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| EVEREST NEWS • August 29, 2016 | ||
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Letter from the Directors There’s no weekend like the weekend after the Everest Camping Trip. The pleasures of a soft bed and a hot shower are amplified by the warm memories made and that special sense of being part of a strong community. This is the number one reason we embark on such an adventure every year - to form the relationships and bonds, especially among mentor groups, that constitute the nurturing community that will sustain rigorous learning for the rest of the academic year. I asked our Snow Leopards when we first arrived to spend the two days paying extra attention to showing a spirit of “TIOS” - This Is Our School. I reminded them that when Everest first opened in 2009, there were forces that did not want our school to exist. They kept us out of our building, using an obscure regulation claiming that it was slightly too close to the nearest airport, to discourage us from opening. However, the community’s resolve was not to be broken and we opened on time, putting 100 students on the Caltrain every day and walking a mile from the Palo Alto stop to hold five weeks of class on the campus of Stanford University. This spirit of TIOS was necessary if we wanted our school to exist, and the Snow Leopards (who hadn’t actually chosen their mascot yet) were up to the challenge. A spirit of TIOS was especially necessary on the Camping Trip this year, because our collective behavior last year did not leave an excellent impression with our camp neighbors, who complained about our noisiness overnight. This year, our Snow Leopards more than lived up to that challenge. As a collective community, they:
Please join us in giving a thunderous appreciation to everyone whose generosity made this amazing trip possible! Sincerely, Message From the EPO Wow, that was a busy first two weeks of school. Thanks to everyone who came out for the excellent Back to School Night on Thursday, August 18th. Please be sure to mark your calendars for Back to School Night Part 2 on Thursday, September 8th. You will meet your student's teachers, hear more from our school directors...it will be another informative evening so please plan on attending! And the camping trip, of course. As I write this I am preparing for another fun two days up in Boulder Creek. I am sure that it will be fabulous, be sure to talk with your student about it...ask about the Mentor Olympics, the Talent Show, the breakout sessions. It is truly a one of a kind experience. Many thanks to all who helped make the trip possible, especially the amazing Jay Patel, Jimmy Zuniga, Dave Signorello, Mimi Ezray, Mimi Tudor, Stacey Signorello and Ed Kerr. We have a lot more upcoming events besides Back to School Night Part 2: Friday, September 2nd 8:15-9:45am - First Friday Parents Coffee at Main & Elm - 150 Elm Street in Redwood City I hope to see you at one or more of these events! Come be a part of the wonderful Everest community! Linda Burt Fundraising Has Begun! We want to make fundraising simple at Everest...no auctions, no parties, we are just asking for a simple donation. What would you money go toward? Here is a short list: What won't your money be used for? We won't use it to cover teacher's salaries, facilities, anything that would be considered a core function of running the school. Our goal is to truly do MORE with LESS. Any money that we raise will go toward the extra programs that make our school really special. Come to Back to School Night Part 2 to hear more about our fundraising philosophy. How much should you donate? That is a completely personal decision. Last year we received donations ranging from $25 to $5000. Any amount helps! In the near future, we will be talking more about how Everest gets our funding (short answer: the state of California, we don't receive any funding from Summit Public Schools). To make a donation, you have four options:
Questions about fundraising? Please contact Chris Lewine or Linda Burt. First Fridays Parent Coffee Graphic Designer & Website Designer Needed Please contact Linda Burt if you could help us in either of these two areas. New Family FAQs Corner What if my student is sick or cannot come to school? Attendance is important. However we understand that illness and other life events do happen. Everest parents should call the Attendance line (650) 366-1050 by 8:15 am to report any student absence. As a parent, how can I feel part of this community more quickly? Everest is a small school where ‘everyone knows everyone’. So it’s very easy. Sign up for communications (yahoo group, newsletter, etc.). Get involved and meet other parents. If you see a need or something that could be improved, talk to the appropriate persons (mentor, director, EPO, etc.) and volunteer to help make a positive difference. Volunteering will bring enrichment to our students but also help you become part of the Everest community. There are a variety of opportunities that may accommodate schedules and financial resources. All parent volunteer opportunities are posted at http://everest.summitps.org/parents/volunteer. For more FAQs, see http://everest.summitps.org/parents/new-family-welcome or access it directly here .Join the Everest Parents' Yahoo Group We’d like to invite you to join the Everest Parents Yahoo Group! This is an informal group that is sponsored by the Everest EPO and moderated by a parent volunteer coordinator. This is another communication channel where parents can share information about school or community events, request carpools or volunteers, and share information about academic, extracurricular and community opportunities. The goal of this group is to foster communication among parents of students attending Everest Public School. This is not an official communications channel. Please continue to contact teachers or administration directly. Everest Athletics Update Boys Soccer: NEW TRYOUT DATES: Tues 8/30, Wed 8/31, and Thur 9/1from 6:15 - 7:45 pm at Sequoia High School. The team will be using the baseball/softball field area located on the Elwood Street side of the campus. All athletes must complete a sports packet before they are eligible to tryout for the Everest athletics program. Please download the updated packet off of the http://everest.summitps.org/community-partners/athletics or access it directly here. You can also pick up a copy in the new flyer folders by the teachers lounge entrance. Students interested in playing fall sports should turn in the packet as soon as possible! Please contact Everest Athletics Directors, Mike Blondino or Heather Lowe at everestphsathletics@gmail.com if you have any questions or need any help. M-A PARENT EDUCATION SERIES Panel Discussion with M-A Principal Simone Rick-Kennel, former M-A Principal Matthew Zito, and members of the Student & Staff Well-Being and Balance (SSWBB) Committee Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, 7:00 – 8:30 pm HOMEWORK. COLLEGE ESSAYS. SOCIAL MEDIA. SPORTS. VOLUNTEERING. PART-TIME JOBS. FRIENDS. Teens' lives are jam-packed from the time they wake up until the time they can finally sleep, and just keeping up is a daily struggle for some. BREAKING POINTS, a short documentary, explores the stress and pressures our teens face every day, as well as the unhealthy ways that many of them cope, including abusing prescription stimulants. This powerful film is part of The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids' Medicine Abuse Project, a national action campaign with the goal of preventing and addressing prescription medicine abuse among teens. M-A Parent Education Series events are free, sponsored by the M-A PTA, the Sequoia Healthcare District, and the Sequoia Union High School District. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Parents, students, faculty/staff, and community members welcome! Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, M.A., Director, The Parent Education Series, at cmargot@csmconsulting.net or 650.868.0590. Newsletter Submission Information Quick Links Contact Us | Everest Website | Visit Our Facebook Page | Parent PLP |
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| OUR MISSION: To prepare a diverse student population for success in a four-year college, and to be thoughtful, contributing members of society | ||
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