Paly Link

A PTSA publication

Sunday, October 2, 2016
tower building drawing

The Paly Link is distributed on Sundays, except during school breaks and holidays.  Changes will be highlighted as New/Updated/Corrected.  To submit an article, see Submission Guidelines at the end.
Calendar
 

Sept 30- Oct 3
College Visits ( C&CC)
Through Oct. 4
Spirit T-shirt sales, online and at the Auditor's Office New
Wednesday Oct 5
Financial Aid Presentation 7- 8:30 p.m Library Conference Rm. ( Paly)   New 
Thursday Oct 6 End of Quarter
Thursday Oct 6
Yearbook baby ad session MAC101 12:30 - 5pm
Monday Oct. 10
Palo Alto College Fair - Gunn, 6:00 - 8:30pm  ( CC&C)
Tuesday Oct. 11
Senior Baby Ad Workshop 12:30 - 6pm MAC 101 New
Thursday Oct. 13
Baby ads and Senior Photos due New
Thursday Oct. 17 - 21
Spirit Week 
Wednesday Oct 19
PSAT for Juniors - No School for 9,10 and 12th grades. See attachment.
Monday Oct. 24
Minimum day for Students ( Paly)   New
Wednesday Nov. 16
Dr. Dan Siegel:How Parent Can Best Support the Power and Purpose of the 
Teenage Brain 7pm to 8:30pm,  Paly Performing Arts Center
 

PTSA
PTSA Items
Spirit Week on Paly Campus   Updated
October 15-22nd
Many shifts, many small tasks, lots of positive return for your time supporting the students with building floats.  Questions?  Please contact Susan Scheel at susanischeel@sbcglobal.net  or Mego Tracy at mego.tracy@gmail.com.  There is a long  sign up sheet below so make sure to keep scrolling until you find what looks like fun for you - lots of openings for parent support!
The students do all the work, we need parents to provide support (food, light supervision, and encouragement). Witness the energy of classes working together, competing for the title of spirit champion.    
Are you handy with power tools, enjoy building things?  We need you at the start of the week ( October 15 and 16 ) Sign up here: https://www.uptous.com/uptous.htm?_flowId=directLink-flow
Chaperone the Dance:  Will not be able to have the dance without your help:  Sign up here:  https://www.uptous.com/uptous.htm?_flowId=directLink-flow&communityId=5306&extraId=17518&action=opp  

Volunteers Needed to Welcome Students to Paly on Walk & Roll Day   Updated
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
We're asking families to make a special effort to avoid solo driving the week of Oct. 3. To recognize students using those alternatives, on Tues. Oct. 4 that week we will hand out stickers to as many kids as possible coming to campus on foot, bike, bus, or carpool. We STILL need about 12 volunteers for just 1 hour, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., to do the distribution and offer smiles to students at various entry points around campus. If you can help, please email Judd Volino at kazalino@kazalino.com, or call 301-943-1764. Dads especially encouraged to help!

Volunteers Needed to Welcome Students to Paly on Walk & Roll Day 
Week of Oct. 3 (exact date TBD), 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
We're asking families to make a special effort to avoid solo driving the week of Oct. 3. To recognize students using those alternatives, one day that week we will hand out Hershey's Kisses to as many kids as possible coming to campus on foot, bike, bus, or carpool. We need about 14 volunteers for just 1 hour, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., to do the distribution and offer smiles to students at various entry points around campus. If you can help, please email Judd Volino with the days of that week you're available at kazalino@kazalino.com, or call 301-943-1764. Dads especially encouraged to help!
 
Arts Education Volunteers Needed  New
The Palo Alto Council of PTA's  http://ptac.paloaltopta.org/  seeks Arts Education Volunteers to support high quality arts education for all students and to share best practices and programs.  Goals might include communicating about visual and performing art programs taking place at PAUSD schools and encouraging collaborative opportunities.  All PTA members (both parents and teachers) are welcome to volunteer.  Please contact PTAC President Audrey Gold  ( president@paloaltopta.org ) if interested.

5th Annual Dig Pink Volleyball Fundraiser 
October 13, 2016
Los Altos High School, 5:30pm and 6:45pm 
Please come out and cheer on Paly's JV and Varsity volleyball teams as they raise money for a good cause! Paly's 5th annual "Dig Pink" match vs Los Altos High School will be on Thursday, October 13, at Los Altos High School at 5:30 (JV) and 6:45 (Varsity). Free admission. Watch the Paly Lady Vikes and Los Altos Eagles as we DIG PINK! If you'd like to make a donation, we really appreciate your generosity! You can donate at the match or donate online. The link to our fundraising website is https://giving.sideout.org/campaigns/11820 3

Support PALY Cheer and Dance fundraiser - Support Paly Cheer and Dance with our Holiday Pie Fundraiser! 
Mon. Oct. 24 (order deadline), Fri. Nov. 18 is pie pick-up at Paly 3:30- 6:30pm) Enjoy delicious farm fresh pies while supporting your Cheer and Dance teams! Apple, Two Berry, and Pumpkin Pies are available. They are flash-frozen from Gidzich Farms in Watsonville and are simply scrumptious! Get all the details at: http://www.palycheer.net/holiday-pies.html

Save the date! 
November 16, 2016, 7pm to 8:30pm, Paly Performing Arts Center
Offered to parents of Paly and Gunn students, sponsored by both PTSAs.  
Brainstorm:  How Parents Can Best Support the Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain 
Dr. Dan Siegel,  http://www.drdansiegel.com/ 
Stay tuned for ticketing information and more details about the event. For questions, please contact Diana Pang ( dianapang@yahoo.com ), Jake Wellington ( jwellington@stanford.edu ) and Adrianne Chang ( Adrianne.shih@gmail.com )
 

PiE Rally Days Challenge Grant 

Right NOW - Join us, and double the impact of your donation during PiE's Rally Days!   New  
Pledge or donate before October 17th and your donation will be matched by our Rally Day's Challenge Grant happening now.  
We need the support of the whole community in order to reach our goal and help our schools and students.  We know all families are different, 
so we have different giving options to meet the needs of every family:
·       Pledge now and pay in January 2017
·       Spread your gift over 10 months through installments
·       Company matching counts towards your gift
 
To learn more or to donate, please click here:  Donate to PiE


Paly ItemsPaly
paly viking ship logo
Spirit Week Online Spirit Store   New
Spirit Week is on the horizon and we're excited to introduce the first ever Spirit Week Store! The goal is to make it easier to buy some Spirit Week essentials and promote unity amongst grades.   
Click on the link to the google form to preorder your gear for your respective Viking(s). If there are extra items, we will be selling them on the quad at lunch on October 13 and 14, when students can conveniently pick up their pre-ordered gear. 
All profits will help provide scholarship money to low income Paly students through the nonprofit foundation,  Rise Together Education. You can learn more about Rise Together Ed on our website:  http://www.risetogethered.org/.

10/24 Minimum Day Schedule  
New
1st 8:15 - 8:45
2nd 8:50 - 9:20
3rd 9:25 - 10:00
Brunch 10:00 - 10:10
4th 10:15 - 10:45
5th 10:50 - 11:20
6th 11:25 - 11:55
7th 12:00 - 12:30

Friends of Paly Choir (FOPC) Meeting   New
Please join us for the Friends of Paly Choir (FOPC) Meeting on  Tuesday, October 4 @ 8:00 pm at the Paly Library. 
This meeting is open to all Choir Parents and supporters. It's a great chance to meet the Choir Directors and hear about exciting upcoming events for the Paly Choirs.

Americanized Chinese Parents of Paly
This is a group for Americanized Chinese Parents of Paly and Jordan students who embrace both the values of American culture and Chinese culture. Parents in this group speak English in their homes and value a balance of academics, social time, and extracurriculars. 
To be added to our mailing list, please email your name to:  americanized.chinese.parents@gmail.com

Spirit Week and  the Homecoming Dance
This is a fun time to be on campus and we need lots of volunteers to help. There are a variety of ways to help during Spirit Week.  Please go to this Link:
 to see all of the opportunities to help -  make sure you scroll all the way down the form! 
We also need adults to help with the Homecoming Dance which will be on October 22nd.
Please sign up early and often. Any questions, contact Beth Martin, Bmartin@pausd.org

NEED A SPORTS PHYSICAL?
Monday, October 10, 2016, Gunn High School PE Classroom, 1pm - 7pm.
PAUSD, in partnership with Stanford Children's Health Care, will be performing Pre-Participation Physical Examinations on Monday, October 10, 2016 at GUNN HIGH in the PE classroom from 1pm until 7pm. All Athletes need an up to date (within 1 year) physical in order to participate in tryouts. Winter Sports tryouts being Oct. 31st.  These physicals will cost $10 and RESERVATIONS are REQUIRED (spots are limited).  Parents must also complete the online forms before Oct 10th.  Please click on the link to make your reservation:   http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/service/young-athletes-academy/palo-alto-unified-school-district.  In addition to having a current and valid physical, all Winter athletes need to have an account on  athleticclearance.com. This is the online version of the Athletic Packet and should be completed ASAP.  Complete instructions for creating this account can be found at  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6_WIJl62Q6FOTdoODFnN3Q1YWs/view?usp=sharing
Blank physical forms are available for download as part of the athleticclearance process.  We will also have blank forms available at GUNN on Oct. 10th.

Important Yearbook Dates for Seniors and Parents  Updated
Workshop sessions for senior parents who are turning in baby ads will be held in the Media Arts Center on  Thursday October 6 and Tuesday October 11, from 12:30-5:30 each day . These sessions are a great way to get your baby photos scanned, craft a message to your child, and work with one of our students on design ideas. Bring all materials with you and plan on anywhere from 10-30 minutes, depending on how detailed you want to get. Senior ads (and senior portraits!) are due  October 13 palymadrono.com  has more information. Email adviser Brian Wilson at  bwilson@pausd.org  with any questions.
 
ALEX NEE, Paly class of '09 performer in the broadway tour of ONCE (Andrej, and Guy understudy), and the International Tour of AMERICAN IDIOT (Johnny). Some of his favorite Northwestern productions include SPRING AWAKENING (Melchior), RENT (Roger), THE WHO'S TOMMY (Hawker), THE WAA-MU SHOW (Nash), THE LITTLE PRINCE (Conceited Man), and ROMEO AND JULIET (Mercutio). 

Tickets are $25.00, $50.00, & $100.00. Reserved seating at   http://www.palytheatre.com/tickets/  


College & Career Center CCC
C&CClogo.jpg 

Fiinancial Aid Presentation @ Paly   New
Weds. Oct. 5, 7-8:30pm, Paly Library Conferece Room
The College and Career Center will host a Financial Aid Workshop on  Wednesday, October 5, 2016 from 7:00-8:30 pm  in the Library Conference Room in the library.  Karen Cooper, Director of Financial Aid office at Stanford University will be our guest speaker. If you want to familiarize yourself with basic financial aid terminology (e.g. FAFSA, EFC, CalGrant) and the application process before the presentation, take a look at:  http://www.paly.net/college/financial_aid

College Rep Visits for Seniors (and Juniors, if space is available)
Students must have their teacher's permission one day in advance if missing class. Pick up a form in the C&CC, or download it at admit-class-form-college-and-career-center . Bring the signed form the day of the visit to ensure the absence from class is cleared and marked as an activity rather than a truancy. College visits scheduled for the next two weeks are listed below. For a full list of all visits through Spring, login to Naviance using your user ID and password; click on the "Colleges" tab then click "view all upcoming college visits" within the "my colleges" section. Or, you can check the calendar on www.paly.net/college .
Due to increased student attendance and limited space in the College Center, we are no longer able to permit parents to attend college representative visits, please click to read more information about this policy.

ON-CAMPUS VISITS:

Week of Oct. 3:
Villanova University   10/3   8:15 AM
Kalamazoo College   10/3   9:00 AM
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign   10/3   10:15 AM
Lafayette College   10/3   10:45 AM
Macalester College   10/3   2:30 PM
New York Film Academy   10/4   8:15 AM
Beacon College   10/4   9:00AM    NEW
University of San Francisco   10/4   10:00 AM
Landmark College   10/4   10:45 AM
Oberlin College of Arts & Sciences   10/4   12:15 PM
Pitzer College   10/4   1:00 PM
Rochester Institute of Technology   10/5   8:15 AM 
California Lutheran University   10/5   9:00 AM
Texas Christian University   10/5   10:00 AM
Bucknell University   10/5   10:45 AM
Williams College   10/5   1:00 PM
Nova Southeastern University   10/5   2:00 PM 
California College of the Arts (San Francisco)   10/5   2:45 PM
Yale University   10/6   8:15 AM
Gonzaga University   10/6   9:00 AM
Vanderbilt University   10/6   10:00 AM
Northwestern University   10/6   10:45 AM
Sarah Lawrence College   10/6   12:15 PM
University of Connecticut   10/6   1:00 PM
 
Week of Oct. 10:
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott   10/10   8:15 AM            
Ursinus College   10/10   9:15 AM
Kenyon College   10/10   10:15 AM           
Bowdoin College   10/10   11:15 AM         
Hampshire College   10/10   12:45 PM     
Washington College   10/10   1:45 PM     
The Evergreen State College   10/10   2:30 PM    
Smith College   10/11   8:15 AM
Washington State University   10/11   9:00 AM   
Southern Methodist University   10/11   10:45 AM            
The New School - All Divisions   10/11   12:15 PM               
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute   10/11   1:00 PM            
Grinnell College   10/12   8:15 AM
University of Redlands   10/12   9:00 AM
Carleton College   10/12   10:45 AM         
Western Washington University   10/12   12:15 PM          
Seattle University   10/12   1:00 PM
Quinnipiac University   10/12    2:00 PM 
Brown University   10/12   2:45 PM          
University of Oregon   10/13   8:15 AM   
University of Notre Dame   10/13   9:00 AM         
University of British Columbia   10/13   10:00 AM               
University of Toronto Undergraduate Only   10/13   10:45 AM     
Lesley University   10/13   12:15 PM         
Boise State University   10/13   1:00 PM 
University of Massachusetts, Lowell   10/14   8:15 AM    
Butler University   10/14   9:00 AM
Ithaca College   10/14   10:00 AM              
Providence College   10/14   10:45 AM    
Cornell College   10/14   12:15 PM             
University of Michigan   10/14   1:00 PM
University of Southern California   10/14   2:00 PM           
University of Rochester   10/14   2:45 PM

OFF CAMPUS VISITS
For more information and to RSVP (if required), login to Naviance
Week of Oct 3
University of Pennsylvania   10/6   7:00 PM   San Jose
Yale University   10/6   7:00 PM   Mountain View
University of California, Merced   10/8   Merced Campus
Syracuse University   10/9-10   on campus @ The School of Info Studies
McGill University   10/9   2:00 PM   Berkeley



2016 Palo Alto College Fair (PACF)  
Monday, Oct 10th - 6:00 - 8:30pm, Gunn High School
Plan to attend the 2016 College Fair at Gunn High School on Monday, October 10th in the Bow and Titan Gymnasiums.  
Over 140 college & university representatives will be on hand, ready to answer your questions about their institutions. Seniors can get accurate and timely information to complete their college applications and Juniors can begin to plan for next year.   Please note these tiered entry times: 
  • 6 pm Gunn & Paly students ONLY (with ID).  
  • 6:30 pm All other high school students admitted 
  • 7 pm  Parents and the public are admitted 
Freshman & Sophomore students are recommended to attend the college fair after 7:30pm for a better experience when the fair is less crowded.

Please also join us on Oct. 10th for two additional presentations at the college fair:
  •  "The College Admission Essay" will be at 6:30pm with Felicia Fahey PhD
  • "Financial Aid" with Karen Cooper, Director of Financial Aid at Stanford University will take place at 7:00pm.
Both are open to the public.
These presentations are open to everyone.   They will take place in the Titan Gym Dance Studio.

Scholarships and contests/competitions expiring through October 15
, 2016  New
Brian Ohleyer Memorial Scholarship: Deadline 10/15  New
National Security Agency  Stokes Educational Scholarship Program: Deadline 10/15 New
University of Notre Dame - Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program: Deadline 10/15  New
PAUSD PAUSD
PAUSD School Board Candidate Forum K-5th Grade Focus   New
October 4th 6:30-8:30pm, Barron Park School MP Room 800 Barron Ave, Palo Alto
ALL interested Palo Alto Voters and PAUSD parents are invited to come and hear from the school board candidates! Barron Park, Ohlone and Fairmeadow PTAs are co-hosting this K-5th grade-focused forum with all candidates. If you'd like to submit a question to have the candidates respond to, email your question to  k5october4forum@gmail.com  by Oct 3. Please keep your questions related to K-5th issues. There will be separate forums for Special Ed issues on Sat Oct 1st 10a-12p (location TDB) and possibly a forum for 6-12th grade issues (Day,Time, Location TBD).

Food Service Department Open Forums
Palo Alto USD invites parents, employees, students, and community members to a series of Food Services Department Community Open Forums held throughout the 2016-17 school year.  Please visit:  https://www.pausd.org/food-service-department-open-forum

Renaming Schools Advisory Committee Community Townhall Meeting   New
Oct 17 or 24,  6:30-8:30pm  in the Media & Arts Center at Palo Alto High School.
To rename or not to rename any of Palo Alto's schools, that is the question the Renaming Schools Advisory Committee will begin to answer during its first townhall meeting in October. Renowned historians and educators with expertise in the Eugenics era, some of whom have actively provided their expertise in renaming efforts at other schools, will discuss if there is a rationale to consider renaming PAUSD schools whose namesakes were actively involved in Eugenics. The panelists will discuss how to evaluate a person's controversial legacy in historical context, the learning opportunities this debate provides, and how renaming or not renaming might affect the school community.  The townhall meeting is intended to stimulate community discussion on this important topic, and will close with a Q&A session.  Everyone in the community is welcome, please invite your friends and neighbors.

Renaming Schools Advisory Committee (RSAC) Survey
The PAUSD School Board created a Renaming Schools Advisory Committee ( RSAC ) and charged this committee to explore and recommend processes for naming or renaming schools based on community input and feedback.  The community consists of students, parents, alumni, former parents, community members, and PAUSD teachers and staff.  With this short  survey , we would like to get your initial input concerning the criteria you consider to be most important for the naming of any district school.  Your input will help the  RSAC  understand the community's values, and alongside other data, help inform the Committee's discussions and recommendations to the Board.  The  survey  is very short and we appreciate you taking two or three minutes to give your input by completing and submitting this seven question survey . Simply click the following link to begin  https://pausd.co1.qualtrics. com/SE/?SID=SV_8JuFGmlO3CJ3Qgd   
 
PAUSD Seeks Parent Member for Board Policy Review Committee
Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) invites its parents to consider joining the Board Policy Review Committee (BPRC), a committee established to assist the PAUSD Board of Education in its thinking about District policies.  The BPRC committee currently has an opening for a parent representative.  Parents interested in the school district's process of developing policies should fill out the form online (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PFqb2N2x7pwx5Lp1XVFtWHuZdKuAb4zvojnwMye-iYM/viewform?edit_requested=true) before the deadline of end of the business day on Wednesday, September 7, 2016.  For more information, go to https://www.pausd.org/explore-pausd/news/pausd-seeks-parent-member-board-policy-review-committee-bprc


Community Service and Service-Learning CommSvc 
Matemagos Math Tutoring in Spanish: Help Kinder & 1st Graders with Math, Gain Valuable Experience Volunteering
Tutor Orientation October 13, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Escondido Elementary, Room 1
1st Tutoring Session October 20 - December 1, Thursdays from 3:30 - 4:30pm, at Escondido Elementary, Palo Alto
Matemagos provides a great opportunity to work with Kinder and First Grade Spanish Immersion students in math through fun and engaging games. Tutors gain valuable experience through service while using their Spanish language skills, building a relationship with the students, and giving back to the community. Contact matemagos.tutor@gmail.com for details.

The Ohlone Harvest Festival Needs Volunteers!
October 15, 2016 at Ohlone Elementary School, 950 Amarillo Ave
Paly students - earn community service hours by volunteering at The Ohlone Elementary School Harvest Festival! It's a fun day of games, food & music, and a fundraiser for the Ohlone Farm, our outdoor classroom. We need support from noon to 4pm on Saturday, October 15.

Duveneck Harvest Carnival Service Opportunity 
October 15th Duveneck Elementary School, 12:00 - 3:00 pm
Are you looking for a wonderful service opportunity?  Whether serving a snow cone, timing an obstacle course or running the gold fish prize table, there is fun to be had while providing a great service to our community.  It will be October 15th from noon to 3:00.  Set up and take down will be starting in the morning and lasting until later in the evening.  There is room for all to help!   Please contact 650-332-4692 for any questions!


Community  
Summing Up Europe - Italy & Spain
June 3 -11, 2017
Tour Leader:  Deanna Chute, Mathematics Instructor
Informational & Enrollment Meeting
Tuesday, October 4th at 6:30pm
Paly Room 852
Please RSVP:   summingupeurope@gmail.com
  This is a unique, mathematically-themed, international travel opportunity for high school students. We will visit Gaudi's Sagrada Familia with a dazzling mathematical display of hyperboloid structures, catenary curves and fractal forms.  We will observe the golden ratio seen in Michaelangelo's David, marvel at the tessellations at Granada's Alhambra and calculate the tilt of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
 
Math is everywhere, a human endeavor shared by all cultures, and this trip is a special opportunity for students to see and appreciate mathematics beyond textbooks. Your child will step outside the classroom and engage with the mathematical world firsthand, understanding its history, experiencing its beauty and seeing its connection to a variety of fields of study.  In addition, this incredible opportunity will help your child navigate new situations with a broader global perspective, build self-confidence and give them a life-changing experience.
 
There will be an Informational  and Enrollment meeting  on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 6:30pm.  We will discuss trip details, logistics and cost, as well as the possibility for college credit. You can reserve a spot on the tour at the meeting with a $95 deposit. There is limited space on this trip, with space available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  
 
You can get more information at:  http://www.eftours.com/tour-website/1830703AJ
or send an email to:   summingupeurope@gmail.com
 
I sincerely hope you will come to the meeting and learn more!
To ensure that I can accommodate everyone in the meeting space, please RSVP:   summingupeurope@gmail.com

Growing populations, shrinking resources: dynamics of a world in crisis
Fri Oct 7, 7:30pm at Mitchell Park Community Center - Palo Alto 
Documentary photographer RANDY OLSON has worked with National Geographic Magazine for 25 years, producing over 30 stories on issues of overpopulation, environmental degradation, resource extraction and disappearing cultures. He will present his work followed by an interview with moderator Kim Komenich and Q&A session with the audience.  Light refreshments included.
Info & tickets please visit:  www.paloaltophotoforum.org    Contact:  info@paloaltophotoforum.org

Huge Children's Used Book Sale to Benefit Palo Alto Libraries   New
Sat Oct. 8 & Sun Oct. 9  10 am - 4 pm,  Cubberley Community Center (FOPAL Children's Sale Room)
More than 13,000 kids' books, games, puzzles, CDs, and DVDs will be on sale at incredibly low prices at Friends of the Palo Alto Library's monthly book sale-  everything from board books and picture books to school age fiction and nonfiction titles to early teen fiction.  All items are lightly used or new and are sorted by age level and subject matter.  Many books in foreign languages.  Over 50,000 books for adults in FOPAL's Main and Bargain rooms.   www.fopal.org

The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University Family Sundays Program
Second Sundays, beginning Oct 9, 11 AM - 4 PM, Stanford campus, off Palm Drive at Museum Way
The Cantor invites families to a day of wonder and learning at the museum.  This is a s a free, family-focused day of art talks, hands-on art making, and gallery adventures for visitors of all ages. Explore the galleries and participate in programs designed to help families look and think about art in new ways. Curiosity is encouraged. The day is designed to be flexible with no registration required, no standing in line and no waitlists. Families can plan a unique museum experience and join the activities in which they are most interested.

Matemagos Math Tutoring in Spanish:  Help Kinder & 1st Graders with Math, Gain Valuable Experience Volunteering
Tutor Orientation October 133:30-4:30 p.m., Escondido Elementary, Room 1
1st Tutoring Session October 20 - December 1, Thursdays from 3:30 - 4:30pm, at Escondido Elementary
Matemagos provides a great opportunity to work with Kinder and First Grade Spanish Immersion students in math through fun and engaging games.  Tutors gain valuable experience through service while using their Spanish language skills, building a relationship with the students, and giving back to the community.  Contact  matemagos.tutor@gmail.com  for details

5th Annual Kiwanis Angel Award honors Agent DuJuan Green, PA Police Department
Thu Oct 13 5.30 - 730PM , Palo Alto Sheraton 625 El Camino Real Palo Alto 
Kiwanis Angel Award recognizes an individual who has provided significant contributions to children and youth.  Agent DuJuan Green is being honored for his exemplary work as a School Resource Office, Facilitator of the Parent Project which teaches enhanced parenting skills and member of Project Safety Net.  Program relevant for parents of students 6 grade to 12 grade.  Cost $50 per person and sign up by October 6. Proceeds benefit children and youth programs.
Registration   www.KiwanisAngelAward.org   Contact Gail Price     gail.price3@gmail.com   
 
SheHeroes Afternoon Tea with Fathers in Tech Encouraging Girls in STEM
Sun Oct. 16; 2 - 4:30pm, The Fairmont, San Francisco, Crowne room  
Enjoy an afternoon tea for the whole family (all ages) and listen to tech leaders speak about the crucial role men play in supporting women and girls in STEM and other fields. Formal tea includes gourmet food and beverages. Fun activities for kids include raffle, photo booth, girl panel, temporary tattoos. Further info at:  http://bit.ly/fatherdaughtertea

  Special Olympics Soccer Competition  New
Mon, Oct 17, 9AM-Noon, Jordan Middle School
PAUSD and Special Olympics Northern California have joined together in a new  Special Olympics Schools Partnership  program. Through sports, the program aims to provide opportunities for special education students and their peers to work together as teammates and to create inclusive opportunities in the school community. Come cheer on the students in their first event of the year. Elementary, middle and high school students throughout the district will be participating and showing off their skills. For more information contact Angel Sheridan at  asheridan@pausd.org

Support Paly Cheer and Dance with our Holiday Pie Fundraiser  New
Mon. Oct. 24 (order deadline), Fri. Nov. 18 Pick up your pies at Palo Alto High School in front of the Tower Bldg. from 3:30-6:30pm.
Enjoy delicious farm fresh pies while supporting Palo Alto High School's Cheer and Dance teams!  Apple, Two Berry, and Pumpkin Pies are available. They are flash-frozen from Gidzich Farms in Watsonville and are simply scrumptious!  Get all the details at:   http://www.palycheer.net/holiday-pies.html

ORDER NOW!  The Gizdich Pie Sale will be ending soon!  New
Now thru Oct. 12
Order delicious Gizdich Ranch Pies before Oct. 12 for your holiday gatherings, and help raise funds for the Class of 2017 Senior Picnic, Grad Night Celebration and scholarships for Seniors to attend those events.  The pies come frozen and are made locally at Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville.  You can choose from  Apple ,  Two Berry (raspberry and blackberry) ,  Pumpkin or Apricot! Buy a pie and donate it to a special teacher or staff member!  For the Gizdich Pie Order Form and more information: http://gunn.paloaltopta.org/wp-content/uploads/Gizdich-Ranch-Pie-Order-All-Schools.pdf .
Any questions?  Contact Cassandra Gencarella  mginx@sbcglobal.net  .  Gunn's class of 2017 thanks you!

Palo Alto Philharmonic Concerto Movement Competition
The Palo Alto Philharmonic is sponsoring a Concerto Movement Competition open to school-aged music students including both instrumentalists and vocalists. Each applicant should submit an unedited audio CD (5-15 minutes long) of his or her performance of a movement from a concerto or concert piece for soloist and orchestra. Applications, along with the demo CD and a non-refundable fee of $30 must be postmarked by December 31, 2016.  For more information or to download an application form: http://www.paphil.org/pages/about/cmc.html
 
Sleep Study for Youth 18-21    
The Department of Psychiatry at Stanford University is recruiting 18-21 year old youth to participate in a paid research study on sleep and mood.  You and your youth will receive up to $215 for completing the study. For more information about this study, please contact   dailyrest@stanford.edu   or (650) 736-2689 or go to   http://med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/research/dailyreststudy.html.  
For general information about participant rights, contact 1-866-680-2906. 
 
TAKEOVER: Teen Creativity Party   Updated
Fri Oct 7, 6 -9PM, Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd., Palo Alto
Teens, don't miss your very own after-hours party with artmaking, music, games, a photo booth, raffle prizes, and more! Join a collaborative mural painting, create jewelry and other accessories, or self-direct your own creativity with an array of materials.  This event is for students in grades 9-12--bring a photo ID to enter.
For more information, contact Lauren Baines, Family, Teen and Outreach Programming Coordinator at lauren.baines@cityofpaloalto.org

Raise Money and Walk for Disabled and Abandoned Orphans in China
Sun, Oct. 9th ;   1-3pm . Walk around Mountain View Shoreline Lake fundraiser.
Walk the Wall Bay Area is a global movement organized by International China Concern to overcome abandonment in China. The annual walk gives participants from K-12th grade a chance to fundraise for orphans in China who are abandoned due to disability. 

Sign up for Paly Glass Weekend Workshops 
Sat & Sun.  Nov. 12-13, Dec. 3-4, Jan. 7-8, Feb. 4-5, March 4-5, April 1-2, May 6-7, June 3-4  9-3 pm at Paly's Glass Studio. The workshop will focus on beginning glass blowing techniques. It's an incredible, fun, hands-on experience and it benefits the Paly Fiery Arts Program. Repeating students progress from their last session.  Advanced Sign up required. Class limit is 4. Teens and adults. $425 per person. Open to the public.
Contact: David Camner, founder of the Paly Fiery Arts,   dcamner@pausd.org

How To Get A Bike License
In Palo Alto bicycle licenses are required. Bike licenses help PAPD connect recovered stolen bikes to their owners and also can help emergency responders connect a bicyclist with family after an accident if the cyclist isn't carrying ID.  You can get a license at any Palo Alto Fire Station between 4:00-5:00 pm.  As long as they are not out on an emergency call, someone will be available to issue a license to you. 

Check Your Student's Helmet!
Bicycle helmets should be replaced every five years, even if they appear undamaged because the rigid foam in the helmet will break down with time and won't protect your head in a collision. Helmets with cracks in the outer plastic shell should be replaced, as should helmets that are too small. (The helmet should touch the top of your student's head. To find out if it touches, put your finger in an air vent at the top of the helmet.) For tips on getting the helmet adjusted properly, see our new helmet  flyer.

El Camino Youth Symphony New Member Auditions
By appointment only, throughout the month of September
The award-winning El Camino Youth Symphony is holding new member auditions for its 2016-17 program! Orchestras and Ensembles rehearse weekly in Palo Alto and perform in 3-6 concerts during the season. Bassoon, French Horn, Double Bass, Tuba, and Viola players are encouraged to audition! Visit  http://www.ecys.org/?pageAuditions for a complete list of open positions and to apply. ECYS supports school music programs! To schedule an audition or to receive more information, contact Lori Bingham at  loribingham@ecys.org.

Love Art and Art History?
Interested in O'Keeffe, Rivera, Thiebaud, or Jacob Lawrence?
Volunteer docents needed to give presentations about the lives and work of Master Artists to PAUSD elementary students.  Training provided by Arts Coordinator, Sharon Ferguson.  Art History background preferred but not required. Flexible hours.  Volunteer docent meetings/training at held at Art Education, 25F Churchill Ave.  For more information contact Emily at Art Education (650) 329-3939 
 
Palo Alto Library -- Knack 4 Knitting
Wednesdays, 4-6PM. Mitchell Park Library, 3700 Middlefield Rd.
This a great opportunity to share your love for knitting, meet new friends and help others with their projects. Meets every Wednesday each week. Grades 9-12 and adults. Please register for this event online.
 
Palo Alto Library -- Graphic Novel Book Club
2nd Thursday of the month, 7-8:30PM, Mitchell Park Library, 3700 Middlefield Rd.
Monthly book discussion on a graphic novel selected by the group! This program is for readers age 16 and up. Sept. 8: Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? (by Roz Chast).
 

Classroom Volunteers Needed - An Hour a Week Could Change a Student's Life  
 
If you've enjoyed spending time in your child's classroom, please join other parents volunteering in east Menlo Park or East Palo Alto schools where there are virtually no parent volunteers. You'll help tutor kids in grades K-4. Over 80% of students are performing below grade level in reading and math. Work once a week in the same classroom for about an hour, building relationships with students. All Students Matter provides training and coordinates everything. We start in mid-September. You can make a real difference!  To learn more or sign up, visit  www.allstudentsmatter.org or contact Keri Tully at  keritully@gmail.com
 
Financial Aid for Students 
 
Have or know a college-bound student? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA will now open Oct 1, 2016 for the 2017-2018 school year for anyone seeking financial assistance.  FAFSA offers grants, work-study funds and low-interest federal student loans. The program includes information on state funds that may be available to pay for a child's higher education.   More info at  https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
 
 

Trail Closure/Tree Removal Along San Francisquito Creek 
 
As part of the  San Francisquito Creek flood control project, the Bay/San Francisquito Creek trail that runs from Geng and Embarcadero Road to the Friendship Bridge (through the Baylands Athletic Center, along the Golf Course) will soon be closed. The flood control project is scheduled to begin September 1, but the trail may be closed as early as mid-August. On the Palo Alto side of the creek, the trail is expected to be closed for the entire two-year duration of the project. Signs are being posted along the trail in advance to warn users about the upcoming closure and tree removals that are required for the construction project
 
 

El Camino Youth Symphony Orchestra Fall Auditions 
Aug/Sept Palo Alto
 
Palo Alto-based El Camino Youth Symphony invites musicians ages 6-18 to audition for the 2016-17 season. Led by an internationally renowned faculty, ECYS offers six orchestras/ensembles for students at all levels of musical ability. Auditions are held in August and September. Apply online at www.ECYS.org. Call ECYS at 650-213-7111 for more information.
 

TAKEOVER: Teen Creativity Party
Fri Oct 7, 6 -9PM, Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Rd., Palo Alto
Teens, celebrate peace, love, and artmaking with a Teen Creativity Party, complete with live performances, hands-on art activities, raffle prizes and more! During the event, attendees will be able to check out our upcoming exhibition, The Butterfly Effect: Art in 1970s California, and see a new side of the Palo Alto Art Center. A valid high school ID is required to enter. For more information, contact Lauren Baines, Family, Teen and Outreach Programming Coordinator at  lauren.baines@cityofpaloalto.org
 
Looking for an opportunity to help kids in need?  Volunteer for DreamCatchers!   Updated
DreamCatchers runs an after-school enrichment program for low-income PAUSD middle school students - right here at Paly in the afternoons and evenings  Monday through Thursday.  We are looking for the following:
- One-on-One Tutors (high school students) or Classroom Assistants (like a classroom aide - we need adults as well as high school students):  contact Miguel Fittoria at  miguel@dreamcatchersyouth.org
- Adults or experienced high schoolers interested in helping with graphic design, web design, curriculum support, or general non-profit help, please contact Barbara Klausner at  barbara@dreamcatchersyouth.org
Thanks so much for your support!  Visit our website at  dreamcatchersyouth.org.

About the Paly Link aboutPalyLink
The Paly Link is a Paly PTSA publication, emailed on Sundays, except during school breaks and holidays. Changes will be highlighted as New/ Updated/ Corrected.

Deadline for submissions: noon on Saturday, the day before publication. Flyers must be submitted by noon on Thursday. Items run no earlier than 3 weeks before the event.

To submit an item, send to palylink@paloaltopta.org. Include a header or title line, then a line listing the date, time and location of the event. Follow with a brief (2-4 sentence) description of the activity, with the most important information first.  List email, contact information and web links last.  Items are published at the discretion of the editors. 

--Shuchi GroverPavan Bakshiand Anh Quan Paly Link Editors
--Bala Aiyar, Paly Link List Manager and Gordon Craig, Paly Link Webmaster 

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