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MYTHOLOGICAL JOURNEY ... Two teachers from Castilleja school studied myths from different regions of the world at the ninth annual Teacher Institute at the National Gallery of Art in our nation's capital. Ann Criswell and Judy Sleeth joined 152 other teachers from around the country at the National Gallery. The gallery features a large collection of works that concentrate on Greek and Roman myths. The group also studied the role mythology and storytelling plays in African, Native American and Asian cultures.

STELLAR TEACHER ... Out of a field of more than 150 teachers, Nativity School's junior high science teacher Helen Donovan was selected as a core teacher in the NASA/Ames STELLAR Program. The program, Science Training for Enhancing Leadership and Learning through Accomplishments in Research, allows teachers to improve their knowledge and understanding of science, technology and math by working with scientists and engineers at NASA/Ames in Mountain View. Through this work Donovan was able to create a set of science activities and curriculum for grades 6-12. For her work Donovan received a Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislative Assembly and a letter of congratulations from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.

INTELLECTUAL SILVER MEDAL ... Menlo School sophomore Philip Zeyliger finished in second place at the International Olympiyeda, or "Olympics of the Mind." The Olympiyeda is a televised competition sponsored by the Israel National Museum of Science. There were 12 finalists, chosen from hundreds of ninth- and 10th-graders from the United States, Israel, Canada, Britain and Australia. For placing second Zeyliger won a $1,000 prize in addition to an all-expenses-paid trip to a science camp in Haifa, Israel. The competition is designed to promote science as a career goal.

HELPING THE COMMUNITY ... On Oct. 8, all of Castilleja School's 385 students helped out 37 Bay Area organizations by volunteering for the day. Some of the activities included helping preschoolers make haunted houses at the Palo Alto YWCA, packaging grocery lists at Project Open Hand in San Francisco and making crafts with seniors at Palo Alto's Lytton Gardens. This was the seventh annual Community Service Day at the school.

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