On the blackboard On the blackboard (January 19, 2005)

BRINGING UP BICYCLISTS . . . The Palo Alto Council for PTA's and the Palo Alto Recreation Department are sponsoring several upcoming classes for parents to help them raise smart bicyclists . The two-hour sessions are targeted for parents of children 10 years old and younger, focusing on the responsibility, predictability and legal aspects of bicycling. The classes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Feb. 3, March 2 and 10 at the Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road. Tuition is $17 to $20. For more information, contact Richard Swent at 493-7979 or rswent@pacbell.net.

LIGHTS! CAMERA! ROBOTS! . . . Catch Palo Alto High School's engineering teacher, Doug Bertain , on TV next week when he demonstrates the differences between a robot and a machine. Bertain's debut is part of the Santa Clara County Office of Education's series entitled, "Silicon Valley High," which explores innovative ways teachers here use technology to help students meet and exceed academic standards. Look for Bertain's episode at 4 p.m. Jan. 26 on PBS station KTEH. For more information about the series, visit http://siliconvalleyhigh.sccoe.org.

EASING PARENTS' TEEN TROUBLES . . . Scared for the year your adolescent turns into a teenager? Worried about driver's licenses, heavier peer pressure and Advanced Placement courses? Well, the Saratoga Union Elementary School District and goodparents, inc. may have a solution. They are offering a program for parents of teens that aims to strengthen relationships and communication. The program, called "3 STEPS," runs until Feb. 23 at Redwood Middle School in Saratoga. All parents are welcome. 3 STEPS helps parents of teens communicate better, build trust and learn teen-effective communication skills. For more information, call 322-KIDS or visit www.goodparentsinc.com.

CREATIVE CLASSES FOR HOMESCHOOLERS . . . The AHA! Youth Center's winter session is over Feb. 11, but there may still time to banish your public speaking butterflies and catch a "tinkerer's workshop" in some of the innovative classes offered. The center is a full-time program geared toward homeschooled teens, but it's open to all youth ages 11 and up. In the 5,000-square-foot facility, there is a dance studio, music room, woodworking shop and a stage and film performance studio, all to help kids learn what they love with professionals who love what they do. Some of the classes include flash animation, beginner's action theater improvisation, creative Spanish, Photoshop and beyond, U.S. history through music, "For the love of literature," "Making cool stuff" and Coen brothers film classics. Daily classes run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 424-8770 or visit the center at 2121 Staunton Court.

Send notices of news and events related to schools, child care or youth activities to Alexandria Rocha, Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, 94302, or arocha@paweekly.com. The monthly school section runs the third Wednesday of each month. The deadline is the second Thursday of the month at 5 p.m.

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