avenue between Hale & Seneca.  Save the date! Questions? Or to be added to our Yahoo group, contact Annette DeStefano (aokdes@yahoo.com) or Andrea Stern (sternfam1@comcast.net)

Project 2010 (Sophomore Parent Network)
Tuesday, Dec 4, 8:30am at Café Sophia in Midtown at 2706 Middlefield Rd. For more information contact Keri Lung (keri.lung@yahoo.com) or JoAnne Voet (jvoet@sbcglobal.net)

Project 2009 (Junior Parent Network) Evening Meeting on Tuesday, November 7, 7 - 9 p.m., Parent-to-Parent Info Exchange in the English Resource Center (in the Paly library). For more information, visit http://www.paly.paloaltopta.org/parent_network.html.

Project 2008 (Senior Parent Network) Contact Sukie Stanley (sukiestanley@mindspring.com) or Cece Long (cecilong@pacbell.net) for information.

It’s not too late
Join Paly PTSA Today!
The cost of membership is only $10 per person

Paly PTSA is an organization that advocates for our children. More members give us a louder voice.  High school students can be members, too.

Download the membership form from http://paly.paloaltopta.org/membership07.pdf.
Questions?
Contact Paly PTSA Membership Chair, Mona Siegel at 321-5787 or mona2733@pacbell.net

TURKEY TROT ‘07

You can be part of Paly’s third annual
Thanksgiving Feast and Festival
                                                                                      
Friday, November 16, 2007
At lunch on the Quad

Good for the school, good for the community!
Proceeds go to the Ecumenical Hunger Program and Urban Ministries

How to help?                                          Join us!
Donate a fresh cooked turkey                  For a high energy, fun
Donate a pie                                            day with students, staff
Carve a turkey                                         and other parents as PALY
Slice a pie                                                reaches out to those
Toss a salad                                             in need.
Set up/decorate the Quad
Serve students and staff                           Organized by the Paly PTSA

If you can help please contact us:
Turkeys: Melinda Christopherson, mm4j@sbcglobal.net, 326-6835
Pies: Shelly Pederson, sped1728@yahoo.com., 328-4246
Servers, slicers, tossers etc: Mego Tracy, megotracy@gmail.com, 323-1447
Charitable Donations: Anne Stewart, stewnet1@pacbell.net, 325-4861
Questions: Anne or Mego

Students, staff and helpers will enjoy fresh roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, tossed crisp salad, cranberry sauce and pie with whipped cream!
All this for a donation of:
3 cans of food plus $1
Or $4, cash only please.
Drinks $1

LIVE MUSIC!!

Donate to the Turkey Trot Food Drive

Don’t know what kind of food donations to make to the Turkey Trot? Here’s a wish list from the Ecumenical Hunger Program.

PACKAGED FOODS
(no bulk foods, please, and nothing that will spoil)

and GIFT CERTIFICATES to local/major grocery stores.

Paly PTSA Announces Grant Recipients

 The PTSA Viking Grant season is underway.  There are two types of grants available to teachers:

Fast Track Grants for under $500 may be submitted throughout the year for quick processing. The budgeted amount for Fast Track grants for the year is $10,000 (subject to adjustments by the PTSA membership).

Viking Grants for $2,500 for one teacher, more for collaborative projects.  Viking Grants have two rounds, with the first deadline on November 7 and the second deadline on March 1.  Members of the PTSA Grants Committee recently gave an informational presentation to the Education Council, a committee of all of Paly’s instructional supervisors. The Grants Committee is available to present to individual department meetings and to help teachers complete the grants forms.  More information is available on the web at Paly.net under PTSA and “Grants for Teachers.”

As of mid-October the Paly PTSA had awarded approximately $1,500 to teachers, including:

• $500 to the Math Department to staff the Math Help Center.
• $128 to Ben Bolanos in Social Studies for two history DVD's and a color copier/scanner to print color maps and presentations.
• $279 to Kris Brockman in Special Education for a 750G external hard drive to hold digital books.
• $50 to Librarian Rachel Kellerman to supplement a gift to buy 40 copies of Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin for an author visit.
• $140 to Susan Lee in Special Education for a field trip to see the Human Body exhibit at the Tech Museum in San Jose.
• $400 to Esther Wojicki in Journalism for half the cost of subscriptions to national news magazines used in Journalism classes (parents pay the other half).

High School Task Force Report

The High School Task Force, composed of PAUSD administrators, the two high school principals, teachers, parents involved in Site Council or PTSA, a student, and community members, continues to meet weekly to address the projected enrollment growth at the high school level. 

Demographic projections are for the district to grow by 500 high school students through 2011, not an instant inflow of students but over time.  Part of the projected growth is fueled by the current elementary and middle school populations and part by students new to the district.

Gunn High School has grown by approximately 500 students over the past nine years; current enrollment is about 1,860.  Palo Alto High School has grown by approximately 250 students over the same time; current enrollment is about 1,670.

Options being examined include brick and mortar solutions – increasing the size of the two current high schools, building a 500-student specialty academic high school, creating a continuation or alternative high school in Palo Alto, building a ninth-grade academy, building a kindergarten-only school – and soft money solutions – realigning the grades to pull ninth grade out of the two high schools, implementing flexible schedules to better utilize the two high schools’ physical plants, full-year school with students attending three of four quarters each year to maximize use of the two high schools, virtual high school, contracting with other districts with specialty schools (like High Tech High) for seats in the school.  The realignment of grades and a 500-student specialty school have been moved to longer term consideration because they are outside of the scope of this task force.  The first has consequences that go beyo nd the high schools, and the second has an approximate five-year planning timeline that would not solve the current growth projections.

Solutions will be presented to the Board of Education in terms of curricular compatibility with district standards.  Brick and mortar solutions require a bond measure, most likely in June.

The public is welcome to attend our meetings, which are held at the district office at 25 Churchill Avenue in Conference Room A on Wednesday, 6 – 8 p.m. except where noted.

An Offer You Can't Refuse from PiE

If you were offered a chance to double your money, would you take it?

Of course you would! And right now, Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE) is offering a terrific challenge grant – your gift will be matched dollar for dollar (doubled!) if you give before November 15.

A group of families is sponsoring the grant – up to a total of $150,000. This is the ONLY district-wide PiE challenge that will be offered this year. So please – give whatever you can, and let the challenge donors double the impact of your gift.

If you need a new envelope, just let us know by sending an email to PalyPiE@gmail.com. Or, donate online at www.papie.org.  It’s fast and easy, and you can use any credit card you like. 

PiE funds make such a difference at Paly. They pay for our amazing, certificated, full-time college counselor.   We are one of just a handful of public schools who offer that level of student support.    PiE also pays for our unique Student Leadership classes, preparing students to be leaders here at Paly, and beyond.   And, we are also able to fund expert staff to help integrate technology thoughtfully and effectively into our curriculum.   

A donation to PiE is an investment in Paly students.       Right now, with the current challenge grant, it may be one of the best investments you’ll ever make!

Thank you from Team Paly!

Anne Barry, Elaine Hahn and Mary Haverstock
Suzanne Attenborough, Tami Burton, Margie Cain, Melinda Christopherson, Catharine Garber,  Pearl Glaves, Linda Frommer, Kimberly Lin, Susan McDonnell, Anne Rockhold,  Michelle Shorin, Marci Kirk Stevens, Liz Simons, Rebecca Stamm Fox, Sharon Witte

November

December

College and Career Center Notes

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Specialty School Panel Discussion – Wednesday, November 7, 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the English Resource Center in the library.

Representatives from an art school, a music school, and a vocational school will discuss the kinds of degrees offered, application requirements (including portfolio and auditions), and describe some of their unique programs.

• CSU Application Workshop – Wednesday, November 14, 3 - 5 p.m. in computer lab #1 near the library.

Students can receive individual help completing the CSU online application on CSU Mentor. 

JUNIORS:
PSAT
Many juniors took the PSAT on October 21. This exam is a practice test for the SAT and should be used as a learning tool. In order to assist the juniors with this process, the January 10 junior advisory will be devoted to a review of the PSAT score report.  Besides listing the test scores, this report includes the student’s responses and correct answers to the test questions, the level of difficulty for each question, and the skills that the student needs to improve.  A thorough review of the PSAT score report is an excellent way to begin studying for the SAT Reasoning test.  It also will give students the ability to access a MyRoad account on the College Board website (www.collegeboard.com) which can help them begin to navigate the college major and college search process.

College and Career Center Orientation
Juniors will be visiting the C&CC at the beginning of second semester as a part of the continuing post-secondary planning process. Following this orientation, students are invited to arrange individual meetings with the college and career advisors.

SENIORS:
The month of November is application month for both the UC and CSU campuses.  Applications must be submitted between November 1 - 30 for the UCs and for priority filing for CSUs. The preferred method of filing is online.  Be sure to get a confirmation that your application has been received and keep a copy of both your application and confirmation for your files.

 
It is important to keep a copy of anything that you send to colleges and universities. This includes application materials, financial aid forms, housing requests, etc. Get a certificate of mailing from the post office for all items so that you can verify that the materials were sent on time.  Then, remember to check email often for college communications.

All students need to be aware of deadlines for application materials.  It’s important to meet Paly’s deadlines to allow time for us to process school application materials (see www.paly.net/guidance).  In general, we discourage applications to more than eight colleges as it is expensive, time consuming, and rarely necessary.  Your teacher advisor and college advisors are here to help you with this decision making process. Don’t forget that first semester grades are an important part of your application to both private and out-of-state public institutions.
If applicable, request that the testing companies send the scores from your college-entrance test(s) (SAT Reasoning, ACT, and/or SAT Subject) to the colleges to which you apply.  Even though many require these scores by December, it is best to check with the individual colleges for due dates.
Students who need to submit one or more essays with their applications must expect to spend many hours writing and rewriting. Don’t wait until the last minute!  For help writing the UC personal statement, students might want to explore a tutorial produced by the University of California, available on www.californiacolleges.edu > admissions > University of California > Personal Statement.  The tutorial takes students step by step through the writing process.

Consult Paly’s Viking Guide to College and Career Planning as a primary resource for answers to many of your questions; it’s available online at www.paly.net/guidance.  Visit www.paly.net/college to access the following (and other) resources helpful in the application process:

• GPA Calculation for CSU and UC
• Tips for Completing the CSU Online Application - 2007
• Tips for Completing the UC Online Application - 2007
• UC Campus Policies and Procedures for Evaluating Freshmen Applicants - 2007
• College Application and Essay Presentation (from the Advisory on October 10, 2007)
• College Essay Tips
• College Interview Tips

Sandra Cernobori
College Advisor
scernobori@pausd.org

Career Notes

Fall has been very busy in the College and Career Center. Over the past year, 102 students earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and they were honored on October 24 in the ERC. Our students are a real asset to the community.

Career Speaker Day will take place on December 4 from 10:20 to11:05 a.m. Each third-period class voted for a career choice and will hear a speaker representing the chosen field. If you get a call from me asking you to speak, please say “yes”. Our past speakers have enjoyed their time in the classroom.

A few great opportunities are available for our students right now, including:

• The ACE Mentor Program   Ace Mentor is for students interested in architecture, construction management, or engineering. Local professionals donate their time to meet with students twice a month after school and go on field trips, create a building project, and learn what it means to be a in a career related to building. 
• The Stanford Nurse Observation Opportunity Program (SNOOP) SNOOP provides an opportunity for students to tour Stanford Hospital behind the scenes and see all aspects of medical care. This is a wonderful chance to see the less visible medical professions. The tour will take place on January 4.

Applications for both of these programs are in the College and Career Center.

Wendy Sinton
Career Advisor
329-3877

Update from the Guidance Department

Over the last month, the Guidance team has been hard at work processing college applications, updating transcripts, scheduling tutoring sessions in the Academic Resource Center (ARC), advising seniors on their post-high school plans, and meeting with students, parents and teachers to discuss academic progress and social/emotional concerns.  And, as always, our teacher advisors (TAs) are extremely busy this time of year writing college recommendation letters.  I’m very proud of our staff’s hard work and dedication.

It also gives me great pleasure to announce that Paula Sandas-Harvey has officially joined our team.  Paula, a Berkeley grad and proud parent of a Paly junior, will work with Noël Beitler in the ARC located in the library.  Since late September, Paula has been working the afternoon shift in the ARC, where she coordinates and proctors make-up tests/quizzes and supervises countless tutorial sessions.  She has impressed us all with her warmth, caring nature, and humor, as well as her attention to detail and organizational skills. That said, I would also like to personally thank Noël for keeping the ARC running over these last few months.  On behalf of the Paly Staff, thank you Noël and welcome Paula!
 
Advisories

We want to remind everyone that advisories are held every Wednesday from 9:50 – 10:20 a.m.  Student attendance is mandatory, since we need to deliver important dates and information on a regular basis.

Advisory schedules and topics are posted at www.paly.net/guidance for your reference.  Please note that these are tentative schedules and are subject to change.  Freshmen meet with their TAs approximately every week while students in grades 10-12 meet on a rotating basis.  Some important upcoming advisories include:
 

• Introduction to Scholarships and Financial Aid (senior advisory)
• Paly Grads Return (senior advisory)
• Time Management (junior advisory)
• The Four-Year Plan (sophomore advisory)
• How to Take Good Notes (freshman advisory)

Please help us support our Teacher Advisory Program by talking with your children about their sessions.  If you haven’t already done so, ask your child about Advisory and any important information they’ve learned this year.  Your support is important to us!

Parent Nights

Thank you to all the parents who attended the Senior, Junior and Sophomore Parent Nights in October.  We appreciate your time and hope you learned about the exciting year ahead.  If you missed this event, the presentations for the Junior and Sophomore Parent Nights are posted online at www.paly.net/college. 

And, in an effort to provide you with more specific information on post-high school planning, we (in partnership with Gunn High School) are hosting additional Parent Nights throughout the year.  Please mark your calendars for the following events:

November 7 - Specialty Schools, 7 p.m. at Paly.
January 23 - Summer Opportunities, 7 p.m. at Gunn.
February 13 - Gap Year Programs, 7 p.m. at Paly.

Guidance Calendar

October            30        Registration deadline for December 3 SAT and SAT II subject tests

November        2          Last day for transcript request if college application is due December 15
November        2          Registration deadline for December 8 ACT
November        3          SAT & SAT II Subject Tests
November        6          First Quarter Grades mailed home
November        6          CAHSEE make-ups
November        7          CAHSEE make-ups
November        7          Parent Night (Specialty Schools), 7 p.m. at Paly
November        8          Last day for transcript request if college application is due January 1
November        14        CSU Application Workshop, 3 – 5 p.m. at Paly (Computer Lab 1)
November        14        VTP Family Celebration
November        19        Last day for transcript request if college application is due January 10
November        28        Last day for transcript request if college application is due January 15
November        30        UC and CSU application deadline

December        1          SAT, SAT II Subject Tests
December        4          Career Speaker Day
December        7          Progress notes mailed home
December        8          ACT
December        26        Registration deadline for January 26 SAT and SAT II Subject Tests

Student Resiliency

In my last article, I wrote about the importance of raising resilient children.  Resilient children are capable of bouncing back from life’s problems with “more power and more smarts.” Research shows that people bounce back from tragedy, trauma, risks, and stress by having the following conditions in their lives:

• Caring and support.
• High expectations for success.
• Opportunities for meaningful participation.
• Positive bonds.
• Clear and consistent boundaries.
• Life skills.

Today I’d like to address the first condition – caring and support.  At Paly, we strive to provide a caring and supportive environment for your children.   Our Teacher Advisory Program is just one way in which we create that type of nurturing and helpful environment. 

Research has shown that those who feel truly cared for and supported:

• Have several people in their lives who provide unconditional love, nonjudgmental listening, and whom they know are “there for me.”
• Are involved in school, work, faith, or other groups where they feel cared for and valued.  
• Treat themselves with kindness and compassion, and take the time to nurture themselves (including eating properly, getting enough sleep and exercising).

We strive to maintain just such an environment at Paly.  First, we encourage our students to develop strong relationships with our teachers and support staff.  We also encourage our students to get involved in school, to discover their passions, and to join a team or club.  And we can only hope that our students are treating themselves with kindness and compassion, and taking the time to nurture themselves. 

The best way we can teach our children to be good to themselves is by modeling this behavior for them.  So before we head into the crazy holiday season, take some time to reflect on how you’ve been treating yourself lately.  Give yourself permission to slow down, relax, and enjoy life’s moments.   It will benefit you and your children.

As always, please feel free to contact any of the counselors or myself in the Guidance Office at 329-3712 if you have any concerns regarding your child.  We are here to help and offer our support.   

Thank you and happy Thanksgiving to you and your family,

Kim Diorio
Assistant Principal

On behalf of the entire Paly staff, the Paly Guidance Department would like to invite all of our VTP families to a special evening celebration.
 
Voluntary Transfer Program (VTP) Family Celebration
Wednesday, November 14, 6 - 8:30 p.m.
Cesar Chavez Elementary School
2450 Ralmar Street
East Palo Alto

This is a fun evening designed to introduce our VTP parents to our new principal, Dr. Jacqueline McEvoy, and give parents a chance to get to know the many caring staff members that work with their children everyday.  We’ve also invited the Foundation for College Excellence (FCE) to speak briefly about college and post-high school opportunities for your children. Dinner and childcare will be provided. Come join in the fun! 

Do You Have A Job?

You Can Earn Credits and Dollars

To Earn FIVE Credits per semester you must:

• Be 16 and in grade 11 or 12.
• Attend class only on Tuesdays at Paly or Gunn.

Paly from 3:05 to 4 p.m.
Gunn from 6 to 6:55 p.m.

• Turn in pay stubs.
• Develop a professional portfolio.
• Earn credit based on the number of hours worked (hours worked = credits earned).

You may be able to:

• Earn 10 credits each year.
• Leave school earlier in order to work
• Work more hours.
• Earn more money.

To sign up for the Work Experience Program talk to your counselor or TA, then see Mrs. Gyves (329-3816) in the Work Experience Office at the College and Career Center. For more information visit www.paly.net /college or contact Mrs. Gyves.

How to Get a Work Permit During the Academic Year

All work permits expire five days after the beginning of the school year. If you are under the age of 18, you are required by law to renew your current permit each year.

Pick up a “Request for a Work Permit” form in the Work Experience Office or download the Work Permit Application from www.pausd.org/students/work_permits/index.shtml. Once you have filled it out, drop it off at the Work Experience Office. A permit will be mailed to your employer within three days.

For more information visit www.paly.net/college and scroll down to the Work Experience section.

“LIFE IN THE FAST LANE: A Healthy Response to Stress”

Wasn’t it just a few years ago that our children spent time playing dress-up, Superman and imaginary games with their friends? Then they moved on to being teenagers and real life began to set in. Our children have just enough time to IM their friends before going to swimming practice early in the morning, then to school, then to after-school activities and later dinner, homework and bed. The fast pace can be exciting for a while, but often becomes a task and can be stressful and unenjoyable. Teenagers are often worn out and exhausted by the end of the week. How can we help them with all the time pressures?

The issue of time pressure is a real one. But it seems to be much more than time pressure. They seem to want to have things “now” instead of later. They have begun to develop a craving for immediate gratification. We have encouraged them to seek their own personal fulfillment and yet “having it all” may end in the pursuit of an unrealistic goal.

Parents – you can have an impact on how your teenager deals with life. Remember that you are the models for them. Try not to get caught up in the fast pace. You can help them with:

• Balance – Admissions departments of the important schools are now looking for students who are balanced, not just those who have a high GPA. Encourage your children to pursue their passion.
• Patience – Help your teenager take one day at a time, one goal at a time and do the same for yourself.
• Making conscious choices – Help them choose to do something rather than feel that a force outside of themselves is making the decision. Help them be proactive.
• Giving as well as “having it all” – Is “having it all” the American dream or is it “having unlimited potential?” There is a difference.
• Realistic boundaries – When a teenager is taking on too much you can be there for them as a reality check. Ask them how their plan is going to work for them. Is it realistic?
• Acceptance – All of our children are different. We need to celebrate their differences and not try to mold them to one outcome. Learn what their strengths are; encourage them to pursue their interests. Allow them to go to different schools than their siblings, based on their ability and interests.

I know it seems like a lot, but you probably already do most of the above to some extent. Just be more aware of how important it is for your teen to have good mental health. One way for that to happen is to model these characteristics for them, discuss these issues with them and allow them to be teenagers for these short few years.

Resources: David Elkind, The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon.
Denise Clark Pope, Doing School: How We are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic and Miseducated Students.

Margaret Murchan, LCSW
Program DirectorAdolescent Counseling Services

From the New Director of ACS

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,

Hello, I am the new program director for ACS On-Campus Counseling Program and will be providing articles for parents during the coming school year. The position of program director is a new full time position and we are very happy to be providing this service to the schools. My own background includes a Masters in Clinical Social Work from Smith College with an internship at the Yale Child Study Center. My work over the past 30 years has been as a therapist in private practice and in local non-profit counseling agencies. My role for ACS is as a supervisor to the Site Directors in the schools and as a consultant to the schools. I also enjoy speaking to school groups and providing support to parents.

In the coming months there will be articles on the following themes –

• Life in the Fast Lane: A Healthy Response
• The Developmental Needs of Your Adolescent
• Sadness or Depression: What is the difference?
• The Trend Toward “Child-Centeredness”

Our site directors and counselors are already seeing students and helping to meet their mental health needs. Remember that our door is always open and do not hesitate to call with questions or concerns. Contact the site director on campus for most of your concerns. If you would like to call me, my number is 424-0852 ext. 102 or you can e-mail me at Margaret@acs-teens.org.

Thank you,
Margaret Murchan, LCSW
Adolescent Counseling Services
4000 Middlefield Rd. # FH
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-0852

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ACS partners with public and private agencies to provide an integrated network of services for teens and families in our community. Over the past 30 years, ACS has helped approximately 20,000 teens and their families find their way through and beyond the challenging adolescent years. ACS’s On-Campus Counseling Program provides on-site individual, group and family counseling at no cost to secondary school student

PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL PRESENTS
 “YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU”
NOVEMBER 8 - 17, 2007

WHAT:                 Palo Alto High School Drama Department ushers in the fall with a snappy revival of the 1936 Kaufman and Hart classic, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU.  Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this buoyant nostalgic comedy revolves around the amiably eccentric Sycamores, whose patriarch is the happily retired Grandpa, a refugee from Wall Street who now raises snakes and attends commencements for amusement. His assorted family members fill their days by making fireworks, learning to dance ballet, playing the glockenspiel, writing plays, and inventing new candies. All live in bliss until daughter Alice brings her fiancée’s straight-laced family home for dinner.

WHEN:                 7:30pm, Thursday, November 8
                              (no show Friday, November 9)
                              7:30pm Saturday, November 10
                              4:00pm Thursday, November 15
                              7:30pm Friday, November 16
                              7:30pm Saturday, November 17

WHERE:               Haymarket Theatre
                              Palo Alto High School,
50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto

TICKETS:            $7.00 for students and seniors
                              $9.00 for adults
                              $5.00 special matinee price for Thursday, November 15
                              To reserve tickets, the public may call 650-329-3857

Finalists in PTA Reflections Art Contest Announced

Congratulations to the following Paly students, who were selected as school finalists in the California PTA Reflections Art contest. Their work will next be judged against finalists from Gunn at the PTA Council level. For more information about Reflections, a program designed to allow students to express themselves through art while raising awareness about the importance of arts in the schools, visit http://www.capta.org/sections/programs/reflections.cfm

Art
Chloe Chen
Emily Benetar
Leslie Shen
Lisa Ke
Tim Qin (winner last year, too)

Members of the Paly Choirs in their Tudor era finery. Madrigal Dinner on December 15 & 16. Click the links below for information and to order tickets.

ARTS Choir Madrigal Dinner

ARTS Choir Madrigal order form 07.doc

School Board Update

Student Assesment

At the October 9 meeting, staff presented the district's SAT scores and AP and CAHSEE rates:

• How does a kid in the middle in PAUSD do? For last year’s seniors, a student in the 25 percentile in PAUSD on SAT would rank in the 68th percentile in the nation; a student in the 50th percentile in PAUSD would be at the 92nd percentile in the nation. 
• On AP tests, 50% of our students who took the AP test scored a 5, 29% scored 4, 15% scored 3, 5% scored 2, and 2% scored 1.  Superintendant Skelly commented that taking a college level course is good preparation, and we might look at having more students who want that challenge be able to take such courses, even if it means that the test results decline a bit.
• On the high school exit exam, 96% of the class of 2008 and 93% of 2009 have passed both portions. The goal is that every student will be given the support they need to past the test.

Bond Measure
Staff is working towards having a February, 2008, board decision on a bond election.  To get there, they are working on a draft project list (at http://pausd. org/community/ board/downloads/ brd_packet/ item_013. pdf) as a starting point for dialogue with various constituencies, including parents, community, teachers, classified staff, and principals.
School Goals
If you want to know what your schools' goals are, how they are assessed, and what progress is being made, you may want to attend your school's site council meeting. To hear about your school and other PAUSD schools, the site council reports (goals, results, budgets, and test scores, and more) will be presented on October 30 (secondary schools) and November 1 (elementary schools) at 6:30 p.m., 25 Churchill. Schools present survey results on social-emotional issues, new programs and best practices, and lots of specific information. Most schools post their Site Improvement Plans on line, so take a look on each school's web site.
For who does what at the school district, and background on our district, try a power point at http://news.pausd.org/index.cfm/2007/9/19/PAUSD-Summary

Alternative Treatments for Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Behavioral Problems presented by Dr. Denise Tarasuk, RN, ND

There are many biomedical and natural treatments out there: special diets, supplements, homeopathy, chelation, sulfation, digestive enzymes, essential fatty acids, probiotics, and more.  Do you wonder how effective they are?  What choices do you have and how do you begin to choose?  Come hear Dr. Denise Tarasuk talk about what interventions are available and how they work.  Dr. Tarasuk has a family practice that specializes in children with behavioral problems and children on the autistic spectrum.  She is a registered DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) practitioner.  She specializes in homeopathy and natural treatments including nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 - meeting is 9 to 11 a.m.  Hospitality begins at 8:45 a.m.  Covington Elementary School Multi-putpose Room, 205 Covington Road, Los Altos.
This parent education event is sponsored by the SELPA 1 CAC (www.selpa1cac.org) All of our events are free and open to anyone who feels they might benefit.  No registration is necessary.