Sun School Notes for Jan. 16 -- Sister-to-Sister Summit

'Sister-to-Sister Summit' at Orinda Intermediate School

To combat the "mean girls" spirit in some teenage girls, theAmerican Association of University Women is sponsoring the 10th"Sister-to-Sister Summit" on March 7 at Orinda Intermediate School.

Middle school can be a difficult time for girls, with cliques,verbal and behavioral bullying, meanness and exclusion, experts say.

"At (the association) we believe that girls need to have a safeand non-judgmental place to express their doubts, hopes and fear,"says Mary Holzheimer, a family therapist who has been volunteeringwith the group for six years. "We provide them with a place wherethey will hear they are not alone and can build or reinforce theirfriendships and support group."

It has been demonstrated that girls who are connected and whoform deep friendships rooted in common positive experiences developa stronger self-image and become more successful in all avenues oflife, according to event sponsors.

The summit is managed by high school girls who have been trainedover a six-month period by American Association of University Womenmentors. The older girls learn to listen, empathize, direct groupdiscussion and offer advice.

To register, go online to www.omlaauw.org

-- Elisabeth Nardi

Highway Patrol to hold session for new drivers

The California Highway Patrol and Acalanes Parent Educationpresent a class Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. designed to reduce the number ofteenage injuries and deaths from car wrecks.

Parents and new drivers participate in the class together andlearn about the dangers young drivers face, restrictions on driversunder 18, defensive driving and strategies for parents to reduce thelikelihood their children will be in a car accident.

Space for the class, to be held at Acalanes High School, islimited. To sign up, visit www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/adulted/html/pehighschool.htm or send an e-mail to lgsendme@sbcglobal.net with"Drive Smart" in the subject line. The e-mail should include studentand parent names and the child's high school's name.

-- Paul Thissen

MEF awards mini-grants to teachers

The Moraga Education Foundation has given 11 grants totaling$17,295.50 to Camoplindo High School teachers for projects in thesciences, visual and performing arts, physical education, specialeducation and social studies departments.

The money will be available for the next school year.

-- Paul Thissen

Parent event on understanding boys

On Feb. 5, the Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek will host alecture with guest speaker Dr. William Pollack on "Understanding andInteracting with Boys of All Ages."

An internationally recognized authority on boys and men, Pollackis founder and director of the "Real Boys" educational programs. Hehas served on the U.S. presidential initiative The National CampaignAgainst Youth Violence, and is a consultant to The United StatesSecret Service, including its collaborative Safe Schools Initiativewith the U.S. Department of Education.

At the lecture, Pollack will give tips on how to guide boyssuccessfully through the many challenges they face.

This is the third of four workshops in Seven Hills' ParentEducation Series.

Admission is $15 per person, and the public is welcome andencouraged to attend. Educators are admitted free of charge. Toregister or buy tickets online go to www.sevenhillsschool.org.

-- Elisabeth Nardi

Parent event on kids' technology use

Social Worker Jason Brand will speak about parenting in a digitalworld and how to handle concerns about Internet and cell phoneusage.

The free event will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28 atJoaquin Moraga Intermediate School.

The session will include tips on social isolation, lack ofphysical activity, setting limits on cell phone and Internet use andcyberbullying.

Participants can register at the event or online atadulted.acalanes.k12.ca.us/onlinereg/. For more information, contactVera Babor at vbabor@acalanes.k12.ca.us.

-- Paul Thissen

Kindergarten registration to open

The Lafayette School District will enroll new kindergarteners inJanuary and February. Parents should go to their local school at thefollowing times:

-- Lafayette Elementary: Jan. 27 or 28 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1to 2:30 p.m.

-- Burton Valley Elementary: Jan. 27 or 28 from 9 to 11 a.m. and1 to 2:30 p.m.

-- Happy Valley Elementary: Jan. 27 or 28 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1to 2:30 p.m.

-- Springhill Elementary: Feb. 3 or Feb. 4 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Parents must bring proof of residence, the child's birthcertificate, emergency contact information and the child'simmunization record.

Proof of residence requires all of the following:

-- A passport, California drivers' license with vehicleregistration, California ID or military ID.

-- A rental or lease agreement with the parent's and student'snames, manager's or owner's name and phone number and writtenverification of current status, or a current renter's insurancepolicy; a current property tax bill or current homeowner's insurancepolicy; or an escrow document showing the closing date scheduledwithin 30 days of enrolling.

-- Current state or federal tax returns with W-2 or 1099attached, current payroll/check stub with name and address, orcurrent correspondence from a government agency.

-- Paul Thissen

Open enrollment in Acalanes district

Students in the Acalanes high school district who wish totransfer from the school of their residence to another within thedistrict may apply until Feb. 27 to transfer.

Acalanes, Campolindo and Miramonte high schools will accepttransfers from within the district on a space-available basis.

For more information visit www.acalanes.k12.ca.us.

-- Paul Thissen

Orinda kindergarten registration open

Orinda Union School District kindergarten registration for the2009-2010 school year will begin in February.

Parents registering children entering public school in Augustshould attend registrations on Feb. 2 through Feb. 5, from 9 a.m. to1 p.m. at each of the four elementary schools.

Registrants should have age, residency and immunizationverification, as well as completed student information and healthforms. A completed home language survey is also required forregistration.

Parents who need help in determining which school their childshould attend can check the OUSD Web site at www.orindaschools.org.,under "Attendance Area," or call the district office at 925-258-6214.

-- Aaron Morrison

Rummage sale at Las Lomas

The Las Lomas Rummage Sale is coming and organizers are trying tocollect as much stuff as possible for the ninth annual school sale.

From old televisions to computers, mismatched dishes to oldfurniture, Las Lomas wants it all. Collection of gently-used itemswill begin at Las Lomas after the winter break. If you have a largeitem of value that you can't store until January, contact Mary JeanBesecker at besecker4@aol.com. The rummage sale will be held March14, with proceeds going to the school's Class of 2011.

-- Elisabeth Nardi

To submit an item for School Notes, reach Paul Thissen at 925-943-8163 or pthissen@bayareanewsgroup.com.