On the blackboard On the blackboard (January 18, 2006)

NOT JUST ANY DAY . . . For months, Palo Alto High School senior Rachel Freier-Miller has been raising funds to send her peers to Camp Anytown, an intensive four-day residential retreat for high school students based on respect, acceptance and diversity. Both Paly and Gunn high schools have sent students for years, but the program is suffering because of recent budget cuts. On Feb. 4, Miller is hosting an all-day "Anytown Mini-Camp" at Paly for community members to experience what Camp Anytown is like. The event is open to community members of all ages, although the activities are targeted toward adults and students in sixth-grade and up. Lunch will be offered. For more information or to reserve a space, contact Kris Brockmann or Mary Ellen Bena at 833-4275.

THINKING GLOBALLY . . . Through Friday, students at Palo Alto's Castilleja School are thinking outside the Palo Alto box. The school has launched its first Global Week to promote greater appreciation and understanding of the world's current ecological, political, humanitarian, health, and economic issues. Each day, the girls are hearing from guest speakers, watching documentaries, and holding break-out sessions focusing on such global issues. Some of the guests include Megan Mylan, who produced "Lost Boys of Sudan," an Emmy-nominated movie about orphaned boys from Sudan, and Helen Stacy, director of Stanford University's Center of Democracy. For more information about Castilleja's Global Week, e-mail Karen Tobey at Karen_tobey@castilleja.org or Christy Story at Christy_story@castilleja.org.

MINIMIZE THE RISK . . . An upcoming parent-education event at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital will aim to give parents necessary skills to raise adolescents during difficult times. Parents will learn how to create a partnership of trust when talking to their teen about behavior that could be dangerous to their health. "In stormy weather: How to navigate together through higher-stakes adolescent behavior" will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the hospital. For more information, visit www.lpch.org.

ON TOUR . . .Palo Alto Partners in Education, a local nonprofit organization that raises funds for public schools here, is hosting several upcoming tours of Gunn and Palo Alto high schools. The high schools' staff and administration will be on hand to show visitors around the campus. The tours are open to the public. Paly tours will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. or 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 31, and Gunn tours will be held at those same times Feb. 2. To reserve a spot, call Megan Swezey Fogarty at 473-0428 or e-mail her at meganfogarty@sbcglobal.net.

NATURE LOVER . . . It's safe to say most children love nature, and they would probably love it even more if they knew its hidden secrets. The Peninsula Conservation Center in Palo Alto is looking for volunteers to provide much needed environmental education to elementary school children throughout the county. No experience is required, as training is available in four program areas -- foothill ecology, urban ecology, birds, and Native American history. The classes are held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays through March 2. For more information, call 961-0545.

POWER-PLAY DAY . . .Mid Peninsula High School is hosting its second annual "Girls' Economic Power Day" filled with interactive skills-based work shops on a variety of topics, including fearless speaking, entrepreneurship, career choices, credit cards, communication and conflict resolution, as well as investing, budgeting and negotiating. Organizers are looking for community members to volunteer, spread the word, bring participants, and sponsor girls to attend. The day of power, targeted toward girls 14 to 18 years old, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the school, 1340 Willow Road in Menlo Park. For more information, visit www.lifemoxie.com/events or call 415-550-0667.
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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