Dear Serra Families:Paris-Geneva-Nice-Grenoble Trip Informational Meeting Tonight!Mme Dowden will lead a group of interested travelers to France and Switzerland over spring break 2011. See the best parts of France and experience a five-day home stay in Grenoble over Easter! An informational meeting will be held tonight at 7 p.m. in room 200A. For more details, contact Mme Dowden at mdowden@serrahs.com or check out the trip at www.educationaltravel.com Username: France2011; password: Lyon Parent Formation NightParent Formation Night will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 30. This year, there will be two speakers. Parents are asked to attend one of the presentations. The first speaker, Captain Leo Capovilla from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, will present "Understanding the Streets: Current Trends in Drug and Alcohol Use and Abuse." Cpt. Capovilla is a member of the Gang Intelligence Unit. The topic of the second speaker, Michael Pritchard, is "Listening to What Your Kids Aren't Telling You." Michael Pritchard is a nationally-renowned motivational speaker who has been featured in Time Magazine and on CNN and The Today Show. CLICK HERE FOR DOWNLOADABLE FLYER: Attention Juniors and Seniors:Juniors and seniors have an opportunity to be a part of a brand new tradition at Serra High School - the Kairos retreat, which begins in November.
With its inception in 1965 in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, Kairos adapted the adult Cursillo model of retreat to meet the experience of high school students. Kairos is a four-day, three-night retreat led by a team of student leaders.
To sign up for Kairos, please return attached permission form to Campus Ministry by THIS Friday, September 24. Because the retreat is free and we are limited to 45 spots, don't wait!
CLICK HERE FOR A DOWNLOADABLE FORM: We're going green!As you know, we have gone "green" this year. Therefore, we have not printed the Activities Calendar. Although you already have access to the most current calendar via our website, we will include for your convenience an electronic snapshot calendar each month that highlights some of our activities. You will receive these monthly calendars in this Spotlight e-newsletter to help you prepare. We hope this helps you as we "go green." Click here for our first e-calendars for September and October
Thank you,
Marybeth Ortiz, Assistant Principal, Student Life “Hard Hats and Heels” Annual Benefit AuctionCalling all Jimmy Choos...the auction decoration committee is looking for high heels! If you are cleaning out your closets and thinking of getting rid of any stilettos, wedges or pumps (no flip-flops, tennis shoes or flats), we will take them for fabulous decorations! Please bring them to the Development Office. Thank you! In the mail this week, you should have received a letter regarding the auction. Included in the envelope is a letter about the auction, a book of raffle tickets, a donor form and a list of incentives for the boys to sell tickets. We are encouraging each student to sell at least one book of raffle tickets for us to meet our raffle goal of $100,000. Additional raffle books are available in the Development Office. We are also looking for donations for the silent and live auctions. Please remember to ask business owners at your favorite spots for donations to the Serra Auction. Watch in the coming weeks for your invitation to our big event! Health Education/HIV Prevention for juniors and seniorsOn Wednesday, September 29, we will host the Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre Program on campus to share their "SECRETS" presentation. This presentation is about sexual health education and HIV/AIDS prevention education. Please contact Marybeth Ortiz by Monday, September 27 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation in the education of your sons. Sincerely, Marybeth Ortiz, Assistant Principal/Student Life
650-345-8207 ext. 128
mortiz@serrahs.com Special Presentation for Freshmen and SophomoresOn Wednesday, September 27, Michael Pritchard will be on campus to talk to freshmen and sophomores about "Respecting Yourself and Others." SAT Prep ClassesSerra High School offers SAT preparation classes for seniors on campus in the evenings, through an outside vendor, Revolution Prep. Although Revolution Prep offers classes at a number of other high schools in the Bay Area, the classes at Serra provide an added convenience for students in this area. Our school recommends that juniors wait until the spring of their junior year before taking the SAT and the ACT tests.
There will be additional test preparation opportunities for them at that time, as well as during the summer months. Additional information about college admissions testing will be presented at the College Information Night for Juniors and their parents at 7 p.m. on September 22 in the Cafeteria. Whenever students sign up for these classes, they should consider the time commitment involved, and whether or not they will be able to balance their homework from school as well as other commitments. Keep in mind that the most significant factors that will impact your college admissions are your grades in your classes, as well as the rigor of your course work. If you have questions about how to approach standardized testing, please consult your counselor. The next round of SAT prep classes will begin on September 25, and will lead up to the November SAT test. For more information or to sign up for classes, please visit www.revolutionprep.com Booster Club NewsOur membership drive is going very well. We currently have 149 members, which is way ahead of last year’s pace. We have set a goal of 200 members by the St. Francis game on October 16. We need your help to get to that number. Remember, all money raised will supplement the Athletic budget. We help to support all 14 sports, the trainer, strength and conditioning coach and other miscellaneous items that the teams need to support our sons. If you have not signed up, please go to the Boosters Page on the Serra Website to join, or you can email us at padreboosters@gmail.com. We will send you a membership form, which can be mailed back to us. Please encourage other parents to join. Thank you for your continued support. We are planning on having a merchandise table at the Freshman Football game this Friday against De La Salle. If you are a new parent and haven’t had a chance to purchase any of our great Booster Club gear yet, this will be your chance. We also still have a limited amount of Nike women’s polo shirts, men’s polo shirts, and jackets worn by Serra coaches. Bob Noto and Joe Wood, Booster Club Presidents Cyrano at the SF OperaCome and see Cyrano at the San Francisco Opera, starring Placido Domingo, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 21. The evening will be held at the War Memorial Opera House. The cost is $15 per student. Sign up with Mme Dowden by September 24. From the Attendance OfficeLately, a number of parents have reported to the front office, requesting that we pull their son out of school for routine, pre-scheduled medical/dental/orthodontist appointments. Often, they are unaware that this is contrary to our attendance policies. Please become familiar with these policies, which are articulated in the Student-Parent Handbook, which is available online through our website: click here. If your son must leave school before the end of the school day, he must bring a signed note from you to the Attendance Office. We will give him a Permit to Leave School, which he will show to his teacher and the campus supervisors when he leaves class. This policy is in place to ensure your child's safety, account for his whereabouts at all times, and eliminates the need to interrupt classes when your son needs to leave school early. Please do not put us in a situation where we have to choose between interrupting a class or not complying with your request. Sincerely, The Attendance Office. Make a Window StatementThe Bookstore now has two very cool window decals. They are $4 each and can be viewed on the website under “Padre Store.” Yearbook Information for Senior Parents Attention Senior Parents: Order your yearbook recognition ad for your son today! Your space can be ordered through December 15. To congratulate your favorite senior, PLEASE CLICK HERE: Please submit photos and choose a design online by December 15, 2010 in order for it to be included in the book. If you have any questions, please email Meg Kelly at mkkelly@serrahs.com.
If you need to order school portraits, please visit this link: www.orderschoolportraits.com/JuniperoSerraHighSchool Asbestos NotificationMandatory Asbestos Notification: The Archdiocese of San Francisco requires all of its schools to notify parents that we have participated in a program to identify and control asbestos-containing materials in our school buildings This program is being conducted under the Federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1986 and the Asbestos Containing Materials in Schools Rule of 1987. For the full text of this notification please download this attachment. Any questions should be directed to the Director of Finance John O'Sullivan: josullivan@serrahs.com PCR Online DirectoryPCR has an online student/parent directory that is accessible to anyone who has access to the Parent Portal or the Student Portal. If parents prefer not to have their contact information (address, phone numbers, email addresses) listed in the online directory, they should login to the PCR Parent Portal, click on Household, then UNCHECK the “Publish in Online Directory” box, and click Accept. Once our Registrar verifies your changes, they will become appear in the Parent Portal. *********************************************************************************
Wishing you all a wonderful week! My door is always open if you have any news stories to pitch for our website or Traditions magazine. Sincerely,
Antonia Ehlers, Communications Manager | Upcoming Events
September 22:
Europe Spring Break Trip meeting; 7 p.m., room 200A
College Information Night for junior students and parents; 7 p.m. - School Cafeteria
September 29:
Assembly Schedule
40-minute classes
First Bell:
8:10 a.m.
1st:
8:15 to 8:55 a.m.
2nd:
9 to 9:45 a.m.
Break:
9:45 to 10 a.m.
8th:
10:05 to 10:45 a.m.
Assembly:
10:55 to 11:55 a.m.
4th:
12 to 12:40 p.m.
5th:
12:45 to 1:25 p.m.
6th:
1:30 to 2:10 p.m.
7th:
2:15 to 2:55 p.m.
September 30:
Scholars' Luncheon (Students have been notified by mail if they are eligible to attend)
Lower Division
Parent Formation Night
7 p.m. - Gym, cafeteria and auditorium October 5:
Mothers' Auxiliary meeting, 7 p.m. in the library
October 7:
Freshman election speeches
Parent/Teacher conferences, 7 p.m.; parents will be given instructions on how to sign up in a separate email, about one week prior to this evening
October 8: Freshman Mother/Son Mass, 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel
October 11:
SCHOOL HOLIDAY
October 12:
Fathers' Club meeting; 6:30 p.m.
Special schedule, all classes meet (43-minute classes):
Zero:
7:15 to 8 a.m.
1st:
8:15 to 8:58 a.m.
2nd:
9:03 to 9:51 a.m.
Break:
9:51 to 10:07
3rd:
10:12 to 10:55
4th:
11 to 11:43 a.m.
5th:
11:48 to 12:31 p.m.
6th:
12:36 to 1:19 p.m.
8th:
1:24 to 2:07 p.m.
7th:
2:12 to 2:55 p.m.
October 13:
National Testing Day (all students, 8:15 to 11:45 a.m.)
October 14:
Special schedule:
Zero:
7:15 to 8 a.m.
1st:
8:15 to 9:05 a.m.
4th:
9:10 to 10 a.m.
5th:
10:05 to 10:55 a.m.
7th:
11 to 11:50 a.m.
Faculty/Staff break:
12 to 12:30 p.m.
Faculty in-service:
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
October 15:
Hall of Fame Dinner
Special schedule:
Normal Friday rotation with extended break for "shake-out drill"
8th:
8 to 8:50 a.m.
2nd:
8:55 to 9:45 a.m.
Homeroom:
9:50 to 10 a.m.
Evacuation Drill:
10 to 11 a.m.
Break:
11 to 11:20 a.m.
3rd:
11:25 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
6th:
12:20 to 1:10 p.m.
October 20:
Serra Award Ceremony
October 22:
Homecoming Night Football Game
October 26:
College Night
October 28:
Fall play preview |
