Paly Link

A PTSA publication

Sunday, December 11, 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
 


College Visits & Scholarship deadlines ( C&CC)
Monday Dec. 12 Site Council, 3:45-5:30pm, EWC 
Tuesday Dec. 13
Bell Schedule Review Committee, 3:05-4:30pm, EWC ( Paly
Thursday Dec. 15 Town and Country shopping evening (Rise Together Education fundraiser) 4-7pm
(Paly)  New
Friday Dec. 16
End of Semester One 
Tuesday Jan. 3
No School for Students (Teacher Work Day)
Wednesday Jan. 4
First Day of Semester Two ("C" day) 
Tuesday Jan. 10 Freshman Assembly during FLEX
Thursday January 12th
What Your Teen Wants You To Know  (Student Fishbowl)  Parent Ed 7pm MAC
(more info to come)
Wednesday
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25, Feb. 1, 15

Brainstorm Book Club: Continuing the Conversation about the Teenage Brain (PTSA)  Choose Gunn or Paly campus
Wednesday
January 25
PTSA Meeting, Principal Coffee, Paly Library EWC
 

PTSA
PTSA Items
 
 
Morning Munchies During Finals -   New
December 14th, 9:30 - 11:00, December 15th and 16th, 8:15 - 9:45, meet at the Library for instructions
Are you looking for an opportunity to support our students?  We need volunteers to set up and supervise snack distribution tables around campus during finals.  This is a great way to meet parents and to wish our students good luck! Please sign up at: goo.gl/HwX6yv 
This program is sponsored by the PTSA and Paly. Questions?  Contact Gayle Black: black.gayle@gmail.com , Sondra Zenger: Sondra.zenger@gmail.com , or Marci Kirk Stevens: marcikirkstevens@gmail.com
 
Brainstorm Book Club: Continuing the Conversation about the Teenage Brain 
New
4 Wednesdays, same program offered morning and evening 
Wed. Jan 11, Jan 18, and Feb. 1 and Feb.15, 8:30-10:00 am, Paly EWC (in the library)
Wed.  Jan 4, Jan 25, Feb 1 and Feb 15, 7:00-8:30 pm, Gunn HS Library
Please come join us for a more in-depth discussion of Dr. Dan Siegel's book  Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain.  Our goal will be to discuss the main ideas in the book, and how to apply these ideas to our own parenting.  We will also try out some of Dr. Siegels "Mindsight tools".   
The 4 sessions will each cover a section of the book, and the topics are as follows so you can plan your reading:
Session 1:  The Essence of Adolescence (Part I of the book)
Session 2:  The Brain  (Part II of the book)
Session 3:   Attachments  (Part III)
Session 4:  Staying Present through Changes and Challenges  (Part IV)
The morning sessions will be held at Paly and led by Cari Anderson (psychologist/Paly parent), and the evening sessions will be held at Gunn led by Kirsten Daehler (educator/ Gunn parent) and Maria Daehler (child psychiatrist/Gunn parent).  You are welcome to attend either at Paly or Gunn, whichever is more convenient for you.  Free, no registration needed, come when you can!   We will have a few copies of the book for purchase ($18.50, cash or check only).    Please contact Cari Anderson, cari@sundy.net,  if you have any questions.

Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed:  Throughout the School Year
Looking for a way to support others in an impactful, immediate and easy way?  Please consider being a Meals on Wheels Volunteer for our Paly community!  The Meals on Wheels program brings emergency meals to Paly families in crisis.  If you would like to volunteer, please sign up here: 
Meals on Wheels Sign Ups   Your kindness is greatly appreciated!  Thank you!
Are you a family in crisis and in need of help with some comforting dinners delivered to your door?   That's what the Meals on Wheels volunteers are here for! They are ready and happy to help!  Please contact Lori Merritt at  lomerritt@yahoo.com or call 650-644-6876.  Include any dietary restrictions. 
 
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 
Paly ItemsPaly
paly viking ship logo

Site Council Meeting  New
Monday, Dec. 12, 3:45pm - 5:30 pm in the English Writing Center (EWC)

Everyone is welcome to attend PAHS' Site Council is an elected body of staff, parents and students that provides direction to and oversees the implementation of the Single Plan for Student Achievement, also referred to as the School Plan. In addition, the Site Council oversees the school budget, the school safety plan, testing results and other ongoing issues important to Palo Alto High School. The Council administers the School Improvement Program funds and provides programs responsive to the needs of the school.  Meetings are open to all members of the Paly school community and are held on Mondays at 3:45 p.m. in the EWC (in the Library).
The 2016-2017 schedule can be found at  http://www.paly.net/site-council
 as well as the agendas.

Paly Gear Available Online! 
New
Perfect for your last minute holiday shopping. Paly Gear available online at: 
palysportsboosters.org/paly-gear/ through Friday, December 16 with pick up at the Paly Office. Contact palysportsboosters@gmail.com with questions.

Paly Sports Boosters Meeting New
Wednesday, January 11th, 7pm, Anderson/Look home, 1401 Parkinson Ave.
Thanks to everyone who shopped at our Holiday Boutique! No Paly Sports Boosters meeting in December but please join us for the January meeting at the home of president, Melissa Anderson. We'll get an update on the winter season from Athletic Director Kathi Bowers. We'll also hear about new spring fundraising plans (a 5K Fun Run & a golf tournament). Hope you can join us - it's a fun way to get involved at Paly!

5K Fun Run Fundraiser New
Saturday March 25th
Paly Sports Boosters and the Paly Cross Country & Track teams are organizing a 5K Fun Run fundraiser for Saturday, March 25. The race will start and end at the Paly track and football field but runners will also travel off campus during the course of the race. Paly Sports Boosters are looking for students to create a t-shirt design for the event. If you are interested, send your design or any questions to  roycraig@pacebell.net . The designs should be no larger than a 9-inch square, and should include the event name (Paly 5K Fun Run).  The maker of the winning design will get free entry into the run, a free t-shirt, and a $50 visa gift card. Deadline for the design is Jan 4th.

Calling all Freshmen, Sophomore and Junior Girls. Play field hockey for the Vikings! New
Half of the schools in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League have girls' field hockey teams: Cupertino High School, Homestead High School, Los Altos High School, Los Gatos High School, Lynbrook High School, Monte Vista High School, and Saratoga High School. We would like Paly to have a girls' field hockey team too. If you would like to play field hockey for Paly, sign the online petition. We can only make this happen with your support, so commit to play today by signing up here: https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/palo-alto-high-girls-field-hockey-team.html


Attention senior parents: Baby Ads
If you turned in a yearbook baby ad, you should have received a PDF proof in your email already. If you submitted a baby ad but did NOT receive a proof, please email adviser Brian Wilson at  bwilson@pausd.org. Also, if you missed the submission deadline but still want to submit an ad, we have a few slots left; please send an email if this is the case.

Bell Schedule Review Committee 
December 13th, 3:05-4:30pm, EWC
Pal y has begun the process of investigating, analyzing and recommending a schedule for 2017-2018 that will optimize student learning and well-being through the Bell Schedule Review Committee (BSRC). Information regarding the work of the BSRC can be found here on Paly.net. In an effort to keep our entire community informed on our progress, the meeting agendas and notes will be posted regularly to our website. Our next meeting is scheduled for December 13, 3:05-4:30 pm in the EWC . Opportunities for community input and conservations involving all stakeholders will take place in January and February 2017. Stay tuned for details!
 
Paly MAC Boosters - Holiday Meeting   
Wednesday, December 14th, 7 pm, Monisha Bhutani's Home at 368 Iris Way
Please join us for this celebratory meeting to review our great progress over the past few months with some beverages and light snacks...and look ahead to some upcoming activities. If your student is new to Media Arts or if you have not had a chance to attend our previous meetings, PLEASE join us!  For more information about MAC Boosters, visit us at  http://paly.net/boosters/media-arts-boosters.
 
Town and Country shopping evening to benefit Rise Together Education   New
Thursday, Dec. 154-7pm, Town and Country Shopping Center
Get your holiday shopping done and help support Paly low-income students with their college dream.  Shop at  Diptyque and Toss on Dec. 15th and they will donate 10% of their proceeds to  Rise Together Education.  Stop by our table in front of Ambassador toys for an update on participating retailers between  4-7pm, and if you're shopping early just mention Rise Together and they will add your purchase donation to the fundraiser.  
 
Call for Mentors!  
Rise Together Education (RTE) 
relies on community members to inspire, motivate, and encourage students as they navigate the college preparation process. An RTE mentor may help a high school junior or senior:
  • navigate nationalized testing (ACT or SAT)
  • edit essays
  • guide students through the application process
  • apply for scholarships
  • and other needs related to pursuing a college education
To ensure that students are able to foster strong relationships with their mentors, as well as to make sure students academic needs are met, we require all mentors to commit to at least 1-year with RTE. Of course, we'd love for mentors to follow students through the years and continue to provide support. Interested in Mentoring? Fill out this  form so we can learn more about you. 

Earn Free $ for Paly Sports Boosters!
Download the free Benefit mobile app which lets you instantly buy gift cards from more than 200 major retailers, supermarkets and restaurants - including Safeway, Starbucks and Target.  Redeem the cards in the checkout line or online.  Simply designate Palo Alto High School Sports Boosters as your beneficiary.  Paly Boosters receives $100 for every 10 apps downloaded from now until November 30th.  All purchases earn up to 20% for our athletes!  Contacts:  Lisa Rimsa   mcrimsa@aol.com  650 319-5263;  Sandy Silver  ssilver@gmail.com 

Paly Sports Boosters - Tiny Prints Fundraiser for Holiday Cards
The Paly Sports Boosters has partnered with Tiny Prints to help with the ordering and printing of your Holiday Cards.  Tiny Prints is a leading retailer of premium personalized photo cards and has been recognized for their high quality prints and unmatched customer service.  Each card ordered is also hand reviewed before it's printed to ensure quality and accuracy.  To start your order through Tiny Prints, please click on the link below which will lead you to our co-branded Tiny Prints 
Storefront.  From here, you can shop for any product on the Tiny Prints site or review a few of our favorite choices.  Paly Sports Boosters Personalized Link:  http://www.tinyprints.com/storefront/palysportsboosters  
contact:  Lisa Rimsa   mcrimsa@aol.com   650 319-5263
 
Paly Sports Booster Passes for Winter/Spring Sports, reduced rates!
See  http://paly.net/boosters/sports-boosters for more information. Reduced Rates!  Available for purchase online or at Winter Sports parents meeting on November 17th. Students, $20, Single $25, Family $40; Seniors $15! Here is the new form.
College & Career Center CCC
C&CClogo.jpg 

Lunchtime Speaker Needed 
The Paly Career Month Lunchtime Speaker Series Team is in the process of planning the March 2017 Career Month! As always, we need speakers from various fields so if you know anyone who you think would make a good speaker please email us at  palycareermonth@gmail.com  with recommendations and their contact information. 
Additionally, an important part of the Career Month Speaker Series is the fact that we supply a free lunch to students who attend these talks. Unfortunately, this food is not free, so we need donations from parents to make this a possibility. The recommended donation is $10, but we appreciate any contribution.
Please make a donation at  https://goo.gl/sohdKj
For more info about this event, please visit  this page and click on "Career Education."

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:  


OFF CAMPUS: 


Scholarships and contests/competitions expiring through January 1, 2017:
Hamilton Prize for Creativity--Wesleyan University: Deadline 12/15
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award: Deadline 12/18
Frederick Douglass Distinguished Scholars--American University: Deadline 1/1  NEW                              
Ithaca College - MLK Scholar Program: Deadline 1/1  NEW         
Ithaca College - Park Scholar awards: Deadline 1/1 NEW       
Scholarships at Washington University in St. Louis: Deadline 1/1 NEW                         
Skidmore College- Math/Science Scholarships: Deadline 1/1   NEW

PAUSD PAUSD

ACE Mentor Program New  
Interested in learning more about career options in the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering fields?  The ACE Mentor Program is a free after-school program where groups of high school students meet with a team of mentors (professionals from these fields) for 15 weeks.  The Spring 2017 schedule includes: t ours of local construction sites and  industry offices, p resentations about the ACE fields from guest  speakers and mentors, g roup design challenges including the CIRT  national design project. No prerequisites or special skills required.
Form more information about the ACE PEN1 p lease email to Cynthia Munoz at  cynthia@ stoeckerandnorthway. com  
If you would like to sign up for the program, you can register for this upcoming year at  http://acementor.org/ students/new-student- registration/ .

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/jfe/form/SV_8JuFGmlO3CJ3Qgd   

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

Arts Education Volunteers Needed
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.
Community and Volunteer ServiceCommSvc
President's Volunteer Service Awards New
(ongoing)
This year 200 students volunteered over 24,000 hours in a 12 month period. Congratulations!   A big thank you to all the parents that supported the President's Award distribution.   Students that haven't picked up their awards can stop by Karla Larson's office in Guidance.
e CIRT  national design project. No prerequisites or special skills required.


Community Service and Service-Learning for High School Students
Get Involved Palo Alto is a 501(3)c organization that helps local students connect to their interests via community service, service-learning, internships, and career education. Looking for an organization that matches your student's interests? Check out our vetted  lists of nonprofits by interest category. Need to find an opportunity that matches your student's schedule? See the  Calendar of current projects. Visit the Get Involved Palo Alto website for more helpful resources:  Getinvolvedpa.com 

Looking for an opportunity to help kids in need?  Volunteer for DreamCatchers!
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.
 
Family Holiday Volunteering 
If you're looking for a way to get your family into the holiday spirit by helping others, check out  http://familyholidayhelpers.org, a non-profit web site created by a mom of two PAUSD students to help families find local volunteering opportunities during the holiday season. There are a variety of local opportunities for families, such as prepping/serving food for Thanksgiving, working a shift at a food bank or holiday warehouse, or donating food or gifts for those in need. Happy volunteering!
Community 
Finals Cram Slam
Mon & Tue, Dec. 12 & 13, 6-9pm. Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Rd
Stressed on finals week? Mitchell Park Library has you covered. You can study in the library, or drop in at the Teen Center for snacks and emotional support. Lots of games like air hockey, ping-pong table, and video games to help you destress in the Teen Center. There will be calming therapy dogs in the library you can pet to help you decompress before the chaos begins! Open to high school students who are studying for finals.

Cult Movie Night: A Christmas Story New
Thu, Dec 22, 7 - 9 PM, Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Rd., Palo Alto
  Join us for a classic retro movie in the Embarcadero Room every fourth Thursday of the month. This month we'll watch the holiday favorite A Christmas Story (rated PG).  For teens and adults.
 
A Place For Your Child to Publish Their Writing! Scribere Online Literary Journal New
Is your child aged 11 to 18? Do they love to write fiction, nonfiction, or poetry? Do they want to publish their writing? Then check out http://www.scribere.org/.  Scribere is a non-profit, online literary journal for youth ages 11 to 18.  Scribere's editorial board is comprised entirely of youth who are passionate about writing.  Scribere is harnessing the power of the web to make the submission process simple, sustainable, efficient, and transparent. We are currently seeking submissions for our inaugural issue!
All Online. All Free. Our mission? To inspire youth creativity.
Check out our welcome video at http://www.scribere.org/blank
Questions? email us at  info@scribere.org .
 
Calling all Goodwill donors! New
Sun Dec 11, 9AM - 2PM, Hoover Elementary School, 445 E. Charleston Rd., Palo Alto
Please bring any used items you no longer need to our Goodwill Donation Drive and enjoy a fresh pancake breakfast hosted by local Boy Scout troops and the Hoover PTA.  We must fill the truck so we'd appreciate any contributions you can make to the drive and Goodwill staff will be on hand to issue tax receipts.  For questions:  hhooverpta@gmail.com 
 
DIY Holiday Crafts New
Tue, Dec. 20, 4:30 - 6:30 PM, Mitchell Park Library, 3700 Middlefield Rd
Teen Tuesday DIY Holiday Crafts! Join us for DIY crafts that you can give to friends and family just in time for the holidays. Bring your creativity and we'll provide all the supplies. Keep all your creations.
 
Afternoon Adventure: Winter Craftertoons New
Wed, Dec 21, 3:30 - 5 PM, Mitchell Park Library 3700 Middlefield Rd.
Join us for an afternoon of crafts, snacks, and winter themed cartoons. Please register for this event on the library website.
 
Harry Potter Yule Ball New
Fri, Dec 30, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Rd., Palo Alto
Ring in the New Year with a Harry Potter-style Yule Ball! DJ Kevin will be spinning great tunes all evening. Formal attire is encouraged but not required. Please register for this event on the library website.
 
Visit the Art Center over the holidays! New
This year, the Art Center will be open the week between Christmas and New Years. Visit Tuesday, December 26 through Friday, December 30, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Check out our current exhibition The Butterfly Effect: Art in 1970s California and create your own 1970s poster in our nook! For details, visit  www.cityofpaloalto.org/artcenter , email  artcenter@cityofpaloalto.org  or call 650.329.2366.
 
Gunn Chamber Singers Holiday Concert New
Sun, Dec 18, 5:30 pm, at the Paly Performing Arts Center 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto
Kick off your winter break with a festive evening of holiday singing with the Gunn High School Chamber Singers! All proceeds go to the scholarship fund for the Gunn Choir tour to Ireland next June. Tickets are $10 general admission and will be available at the door.  See you there! 
 
Kids and Teens Writing Contest New
Entries accepted Dec 1, 2016-Jan 8 2017
Kids and teens grades 3-12 are invited to enter the library's annual writing contest! In 500 words or less, essays should answer the question "what would you do with a billion dollars?". Entries should be submitted online at  www.cityofpaloalto.org/library
 
Palo Alto CAC's 2nd Annual Holiday Tea New
Mon, Dec 12, 8:30 - 10 AM, Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Rd
  Join the Palo Alto special needs community for a morning off.  Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, delicious holiday treats, and social time with other parents of children who face extra challenges.  The guest speaker, Elizabeth Darby, a teacher in the district for over 20 years, will give us practical tools and strategies for better managing holiday stress.   Childcare will not be provided, but younger siblings are welcome.  Spanish-language translation will be available. Jointly sponsored by the Palo Alto Community Advisory Committee for Special Education and the Palo Alto Council of PTAs.  Please contact  mich_higgins@hotmail.com  with questions or for more information. 
 
El Segundo "Tea de la Estacion" del CAC de Palo Alto New
Lunes, 12 de Diciembre a las 10:00am en el Centro Comunitario Lucie Stern 
Únase a la comunidad de necesidades especiales para una merecida mañana libre. Disfrute una taza de café o de té, deliciosos pasteles navideños y tiempo para socializar con otros padres de niños que enfrentan desafíos extras. Nuestro conferencista invitada, Elizabeth Darby, profesora en el distrito por más de 20 anos, nos dará a conocer herramientas practicas y estrategias para manejar mejor el estrés durante las festividades.  No se proporcionará cuidado para niños, pero los hermanos más jóvenes son bienvenidos. Estará disponible traducción para el español. El evento está auspiciado conjuntamente por el Comité Asesor para Educación Especial de la Comunidad de Palo Alto y el Consejo de PTAs de Palo Alto. Por favor entrar en contacto con  mich_higgins@hotmail.com  para preguntas o mayor información. 
 
Palo Alto City Council will hold two Neighborhood Town Hall meetings
College Terrace: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 7 - 9 p.m., Escondido Elementary School, 890 Escondido Road
Barron Park: Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7-9pm, Barron Park Elementary School, 800 Barron Ave
Palo Alto City Council will hold two Neighborhood Town Hall meetings in December as a continuation of their initiative to strengthen city engagement. The format is a moderated discussion between community members, council members and city staff to talk about issues of specific concern. Community members can suggest topics they would like to talk about by sending an email to info@cityofpaloalto.org
For more information, please contact Cash Alaee,  Khashayar.Alaee@cityofpaloalto.org 650-329-2230 , or Claudia Keith, Claudia.Keith@cityofpaloalto.org 650-329-2607 .
The website with this information is here:
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=3750&TargetID=268
 

 
Be Safe. Be Seen.  Bike lights are required by law for riding after dusk. 
 
With shorter days, students are bike commuting in the dark when bicycle lights and reflectors are required by law. Visibility begins to decline at dusk, so bicyclists should turn on their lights as soon as light begins to fade.  A handlebar headlight makes a bicycle visible to others and illuminates the road so the rider can see. Higher powered lights do a better job.  Tail lights and reflectors should be mounted on something stable where they won't be obscured by bags, panniers or other gear on the bike. Lights are vastly superior to reflectors, so a rear red light is recommended for maximum visibility.
Outfitting student bikes for a safe and legal ride is a smart investment (and a great holiday gift!). For information about safe school commutes, visit http://saferoutes.paloaltopta.org/index.shtml

Make a difference: Tutor Low Income East Palo Alto 5
th 
Graders in Reading or Writing - 8 one hour sessions 
If you've enjoyed helping in your own child's classroom, or just love literacy, please consider tutoring 5th graders at Brentwood School in East Palo Alto (near IKEA). It is a special project to work with low income students from February 6th - March 31st.  Volunteers would work in the same classroom one day per week, for an hour either at 9:45 am (reading) or 11:40 am (writing). All Students Matter provides a brief training in January and coordinates all details.  You can make a real difference! To sign up, visit  www.allstudentsmatter.org  or to learn more contact Keri Tully at  keritully@gmail.com .
 
Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra (PACO) Opens its 51st Season!
Dec 18, 3pm  Holiday Extravaganza (Senior Orchestra)
Cubberley Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto .
Admission is FREE except for the Holiday Extravaganza (Adults $10, 18 & under FREE)
Award-winning youth orchestra PACO's Senior Orchestra will open its season with music by Handel, Britten and more. There is something for everyone at PACO concerts from small ensemble pieces to orchestra music as these dedicated musicians present an extraordinary passion for music making! Mark your calendars for the Holiday Extravaganza with guest performers from the Pacific Ballet Academy and Cantabile Youth Singers. More info and compete line-up of concerts on the 2016-17 season brochure or visitwww.pacomusic.org.

Walk & Roll to Palo Alto Libraries  - 
NEW Suggested Walking & Bicycling Routes Map 
 
Check out City of Palo Alto 's new Walk & Roll map with suggested walking and bicycling routes to Palo Alto libraries from every neighborhood citywide.   Palo Alto libraries are popular after-school destinations and they often are the center of fun family outings. Walking and bicycling is an active, healthy, fun way to get there!  See the new Walk & Roll to Libraries brochure with map here  http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/documents/PASRTL_Map_Brochure_092116.pdf
 

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.

Sign up for Paly Glass Weekend Workshops 
Sat & Sun. 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.

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 
 
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
 
 
 
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
 
 
 
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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