On Sunday, May 3,  938 registered runners participated in Menlo-Atherton High School’s 10th annual Big Bear run, including the first international runner, a young lady who was visiting San Francisco from Mexico. The  5K race serves as a key fundraiser for M-A’s athletic programs.

The “Fastest Bears” — the fastest boy and girl M-A students — were Kevin Conrad, with a time of 17:41 and Madeleine Baier, with a time of 20:07.

Emails race co-chair Dana Hayse: “Race day is always an incredible morning at M-A, generating a wonderful feeling of spirit and enthusiasm for the school and the whole community.”

The overall winner was Ernesto Aristeo (pictured with mascot) with a time of 17.10.490 minutes.

First place finishers by age included women Daisy Barrera (22.27.460, 12 and under), Madeleine Baier (20:07:257, 13-18), Jessica Gibby (18:57.663, 19-29), Mahelet Jimenez (19:07.853, 30-39), Tina Zamora (21:41:947, 40-49), Cheryl Cathey (21:31:693, 50-59), Nancy Wagstaff (27:53:940, 60-69), Amber Henninger (43:17:097, age 81).

Male top place finishers were Alejandro Torres (20:20.667, 12 and under), Kevin Conrad (17:41:457, 13-18), Joe Berentsen (17:52:377, 19-29), Ernesto Aristeo (17:09:367, 30-39), Ahmet Gokcek (17:34:927, 40-49), John Hale (18:24:696, 50-59), Greg Bohlmann, (23:30:953, 60-69), Ray Holger (32:30.007, 70+).

Start of race photo by Laura Hamilton; winner with mascot courtesy of race organizers

Three of five Menlo Atherton High School seniors received scholarships at the Kiwanis Club’s annual scholarship luncheon, Tuesday, May 12, at Allied Arts Guild. The other two seniors missed the luncheon because of tests and will receive their awards at next week’s luncheon. This year’s MA scholarship awards totaled $23,500.

“Scholarship awards are based on interviews with the students and on outstanding course work, community involvement and a review of transcripts,” said John Martin, Chair of the Club’s Scholarship Committee. “It was obvious from the Honors and Advance Placement courses taken by these students, that they are very motivated, and will do well.”

The students receiving scholarships are:

• Simran Kashyap, fresh from an intern program with a Silicon Valley startup, plans to study Engineering, and will attend UC Santa Cruz. She tutored math at Hillview and Ravenswood schools. She also participated in several community projects with a program called “Build On”.
• Caroline Kelly will attend the University of Michigan, focusing on English and other courses needed to fulfill pre-med requirements. While at MA, she participated in several school leadership programs working on several Baylands projects and with homeless shelters. She also started after school programs to foster reading and mentorship activities.
• Gordon Williams, as part of a Boy Scouts program, repaired and distributed 60 bicycles to kids and families at Haven House—to help residents get to school or work. He also provided 60 helmets for them. He worked in the Kiwanis Christmas Tree Lot for several years, helping the Menlo Park Kiwanis Club raise funds for scholarships and other causes.

The other two scholarship recipients are Alan Martinez and Laila Volpe, who will receive their awards next week.

Menlo Park Kiwanis Club is an active and committed partner to many non-profit organizations, having given over $90,000 last year in support of projects which include scholarships for Menlo-Atherton High School graduates, and volunteer work with St Anthony’s Dining Room, Tour deCure of Diabetes, Special Games for physically challenged youth, Rebuilding Together, and the City of Menlo Park. Visitors are welcome to the Club’s weekly luncheon meetings, Tuesdays, 12:00-1:15 pm, at Allied Arts Guild. To reserve a spot call 650-580-4441.

Photo caption: Charlie Porter, Menlo Park Kiwanis Club President, (left) and John Martin. Scholarship Chair, (right) handed out three of five scholarships at the Club’s annual Scholarship Luncheon to M-A Seniors Gordon Williams, Caroline Kelly and Simran Kashayap

Nine students received Student Service Awards at Menlo Atherton High School’s PTA meeting on May 26th. M-A’s new Principal Simone Kennel (pictured right) presented the awards.

Each year, the PTA and the Principal present awards to students who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to volunteer service in the Menlo-Atherton or greater community. Criteria for selecting recipients includes social value to the community, leadership in service, personal determination, creativity and initiative, scope of responsibility and time given, and dependability and enthusiasm.

This year’s winners did an impressive array of volunteer work. One student founded a new Spanish and English language lunch club at M-A. This club not only helps students practice new language skills, it also promotes a sense of community. Another student hand made over 400 wooden cars that were distributed to children in need as a part of M-A’s annual November food distribution. Several students volunteered extensively with local veterans. Award winners include Emily Addicott, Molly Baxter, Sally Carlson, Julia Geaghan-Breiner, Jackson Goudey (not pictured), Madeline Heller, Colin Hug, Lauren McLaughin, and Jordan Payne.

Did you know that Gayle King, CBS This Morning co-anchor (and, of course, Oprah’s best friend), lived in Menlo Oaks during the late 60s through early 70’s and graduated from M-A? Her father’s job as an engineer brought them to Menlo Park.

The Kings were the second black family to move into Menlo Oaks. As far as we know, our family was the first. My father was a private practice physician in Menlo Park for nearly 50 years. Our two families became very good friends. We lived on Berkeley Avenue near Bay Road. The Kings lived a block over on Menlo Oaks Drive near Colby.

The Kings had four daughters and no boys, and our family had three girls and no boys. Mr. King and my dad, who became friends, were out numbered 9 to 2 by the “female factor!” They didn’t stand a chance!

The four to six year age difference between Gayle and my sisters and me is insignificant now, but in 1970 she was 16, and my sisters and I were between 10 and 12 years old. Those few years made a big difference then. Therefore, though Gayle’s sisters, Sharon, Lynn and Caryn, all hung out often with my sisters and me, understandably, we were too young to hang with teen Gayle.

Mrs. King used to come over to our house almost everyday. She was totally at home at our house. I remember she would open the frig and ask my mom, “Vi, what you got in this frig?” Mrs. King was very well educated but when with friends she’d be just a “down home girl.”

What I most remember about Gayle is her being in her room studying and that she had a Bill Cosby poster on the back of her bedroom door.

The Kings moved away to Maryland, but Gayle stayed behind in Menlo Park to finish high school (graduated in 1972 I believe) and lived for a year with M-A teachers Roger and Peggy Heathcote.

The ties that bind loosened over the decades and there was less and less contact with the Kings once they moved away. One day after almost 25 years of not seeing my Mom, Mrs. King totally unexpectedly rang my Mom’s doorbell. Mom answered the door and started (happily) screaming when she saw Mrs. King! From then on they kept in touch by phone until Mrs. King’s death in 1994.

My sisters and I last saw and spoke briefly with Gayle at M-A at the 2002 All Class Reunion. She was being followed by TV cameras from the Oxygen network.

Little-known Gayle King fact: “I changed my name from Gail to Gayle in seventh grade because I liked to make a loopy y.”

Now you know!

Photo of Gayle King courtesy CBS News

In September, 2012,  there was a gathering of folks who graduated from Hillview, Oak Knoll and Encinal in 1962 when the schools were all K-8. That prompted some to meet for lunch on a more regular basis. Today, one Hillview grad hosted a smaller gathering for gals who graduated from M-A or Woodside in 1966 who live (more or less) locally. The hot temperatures didn’t the diminish the conversations.

Pictured left to right: Leigh (class of ’65), Bonnie, Sally, Jeannine, Barb, Donna, Linda, Marilyn, Geralyn, Jo, Beverly (Beth joined the group post photo)

This summer, Schuyler Knapp, a current sophomore at Menlo-Atherton High School, built 10 lunch tables  for his fellow students as his Eagle Scout project. Schuyler is a member of Boy Scout Troup 206. He’s been involved in scouting since he was a first grader.

In what will be her second appearance, Marsha Rosenbaum, PhD, is returning to her alma mater, Menlo-Atherton High School, to talk to parents about teen drug use. The talk, titled Safety First: A Reality-Based Approach to Teens and Drugs, will take place on Thursday, October 8 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the M-A Performing Arts Center (PAC Café). Free tickets are available online.

Marsha is a well-respected expert on the topic. She is director emerita of the San Francisco office of the Drug Policy Alliance, where she spearheaded DPA’s work on youth and drugs and created the Safety First booklet. She received her doctorate in medical sociology from the University of California at San Francisco, and, from 1977 to 1995, was the principal investigator on National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded studies of heroin addiction, methadone maintenance treatment, MDMA (Ecstasy), cocaine, and drug use during pregnancy.

“Parents don’t need to be lectured to,” Marsha said. “The idea is to walk them through what’s going on with teenagers and drugs now — and how they can best deal with it.”

During our conversation, she pointed out that a sizable number of teens have been using alcohol, marijuana and other drugs for decades. But the landscape is changing.

“Now we have a movement in the U.S. to legalize marijuana,” she said. “What does that mean for kids and their parents?

“All of the marijuana initiatives are very clear that marijuana should not be available to minors, just like alcohol. And teen usage has not increased in states that have already legalized marijuana.”

According to Marsha, alcohol remains the most widely-used drug among teenagers. “The good news is that in the last decade or so, there’s an increased consciousness about safety, particularly related to drinking and driving.”

She believes that focusing on safety in talking about marijuana use with teens is a wise strategy. “Sure, abstinence is the first choice,” she said. “But it’s good to have a Plan B. What’s the fall back strategy to ensure your kids are safe?”

What, we asked her, can a parent do if their teen is a daily user of marijuana? She replied: “First, take a deep breath. Try in the calmest way possible to open up communication in the most nonjudgmental way possible.

“It’s a process of getting the kid to recognize there is an issue. Are they self-medicating? Are they bored? Do they have few friends? Are the friends they have also daily users?”

On a broader front, Marsha foresees that drug education will need to change in the era of marijuana legalization. “I’ve served on a commission Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsome established that looked at how we keep kids safe when/if marijuana is legalized. We need to rethink drug education and prevention. It should be based on sound science, not misinformation. And teens themselves should be involved in the development of drug education.”

When Luis Pimentel entered Menlo-Atherton High School as a freshman, he was placed in remedial English. He’d been in this country just a few years, immigrating with his family from Mexico and settling into a one-bedroom apartment in the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park.

By the time he was a senior, he was in AS English and was accepted at five of the seven colleges he applied to. He was awarded a $12,000 scholarship from the Peninsula College Fund, which was founded by Menlo Park resident Charles Schmuck. He enrolled at UC Santa Cruz, with the idea of becoming an immigration attorney but changed course almost immediately.

He’d met another freshman, also from M-A — and also a PCF awardee, Sergio Zamora. “We became good friends,” Luis recalled. “In his freshman year he was diagnosed with melanoma, and sadly, in the middle of spring quarter, he passed away.

“I was shocked and upset because here was a good friend whose dreams and aspirations had been ended far too early. I always had a passion for science, and because of Sergio, I started taking more science classes at UC Santa Cruz. I wanted to major in something where I could help combat the many diseases that end people’s lives early, especially cancer.”

Today, Luis is working at OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, which is focused on developing novel therapeutics that could provide alternative cancer treatments.

“For me, it’s like doing Master’s work while on the job,” Luis said. “I plan to pursue a PhD in biochemical engineering, hopefully at UCSF.”

Luis has stayed involved with Peninsula College Fund in the organization’s alumni program. He’ll be part of the PCF’s 10th anniversary celebration on Thursday, October 15, from 7:30 to 9:00 am, at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton.  Special guest will be NBC Bay Area News anchor Jessica Aguirre. The community is invited to attend. Breakfast will be served. There is no charge but attendees are asked to RSVP online or by email to Karen Canty: kvscanty@comcast.net.

“Knowing what I know today I would have joined PCF if [the only thing it] provided was the valuable mentoring I received from Les and Fran, who helped me navigate through many tough situations,” said Luis. “They are all still a part of my life.”

Photo by Linda Hubbard (c) 2015

She didn’t want a party. She wasn’t interested in recognition for the 6,000 students she advised as they navigated the college selection and application process. But Alice Kleeman, who retired in June after 20 years as Menlo-Atherton High School’s College Advisor, did agree that a scholarship could be created in her name.

To honor her positive impact on the community, the Alice Kleeman Scholarship Fund has been created. Each spring financial awards will be granted to outstanding M-A students, the kind of student Alice has worked hard to support throughout her career. The scholarship will award college-bound students with financial need who show drive, determination, and the deep desire to excel.

Simone Rick-Kennel, M-A’s Principal praised Alice: “Her devotion to the students was truly incredible, and making sure that every student could attend college regardless of his or her financial circumstances was her passion.“

Anyone who has benefitted or whose child has benefitted from Alice’s wise words is encouraged to contribute. Donations to this scholarship fund will support worthy students and help convey the community’s heartfelt appreciation for Ms. Kleeman’s profound impact on the M-A community.

Visit www.kleemanscholarshipfund.org for more information.

Photo of Alice in Pride Hall taken by Scott R. Kline (c) 2011

The Menlo-Atherton High School class of 1965 held its 50th reunion this weekend at various venues on the Peninsula. The events concluded today at Zott’s out in Portola Valley, with folks from the class of 1964 and 1966 in attendance as well.

We found some friends from Hillview Drive days (the Porter twins, top, visiting with Hillview School classmate, Tom Mainwaring, who went to Woodside). And heard the news that classmates Kirby Roberts and Duke Dupell had recently reconnected (right).

Then there were the “crashers.” snapped with Ken Glazer (’65- far left) They included Colby Howe (’66), Pete Damsgaard (’66) and Dennis Nugent (’66).

Photos by Linda Hubbard (c) 2015

The San Francisco 49ers High School Player of the Week Award for week 7 goes to Jordan Mims of Menlo-Atherton High School. The Junior running back had a night for the record books in M-A’s 31-10 conference win over Aragon.

Mims rushed for an astounding 321 yards – marking a new record for the Menlo-Atherton program. He now holds the M-A rushing record, and has the record for the most single game all-purposed yards.

“He had two touchdowns called back; he almost had 450 yards rushing. The kid is incredible,” praised Menlo-Atherton Head Coach Adhir Ravipati.

The gifted tailback is also the PAL Bay Division rushing leader with 830 yards on the season.

The offense started and finished with Mims Friday night. He wasted no time. Mims scored on a 51-yard run on M-A’s opening play of the game. From the first offensive series on, he never looked back, scoring four touchdowns by the end of the night. The speedy tailback rushed for three and caught one off a 25-yard pass from M-A quarterback Miles Conrad.

Once Mims got started there was no slowing him down. He consistently broke off huge gainers, scoring on runs of 72 and 68 yards, after his initial 51-yard touchdown to open the game. The junior running back was responsible for all of Menlo-Atherton’s points, with the exception of a 31-yard Dylan Calderon field goal.

Though Jordan Mims scored all the touchdowns in Friday night’s match-up, he refuses to accept the much deserved credit for himself.

“He is a remarkably humble kid. He deflects the credit to everyone else and constantly praises the blocking he receives and the play of his offensive line,” said Coach Ravipati, who couldn’t speak highly enough about his running back.

“He works hard at practice, and his school work, and in the community… In terms of what we want in our kids and our program, he embodies it all and does everything we want out of kids at a very high level,” said Coach Ravipati. “He is genuinely a really humble kid and an incredibly talented football player.”

As much of an all-star Mims is on the football field, now holding more than one M-A record, he is also an accomplished track star at an elite level. Mims qualified for the Junior Olympics in North Carolina his sophomore year where he ran a 53-second 400-yard dash. Clearly his incredible speed and track skills transition just fine to the football field.

Mims was also a member of the M-A basketball team his freshman and sophomore year, managing to be a competitive three sport athlete.

He is an incredible athlete, clearly, but Mims also excels in the classroom and in the community. He currently holds a 3.1 GPA this quarter.

“Jordan is a model citizen in everything he does. He is a polite kid, works hard, and does all the right things no matter what the platform may be. All the teachers and staff love him,” said Coach Ravipati.

Above all, he is a big brother. And that role may be the one he is best at whether the young man realizes it or not. Mims has two younger brothers and it is evident to his coaches the emphasis he puts on this responsibility, as he is always supporting the younger kids around him.

Jordan Mims has played a major role in Menlo-Atherton’s rebound from their 0-3 start and has M-A heading in the right direction, now 3-3.

As the home school of the 49ers High School Player of the Week, Menlo-Atherton High School will receive a $500 grant for their football program from the 49ers Foundation. Jordan Mims will receive two tickets to a 49ers home game and a certificate signed by 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula. At the end of the season, Mims will be invited to the SAP Performance Facility to accept a trophy recognizing his achievements.

Alyssa Kelly writes about youth sports for the San Francisco 49ers; this article originally appeared on 49ers.com; used with permission

M-A’s Big Band Dance, the annual fundraiser for the school’s bands and orchestra, will take place this year on Saturday, November 21, at Ayers Gym on campus. There will be an early opening for those 65+ from 7:00 to 8:00 pm with free admission (donations accepted!) with the dance continuing from 8:00 to 11:00 pm. Admission is $10 for students and $25 for adults. Free dance lessons are included at the event. Tickets will be available at the door or can be purchased in advance online.

By winning three sets in a row and beating first-seed Monte Vista High School (Danville) in the Northern California Regional Championships on Wednesday evening (Dec. 2), the Menlo-Atherton Girls Volleyball team earned a trip to Santiago Canyon College in Orange County where they will compete in the California State Championship Finals today (Dec. 5).

They won the regionals by sweeping Monte Vista 25-23, 25-17, 25-18, advancing to their first-ever state championship final.

The Bears will face Redondo Union tonight at 8:00 pm, playing the best 3 out of 5 sets.

Photo courtesy of M-A Athletic Department

The Menlo-Atherton High School’s Foundation For the Future is hosting Rock n’ Roar 2016, an auction party on March 12, 2016, to raise funds to support vital programs at M-A. The Foundation’s goal is to provide a better educational experience for every M–A student by funding smaller class sizes, an expanded course offering, professional development for teachers, college and career prep, and other essential programs and services.

Tickets to the party can be purchased online. Early bird tickets to the party are available until Feb 27.

The party will be followed by an online auction for one week, with an  array of auction items including fun and luxurious getaways, sports tickets and dining at special restaurants. Please check the Foundation’s website for the auction details that will be posted on March 13.

The extended community is encouraged to participate and you need not be part of the M-A family to participate in the auction.

The M-A girls soccer team won its first ever CCS title on Saturday night in a torrential downpour with winds nearing 30 mph. The Bears fell behind 0-2 in the first half when the #10 seeded Branham Bruins were attacking into the fierce wind.

The Bears dominated the Bruins in the second half when it was M-A’s turn to take advantage of the wind. But they didn’t find the net until there was only 10 minutes left in the game when senior captain Sarah McLeod (pictured in earlier game) hit a free kick from around 40 yards out. Four minutes later, McLeod hit the back of the net a second time, and it was all tied up.

With less than two minutes left in regulation, and the Bears not wanting to go to overtime, sophomore Josephine Cotto hit the game winner with a strike from the left corner of the penalty box that floated over the goalkeeper’s outstretched arms.

The Bears finish the season 15-4-3, with their first CCS title ever.

Photo by Lexi Lobdell of  M-A Chronicle

Academy mentor Joanne Andrews and M-A senior Luis Acosta started working together three years ago and earlier this month met for one last time before Luis heads off to a four-year college, which was one of his goals.

They both say they were a good match from the beginning. Joanne is a nurse professionally, and Luis was drawn to the field when his identical twin brother was diagnosed with a serious illness and hospitalized in 2011.

“I was enthusiastic to meet her,” Luis said. “We’ve talked a lot about what it’s like to be a nurse because that’s what I want to be.”

For her part, Joanne was drawn to the Academy program because of its one-on-one structure. “I liked the idea of getting to know one person with the hope of making a difference — even a small one — in that person’s life. Luis is so engaging and so positive and was motivated before I met him.”

Luis hasn’t made his college selection yet; he’s been accepted at multiple schools. He’s applied for an internship at Kaiser this summer. Last summer he worked with kids at various San Mateo County libraries.

The Menlo-Atherton Academy Mentor Program consists of four on-campus meetings during the school year. The goal is to support 10th and 11th grade students as they navigate their way through high school and explore the options they have following graduation.

Each session lasts from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. The mentor and student talk about how to be more successful in school, develop a resume with an eye toward employment, learn to better advocate for himself or herself, and make the push to apply to a four-year university.

“Anyone can be a mentor,” said program head and M-A teacher Chris Rubin. “We are always searching for caring, committed individuals who can make a little time in their lives to support these students.”

Prospective mentors can register for the 2016-17 program online. Chris is happy to address specific questions or concerns: crubin@seq.org.

As for Luis and Joanne, it isn’t goodbye. They’ll continue to text and stay in touch when Luis starts college.

Photo by Linda Hubbard (c) 2016

On Saturday, March 26, Hillview Middle School held its first Quiz Bowl tournament. Quiz Bowl is a game similar to the TV show Jeopardy, but with easier questions. Students compete at the middle school, high school and college level.

Ten middle school teams came to Hillview from all over the Bay Area to spend the day having fun answering questions about a wide variety of topics. Challenger School Ardenwood was the top scoring team, and their students each took home a paperback book as a prize.

“All too often, the media celebrates just athletes and artists,” said Sue Kayton, advisor to the quiz bowl clubs at Hillview and Menlo-Atherton High School.  “Quiz bowl is a place for students to be with other like-minded students who enjoy academics and pay attention to current events.”

If you have a middle-school or high school student and would like more information about Quiz Bowl, or to see sample questions, you can visit the web page for the M-A and Hillview Quiz Bowl clubs.

The Hillview Middle School quiz bowl club meets at lunchtime on Tuesdays in the music room. The Menlo-Atherton High School quiz bowl club meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays in room B-10 at lunchtime.

Photo caption: The Pi-oneer team, made of home-schooled students from Silicon Valley, with volunteer moderators Griffin Kardos and Charlie Campbell from Menlo-Atherton High School

Photo by Sue Kayton

Editor’s note: We got this report from Menlo-Atherton High School teacher Chris Rubin, who heads the school’s Academy Program (explained in this 2012 post).

“What a day! We traveled to San Francisco to celebrate our Academy students who had earned a 3.0 or above during the third quarter. We got a perfect day. Not only did we hit no traffic on our morning bus ride from M-A to the city (minor miracle), but we got perfectly blue skies and warm weather for our trip.

“When we arrived in the city, we picked up bikes for all of the students at Pier 40. We then rode along the Embarcadero waterfront, under the Bay Bridge, past the Ferry Building, through Pier 39 and Fishermans Wharf over the hill at Fort Mason and along the Marina Green before arriving at Crissy Field.

“Although not a long stop, we did have time for a festive barbecue lunch with the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop. Some students threw a football, others dipped their feet in the Bay while many of us rested up for the return trip.

“On our way back, we couldn’t pass by Ghiradelli Square! Students got to see the chocolate making process in person and, of course, sample the true “World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae” you can only find at Ghiradelli in San Francisco. We then cruised back to Pier 40 by bike, boarded the bus and headed back to campus.

“Honestly, yesterday was one of the best incentive trips I have ever been a part of. As hard as it is to believe, some of our students, ages 15-18, had still never been to San Francisco and most had never seen many of the sights we passed on our ride. We even had one student who said they had never been on a bike (except for once when he was 8). Although that made us a little nervous at first, he was cruising right along by the end of the day with support from his teachers and the other students in the program.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Menlo-Atherton Alumni Committee [which provided some funding], I feel confident saying that yesterday we created one of the most memorable experiences of these students lives! My hope is that by continuing to offer experiences like these for our students hard work, students will be motivated to continue finding ways to be successful in high school and will pursue college and career choices they may have never thought possible!”

You’re a poor kid who grew up in San Francisco’s Chinatown, who heads first to Lowell High School and then on to Cal Berkeley with thoughts of going to medical school. Only there’s this little problem: you can’t stand the sight of blood.

That’s what led much-remembered and beloved Menlo-Atherton High School biology teacher Harry Wong into education, first as a teacher and now with wife, Rosemary, as an educational speaker and consultant.

“When I got to M-A in the late 50s, I looked so young, I’d get stopped in the hallway and asked for my pass,” he recalled with a smile that’s ageless. “I really enjoyed my 17 years there.”

Harry taught both biology and general science, the latter years after he would have been required to. He remembers many of his students, some who have gone on to distinguished careers and many who keep in contact with him (like this writer, who was lucky enough to take biology from him as a sophmore).

He says the racial disturbances that erupted at the school in the late 60s were life changing for him. “Many of my colleagues were quite disturbed, but Malvin Dolmatz and I kind of seized the moment to rethink how we could provide instruction even to kids who didn’t want to be in class,” he said. “That led to us developing different approaches, some of which were activity rather than book driven. The content was the same, but the delivery was different.”

From there Harry and Dolmatz went on to sign a book deal with Prentice Hall, which took him increasingly out of the classroom. “People wanted me to come and speak to their staff, their district, about how to teach and reach kids,” he said. “One day the M-A principal called me into the office and asked, ‘Harry, what are you doing?’ and I gulped, ‘I’m leaving.’ That was a profound moment as I thought I’d spend my life teaching at M-A.”

In 1991, Harry and Rosemary co-authored and published what has become the bestselling book in education worldwide, The First Days of School, which has sold 4 million copies and is now in its fourth edition. In 1998, they founded Harry K. Wong Publications and have expanded into digital products. They continue to tour the  world speaking and consulting and believe they’ve reached over a million educators.  They also founded and fund a school in Cambodia through their First Days of School Foundation.

“All of this would not have been possible had it not been for my experience at M-A,” Harry said. “When I attended the class of ’65’s 50th reunion, I told them ‘people like you have helped me to be where I am, so I am very thankful.'”

Photos by Betsy Sergeant Snow

Emailed Carrie Du Bois, President of the San Mateo County School Boards Association: “This Monday evening (May 23) the San Mateo County School Boards Association will be holding our 36th annual Kent Awards Dinner…These awards honor outstanding educators and programs in San Mateo County.”

Carrie had attached a list of the winners and we were delighted to see, among them, a number of Menlo Park/Atherton educators/schools/districts. They are:

Jenna Carson of Menlo Atherton High School

 This special award goes to an individual who works in the area of mental health or serves very at risk students.  Jenna will receive a $1,000 grant for her program and is winning for her extraordinary work with the most at risk students at the school.

Jenna has been with Menlo Atherton for over 20 years. She helped to design the original Compass summer program for at risk students and now runs the campus Aspiration Advocates program.

TechEase Team Program, Las Lomitas Elementary School District, La Entrada Middle School; Suzanne Mitchell -Director of Technology; Shannon Potts – Principal; Lisa Cesario- Superintendent

La Entrada Middle School’s TechEase Team program is a “win-win” for everyone. With the roll-out of 1 to 1 iPads, the need for teacher and student tech support increased dramatically. Students in 6^th through 8^th grade with IT skills or wanting to learn more about technology become part of the solution.  Notes from the site visit include: “ Students volunteered because they like computers, they want to accumulate leadership hours, or their friends asked them to join. They all said it was easier and more fun than they expected, they were well prepared, and it made them feel more confident. The Tech Ease Team have become fast friends, and provide great service to the school.”

Strategies Reverse Mainstreaming Program, Las Lomitas Elementary School District, Las Lomitas Elementary School; Kim Butler- Special Education Teacher; Alain Camou- Principal; Lisa Cesario, Superintendent

Special Day Class Teacher Kim Butler  has created a unique bridge between special and general education students. She created a Reverse Inclusion program that brings general education classes into a special day class to receive academic instruction and help facilitate interaction.   The site reviewer noted: “ It’s an innovative program in that it pushes general education kids into the special education classroom on a regular basis so that the general ed kids get regular exposure to the kids in the special day class. They develop more empathy and understanding towards the special ed kids when they see them in other settings. One second grade mother of a general education student wrote a letter to the teacher saying, ‘My daughter’s second grade year is so much richer because her class is visiting the Strategies Classroom to learn where two of their classmates do some of their learning during the day. Her experience has helped our entire family think more about her friends who learn in ways that are different from us.’”

Tier 3 Positive Behavior Intervention Programs, Menlo Park City School District, Laurel School, Encinal School, Oak Knoll School and Hillview Middle School

Program Coordinators: Laurel School – Ashley Guilliot, School Counselor. and Lisa Walton, School Psychologist; Oak Knoll School – Nicole Scott, School Counselor, and Jenny Ryan, School Psychologist; Encinal School – Karin Bloom, School Counselor, Jana Parker, School Psychologist, Margie Rubin, Behavior Interventionist; Hillview Middle School – Chris Arrington, School Psychologist, and Kim Staff, Wellness Coordinator; Willy Haug, Principal; Maurice Ghysels, Superintendent.

This program is designed for the most behaviorally challenging students in the district. Counselors, psychologists, behavior interventionists and the wellness coordinator make up the support team. The school and the families work together to fully support each student. The site reviewer wrote in her remarks: “I had goosebumps during my visit as I saw the incredibly powerful support offered to children who need our help the most. This amazing program is very deserving of a Kent Award and I suggested they also apply to present at the CSBA conference this year. This surely is a best practice model for the entire State of California.”