Volume LIII, Issue 7

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

Principal's Letter

Viking Grants &PTSA

Election Results

Parent Network Meetings

STAR & AP Calendar

Guidance News

Career Notes

ACS

Partners in Education

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From the PTSA President

May we thank you for your service?  May is the month when we thank people for their efforts. First, we thank the teachers. The Paly PTSA celebrates teacher appreciation week April 28 to May 2, to avoid conflicting with AP tests. The week culminates with a luncheon that parents provide for the teachers.  This is the fifth luncheon of the year we have given the teachers, and it will be the nicest. 

National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 7-13.  Here are some suggestions from the California State PTA website on how we can appreciate our teachers.  At Paly, we already do many of them, thanks to Arti Miglani, who is busily looking for donations for our Teacher Appreciation Week, Anne Anderson, head of our Beautification Committee, and Susan McDonnell and Debbie Tranowski, who are coordinating the lunch.

Teacher Appreciation Week offers the opportunity for citizens to reaffirm their commitment to parent-teacher partnerships.

Here are some ideas you can use this spring to plan activities to recognize the teachers in your school and community and to increase public awareness about the important work teachers do.

• Create and display posters, banners, and fliers in schools and in the community promoting Teacher Appreciation Week and the California Day of the Teacher. 
• Discuss ways to honor teachers with students in your PTSA. Work together to honor teachers. 
• Brainstorm with your school principal about significant ways to honor the staff through the year. 
• Contact area merchants, business and community groups to invite their participation. 
• Plant a tree or flowers on the school property.
• Bring bouquets to school.
• Provide a nutritious brunch.
• Wash cars or windshields. 
• Give teachers positive feedback on their teaching by sending a thank you note.
• Encourage parents and students to do likewise. 
• Design a resource file for your school that includes names of parents and family members who are willing to use their expertise to assist teachers on projects and activities. 
• Publish proclamations in the PTA newsletter and post them in the school. 
• Request that your mayor or county board of supervisors issue a proclamation in observance of Teacher Appreciation Week or California Day of the Teacher. 
• Coordinate an event for teachers sponsored by community organizations. Invite press and media coverage. 
• Call in to radio talk shows early and tell the host or hostess what your PTA is doing for teacher appreciation week. 
• Think about beginning a year-long project to tell your teachers how important they are.

From the California PTA website (www.capta.org)

During AP week, on Friday, May 9, we will have our Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, where the teachers and administrators thank the parents and community members for the thousands of hours they devote to Paly.  From the College Center, to the ARC, to the Sports, Music, Theater, and Re-Enactment Boosters, to the various parents who chaperone dances, after-school activities, and clubs, hand out prom tickets, and compile college admission statistics, parents are able and willing to help.  At Paly, there are many channels for helping, and while the PTSA is one of the biggest sources of volunteer help, it is only one. To acknowledge our officers, the May Executive Board Meeting will be held offsite, in my backyard at 767 Addison Avenue, at 11:00 a.m.

So thank you, everyone, for all you do for our students, and all you do for our school.

Preeva Tramiel

Paly PTSA President

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From the Principal

Dear Fellow Vikings,

Spring has come to Paly bringing with it a variety of activities that will culminate with graduation for our seniors on June 11.  During May, we will hold our last school dance, and the entire school will be involved in Field Day.  Our seniors will take finals exams during the first week of June, participate in the Baccalaureate on June 6, attend the senior picnic on June 10, and hear our final farewells the following day.  It is with mixed emotions that we will say good-bye to the Class of 2008.  For the last four years, these extraordinary students have served as the foundation for our school spirit and have been role models on our campus for both students and adults alike.  They are an extremely caring and passionate group of young men and women, who constantly remind me about what is truly important in this life, and I believe our future will be bright in their very capable hands.  Many of the lessons I have learned this yea r, I have learned from them.    I applaud their commitment to our school and their dedication to one another. I know the entire school community joins me in wishing them well.

As the seniors prepare to leave us, the rest of Paly is planning for next year.  All course selections have been made and the Guidance Department is working hard to create a master schedule for the 2008 – 2009 school year.  May is also an extensive testing time for our 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students.  Beginning May 5, many of our students will be taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams.  These are end-of-course exams given by the College Board and recognized by the majority of colleges and universities for college credit.  Immediately following the AP exams, all students, except the seniors, will be participating in the California Standards Tests (CSTs).  The CSTs are end-of-course exams that help us review and evaluate our curriculum.  For juniors, these exams include the Early Assessment Program (EAP) for the UC/CSU system.   The essay portion of the EAP was given during 11th grade English classes, and the multiple choice component will be given during the CSTs.  We encourage every student to come to school rested and prepared to do his or her best on these important testing days.  Individual student performance on these exams determines eligibility for AP course enrollments and helps our teachers evaluate how effectively students are meeting the standards of each of our courses.

Our WASC accreditation work continues at Paly.  Teachers have been working in their “home” or department groups to review the curriculum we offer in order to determine our academic goals for the next six years.  I have participated in numerous parent focus groups to gather input from our parent community.  In May, parent representatives will join the teachers in focus groups to analyze the information gathered in the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, school culture, and school organization.  We will also be soliciting input from our students. Our WASC work at Paly parallels the district’s strategic planning process, and our self-study will be completed by the end of next fall.  Our self-study will include proposed goals and action plans for the next six years. [For more information and an overview of the WASC process, see pages 14 & 15 in the April issue of The Paly Reporter at http://paly.paloaltopta.org/reporter/08Apr/apr08Reporter.pdf. -Ed.]

Lastly, I would like to say a few words about the recent decision regarding the bell schedule for next year.  In January, the Stressed Out Students (SOS) Committee* brought to the Education Council – Paly’s school leadership team – a proposal to change the bell schedule for the 2008 – 2009 school year. Under the guidance of Ed Council, the SOS Committee conducted a series of meetings with teachers and students to discuss several proposed changes.  About halfway through the process, a formative survey of teachers was conducted that narrowed the field to two proposals: a) pushing the daily start time of the school day to as late as 8:15 a.m.; and b) blocking 7th period.  From the beginning, the final decision for these two proposals was in the hands of the teachers. The entire student body was given the opportunity to provide input to the faculty by participating in a survey through their social science classes.  I also discussed the proposed changes with several parent groups.  Although the two proposals did not meet the 2/3 majority vote needed by the faculty to be implemented next year, it is clear that there is enough momentum building for change to continue the discussion in more depth next year.   
Also from the beginning, I owned the decision to provide consistency to the school year by using one bell schedule for the entire year.   My decision to use the second semester schedule for the entire year was based on protecting instructional time for our athletes.  Many of our athletes are dismissed early on Thursdays for athletic competitions and must miss important class time that they are required to make up.  I weighed that against the preference of many students for a late start on Thursdays.  I understand that my decision may not be popular with some students, and I want to thank the dozen or so students who have contacted me about it.  I have found their comments to be thoughtful and respectful.    I would also like to thank the parents who have shared their thoughts with me in an open forum conducted by the PTSA and through emails.  I am going to review my decision and consider whether or not ou r community is ready for the change I have proposed.  Whatever I decide, I feel it is important for us to continue this conversation next year.  It is my intention to form a committee of teachers, parents, and students to lead that discussion.  If you would like to serve on that committee, please let me know. This process has reinforced for me how proud I am to be the principal of a school community that is so passionate about providing the best educational environment possible for its students. 

 
Sincerely,
Jacquie McEvoy
Principal
jmcevoy@pausd.org

* The SOS, or “Stressed Out Students” Committee began as the Balance Task Force after Paly’s last WASC.  It has existed as “SOS” for the past five years, and has had a variety of participants over that time due to personnel changes.  SOS currently includes parents, students and teachers, as well as representation from administration, counseling, and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

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Principal Jacquie McEvoy
And the Palo Alto High School Staff
Invite you to the
Volunteer Luncheon Fiesta
Catered by Compadres
Desserts provided by the Paly staff

Friday, May 9
11:20 – 12:30
In The Senior Court

Please RSVP to Beth Martin

Bmartin@pausd.org  or

329-3895 by May 6

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Paly PTSA Viking Grants a Huge Success

Thank you to all the parents who donated to the PTSA Annual Appeal which funds the Viking and Fast Track grants.

Applications for the spring 2008 Viking Grants round exceeded available funds by 33%!  The Grants Committee granted $20,000 including the following projects:

• Mike McNulty- an iMac for Broadcast Journalism
• Norm Masuda- a new computer for the DVD player LCD cart for World Languages
• Kathie Laurence- The Human Experience Video Series
• Theresa McDermott- Kitchen Aid mixers and attachments for the Foods program
• Michael Najar- support for professional musicians to assist with the May concert
• Rachel Kellerman- display stands and cases for student artwork in the Library
• Kathleen Woods- a MacBook Pro for Theater Tech and Lighting
• David Camner- additional glass blowing equipment
• Noel Beitler- money for textbooks for the Academic Resource Center (ARC) not covered by district funds
• Radu Toma- special calculators for the Math department to use with LCD projectors and in classes

Recent Fast Track grants include:

• French videos and 15 sets of Boggle for the French Department
• Light Room software and 3 Wascom Bamboo Writing tablets for Visual Arts
• A shredder for the Health Office
• Electroscopes and a Wimshurst Static Charge Generator for Physics
• 72 jump ropes and a jump rope rack for Physical Education
• A 15” portable Pace Clock for Physical Education
• 30 copies of Wild Swans for English
• Canvases and art supplies for Not In Our Schools Week
• Review materials for U.S. History
• Essay writing practice program for U.S. History

There is only about $50 remaining in the Fast Track category (total $10,000 this academic year).  All Viking Grant dollars have been granted ($40,000).

Thank you for your generous support of the Paly PTSA and the teachers, staff and students at Paly!

Back to top PTSA EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTED On Thursday, April 18, PTSA members approved the slate of nominees to next year’s PTSA Executive Board. Also elected at the meeting were Sunny Chen, Xenia Hammer, and Grace Liu as Paly's PTA Council representatives. PALY PTSA EXECUTIVE BOARD 2008-09 President Suzanne Attenborough     Executive VP Carol Scott     VP Programs Maureen Simons     VP Fundraising Elaine Hahn   Stacy Mason     VP Communications Jaspi Sandhu     VP Hospitality Arti Miglani     VP Health and Welfare Tracy Niestadt   Chris Chang     VP Community Service Anne Stewart   Danielle Mewes     Treasurer Bruce Rohde     Recording Secretary Sandra Tucher     Corresponding Secretary Karen Ersted     Historian Colleen Nielsen

Note:  Where two names are listed for one position, the first person will be elected for official PTSA purposes, but the two will function as a team Attention Parents of Juniors Are you looking for a fun event to work on during your student’s senior year? The PTSA still has some open positions for activities for next year's senior class, including coordinators for the following Class of 2009 activities: Senior Picnic Grad Night Grad Reception Spirit Week Directory Editor (funds go to Senior Class Activities) Talk to a friend and consider volunteering as a chair or co-chairs for these activities. Contact Mandy Lowell 323-2742 or Karen Ersted 322-6411 Back to top .

The Paly Theater Department Presents Student-directed One Acts Plays May 9, 10, 16 and 17 7:30 p.m. Haymarket Theatre. Admission: $5.00.   Six short plays on the lighter side

The California State PTA is deeply concerned about the damaging effects the Governor's proposed budget would have on children and families. For more information and to learn more about what you can do visit the website of the Californai State PTA at http://www.capta.org.

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Honor Your Teacher

"Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition." Jacques Martin Barzun
The Honor Your Teacher (HYT) campaign -- a Palo Alto tradition for almost 20 years is in progress. Please honor the teachers who are making a difference in the lives of our children by donating to the HYT Fund. Proceeds from this fund support PiE's Teacher Grant Program. To ensure the teacher you honor is listed in an ad in the Palo Alto Weekly on June 11, make sure your donation is mailed by June 1, 2007. To donate online, visit the Partners in Education website at www.papie.org

 Donations to PiE are 100%  tax deductible.
Palo Alto Partners in Education
P.O. BOX 1557
Palo Alto, CA 94302
Our Tax ID is 77-0186364

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Parent Network Meetings

Project 2011 (Freshman Parent Network) Monthly Meetings
Thursday, May 22 8:15-9:30. At the home of Annette DeStefano, 2190 Barbara Drive WASC Coffee with Principal Jackie McEvoy. A discussion of freshmen year and issues with Dr. McEvoy for her knowledge and the accreditation process,
For more information contact Annette DeStefano at aokdes@yahoo.com or Andrea Stern at sternfam1@comcast.net

Project 2010 (Sophomore Parent Network) Monthly Meetings (locations TBD)

• Tuesday, May 20 at 8:30am

For more information contact Keri Lung (keri.lung@yahoo.com) or JoAnne Voet (jvoet@sbcglobal.net)

Project 2009 (Junior Parent Network) Monthly Meetings

• Friday, May 2, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. at the home of Jean MacDonald, 827 San Francisco Court on Stanford Campus.- Topic: "Dollars and Cents: Managing Money"
• Friday, June 6, 8:15 - 9:15 am. at the home of Lucy LaPier, 225 Tennyson Ave - Topic: "Looking Ahead to Senior Year"

For more info and notes of previous meetings, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/palyproject2009/

Project 2008 (Senior Parent Network)
Contact Sukie Stanley at sukiestanley@mindspring.com or Cece Long at cecilong@pacbell.net
For more information about the networks in general visit www.paly.paloaltopta.org/parent_network.html and watch the Paly Link (http://palylink.paloaltopta.org/) for announcements about meetings and events.

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Paly Site Council Update

Instructional Supervisor reports from World Language, Science and English were given on March 17. At the April 14 meeting, the Council heard reviews of current projects. One of the Co-Presidents of the Gay Straight Alliance Club spoke to the Council about his experiences and about the activities schedule at Paly for “Not in Our School” Week ( April 14-18). Council member Ning Xu reported on MINDSET and how it is being used at Mountain View High. There were updates from the Principal on the Bond Issue, the bell schedule, WASC and the Prom.   There were also reports from PTSA and Student Council. The next meetings are scheduled for May 5, May 19 and June 2.  At these meetings the Council will be making funding decisions for 2008- 2009. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Site Council elections for 2008- 2010 are coming up.  The staff election will be held on April 23. Student elections will be held soon.  Parents who are interested in being on the ballot (in the August packet) are asked to submit a statement by May 1 and attend the remaining meetings.

The Paly Site Council is made up of parents, staff and students. It meets twice a month in the ERC in the Library. The agenda for each meeting is posted on the Link, the PTSA /Site Council website and in the main office. Members of the community are invited to address the Council on non-agenda items at the beginning of each regular meeting.  Minutes are also posted in the front hall of the Tower Building and on the Link. Meeting dates are listed in the Paly Reporter calendar and on the Paly Link. Further questions or comments can be addressed to Edie Miller, Site Council Coordinator, 329-3710 ext 7301 or emiller@pausd.org

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ARC SpARCs

A regular column in The Paly Reporter

Here’s a story from the ARC that shows that it’s progress, not perfection, that makes all the difference.

Adiel Velasquez was anxious when he first came to the ARC seven months ago. 

“I never had an actual tutor before.  Having someone help me on a specific day was pretty new to me,” he says, twisting a large piece of aluminum foil into a tight roll as he speaks.  “But it’s pretty cool.  It is a cool place to catch up.”

As usual, Adiel is sporting his signature style: jeans and a sweat shirt with the hood pulled over his baseball cap.  He talks very quietly, carefully, and thinks about what he wants to say.  Since November he has been meeting with his tutor, Paly senior Peter Hughes, twice a week to improve his overall academic performance.  While some students get quickly discouraged when their tutoring sessions don’t immediately lead to higher grades, Adiel has shown patience and persistence.

“My grades are about the same but I turn in a lot more of my homework now,” he says.  “It’s not super-great but it’s better.”

Peter and Adiel often work on his organization skills.  Adiel admits that his backpack is still pretty “scrambled up” but, he says, “I actually know how to fix it now.  My papers are a lot neater.”  Tutoring has also helped him process more of what is going on in school.  “I just didn’t do the homework when I didn’t understand what was going on in class…I had a studying problem, I couldn’t focus.”  With a simple time management chart Peter prepared, Adiel found when he used the system his tutor suggested, he could study more efficiently and retain more of the material.

Energetic, busy, and intense, Peter is probably no stranger to time-management issues.  In addition to Adiel, he has two other tutees during the week and works with equal enthusiasm with all three.  Lured by the possibility of extra credit, he soon found that he enjoyed working with underclassmen even when he learned that his tutoring hours may not be factored in to his class grades.

“When it clicks,” he says, snapping his fingers, “when I see them able to do a problem on their own…that is when it is really rewarding…it has also made me think about my own study skills and how I organize my time.”

Both Adiel and Peter see overcrowding and noise in the ARC as obstacles to their success.  While Adiel gently says, “It’s a bit crowded…and sometimes hard to get a seat,” Peter nods in agreement. “You get 50 or so students in that small a place, it is really going to be noisy.”  They both cite time as a factor as well.  “Sometimes,” says Adiel, “we barely get started working and do a few problems and then the bell rings.”

Still, they stick with it.  “Show up,” says Peter when asked about the secret to getting the most out of tutoring.  “You need to be there every session—get on a schedule and stay on a schedule.”

College bound in June, Peter plans on studying political science, perhaps with Spanish as a minor, but his plans aren’t firm.  He has his eye on Willamette, St. Olaf, or possibly the University of Denver. 

Adiel will be a sophomore next year but hopes to eventually become “some kind of engineer.”

“I wanted to be a pilot a month ago,” he says with a shy, infectious grin, “so it’s probably going to change again next month.”  But if Adiel can carry his determination and patience beyond the ARC, he can be anything he chooses.

(Coming next month: A tribute to our fantastic ARC volunteers!)

--  Noel Beitler

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News from the English Department

As the English Department heads into the final weeks of the school year, we are already thinking ahead and planning for next year.  Our work with the WASC self-study process has each teacher examining how her or his classroom assessments fulfill the state standards.  We anticipate fruitful discussions about the standards and our curriculum as we work to identify critical academic needs in this process. 

David Cohen’s Facing History and Ourselves classes report the following: Three students in Facing History and Ourselves participated in the Santa Clara County Holocaust Remembrance Event on April 14.  The students conducted independent research on the impact of the Holocaust on Jewish communities in Northern African nations, and interviewed a survivor.

Students from Facing History and Ourselves classes participated in Paly's observance of Not In Our School week, an event aimed at fostering a climate of dialogue and celebration of student diversity, to combat the potential ills of silence and hate.  Having read Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Elie Wiesel's Holocaust memoir, Night, students had the opportunity to apply his urgent
message, that silence always aids the perpetrator, never the victim (or potential victim) of hate or injustice.

Congratulations to our Campanile and Verde publications:
The awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association awards are in from New York, and Campanile and Verde have reason to celebrate.  Campanile won a Silver Crown, and Verde won a few Gold Circles.

Here are the details on the Verde victories:
Category: Sports features: Second place national
  Mary Minno, “Distributing the Dough,” Verde,
  Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto, CA.

Category: General feature:  Third place national
  Sydney Lundgren, “From Ghana to Palo Alto,” Verde,
  Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto, CA.

Category:  Overall Design: Newsmagazine: First place national
  Staff, Verde, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto, CA.

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NOT IN OUR SCHOOL WEEK

This year's Not In Our School celebration was a great success with students creating pledge t-shirts, making wishes on stars, painting original canvases for display around campus, dissolving stereotypes written on rice paper in a pool of water, and enjoying a free barbecue. 

To add to the spirit of the week, we had guest performers from Stanford and SJSU.  They included Cahoots (dance and comedy duet), Jeff Mendelman (spoken word poet & rapper), Urban Styles (dance group), and Grupo Luna y Sol (traditional Mexican dance). 

The weather was perfect, and we hope the experience was just as inspiring.  Thank you to all who contributed in planning for the week and to all who participated in the activities.  We hope for the same in 2009! 

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Career Notes

Many students took advantage of our Summer Job Fair which was held on April 23 during lunch on the Quad. Summer jobs offer a wonderful opportunity for students to try something new and different. Representatives from the Aveda Salon School and the Foothill College Career Programs were also there.

On May 21 we will be honoring students who have made great contributions to our community, both locally and globally. We will be presenting the President’s Volunteer Service Award to students who have completed 100 hours of community service in one year. Everyone is invited to this inspiring event at noon in the ERC. The following students have earned the award this spring:

On May 28, during lunch, we will have a Community Service Fair. This will be another opportunity for your student to find something worthwhile and interesting to do this summer. Volunteer jobs are a wonderful way to try a field and see if it is interesting and rewarding while actually helping an individual or a cause.

Wendy Sinton
329-3877, wsinton@pausd.org

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PTSA and School Calendar

May

June

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College and Career Center Notes

As the school year begins to draw to a close, there are a few reminders for each class that I think are important to consider

Seniors
After you receive your admission decision:

• Notify each college or university that accepts you whether you are accepting or rejecting its offer. Make these notifications no later than May 1.
• After you confirm your intention to enroll, request a final transcript, and, if required, submit a deposit to only one college or university. The exception arises if you are put on a wait list by a college and are later admitted to that institution.  You may accept the offer of admission and send a deposit to that school.  However, immediately notify the college you previously accepted that you will not be enrolling.
• If you didn’t receive information about campus housing with your acceptance information, look up information online for the college you wish to attend.   Applications must be submitted by the deadlines to receive priority consideration.
• Don’t forget to sign up to take placement tests, if required, and make plans to attend orientation!

If you are placed on a wait list:

• Come and speak with us so we can discuss options for further consideration.
• Colleges are expected to notify you of your wait list status by August 1 at the latest.

A word to the wise: both the UCs and private colleges request the Guidance department to remind all seniors that their college acceptances are always provisional, contingent upon students completing in good standing the work that was indicated for the spring term.  Work which is not completed or completed with lower grades could result in the revocation of an admission offer.  If you have dropped a class, changed your schedule in any way, or received any unsatisfactory grades since you applied or since you sent a mid-year transcript to the college, it is your responsibility to notify your chosen institution of the situation; I suggest calling the admissions office and following up in writing, i.e., by mail, fax, or e-mail.
Financial Aid/Scholarships:
For students who have received financial aid offers, remember that it is important to speak with the college’s financial aid office if you feel that you are unable to meet their expectations of your family’s contribution.
Students attending Community College should:

1. Complete an application online at: http://www.cccapply.org/
2. Call the college and make arrangements to register to take placement tests so you can register for classes.
3. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you wish to be considered for federal student aid. 

Completing an online application is the preferred method of filing ( www.fafsa.ed.gov).   In order to get ready to complete the 2007-2008 FAFSA, every student should register for a personal identification number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov.  Students and parents will need to use their Social Security Number (SSN) to apply for the federal education PIN and for most financial aid.  The filing period for the FAFSA for community colleges ends September 2. 

4. To be considered for 2007-2008 state aid (Cal Grants), each student must also submit a GPA Verification Form.  This form is available for download from: www.csac.ca.gov.  Students should submit the GPA Verification Form to Ann Deggelman in the Guidance Office before the end of the school year. Mrs. Deggleman will submit the GPA information electronically.

Juniors
Juniors received a copy of Paly’s Viking College and Career Planning Guide during advisory in April; it is also available online at www.paly.net/college. This is a valuable resource that will answer many questions about the college application process and more; I recommend you consult it as a first source for your questions.
SAT/ACT Tests:

• The last SAT test date is June 7. The regular registration deadline is May 6, late registration is through May 15. You can take either the SAT Reasoning or SAT Subject Tests--you cannot take both types of exams on the same day.
• The ACT is offered on June 14. Register by May 9; late registration lasts from May 10-23.

Sophomores
Students currently studying chemistry may wish to consider taking the chemistry subject test on June 7. It is a good idea to discuss this with your teacher before registering.
If you are looking for ideas for summer programs, check out the summer opportunities list on our website (open the Paly web page and select the College Center link and then refer to summer opportunities)

Upcoming Events

• Stanford Information Night: “Reality Check with Stanford Admissions” at Gunn’s library on Wednesday, May 14, 7 p.m.
• De Anza College's second annual "New Student & Parent Night" is on Wednesday, May 14, 6:30 - 8 p.m. in the Gymnasium (PE2)

.
Sandra Cernobori
College Advisor

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For more information contact Chuck Merritt at cmerritt@pausd.org or 650-329-3824.

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News from the Guidance Department

Freshmen Advisory Update

On April 23, freshmen received a “TA Choice Preview” sheet, listing the choices of l0th -12th grade Teacher Advisors who will advise them for their final three years at Paly.  The sheet is also available on the Paly Guidance web page at www.paly.net/guidance.  Freshman students ranked their choices for their l0th through l2th grade Teacher Advisors.  The “TA Choice Preview” sheet was due in advisory on April 30.  Freshmen who did not make a choice or who ranked fewer than seven choices will have their Teacher Advisor chosen for them.   

Students will find out which Teacher Advisor they have been assigned on Tuesday, June 3.   A complete list of l0th - l2th grade Teacher Advisors and advisees will be posted in the windows of the ERC and Guidance Office during 7th period.  The following day, Wednesday, June 4, freshmen will have the opportunity to meet with their newly assigned l0th - l2th grade Teacher Advisor during advisory.

Junior Advisory Update

Juniors are in the middle of a very important series of advisories held on April 9, April 16, and May 21.  During this time, they began to talk about the college application process.  In addition, they received a copy of the Viking College and Career Planning Guide (please keep in a safe place!) along with a variety of forms that they will need to complete by Wednesday, May 21. These forms include: 

• Senior Profile form - two copies of the Senior Profile must be returned to their Teacher Advisor if the student will need a Teacher Advisor recommendation.  Most private schools and some out-of-state public schools require recommendation letters.  The University of California and California State University system do not require letters. 
• Parent Assessment form – the information parents provide enables a Teacher Advisor to write a more complete recommendation. We are asking parents with Internet access to go to www.paly.net/guidance/ to download the Parent Assessment form. 
• “Contract” form – The “Contract” is also posted online and was included in the senior profile packets distributed on April 9.  The “Contract” indicates to us that your family has had the necessary discussions about your parameters for your child’s college selection.  Like the student’s Senior Profile, the “Contract” must be signed and returned to the Teacher Advisor in order for the TA to write a recommendation.

The Viking Guide along with all of the necessary forms that juniors will need to complete are available on the Paly website at www.paly.net/guidance/ or can be found in the Naviance document library.  Please call Ann Deggelman at 329-3814 if you are unable to download any of the required forms. 

University of California ELC Program

A letter to all families of juniors with more information about the college process and recommendation guidelines will be mailed home shortly.  This letter will also include information about the University of California’s “Eligibility in the Local Context” (ELC ) program.  This program assures UC eligibility to the top 4% of a high school’s graduating class contingent upon those students’ successful completion of UC eligibility requirements, including required coursework and standardized testing.

To participate in the ELC program, Paly will be asked to submit the transcripts of some number of our high ranking juniors after the completion of their second semester junior year.  In order for us to send a transcript, we must have prior authorization from a parent or guardian.  An authorization form will be included with the letter and will also be posted at www.paly.net/guidance/.  The form must be returned by May 21 to either the Teacher Advisor (along with the Senior Profile and Contract) or separately to Ann Deggelman in the Guidance Office.

Kim Diorio

Assistant Principal  

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LETTING GO

by Margaret Murchan, LCSW
ACS Program Director

Letting Go

“"You’re not going to school looking like that, are you?' I asked my daughter. She planted her feet, 'I was planning on it!' she said. The conversation didn’t get any better. I was so upset with my daughter. But what was bothering me? Was it really her choice of dress?

Sure it was, I thought. But was it really? As I sat and remembered back to when she was a little girl, I remembered putting ribbons in her hair, helping to get her dressed for school. What I really missed was my little girl. She was growing up."
           
That story from Sue Monk Kidd* resonates with us as our children start becoming their own person. Isn’t that a good thing? Isn’t that what we are trying to achieve – personhood for our children. It comes at a small cost. We lose a little as they grow up, but we gain a lot. It is hard to realize when it is happening that it is a good thing. We can only understand that at a later point.
           
Letting go is a “catch-22.” We love our children and are attached to them. That attachment is necessary for their healthy growth. But when be begin to “detach,” to let them go, it feels like a little loss. We have these little losses because we are attached. The alternative is not good – to not ever be attached ?! We wouldn’t choose that path. So we let go . . . and amazing things happen.
           
When we allow it to happen, our children do find their path and are able to feel the pride that comes with it. It happens when we let go and allow them to use their own abilities to move forward. We have given them the tools to make their way in the world. We have provided a firm foundation in the early years. They have what it takes to move forward.

*Sue Monk Kidd, Firstlight: The Early Inspirational Writings of Sue Monk Kidd (New York, 2006).

Adolescent Counseling Services is a community non-profit, which provides vital counseling services on six secondary campuses at no charge to students and their families. To learn more about our services please visit the ACS website at www.acs-teens.org or call Margaret Murchan at ACS at (650) 424-0852, ext. 102.  ACS relies on the generosity of community members to continue offering individual, family, and group counseling to over 1,500 individuals annually, helping teens find their way! ACS provides critical interventions and mental health services, building a better future for tomorrow.