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Panther TracksJanuary 2012 The newsletter for Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle SchoolVolume 2011-2012 Issue 2

Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School480 East Meadow DrivePalo Alto, CA 94306www.jls.pausd.orgMain Office: 856-5188

Principal: Sharon OfekAssistant Principals: Ryan Fletcher and Pier Angeli LaPlacePTA Co-Presidents: Nancy Smith and Ivan Hom

Send submissions to: [email protected] deadline: March 9, 2012VP Communications: Faith BrigelEditor: Smita KolhatkarLayout: Joni OkamotoDistribution: Heike Enders

Principal’s ColumnDear JLS Families,

Happy New Year! Please accept my best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012. It seems like just yesterday that I was welcoming everyone to the start of another school year, yet, in reality, we are now about to begin the second semester. After the break I returned to JLS feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and excited for the second half of the year, which has already proven to be very busy.

Although teachers, students, and families are gearing up for the end of the semester, the front

office staff and I are coordinating with the elementary and high schools to make sure registration for the 2012-13 school year is a smooth experience for everyone. The coming months will be filled with opportunities to learn about what lies ahead for everyone—reading course catalogs, ranking elec-tive choices, registering online, attending information evenings, etc. Check out the grid inside this edition of Panther Tracks for more specific details and descriptions of all scheduled transition activities.

While thinking about next year takes center stage for the moment, I would like to encourage everyone to enjoy the present as well. The upcom-ing Science Fair will exhibit student projects and I hope everyone takes time to acknowledge the efforts that have gone into these student-produced presentations. Students in every grade participate and JLS has a track record for high participation in the Synopsis Science Fair. Last year we had over 30 students officially enter their experiments at the county level!

The JLS ABC’s of Academics, Belonging, and Creating Wellness coupled with both the board-adopted goals and the PAUSD strategic plan goals continue to drive our work at JLS. The Site Council has been focusing its efforts on exploring the impact of our newly adopted homework guidelines, assessing where we stand with communication, and brainstorming ways to develop a systemic plan for student connectedness. We are a busy bunch and you are sure to hear from us in the near future since we are hoping to collect input on a few of our ideas.

Your help is also needed in relation to some traffic concerns. I have noticed that parents are pulling into clearly labeled handicapped and staff-only parking spots for morning drop off. The Waverley driveway parking spaces are reserved exclusively for the JLS Staff due to the congestion cre-ated when cars back out into the driveway. Also, there are families, as well as staff members, who legitimately require the use of the handicap spots. The congestion during morning drop off is exacerbated when parents back out to leave a spot or a teacher has to wait for a spot to become available.

Parents who are dropping off or picking up students should go down the driveway, following the arrows, to use the lane alongside the Gym and Rally Courtyard specifically allocated for this purpose. Alternatively, you can drop off your child at the front of the school and let them walk to their locker or classroom from there. The Fairmeadow driveway is experiencing similar problems. There is no student drop off or parent/visitor parking along this driveway so please refrain from using it at all times. I, along with the staff, would really appreciate greater adherence to these drop-off/pick-up expectations.

The start of the New Year has been wonderful … thank you for your continued support as we create a community in which we can all take pride and in which everyone has a place.

Sharon Ofek, Principal

InsidePrincipal’s Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1PTA President’s Column . . . . . . . . . .2JLS PTA Family Service Date . . . . . .2Panther Camp 2012 Counselor Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2JLS Science Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Be Safe. Be Seen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Staff Appreciation Lunch Help. . . . .3Panther Pride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Transition Dates and Meetings for the 2012-13 School Year . . . . . . . . . . .5Update from the Green Team . . . . . .6Everything You Need to Know About 7th Grade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Todo Lo Que Usted Necesita Saber Acerca del 7° Grado . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Parent Input Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Adolescent Counseling Services. . .11Breakfast with ACS. . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Project Safety Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Developmental Assets One-Day Workshop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Counselors’ Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Notes from the Nurse. . . . . . . . . . . .13Music Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Doing the Math . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15JLS Student Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Social Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Calendar (see new August dates!) .16

JLS Panther Tracks January 2012

PTA Presidents’ ColumnHappy New Year! We hope to see many of you on

campus this month, perhaps during our amazing “Many Faces of JLS” potluck or at our upcoming school-wide Science Fair. Check out the calendar of events in this issue of Panther Tracks, and keep an eye on your weekly JLS online bulletins for current JLS news. Now is the time for school transition information meetings, so take a look at the helpful grid detailing 9th grade transition meetings and all internal transition info as well.

We come out of winter break having spent much time at home with our kids, and we always hope the experience was a positive one for everyone. Do you ever wonder what kind of example you are setting for your children? One of my New Year’s resolutions is to be a consistent and positive example for my kids and their friends, e.g. speaking kindly to and about other people, respecting time commitments, watching my actions and words during times of stress, and practicing patience. This resolution ties in closely with our community’s January Developmental Asset - Adult Role Models. Please read this month’s asset article about how critical it is for pre-teens and teens to have positive adult role mod-els at this time in their lives, and how that role model can be you!

Being a role model for our children is a responsibil-ity we shouldn’t take lightly. It is a great opportunity for both parents and children to grow. Often we do not model the ideal behaviors we expect from our children, because we are tired, impatient or in a hurry, or we sim-ply forget that our words and actions are always being observed. Our actions do matter beyond ourselves. When we are aware of this, we are more likely to make positive adjustments, and then being a good role model can be as simple as being yourself. My son and I were biking, and we saw a woman ahead of us drop a few dollars on the ground, which we picked up and returned to her. We talked about why we did that, and that we would do the same if it were a billion dollars (kids love to imagine huge units). Take small steps and discuss the reasoning behind them. When we model for our kids the right actions in everyday circumstances, we can feel more con-fident that our kids will do the right thing when bigger issues cross their paths.

The PTA would like to share with all JLS families a wonderful little resource for positive interactions with kids, called “150 Ways to Show Kids You Care,” a mini-poster with reminders that the smallest kindnesses can build confidence in a child. Look for this poster in your mailbox by the end of January!

With best regards, Ivan Hom, [email protected]

Nancy Smith, [email protected], JLS PTA

Jane Lathrop Stanford (JLS) is a diverse learning community We seek to provide a safe, creative, and inclusive learning environment. We respect and embrace the uniqueness of every individual. We strive for academic excellence, individual responsibility, and lifelong learning. Through compassion, connection, courtesy, complimenting, and community, we support the intellectual, social, physical, and emotional growth of our children.

The mention of any business, service, or organization in this newsletter does not imply an endorsement by JLS Middle School, JLS PTA, or PAUSD.

Important Panther Camp 2012 Counselor Information

Dear JLS 7th Grade Families,The Panther Camp coordination team will soon

begin the process of selecting next year’s Panther Camp Counselors for the fall of 2012. This role is an important position of responsibility and a wonder-ful leadership opportunity to serve as mentors and guides to the incoming 6th graders. All current 7th grade students will have the opportunity to apply to serve as Panther Camp Counselors.

If your current 7th grade student is chosen to be a Panther Camp counselor, he/she must attend the mandatory training session on the morning of August 8, 2012.

Please make a note of this important date as you are making summer plans. This training will con-clude in time for the students to participate in JLS’s Jump Start Day held that same afternoon.

If you have any questions, please contact Pier Angeli La Place, assistant principal.

The JLS Panther Camp Coordination Team

JLS PTA Family Service DateThe JLS PTA is planning a Family Service Day on

Wednesday, March 28th, 2:00-5:00 p.m. in collaboration with Youth Community Service (YCS). Watch your JLS eNews for how you and your JLS students can partici-pate.

We are looking for parents with connections to nonprofits near JLS who would like to help coordi-nate groups of 10-20 students and parents. If you are interested in helping, please RSVP to Megan Fogarty ([email protected]) or Nancy Smith ([email protected]) and attend our planning meeting on Friday, January 27th, 8:30 a.m. in Conference Room B in the JLS office.

January 2012 JLS Panther Tracks

February Staff Appreciation Lunch—Help Needed!

The next staff luncheon will be held on Wednesday, February 8th. The theme will be Lunar New Year. Please bring your favorite Chinese dishes and/or desserts and/or any other dishes for the JLS staff to share in the celebra-tion.

In addition, food will be catered from a local Chinese restaurant. It is greatly appreciated if you would like to contribute money for the catering. You can put a check in the box labeled “JLS Staff Appreciation Luncheon Donation Box” in the main office. Suggested donation is $5 - $10/family. Please make the checks payable to Betty Yang.

Questions? Want to help? Please contact the following JLS Staff Appreciation Luncheon coordinators for further information: Huiying Song, [email protected], Su-Ying Liang, [email protected], or Betty Yang, [email protected].

JLS Science Fair 2012 and the World Beyond

Each year a group of parent volunteers work directly with a Science staff representative to organize the JLS Science Fair. The goal of the fair is to encourage all students to develop and apply an interest in science, scientific methods, and logical thinking. We hope that participation in the fair will teach students to exercise curiosity, understand and approach real world problems in a systematic and scientific way, as well as apply cre-ativity towards problems that interest them.

The 2012 edition of the JLS Science fair is fast approaching.

Mark your calendars for two exciting nights on Wednesday January 25th and Thursday January 26th, when we expect about five hundred JLS students to par-ticipate.

For this event to be successful, you are needed! Judges, ushers, food coordinators, morning-registra-tion helpers are all needed to make the Science Fair run smoothly and successfully.

We are especially in need of judges. About a hun-dred curious, observant, and loving parents are needed to provide constructive feedback to each poster presenta-tion. If you are interested in being a judge or to fill any of the other vital posts listed above, it is not too late!

Please go to http://www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/572345634478354077 to sign up or send an email to Stephanie ([email protected]) or Peyma ([email protected]). We need you! Thanks.

Be Safe. Be Seen.Bike lights are required by law for night riding.As the days grow shorter, increasing numbers of stu-

dents are bike commuting at dusk or in the dark. Unlit bicycles are nearly invisible to drivers at night. That is why bicycle lights and reflectors are required by law.

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, though they tend to be a little more expensive. 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 red light on the rear is highly recommended for maximum visibility.

Visibility begins to decline at dusk before the sun is completely down, so riders should turn on their lights as soon as light begins to fade.

Put safety on your holiday gift list this year.Bike lights, reflective clothing and accessories make

great holiday gifts for bicycle commuters, ensuring a safer ride all year long.

For information about safe school commutes, visit http://saferoutes.paloaltopta.org/index.shtml

Thank You! As always, we are grateful to the many parents who

are willing to give their time and energy to volunteer at JLS. We appreciate all you do, whether you volunteer now and then or you make yourself available whenever we need you!

This month, a special thank you to recognize the hardworking volunteers on our PTA communications team. These parents work behind the scenes but contrib-ute immensely to our school community, helping us get to know other JLS families, keep in touch with each other, and stay on top of what’s going on at JLS.

Thanks to Elizabeth Loinaz and Sarah Patanroi, our JLS Directory editors, who put in many long hours creat-ing our paper and electronic student directories; to Linda Baker, our eNews editor, who compiles and distributes our JLS Online eNews bulletin early every Saturday morning; and to our tireless Panther Tracks team, who publish our quarterly JLS newsletter: our intrepid edi-tor, Smita Kolhatkar; our layout guru, Joni Okamoto; our distribution whiz, Heike Enders; and our steadfast VP of Communications, Faith Brigel, who manages our team and timelines.

Thank you all for your commitment to our school!

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David Abramovitch Christina Adams Jane Ahn Elisa Alfonso Joao Ama Lauola Amanoni Mathew Antony David Anwyl Elinor Aspegren Elinor Augustine Aaron Babian Carmel Baharav Claire Baker Clara Baker Zoe Banks Rachel Barkin William Barnett Tessa Barry Scott Baxter Lindsay Berardi Evelina Bergstrom Emma Bers Claire Berschauer Kylie Bitler Ciara Bleahen Paul Bleich Monica Boerger Casandra Bojo Kate Bonham Joseph Borison Simcha Bradski Alexander Brillhart Peter Brownlee Shiva Bucklin Alexander Bulanov Geoffrey Burrows Kirsten Butner Tyler Butner Mikaela Cagampan Aaron Cai Hollis Caswell Adelaide Catania Kyu-Ri Chang Alex Chapovalov Joshua Chen Allison Cheng Brandon Cheng Michelle Cheong George Chesavage Brandon Chin Connor Chin Clara Chiu Michelle Choi Ethan Christenson Lubov Chumakova

Panther Pride Panther Pride is a recognition program whereby students are nominated monthly for Pride honors based on excep-

tional citizenship as a member of the JLS community, outstanding achievement and/or valued participation. Students receive a Pride certificate and a cling sticker for display. Nominations become cumulative and with additional recognition by staff, a student may earn repeat nominations and additional honors. Listed below are the Pride nominees for students nominated between August 2011 and November 2011.

Brianna Claros Yael Cohen Paris Collman-Jackson Adele Colwell Isabel Conti Tsutomu Copeland Ashley Crichton Chelsea Damian Alex Dersh Pieter Digumarthi-Dykstra Jacob Dodge Jamie Dorst Olivia Eck Johanna Ehrensvard Fatima El-Sallabi Olivia Ellson Edouard Eltherington Jonas Enders Madeline Farhani Maxwell Fineberg Antoine Finot Mikaielle Floreal Patricia Rose Foy Kathleen Gaffney Kai Gallagher Amira Garewal Katherine Garvey Ahmed Ghazal Nikhil Ghosh Emma Goldsmith Andres Goldszmidt Valeriana Gomez Chloe Gong Cory Mason Gong Seth Goyal Lauren Graf Collin Griffin Samantha Guernsey Cindy Guo Ishwari Gupta Adrian Guzman Arthur Halsted Dominic Harisay DeAndre Henderson Karla Henriquez Virgilio Hernandez Katherine Hetterly Gail Hildebrand Michelle Holland Alvin Hom Nicole Hong Daniel Howell

Annabelle Hu Connor Hu Julia Huang Michael Huang Yu-En Huang Cameron Huard Noga Hurwitz Emily Hwang Saehui Hwang Sam Hyrkin Jasmin Ibarra Alyssa Yasmin Ilano Sylvia Illouz Tristan Ingalz Briana Irani Itay Izhar Prato Shachar Izhar Prato Tiazha Jackson Audrey Jakubowski Sunghyun Jang Dakota Jenkins Seung-Jae Joo Reetu Joshi Daniel Kachenko Maya Kandell Jason Kanemoto Joseph Kao Sanjana Karamcheti Kelly Keith Lauren Keith Robert Kerrins Hannah Kim Paul Kim Renee Kim Logan Kinnaman Grace Kitayama Yuki Klotz-Burwell Hanna Kolm Lindstrom Nathan Krantz-Fire Claire Krugler Scott Kuhnle Sithara Kumar Amy Kwon Justin La Hugo Laboisse Katherine Laursen Amanda Lee Benjamin Lee Brianna Lee Clarisse Lee

Jean Lee Jesse Leonard Christian Leong Maya Leviten Nina Leviten Evalyn Li Jessica Li Marvin Li Marya Li Matthew Li Rye Ri Lim Mathew Lin Sean Lin Jerry Liu Julia Liu Amy Llewellyn Carlos Lopez Armando Lopez-Valencia Michael Lu Annika Lucas Marissa Ludwig Jex MacGregor Thomas Macklin Danielle Macuil Tru Mai Jacques Manjarrez Miranda McShea Garrett Melick Maya Miklos Hiromi Miller Miyako Miller Leo Minami Gautam Mittal Or Mizrahi Akihiro Mizusawa Emily Mo Issac Montes-Loya Alexa Morales Austin Morales Iris Moroney Ananya Murali Sofia Murray Hannah Mutz Nandeeka Nayak Michael Nisenzon Naoki Okada Marina Omote Naveen Pai Leland Pama Nuan-Yu Pan Melissa Pao Rima Parekh Chloe Paris William Park

Crystal Perez Juan Perez Robin Peter Albert Phan Alexis Pisco Vaishali Prabhu Dylan Priest Yu Feng Pu Oliver Qin Lucas Rabello Radhika Ranganathan Thomas Rauner-Swan Nikhil Ravishankar Sarah Reich Magdalena Renteria Joshua Ribbe James Roake Diana Rodriguez Erik Rodriguez Genevieve Rose Annalise Rozak Simon Rufer Katherine Russell Michael Russell Nicholas Russell Eli Russo Reeves Ryan Divakar Saini Sarika Saksena Joshua Sampson Mollie Sampson Zachary Sanders Rahul Sankar Mary Sapigao Tamar Sarig Kaelyn Schloss Natalie Schneider Alyssa See-Tho Shana Seligman Evyatar Sella George Selly David Shau Aaron Sheats Lauren Sheu Anna Shimoda Michel-Ange Siaba Anita Silver Varun Singh Jamie Sitrin Bradley Smith Inger Smuts Mikayla Spaizman Emily Springer

Sarah Sundermeyer Alexa Taga-Anderson Isabel Taggart Eli Tannenwald Max Tannenwald Pisileni Tautuaa Cullen Tellez Quinn Treadway Henry Tschudy William Tschudy Abigail Twoy Sergio Valente Nicole Verhulp Anne Vesey Neel Vishwanath Ushana Vivek Alejandro Viveros Emma Wagstaff Maritha Wang Eric Wei Jolie Wei Alexa Weinstein Zachary Weiss Molly Weitzman Jameson Welch Evan Welsh Madeline Williamson Peter Willits Elena Willow Trisha Wittenbrink Trevor Woon Amy Wu Jerry Wu Kendra Wu Linda Wu Gregory Xie Jason Xin Megan Xu Kathleen Xue Madoka Yamamoto Ling Yan Arthur Yang Christopher Yang Vanessa Yao Brian Yeh Aimee Young Sarah Youngquist Lauren Yu Iris Yuan Jacob Zajac Carissa Zou


TRANSITION DATES AND MEETINGS

COURSE SELECTION FOR 2012-13 SCHOOL YEAR


Update from the Green TeamBy Seventh Graders Cheyenne Wiseman and Callia Tong

Welcome to the Green Team! The Green Team club is a group of students and teachers who meet every other Wednesday at lunch. We discuss and plan how to help JLS become a greener school. But we cannot do it alone; we depend on you to aid and support us. Help the Green Team, the school, and the environment by using the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (and compost)!

The problem that many people face is that they do not know what goes in each bin. The recycle bin (the blue bin) is where dry paper, clean napkins, hard plastic, metal, glass, and cardboard belong. All food scraps, dirty paper and napkins, and any other organic material should be put in the compost bin (the green bin). Items such as plastic bags, juice boxes or pouches, plastic wrap, and chip bags have to be tossed into the regular trash bin. We need to take the time to sort through our trash; it is the right thing to do.

JLS is all about going green! To help make JLS greener, there will be some fun events going on this semester. Some events include food tray stacking competitions and a fundraiser for Capri Sun pouches. Specific dates will be announced later on KJLS. In order to get our school more active about going green, we should make some goals. For example, people should start bringing trash-free lunches to school so there will be less trash in the first place. Then, we need to make sure we are putting things in the right bin!

The Life of a Recycle BinBy Seventh Grader Callia Tong

“Oh no! Not a banana’s peel again!” I scream, as the floppy skin lands on my plastic frame. Yet again, food lands in me when my buddy the compost bin needs it instead. I love to eat paper, certain types of plastic, clean napkins, clean tin foil, etc. Most of the time I get what I want, but there are people out there who don’t care what goes in me. Thump. Yes! Somebody threw in a ball of newspaper! At least someone knows what I crave. When recyclables are taken out of me, they go to machines where they get bro-ken down into many, many little bits. Then, the old stuff is turned into new things. I begin to stink when somebody dumps a yogurt cup in me! Yogurt cups are recyclable only when they’re clean. Apparently, this one still had most of the yogurt in it. The yogurt begins to seep through my plas-tic as some papers get thrown in. I absolutely hate it when compostable garbage and recyclables mix.

The Life of a Compost BinBy Seventh Grader Cheyenne Wiseman

As a compost bin, I face careless people every day. Only organic items can be placed inside of me, but this does not always happen. Just now, someone threw a juice box in me, causing great disconcertion. The juice box is lined with aluminum, which does not belong in a com-post bin like me! I know the trash bin is quite indignant at this action, as I am when food and dirty napkins are thrown into other bins. I see, in the rush of getting to class, children throwing whole trays of food, plastic, paper, and more into the nearest bin. But of course I know you wouldn’t do this, right, my friend? I crave your leftover pizza and carrot sticks that you decide to throw away; they belong inside of me. So please, take your time and do it right! If not, remember that it’s your world that you’re obliterating.

The Life of a Trash CanBy Sixth Grader Tolga Beser

First of all, I want to start off by saying something you may not already know: I’m a trashcan. Yes, you know, the one you throw your garbage into and sometimes knock over? That’s me. Another thing that you may not know is that I’m on a diet—not one of those diets where you don’t eat sweets, but a strict, follow-it-to-live diet. My diet goes like this: I am only supposed to eat the items that can’t be given to my neighbors, the compost bin and the recycling bin. If I eat paper or food, I get fat. And now I’m totally overweight because people keep putting the wrong items in me! I can’t even fit into the garbage truck sometimes! The worst part is that the city actually charges me for being an overweight garbage bin, and these days in this economy, I can’t afford to pay that much. So please, stop feeding me things that I shouldn’t be eating! You are prob-ably wondering why you should even listen to me right now. I mean, what does a trash can know? Well, don’t do it for me, do it for the animals and the future generations on this planet. I mean, would you want to live in a world filled with trash? No! So every time you put a piece of trash in the right place, know that you are doing the right thing and helping to save the earth.


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Todos los padres de los estudiantes de 6o grado est‡n invitados

EL MIƒRCOLES 1 DE FEBRERO

7:00-8:30 P.M.

CAFETERêA DE JLS

Los consejeros de JLS hablaran acerca de lo que involucra la inscripci—n de su hijo(a) al 7o grado. Ellos tambiŽn revisar‡n el papel que ellos juegan en su experiencia acadŽmica en JLS.

El maestro Fred Wiener, el supervisor de instrucci—n de matem‡ticas,explicara las opciones disponibles para los estudiantes.

Sus preguntas acerca de las clases optativas, incluyendo idiomas extranjeros y mœsica, ser‡n contestadas.


PARENT INPUT SURVEYThe purpose of parent input is to provide meaningful

feedback to teachers and supervisors for the improve-ment of teaching performance. Please use the forms on the following page or additional pages as needed. Please note your signature is required on the form. FYI: The survey that students receive is not signed by the student and allows for student anonymity in providing input.

Please remember that this input process is not an appropriate or effective means to present complaints. If you have a specific problem or concern about a teacher, and you have not been able to resolve it with the teacher, please contact the grade level counselor, the teacher’s instructional supervisor or the JLS principal.THE FOLLOWING ARE THE CALIFORNIA STANDARDS FOR THE TEACHING PROFESSION (CSTP).1. ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING ALL STUDENTS

IN LEARNING1.1 Using knowledge of students to engage them in

learning. 1.2 Connecting learning to students’ prior knowledge,

backgrounds, life experiences, and interests. 1.3 Connecting subject matter to meaningful, real-life

contexts. 1.4 Using a variety of instructional strategies, resources,

and technologies to meet students’ diverse needs. 1.5 Promoting critical thinking through inquiry, problem

solving and reflection. 1.6 Monitoring student learning and adjusting instruc-

tions while teaching. 2. CREATING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE

ENVIRONMENTS FOR STUDENTS LEARNING2.1 Promoting social development and responsibility

within a caring community where each student is treated fairly and respectfully.

2.2 Creating physical/virtual learning environments that promote student learning, reflect diversity, and encourage constructive/productive interactions among students.

2.3 Establishing and maintaining learning environments that are physically, intellectually, and emotionally safe.

2.4 Creating a rigorous learning environment with high expectations and appropriate support for all stu-dents.

2.5 Developing, communicating, and maintaining high standards for individual and group behavior.

2.6 Employing classroom routines, procedures, norms, and supports for positive behavior to ensure a cli-mate in which all students can learn.

2.7 Using instructional time to optimize learning. 3. UNDERSTANDING AND ORGANIZING SUBJECT

MATTER FOR STUDENT LEARNING3.1 Demonstrating knowledge of subject matter,

academic content standards, and curriculum frame-works.

3.2 Applying knowledge of student development and proficiencies to ensure student understanding of sub-ject matter.

3.3 Organizing curriculum to facilitate student under-standing of subject matter.

3.4 Utilizing instructional strategies that are appropriate to the subject matter.

3.5 Using and adapting resources, technologies, and standard-aligned instructional materials/adopted materials to make subject matter accessible to all stu-dents.

3.6 Addressing the needs of English learners and stu-dents with special needs to provide equitable access to content.

4. PLANNING INSTRUCTION AND DESIGNING LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR ALL STUDENTS

4.1 Using background knowledge of students’ academic readiness, language proficiency, cultural background, and individual development to plan instruction.

4.2 Establishing and articulating goals for student learn-ing.

4.3 Developing and sequencing long-term and short-term instructional plans to support student learning.

4.4 Planning instruction that incorporates appropriate strategies to meet the learning needs of all students.

4.5 Adapting instructional plans and curricular materials to meet the assessed learning needs of all students.

5. ASSESSING STUDENTS FOR LEARNING5.1 Applying knowledge of purposes, characteristics,

and users of different types of assessments. 5.2 Collecting and analyzing assessment data from a

variety of sources to inform instruction. 5.3 Reviewing data, both individually and with col-

leagues, to monitor student learning.5.4 Using assessment data to establish learning goals and

to plan, differentiate, and modify instruction. 5.5 Involving all students in self-assessments, goal set-

ting, and monitoring progress.5.6 Using available technologies to assist in assessment,

analysis, and communication of student learning. 5.7 Using assessment information to share timely and

comprehensive feedback with students and their families.

6. DEVELOPING AS A PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR6.1 Reflecting on teaching practice in support of student

learning. 6.2 Establishing professional goals and engaging in

continuous and purposeful professional growth and development.

6.3 Collaborating with colleagues and the broader pro-fessional community to support teacher and student learning.

6.4 Working with families to support student learning. 6.5 Engaging local communities in support of the

instructional program. 6.6 Managing professional responsibilities to maintain

motivation and commitment to all students. 6.7 Demonstrating professional responsibility, integrity,

and ethical conduct.


Please return to the JLS office by Friday, February 3, 2012

Parent Input on JLS Teacher Performance

Teacher Name _____________________________________________________

Course ___________________________________________________________

Comments:

Print Name _____________________________ Date ____________________

Signature (required) ________________________________________________

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Teacher Name _____________________________________________________

Course ___________________________________________________________

Comments:

Print Name _____________________________ Date ____________________


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Teacher Name _____________________________________________________

Course ___________________________________________________________

Comments:

Print Name _____________________________ Date ____________________



Ten Ways to Foster Resilience in Your Child/AdolescentBy Chris Chiochios, MFT, ATR-BC, Site Director at JLS Middle School

I attended the “From ZZZZ’s to A’s” event last Thursday evening and was thinking about all the differ-ent issues, worries, and concerns being discussed. I had wanted to attend this event to hear Dr. Amy Saltzman talk about the issue of mindfulness and how it relates to the struggles and concerns that were of interest on that particular evening. Mindfulness, as defined by Jon Kabat-Zinn, refers to “paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” I think that this is often one of the most challenging things to do as a parent. It is what we want our children to do on some level. Paying attention often means investing our focus and energy, which usually has positive benefits. However, there is often more to this picture. Life is complex and rarely happens in a straight course. We all, including our children, take on certain messages, embody certain temperaments, and need cer-tain things at different times. What is often the case is that “the problem” and “what is not working” become the main focus of our attention and endeavors. This can become the primary way that we relate to our situation and experience, whether it is for us personally, at work, in our families, with our partners, and, especially with our children. I was introduced to a book titled, “Raising Resilient Children- Fostering Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Your Child” by Robert Brooks, Ph.D. and Sam Goldstein, Ph.D. some time ago, which proposes a nice set of principles, or as the authors refer to, “guide-posts”, which are geared towards parents interested in developing and nurturing a resilient attitude in their chil-dren. These 10 principles include:1. Being empathic2. Communicating effectively and listening actively3. Changing “negative scripts” 4. Loving our children in ways that help them to feel

special and appreciated5. Accepting our children for who they are and helping

them to set realistic expectations and goals6. Helping our children experience success by

identifying and reinforcing their “islands of competence”

7. Helping children recognize that mistakes are experiences

8. Developing responsibility, compassion, and a social conscience by providing children with opportunities to contribute

9. Teaching our children to solve problems and make decisions

10. Disciplining in a way that promotes self-disciplineAs with everything that comes along in the course of

being a parent, this approach requires patience, practice, perseverance, and mindfulness. What can come from this is someone, who has the capacity to bounce back from difficulties, learn from their mistakes, trust that they can find a way to make it work, and depend on others in their lives to be available to understand, problem solve, or try to understand what they need and how they can be best helped.

Adolescent Counseling Services is a community non-profit, which provides vital counseling services on nine secondary campuses at no charge to students and their families. To learn more about our services please visit the ACS website at www.acs-teens.org or call Chris Chiochios, Site Director at JLS (650) 856-5164. ACS relies on the generosity of community members to continue offering individual, family, and group counseling to over 1,500 individuals annually. ACS provides critical interventions and mental health services, building a bet-ter future for tomorrow. If you are interested in helping to support our efforts, do not hesitate to call to make a donation. It goes a long way in helping teenagers find their way!

Breakfast with ACSJoin us for breakfast and learn more about ACS pro-

grams, trends in child and teen mental and emotional health, and hear from our licensed clinical staff about how you can better communicate and interact with any teen in your life. The event is free of charge, but space is limited. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 650-424-0852 ext. 103 with your name, address, and phone number.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 8:00-9:30 a.m, at the ACS Corporate Office, 1717 Embarcadero Road Suite 4000, Palo Alto, CA 94303.

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Developmental Asset of the Month – JanuaryAdult Role Models

When we reflect back on the experiences that shaped us when we were young, we often remember a special adult in our lives. It might have been a teacher, coach, older relative, community member or other caring adult that made a big impact on us. We see these role models as being important in shaping our lives. And that’s no surprise—research shows that positive adult role mod-els have a tremendous impact on young people and can have the following benefits:

Higher levels of self esteem Reduced use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs Improved high school graduation rates Greater aspirations and expectations for their careers Palo Alto’s youth could use more Adult Role

Models—in the Developmental Assets 2010 survey, only 51% of 5th graders, 48% of 7th graders and 33% of 9th – 12th graders reported the presence of positive adult role models in their lives.

Peter C. Scales, a Search Institute author and researcher has identified the number one need for kids between the ages of 10 and 15 years old is “positive social interaction with adults.” Establishing positive relation-ships early in your child’s life will help them during the difficult teen years. There are many ways that you can be an adult role model for your child and, by extension, for their friends.

Treat them with love and respect.Model appropriate behavior. Your children are

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watching. If you bend the rules, then it’s okay for them to bend them. When you make mistakes, admit them and apologize when you fail them.Avoid making negative comments about others.Spend time with them. Be involved in their lives on a daily basis.A positive role model doesn’t have to have any

special skills—you don’t have to be a sports hero or a bil-lionaire for youth to look up to you. In fact, most youth who said that they had role models identified them as caring friends and relatives. Every single one of us has the potential to make a difference in the lives of young people—all that matters is being willing to take the time to get to know a young person and let them get to know you, and to share your experience and knowledge.

Our challenge to you is to think about for whom you are a role model and how can you increase the number of youth who look to your example.

The following discussion topics can help young peo-ple recognize the role models that influence their lives:

What’s the difference between a hero and a role model? Are celebrities like sports stars, actors, and musicians good role models? Why or why not?Which adults whom you know do you admire? Why? What have you learned from adults that has helped or inspired you? What would you like to be able to talk more about with adults?

This article was adapted from the Project Cornerstone’s Asset of the Month program.

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Developmental Assets One-Day Workshop

The JLS staff has been focusing on five of the 41 developmental assets: Other Adult Relationships, Caring School Environment, Reading for Pleasure, High Expectations, and Cultural Competence. How can you support these assets? Come meet other parents and learn more on Wednesday, February 8th, 8:30AM to 10AM in Room 730. Coffee will be served. For more information, contact Julia Byun at [email protected] or Ani Gnanalingam at [email protected]. Bring a friend.


Counselors’ CornerImportant Future EventBy Mrs. Howard, 7th Grade ([email protected]), and Mr. Arya, 8th Grade ([email protected])

On February 22, 2012, the seventh and eighth grade classes will have the opportunity to watch a live theatri-cal performance called, “Nightmare on Puberty Street.” As a parent of a budding adolescent, you may not think that puberty is a laughing matter or something “to sing” about. This performance covers a variety of topics having to do with growing up. The show presents the informa-tion with humor and appealing performances with both song and dance. The following is an excerpt from “A Parent’s Guide.”

“Nightmare on Puberty Street” is an age-appropriate performance about four young people on their journey through adolescence. They learn to cope with the changes affecting their bodies and minds. The frank and sometimes funny pro-gram shows students how to cope with many of the issues of puberty, including how to handle pressure to be sexually active, how to build self-esteem, how to avoid drugs and alcohol and where to find help if faced with feelings of depres-sion or thoughts of suicide.

Parental NotificationVersions of “A Parent’s Guide: Nightmare on Puberty

Street,” are available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin. These guides are available for download at the following website:http://net.kp.org/etp/ncal/parents_teachers/nightmare.html

You can also Google “Nightmare on Puberty Street parent’s guide” to find this information.

Around the first week in February, a permission form will be sent home with your child. Please return the form if you do NOT want your child to view the performance. If you have further questions, please e-mail your child’s counselor.

Notes from the NurseThe FLU/COLD season is here!!

The flu/cold season is upon us. This means we should be vigilant about taking care of our loved ones and ourselves. Remember that cold symptoms tend to be milder and flu symptoms more severe, including high temp, severe aches and pains, extreme exhaustion and severe cough.

A child should not be in school when he/she has:Temperature greater than 100 degrees. If a child has had a fever, he/she may not return to school until it has been normal for 24 hours (without taking Tylenol).Frequent coughing or sneezing.Sore throat.A new cold or generally feels bad.Extreme exhaustion.

General Information about Staying Healthy and Preventing Colds/Flu:

Get plenty of rest.Maintain well balanced diet including at least 5 servings each day of fruits and vegetables.Drink 6-8 glasses of fluid each day.Exercise daily, even short walks can help.WASH YOUR HANDS!!!! Use warm water and soap and wash for at least 10 seconds.Think prevention. Dress appropriately for the weather.REMEMBER THE SNEEZE/COUGH!!- Dr. recommendation is to cover the mouth/nose with the inside of the elbow.Consult your Dr. for advice on receiving a flu shot. It is not too late to get a flu shot this year.We believe that your fellow students and teachers

will understand if you are ill and unable to attend school. Check with your teacher regarding making up work according to school policy.

BE WELL!!!

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Music Notes Congratulations to the Symphonic and Advanced Bands

for an outstanding performance with the Gunn High School Wind Ensemble on November 2. The Choir and Orchestra students performed their winter concerts on December 7th and December 9th, respectively. They all sounded wonderful.

The Winter Concert for Band students was held on January 11th at 7:00 and 8:15 p.m. at JLS.

JLS music organizations are now preparing for their assembly programs in PAUSD elementary schools. The Symphonic Band and Orchestra will tour on February 9; Advanced Band, Mixed and Girls Choirs will tour on February 24. Upcoming major performances are listed below.

Date Event Time/Place

Feb. 9 Tour to elementary schools (Symphonic Band/Orchestra)

Feb. 24 Tour to elementary schools (Advanced Band/MC/GC)

Feb. 23 Orchestra Concert 7:00 @ JLS

March 7 JLS/Jordan/Terman Combined Choir Concert 7:00 @ JLS

March 29-April 1

Band and Choir tour to Southern California

April 13/14 CMEA Band Festival at Gunn (Symphonic Band)

Time to be announced

May 5 Palo Alto May Fete Parade Downtown

May 9 Honor Band/Choir/Orchestra Festival 7:00 @ Gunn

May 11/12 CMEA Choir Festival (MC/GC) Time to be announced

May 23 Choir Concert (all choirs) 7:00 @ JLSMay 29 Orchestra Concert 7:00 @ JLSMay 30 Band Concert 7:00 & 8:15 @ JLS

Teacher Professional DevelopmentMr. Miller & Ms. Fitzhugh attended the National

Conference on Music Education in Chicago last December. The Midwest Band and Orchestra Conference is the high-est-rated music education conference in the country. The conference provided them the opportunity to deepen their content knowledge, further develop pedagogy, increase teacher productivity, continue to develop standards based lessons and expand assessment skills. In addition, they attended concerts performed by the highest rated music education programs for students in grades 6-12 in the United States and abroad.

7th and 8th Grade Honor GroupsJLS has had an amazing year so far! We have had students

participating in numerous honor groups around the state. CMEA (California Music Education Association) Bay Area Honor Groups will take place January 13 and 14 at SJSU. CBDA (California Band Directors Association) All State takes place February 16-19 in Fresno and ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) All State takes place February 29-March 3 in Reno.

CMEA Bay Area Honor Band:Seena HuangBona Kim Nina Shirole

CMEA Bay Area Honor Orchestra:William CopelandEmily HwangAlyssa IlanoPatricia Tang

ACDA State Honor ChoirQuinn AndersonChelsea McIntoshAriel Pan Julia ZhouPatricia Tang

CBDA All State Honor BandNikhil GhoshSeena HuangBona KimJosh RibbeMiranda Shum

CMEA Bay Area Honor ChoirQuinn AndersonClara Chiu Chelsea McIntoshEmily LiberatoreNikhil RavishankarSergio Valente

For more information, send email to: [email protected]. We thank you again for your continued support of the music program.

Greg Miller, Band DirectorAngelina Fitzhugh, Band/Choir Director

Janet Lynch Gillespie, Orchestra DirectorNancy Coffey, Music Coordinator, [email protected]

Doing the MathBy Fred Wiener, Math Instructional Supervisor

The Mathematics program at JLS strives to meet the individual needs of each student. For high achiev-ing students, there are opportunities in the classroom to pursue math in greater depth through differentiated instruction, challenge packets, difficult group tasks, and test-out work. We also offer math contests to motivated students including the CML to sixth and seventh grad-ers, the AMC 8 (over 100 students participated in this contest), and the AMC 10 (to the highest scorers on the AMC 8). Our after school MathCounts club has been very well attended this year. Many students have a passion for math and enjoy the extra challenges we provide.

There is help and support for students who struggle with math. Six grade has a math workshop class during two of the 7th periods a week. These are small classes taught by sixth grade teachers designed to give students more instruction in concepts that were not mastered during sixth grade or previous grades. In addition, the students receive help on current units of math instruc-tion. Seventh grade also has a math workshop class that is similarly designed, but is taught four periods a week. Both classes use Khan academy to individualize the instruction. Eighth grade differentiation occurs within the “Introduction to Algebra” courses. Homework Habitat offers support to students three days a week after school.

There is more collaboration among teachers than ever before. Collaborative efforts allow us to align instruction and assessments, analyze student results, and plan for differentiated lessons. All of this is designed to improve student learning.

Any way you look at it, our department is doing the Math!

JLS student artMrs. Brown, Art Teacher

J.L.S. student art will be on display in the main hall-way of the PAUSD offices located at 25 Churchill Ave. There will be art from grades 6-8 and at least 40 artists represented. There are drawings, paintings, collages, ceramics and paper mache pieces to admire. The show runs from January 10th until February 10th.

Social Studies By Greg Clifton - 7th Grade Social Studies teacher

The Birth of Civilizations, Republics, & Shogunates – Social Studies roundup

In January, sixth grade social studies students can be found studying one of many ancient civilizations. Some will be finishing their study of Mesopotamia, where stu-dents learn about the first empires and how the cultural universals apply to the empires. Or they may be studying the Ancient Israelites and examining the interconnected-ness of religion, social structure and politics. Other sixth grade classes will begin a study of ancient Egypt. After an overview, they will self-select topics to research. Then different classes will do various extension projects such as create an A-Z book of Ancient Egypt, make a travel brochure of famous Egyptian sites, do a shoebox mummy project, make Egypt Books, or have an Egyptian museum display. To enhance and enrich the study of the Egypt and Mesopotamia units, sixth grade classes will visit San Jose’s Rosicrucian Museum. There, they will be partici-pating in a docent-led tour of the private collection of amazing artifacts, mummies, and replica of a tomb from Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Thank you in advance to all the parents who donated their time and automo-biles to support this field trip!

After Winter Break, some 7th graders are now learning about the early history of Japan and will then slice their way through the medieval lives of samurai, daimyo, and shogun. They will take on the persona of a samurai and write journal entries based off of prompts that correlate to State Standards for Japan. Their unit will culminate in a winner take all match between war-ring Daimyos in an interactive simulation called “The Warlords of Japan” to decide who will become Shogun. Other students are finishing up a unit on Medieval Europe with a project on the Magna Carta. Students are comparing the Magna Carta to the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights. Next, they will begin to study China in the Middle Ages. The course will cover the Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. Also, students will learn about the discoveries and inventions of China in the Middle Ages. In Connections, students have just finished Medieval Europe Night in which students per-formed plays and ate a medieval European meal. The next unit of study will be China in the Middle Ages. The focus for the unit will be inventions and discoveries. Students will participate in a trade simulation where the classroom will be transformed into the Silk Road. Finally, students will participate in Socratic discussions on the rise of the scholar class and civil service exams.

Having just finished up the war for Independence, 8th grade students are witnessing the beginnings of early nationhood. As they begin the second semester, some students will be completing websites for National History Day. Their focus is on the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights: Reaction and Reform. In February, students will be learning about early American political parties, the expansion of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase, and difficulties in foreign relations including the War of 1812.

23 Th 8th grade honor roll celebration, 3:00 p.m.23 Th Orchestra Concert, 7:00 p.m.

March1 Th PTA Executive Board meeting, 8:15 a.m.1 Th 7th grade honor roll celebration, 3:00 p.m.2 F 6th/7th/8th grade dance, 7:00 p.m.6 Tu 7th grade STAR writing test7 W Wheel 4 ends7 W JLS/Terman/Jordan Choir Concert, 7 p.m., Cafetorium8 Th Wheel 5 begins12 M Site Council meeting, 3:30 p.m.21 W PTA general meeting, 8:15 p.m.23 F End of 3rd quarter28 W Family Service Day, 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Palo Alto Council of Parent Teacher AssociationJane Lathrop Stanford Middle School 480 East Meadow Drive Palo Alto, CA 94306www.jls.pausd.org Main Office: 650-856-5188 Fax: 650-856-3248Change Service Requested

Non-Profit OrgU.S. PostagePAIDPermit No. 18Palo Alto, CA

To do (details inside):

Get ready for next year (p. 5)

Current 6th Grade Parent meeting (p. 7)

Panther Camp Counselor training (p. 2)

Volunteer for the Science Fair (p. 3)

Check bike lights (p. 3)

Help with Staff Lunch (p. 3)

Sign up for Family Service Day (p. 2)

Provide parent input (p. 9)

Check music concert dates (p. 14)

Note new August start dates (below)

CalendarJanuary16 M Holiday, No School18 W Many Faces of JLS potluck dinner, 5:30 p.m.19 Th Wheel 3 ends End of 1st semester20 F Local Holiday, No School23-27 M-F 8th grade-sponsored Food Drive23 M Wheel 4 begins24 Tu 6th grade small group pictures25-26 W-Th Science Fair, Cafetorium27 F Family Service Day Planning, 8:30 a.m., JLS

Office Conference Room B 31 Tu Gunn Open House, 6:30 p.m., Spangenberg Theater31 Tu Paly Open House, 7:00 p.m., Haymarket Theater

February1 W 6th Grade Parent Night, 7:00 p.m.2 Th PTA Executive Board meeting, 8:15 a.m.8 W Staff Appreciation Lunch13 M Site Council meeting, 3:30 p.m.16 Th Staff Development Day No School17 F Holiday, No School20 M Holiday, No School

New 2012-13 Academic Calendar ChangesImportant August Dates - earlier than in past years.

Wed., Aug. 8Mandatory 8th grade Panther Camp Counselor training (morning)Jump Start Day and School Pictures (afternoon)

Thurs., Aug. 16First Day of School for Students

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