On the blackboard On the blackboard (November 16, 2005)

FROM PA TO LA. . .As part of the communitywide "Bridge of Caring" program to help schools in Louisiana's St. Tammany Parish, more than $50,000 worth of school supplies was shipped earlier this month to the various campuses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Steve Seymour, a parent of an Addison Elementary School student, works for FedEx and helped send the donations, which included about 90 boxes of new and gently used books and 1,900 student school-supply kits. The kits, which were assembled by kids during a special after-school program at Duveneck Elementary School, were customized for each grade level. For example, the first-grade kits included crayons, markers, scissors, a large eraser, glue stick, and pencils in a pencil box. Each kit was sealed with a sticker, reading "packed by a child who cares" and signed by the student who assembled it. Dozens of other boxes with general classroom supplies were also shipped. For more information on the Bridge of Caring program, visit www.paloaltopta.org.

STRAIGHT TALK . . .The Palo Alto school district is hosting a parent education night, entitled "Reality Check," to highlight the truth about under-aged drinking and the legal consequences for parents and teens. Representatives from the Palo Alto Police Department, Santa Clara District Attorney's Office and Sequoia Counseling Services will present information. Free copies of the "Parent/Teen Guide to Underage Drinking and Driving" from the Traffic Safe Community Network of Santa Clara County and Stanford Hospital Trauma Service will be available. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in the district's board room, 25 Churchill Ave.

KIDS AND TRAFFIC SCHOOL . . .The Palo Alto Police Department has launched a pilot traffic school program for youth who violate the rules of the road. Kids who are ticketed will be encouraged to take a two-hour class rather than just pay a fine, which for some violations can coast more than $100. Classes will be taught by police officers and information on common traffic violations and bicycle safety will be discussed. Participants will also hear from a trauma survivor. Kids much attend the classes with a parent or guardian. For more information, call 408-494-7843.

SISTER TALK . . .Two Palo Alto teenagers, Julia and Katie Ransohoff, 16 and 14, have been awarded grants to develop education curriculum modules on bullying and healthy peer relationships for use by students and teachers. The teenaged sisters, who attend Castilleja School, are part of a Palo Alto Medical Foundation group called SODAH, Summer Opportunities for Developing Adolescent Health, in which they contribute regular stories and articles to PAMF's teen Web sites. The girls' bullying module will be pilot tested in local schools and later will be expanded and adapted to meet California's state curriculum standards, according to PAMF. To read their work, visit www.pamf.org/teen and www.pamf.org/preteen.

BOYS AND GIRLS WELCOME . . .The Terman Middle School PTA is co-sponsoring "The Boyfriend," a spoof of the English musical comedies of the 1920s. The Children's Theatre Outreach Production is guaranteed for an evening full of laughs. There are several upcoming performances, including 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road. Tickets are available at the theatre's box office from 1:30 to 6 p.m. today through Saturday. For more information, call 463-4970.

PICASSO IN PALO ALTO . . .Earlier this month, students from the International School of the Peninsula converted the halls of their Laura Lane campus into an extravagant exhibit of student artwork in the theme of "Wearable Art." Since the beginning of the school year, students have been studying the artwork of Monet, Matise, O'keefe, Hering and Picasso. After creating art in the style of each artist, the students then transformed their work into wearable, stylish pieces for a fashion show held last weekend for the school's community.

POWER MOGUL . . .The Palo Alto school district is one of eight organizations recognized this year for promoting the cost savings and environmental benefits of using energy wisely by Flex Your Power, California's statewide energy efficiency marketing and outreach campaign. While the other recipients were recognized for selling energy-efficient appliances or designing energy-efficient homes, the school district was honored for its energy-related field trips and school curricula.

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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