JLS PTA eNews
March 25, 2019
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Important Dates:
March 25 - JLS Parent Ed "Sources of Strength"
March 26 - DreamCatchers Information Meeting
March 27 - AVID Parent Night
March 29 - Minimum Day (12:30 Dismissal)
April 1-5 - Spring Break - No School
April 10 - International Dinner | Open House
April 11 - Latte Cart | Connections Coffee
April 12 - Student Store Open
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*TODAY* Middle School Parent Ed Event: “Sources of Strength”
Monday, March 25, 7-8:30 pm, JLS Cafetorium
Gunn’s Sources of Strength team will be hosting an event focused on how parents, educators, and students can work together at home and in our schools to prevent the epidemics of bullying and suicide. Research has shown we can do this by creating a preventative culture in our community—one that fosters an epidemic of Hope, Help, and Strength. The evening will provide an overview of the Sources of Strength program and give attendees an opportunity to learn more about a few specific aspects of the Sources of Strength wheel. Student and staff leaders will talk about ways to spread positive messages throughout the community. Key to the success of the Sources of Strength program is developing awareness and a shared vocabulary at home and in our community so that families can support the work we are doing in our schools.
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A successful JLS Science Fair was held on the evening of Tuesday, March 19, sponsored by the JLS PTA. Thank you to the many parents and community members who volunteered that day to help with checking in projects, interviewing presenters, and delivering packets, and to Lisa Shea and Scott Thomas who updated the Science Fair website and registration page. Special thanks to the Polaris Robotics Team and to the JLS Science Club who demonstrated at the fair, and to students from JLS’s Leadership class who helped with the prize table. In addition, thank you to the many businesses (listed in alphabetical order) who made donations of prizes for the prize drawing and food: Adventure Toys, Como Esta, Computer History Museum, Hiller Aviation Museum, Kepler’s Bookstore, Lawrence Hall of Science, Linden Tree Children’s Books, Piazza’s Fine Foods, The Tech Museum of Innovation, and Trader Joe’s. Thanks to the JLS Science Department and JLS Administration for their support, and most importantly, thank you to the student participants who enthusiastically presented their interesting projects.
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PG&E Gas Pipeline Replacement Work on Loma Verde
Reminder: PG&E is working on the 400 block of Loma Verde Avenue, between the intersections of Kipling and Waverley. The project involves trenching in the street to excavate and replace parts of the pipeline.
Student commuters should avoid the area, and can take Cowper or Bryant to and from JLS (the regular recommended routes). Waverley is not recommended as a bicycle route because of car traffic.
Drivers should proceed slowly and carefully in the area. Waverley will be closed intermittently. Click on the picture to see the full JLS Walk & Roll map.
For more information on the PG&E project, please see the
City of Palo Alto's website. Any timeline changes or delays will be noted there.
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Save the Date: International Dinner and Social
Wednesday, April 10, 5-7 pm
JLS PTA is preparing for the International Dinner and Social on Wednesday, April 10 just before the JLS Open House. We look forward to seeing you and your families! Come enjoy a light dinner with foods from various regions around the globe and meet up with other JLS families. Tentative plans:
- 5-5:15 pm Staff will be served so they can prepare for Open House
- 5:15-6:45 pm Dinner will be served in the cafetorium. Dessert and refreshments outside.
- 6 pm Entertainment by JLS students at the outdoor stage (weather permitting).
- 6:45-7 pm Winding down dinner service in the cafetorium (last chance for seconds).
- 7-8 pm Open House
To make this event a success, we will need help from our families.
We are still low on volunteers. Please consider signing-up prior to Spring Break. Volunteer here:
JLS PTA International Dinner and Social.
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Save the Date: JLS PTA Elections
Please join us for coffee at the final JLS PTA General Meeting. We will be voting in the new Executive Board for 2019-2020, reviewing our financials, and more. The annual election meeting will be held on
April 16, 2019, at 8:30 am in Room 40. The JLS PTA Nominating Committee submits its report of 2019-2020 Nominations for Office to the PTA membership:
President - Julia Jacobsen
Executive VP - OPEN
1st VP (Programs) - Janet Owen
2nd VP (Membership) - Suzanne Quo
3rd VP (Communications) - Anjani Sarma
4th VP (Community Service) - Bryna Chang
5th VP (School Support) - Tina Mondragon
Secretary - Claire Kirner
Treasurer - Maria Derrick
Auditor - Emily Jaquette
Historian - Melanie Gurunathan
Parliamentarian - Christina Schmidt
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Commuters' Corner
Would you like to help your student join the huge numbers (over 50%!) of middle schoolers who bike to school? To ensure students acquire the bike handling skills needed to safely navigate the roadways, Wheel Kids Bicycle Club, Inc. has teamed up with the City of Palo Alto’s Safe Routes to School Program to offer a
Middle School Bike Skills Class. Among other topics, students (and accompanying parents) will learn: basic traffic laws, how to navigate busy intersections, the most common types of bike crashes and how to avoid them, and how to position yourself on the road. This half-day class is offered in June, July and August.
Registration is open; click here for details. Space is limited. Sign up today!
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Each Friday! Superintendent's Weekly Board Update
Read Dr. Don Austin's Weekly Board Update, published new each Friday on the
District website.
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PAUSD Strategic Plan a.k.a. The Promise
On Tuesday evening, March 26, the Board will be discussing the Promise - the Strategic Plan for the next several years. The discussion will focus on high quality teaching and learning, special education and inclusion, and district office operations. In the past month or so, PAUSD has been reviewing the Strategic Plan taking in lots of community input. As we near the rolling out of the
Strategic Plan / Promise, you may have additional thoughts and comments. We encourage you to individually write to the district via
Let’s Talk and/or to
PAUSD Board of Trustees. Don’t wait. Send in your comments no later than Tuesday March 26 by 5 pm. Thank you
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Palo Alto PTA Council - Share the Cost Rally at City Hall - a Community Coming Together for Our Kids: Full Mitigation
On Thursday, March 14th, 120+ people came out to City Hall to give voice to all PAUSD students. We spoke with
one voice, stressing the importance of
full mitigation by Stanford University. We are simply asking Stanford University to take care of our children.
See PAUSD Resolution. We sincerely appreciate everyone doing their part for our kids. For more, please go to
paloaltopta.org. Thank you to all PTA members, PTAC council members, PAUSD employees and school board members, students, parents and guardians, City of Palo Alto Safe Routes to School (SRTS), the PTAC SRTS Collaborative Committee, Palo Alto residents, and neighbors for coming out to the School Rally. The PTA Council would like to thank Supervisor Joe Simitian and Supervisor Cindy Chavez who graciously attended our school rally. The strength of our community is evident when we come together and we work together, this includes Stanford University. The Palo Alto PTA Council is pleased that many of our PTAs and PTSAs have written letters to Stanford University stressing full mitigation. Our 6th District PTA Council and schools in various parts of Santa Clara County are also sending letters to Stanford University. Please continue write to your supervisors and
join our on-line petition. And
download the Click-My-Cause App, or find your own creative way to help communicate with elected county officials letting them know you care about Palo Alto kids. Thank you.
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PTAC Honorary Service Awards
Thursday, April 25, Palo Alto Art Center
You’re Invited!! This is our amazing and fun Spring social event to honor our volunteers and to network. Lots of food, student art, and celebrating amazing work! We’re looking for official photographers and Twitter/social media connectors. Evites are going out on Monday.
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PTA Council Invites You to the 97th Annual May Fete Parade & 125th Palo Alto Birthday Celebrations
Saturday, May 4, 10 am (Parade start time), Downtown Palo Alto
Each year our students and staff, as well as neighbors, are invited to participate in the
City of Palo Alto 2019 May Fete Parade. This is our small, hometown parade right here in the heart of Silicon Valley. Many PAUSD students participate in the parade by way of the bands, amazing music programs, club projects that funded by PiE and PTA. Downtown University Avenue is closed that day and the nearby streets and parking lots are transformed with schools' kids, floats, marching bands, electric model cars, etc. New this year is the celebration of the 125th Birthday of City of Palo Alto. Happy Birthday! Don’t miss it. Carpool and bike.
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Watch the Video of Dr. Robert Lustig’s Real Food for Thought Talk from 3/6/19
Did you miss the talk on why eating real food matters for our children?
Watch it here on Youtube. Would you like to get involved with bringing more real food to our schools? Email
health@paloaltopta.org for more information. Brought to you by PTAC Health and Wellness.
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PTA Council Seeks Volunteers
The PTA Council Nominating Committee is currently seeking expressions of interest from individuals in the community who would like to learn more about becoming a member of the PTA Council Executive Board and Collaborative Committees for the 2019-20 school year. We are looking for community members who have a passion for improving the educational experience of all students and preferably have experience on their school PTA or site council. Talk to us about stepping into a leadership role or how you can participate on a committee. Contact the Nominating Committee at:
evp@paloaltopta.org.
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Summer Camps Info Now Available on PTAC Website
Looking for a summer camp in your neighborhood or at one of our Palo Alto Unified school sites? Now you can find it at the
PTAC website. Camp providers listed on this page host activities/summer camps at PAUSD Schools, and pay rental fees to our district. These rental fees help to defray the cost of running our schools while providing local opportunities for our kids. PTA Council does not endorse one camp over another. This service is offered to give parents an easy way to find out what is being offered and where. Please contact the
PTAC Webmaster to recommend updates to this information. There is no charge to providers to be listed.
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Community Meeting Notification: Grade Separation at Churchill and Alma
Wednesday, March 27, 6-8 pm, Mitchell Park Community Center, El Palo Alto Room
The focus of the meeting will be on the intersection of Churchill and Alma and also the concept of a tunnel within Palo Alto City limits (going under Churchill, Meadow and Charleston). The only option currently being considered by the City Council for Churchill/Alma is closure of the train crossing to vehicles with a possible bike/pedestrian path. Closure of Churchill could potentially impact traffic on other streets (Embarcadero? El Camino? Oregon/Page Mill?) and preliminary impacts are expected to be discussed at this meeting. For more information visit the
Connecting Palo Alto website or contact the City at 650-329-2520. Send questions or feedback to:
transportation@cityofpaloalto.org.
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"Listen to Me: What Do I Need to Feel Connected to School, Family and Community?"
Tuesday, March 26, 7-8:30 pm, Mitchell Park Community Center - Adobe Room
To raise the awareness of the importance of youth feeling a sense of belonging, Susan Stone Belton will share reflective listening tools that parents and adult allies can use to build healthy relationships that help youth thrive. Also, featured will be a service learning project by the youth peer leaders. Parents, students, and adult allies are welcome! Free admissions and light refreshments will be served.
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Media Use and Social Emotional Development
Wednesday, March 27th, 6:30 pm, Paly Haymarket Theater, 50 Embarcadero Rd
Presented by: Jaime Nunez from Common Sense Media. Come learn how parents can help children learn about issues like integrity and character in the context of digital media. Free childcare. Light snacks will be provided.
Uso de los medios y desarollo socioemocional
Venga y aprenda cómo los padres pueden ayudar a los niños a aprender sobre las temas como la integridad y el caracter en el contexto de los medios digitales. Presentada Por: Jaime Nunez de Common Sense Media. Cuidado de Ninõs Gratis. Habra Aperativos ligeros.
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Project Cornerstone – TIP Program for parents and caregivers!
The Palo Alto Housing and Project Cornerstone are offering a free series of parent classes open to all parents and caregivers. Join Project Cornerstone’s engaging workshop -
Take It Personally, starting on
Wednesday, April 17th from 6:00 to 7:30 pm (with dinner from 5:30 to 6:00 pm) at the Colorado Park Apartments. You do not need to be a parent/resident from the Colorado Park Apartments, just an adult who cares about all kids. Come learn new tools for strengthening your relationships with children and youth in this 6-week workshop facilitated by Project Cornerstone. Each week we will share, discuss, and practice ways to show caring, give support, set boundaries, and build strong relationships that help youth succeed in school, friendships, and life. Learn tools you can use now – to strengthen your family connections and help young people thrive.
Sign Up today. Questions? Contact
Ziem Neubert. This workshop is paid for by PAH (Palo Alto Housing)
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Recruitment and Career Advancement Fair for PAUSD
Saturday, April 13, 10 am - 3 pm, Peery Family Center at Palo Alto High School
PAUSD Human Resources is hosting its first Recruitment and Career Advancement Fair for PAUSD. Some of our best employees are parents and family members from the PAUSD community. Come hear about jobs, benefits, and working at PAUSD.
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Teaching Kindness to Kids
Wednesday, March 27, 7:30-10 pm, Cubberley Community Center Theater, 4000 Middlefield Rd
Friends of PreSchool Family (a PAUSD adult school program) welcomes parenting author Muffie Waterman in a talk about promoting kindness and pro-social behavior in children. Waterman holds a PhD from Stanford University and lectured at San Jose State on cognitive development and play. Come hear how we can grow our children’s innate desire to help others. Free to the public; with a free coffee cart at 6:30 pm.
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Participate in Stanford University’s Puberty and Neurodevelopment Study
Researchers at Stanford University are looking for pre-teens ages 10-14 of all gender expressions to participate in a study exploring how hormones affect the development of different parts of the brain during puberty. Participation involves 3 visits across 5 years, a comprehensive physical, cognitive, and behavioral evaluations and brain imaging with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (safe, non-invasive, no x-rays/radiation). All participants will receive written reports from evaluations and up to $130 honorarium for each year of participation. For more information please contact
pandastudy@stanford.edu or (650) 698-2115.
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