JLS PTA eNews
October 15, 2018
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Important Dates:
October 15 - Site Council Meeting
October 18 - JLS/Gunn Band Concert
October 24 - Unity Day
October 24 - 7th Grade Parent Coffee
October 26 - JLS Dance
November 1 - Staff Appreciation Latte Cart
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Unity Day - Wear Orange to Show Your Support!
JLS will celebrate Unity Day on
Wednesday, October 24th. This year marks the sixth anniversary of PAUSD’s district-wide participation in Unity Day, which is about promoting kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
There will be various Unity Day activities during lunch. Please encourage your student to wear orange on Unity Day.
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A Note from the JLS PTA Board
There are many events happening around the District relevant to middle school families. Many are included in this eNews, but to help JLS parents navigate events, we are listing them here.
- Wednesday, October 17, 6:45 pm, Greene, Parent Ed viewing of "Screenagers"
- Wednesday, November 14, 8:30 am, Greene, Parent Network Speaker Police Officer Young on topics such as vaping, etc.
- Wednesday, November 14, 7:00 pm, Gunn/Paly, "Upcoming Preview Nights for Parents of 8th Graders"
Please scroll through the eNews for more details on these events.
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JLS Fall Dance
JLS will be hosting their first dance of the year on
Friday, October 26th from 7:00 to 9:30 pm for 6th and 7th grades. 8th grade will end at 10:00 pm. The theme of this dance is “ Neon.” Tickets will be sold October 22nd-October 26th at lunch by the cafeteria for $5. Students will need to have their student ID in order to purchase a ticket and should also bring their ID to the dance. Tickets can also be purchased on October 25th and 26th after school until 3:30 pm in front of the cafeteria. Concessions will be sold at the dance. Please bring small bills for purchases. Students who have excessive tardies or have been suspended from school will not be eligible to attend the dance. Overdue library books or library fines must be cleared before a student is able to purchase a ticket. As always, JLS Dress Code applies. We hope to see you there.
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Volunteers Needed for the Secondary Education School Board Candidate Forum
This is an opportunity for JLS parents and students to get involved for a few hours on
Saturday, October 20th, 4-6 pm. We need a few extra helping hands to welcome the community, collect questions from the audience, or assist with sound and staging to make our candidate forum a great event. Forums provide opportunities to compare candidates’ side-by-side. It’s a great way to appreciate the differences among candidates on issues. If you have questions or wish to volunteer please contact
Christina Schmidt, PTA Council.
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JLS Bands and Gunn Wind Ensemble
October 18, 7:30-8:30 pm, JLS Cafetorium
Come hear the JLS 7th and 8th grade Bands and the Gunn Wind Ensemble at their Fall concert. This is a great opportunity to hear the JLS bands and get a sneak peek into the sounds of what a future high school musician’s performance is like. The Gunn Wind Ensemble will present a program of songs of Joy! Free!
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Commuters' Corner
People on bikes and in cars should be aware of the
Door Zone. Drivers and passengers, when exiting a car, be cautious when opening your door to the street so you don’t hit or scare a bicyclist. Bicyclists, leave space for an imaginary biking friend between you and parked cars so you aren’t in the door zone. For more info, check out this article from Bike East Bay
detailing door zone safety, including a video about the “Dutch Reach" which was
recently profiled in the New York Times.
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Take It Personally -- Project Cornerstone Parenting Classes
Wednesdays: October 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 8:30-10:00 am, Juana Briones Elementary
Thursdays: October 18, 25, November 1, 8, 15, 6:30-8:00 pm, Addison Elementary
We know that your strong family is the best predictor of your children's success. Come learn new tools for strengthening your relationships with children in this 6-week workshop by Project Cornerstone. Share, discuss, and practice ways to show caring, give support, set boundaries, and build strong relationships to succeed in school, friendships, and life!
Two options for class day/time and place! Pick what works for you. Workshop paid for by PAUSD and donations. Suggested donation for workbook & materials: $20.
Sign Up today. Questions? Contact
Lakshmi Rao at or
Mary Crum.
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Don’t Forget to Vote YES on Measure Z
Measure Z will ensure that students get facilities that are modern, safe, secure, and provide for 21st century learning opportunities. We need 55% of the vote to pass this important bond measure, which enables us to complete the second half of needed upgrades to PAUSD sites. Mail-in ballots have arrived, so be sure to vote YES on Measure Z. Every vote counts and we need yours!
- Sign up to phone bank with your school.
- Participate in a precinct walk: October 20th and November 3rd.
- Display a lawn sign!
- Go to your polling place on Election Day, November 6th, or mail in your yes vote as soon as your mail-in ballot arrives. All registered voters will receive a ballot the week of October 8 and ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, November 6, to be counted.
Find more information on Measure Z at
Yes-On-Z.org. Vote yes on Measure Z today!
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Secondary Education School Board Candidate Forum
Saturday, October 20, 4-6 pm, JLS Middle School, MP Room, 480 E Meadow Dr
Focus is on Secondary Education (6th-12th grades). There are six candidates who are running for the two open seats of our PAUSD School Board. Please try to attend this informative evening where you can meet and hear from all the candidates. Questions will be taken from the audience, and your PTA board/site council can
submit questions directly to PTA Council. Open to the public. Spanish and Mandarin translation available. Childcare available. Information/Questions:
Christina Schmidt ,
Kimberly Eng Lee. Live stream and recordings of previous forums
available here.
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Urgent:
Stanford High-Density Housing Expansion: Your Voice Needed Now for Open, Transparent Process
The Stanford General Use Permit (GUP) could add 300-1500 more students to PAUSD rolls and cost our school district millions more per year.
Stanford has the ability to take tax exemptions on academic space which means no property tax on tax exempted property. Property taxes are the primary source of funding for our school district.
Please email all county supervisors ASAP to make sure it is negotiated openly, not behind closed doors. Please show up at a critical meeting of the Santa Clara County Supervisors next Tuesday, October 16, 9:45 am at the County Chambers 70 W. Hedding that will decide whether the GUP process stays open and public. Please include all the email addresses below, to make sure your email gets seen and included in the meeting packet:
boardoperations@cob.sccgov.org,
mike.wasserman@bos.sccgov.org,
cindy.chavez@bos.sccgov.org,
dave.cortese@bos.sccgov.org,
supervisor.yeager@bos.sccgov.org, and
supervisor.simitian@bos.sccgov.org. For more information about the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors,
click here.
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Video of Professor Christopher Gardner’s Nutrition Q&A from 9/26/18
Did you miss the great nutrition Q&A by Professor Christopher Gardner of Stanford Medical brought to you by PAUSD PTAC Health and Wellness?
Watch it here on Youtube.
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Upcoming Gunn Music Events
Orchestra Small Ensemble
October 18, 7:30-8:30 pm, Grace Lutheran Church, 3149 Waverley St
Featuring Junior and Senior orchestra members playing a variety of duets, trios and other ensemble combinations. Free and open to the public, with a reception to follow.
Gunn Big Band Jazz Ensemble and Jazz II Band
October 19, 7:30 pm, Paly High School, Haymarket Theater
Come feast your senses on the beautiful jazzy compositions presented by the Gunn Big Band Jazz Ensemble and Jazz II Band. A great way to unwind from a long week. Free for students with ID or Booster Card. Adults $5.
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Decorate Mini Pumpkins with Succulents
Thursday, October 18, 3:30-4:30 pm, Gamble Garden, 1431 Waverley St
The City of Palo Alto is teaming up with Gamble Garden to offer fun workshops. Next up is a workshop where you will learn to decorate a live pumpkin with succulents for a fun centerpiece that will last through the fall. Kids 10-15 can sign up to decorate their own mini pumpkin. The fee is $10 for Residents plus a $15 material fee. The workshop will be held at the beautiful Gamble Garden Center.
Registration is now open. Register quickly; this workshop is sure to fill up fast.
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Volunteer Hour Opportunity for Middle and High Students
Saturday, October 20, 2:30-5:30 pm, Juana Briones Elementary
The Juana Briones Harvest Festival is coming up on Saturday, October 20th. We are looking for many volunteers to do setup and/or cleanup, ticket sales, carnival game, face painting, food sales, assisting kids at the craft table, and more! Most shifts are just 1 hour. We would love to have students who are looking for community service hours. You can sign up to volunteer
online or email
Candice Wheeler with any questions.
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Joint PTA Parent Ed Night Viewing of Screenagers
Wednesday, Oct 17, 6:45-8:30 pm, Greene (formerly Jordan), MP Room, 750 Middlefield Rd
Are you concerned your child spends too much time on screens? Do you worry your child is being cyberbullied? Come with your children for this special film Screenagers. Right after the film, there is a discussion panel with some key experts and high school students. For more information see
Greene's PTA Site or the
Screenagers Movie page.
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Middle School Parents Network Meeting - Speaker - Police Officer Young
Wednesday, November 14, 8:30-9:30 am, Greene (formerly Jordan) MP Room, 750 N California Ave
Back by popular demand, Palo Alto Police Resource Officer Bradley Young will speak about topics to be aware of as our middle school students gain independence and prepare to enter high school, including vaping, marijuana, and hanging out in public places. All parents welcome.
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Upcoming Preview Nights for Parents of 8th Graders
Are you wondering about the next big step in school for your child? Come learn about what to expect for the move to 9th grade! These evening events are hosted by PiE and replace their former fall high school tours. (Each will be held at their respective school.)
- Paly – Wednesday, November 14, 7:00-9:00 pm (Performing Arts Center)
- Gunn – Wednesday, November 14, 7:00-9:00 pm (Spangenberg Theatre)
At each school site, the Principal and other staff will provide insight on the school and what you can look forward to in this new chapter. Parents will share tips for a smooth transition.
Click here for more information. Open to all current 8th grade parents. No reservations needed. Translators will be available for Spanish and Mandarin speakers. This evening is geared for adults. Childcare will not be provided.
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The November 6th Election and the MidPen Media Center
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Workshop on Special Ed Assessments and “SMART” IEP Goals
Saturday, November 3, 9 am - 12 pm, JLS Middle School Cafetorium, 480 East Meadow Drive
Free! This workshop covers the basics of the Special Education Assessment process and SMART IEP Goal writing. It includes how goals are developed and measured to meet a student’s functional and educational needs. Assessments are the tests and evaluations that measure current academic and functional skills, and determine eligibility for special education. Assessments are the foundation of the entire IEP. SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, use Action words, Realistic, Time Limited) are the stepping stones of an appropriate education. Parents learn about the tools that schools use to assess students and how to help identify and define goals for their own kids. Organized by
Palo Alto CAC, presented by PHP (
Parents Helping Parents, and co-sponsored by PAUSD, PTAC and
SELPA1-CAC.
Please use this form to let us know if you are coming, especially if you would like childcare or Spanish translation.
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