FHDA seeks applicants for oversight committee
The Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees seeks applicants for appointment to the independent, volunteer Measure C Citizens’ Oversight Committee, which will review and report to the public on the district’s Measure C bond expenditures. Measure C, a Proposition 39 bond measure requiring 55 percent of the vote to pass, was approved by 66 percent of district residents voting in June.
Applicants for the Citizens’ Oversight Committee must reside in the district’s service area, which includes the cities of Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, most of Sunnyvale and portions of San Jose, Santa Clara and Saratoga. Applicants may not be an employee, contractor, consultant or vendor of the district. The district seeks seven committee members in the following categories: active in a business organization, active in a senior citizen’s organization, active in a Foothill-De Anza organization, currently enrolled student, member of a bona fide taxpayers’ association and an at-large citizen.
Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their qualifications and noting the category or categories they would represent to chancellor@fhda.edu or Office of the Chancellor, Foothill-De Anza Community College District, 12345 S. El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills 94022. Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. Sept. 29. The board will appoint members to the Citizens’ Oversight Committee at its Oct. 16 meeting.
The Citizens’ Oversight Committee bylaws are available at www.fhda.edu/citizens_oversight_committee_applications or by calling 949-6100.
Stratford School in PA hosts children’s concert
Stratford School’s Palo Alto campus will host a free children’s classical concert 12:30 p.m. Oct. 1 to benefit the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford and to introduce its Palo Alto campus to the community.
Conductor and violinist Imant Kotsinsh, formerly with the Bolshoi Theater of Opera and Ballet in Moscow, will conduct. There will be a guest performance by former New York Philharmonic violinist William Barbini.
Kotsinsh said his passion to instill an interest in music in children as a way to stimulate and develop imagination led him to partner with Stratford Schools.
Limited seating will be available, but there is additional room for those who would like to picnic on the lawn.
Families are invited to bring new, unwrapped toys (no more than $10 each) for children ages one month to 18 years to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. Donations by check are also welcome, with all proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House.
Stratford School’s Palo Alto campus is at 870 N. California Ave. For more information on the event or the Ronald McDonald toy wish list, call Stratford School at 493-1151 or visit www.stratfordschools.com.
Stanford courses open to the public
Registration is under way for dozens of evening classes, weekend workshops and special events offered by Stanford Continuing Studies during the fall quarter, including more than 60 liberal arts and science courses and 20 courses in professional and personal development. Courses are open to all adults.
A sampling of subjects includes foreign languages (including introductory Persian), writing, geography, residential real estate, acting, film noir and nanotechnology.
Nearly 75 percent of the faculty teaching in Stanford’s Continuing Studies Program are directly affiliated with the university as faculty, academic fellows or Stanford researchers.
To register for the fall quarter, visit www.continuingstudies.stanford.edu. Courses begin the week of Sept. 25.
Mountain View Academy holds open house
Mountain View Academy has scheduled an open house for prospective students and parents 3 p.m. Oct. 15 at the school’s campus, 60 S. Shoreline Blvd.
The open house offers the opportunity to learn about the Christian college preparatory school, which has been serving the community since 1922. Guests can meet the principal, interact with teachers, view music and dramatic performances and enjoy refreshments and prizes.
For more information, visit www.mtnviewacademy.org or call 967-2324.
Foothill-De Anza seeks homes for foreign students
Hosts for international students at Foothill and De Anza colleges are needed for a three- month stay.
Hosts will receive $750 per month for room and board and will be expected to help the student become oriented after arrival. Hosts can be single, couples or families.
Students will arrive in September and October and can take the bus to school. All students speak English and will take courses in English. They come from Asia, Europe and other continents.
For more information, call Kristi Clark at 949-3091 or e-mail k.clarke@mindspring.com.
Volunteers needed for art docent program
The Los Altos Art Docents are recruiting new volunteers to assist in bringing art lessons to Los Altos School District children. The docents have developed more than 40 units of hands-on appreciation lessons in watercolor, brush painting, clay, graphic design, architecture and printmaking for kindergarten through sixth-grade students.
Taught by experienced docents, trainee docents will receive extensive training in both hands-on and art appreciation units. Training classes begin this month. No prior experience is required.
For more information. contact Nan Bajka at 947-1194.
The Underground throws party
Los Altos teens are invited to a ’70s-themed back-to-school party 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Underground, located at the back of the Garden House in Shoup Park, off University Avenue in Los Altos, is a free, drop-in facility that offers a wide variety of recreational activities for teens. The Underground boasts pool and air hockey tables, foosball, Xbox, PS2, music and computers for gaming, and a big-screen TV. The Underground sells snacks for a small fee.
The Underground is open 3:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays and 2-8 p.m. Saturdays.
For more information, visit www.ci.los-altos.ca.us/recreation.
Castro encourages literacy in classroom
Castro Elementary School invites community members to share stories with third-graders on Tuesday mornings this fall. Volunteers can help children improve their writing and English language skills.
Castro is holding a seven-week program starting Sept. 26. Volunteers will receive explicit week-to-week instructions. No writing or teaching experience is necessary.
For information or to volunteer, contact Linda McCrary at lmccrary@mvlaae.net or 940-6024.
Registration begins for Lego robotics team
Team registration has started for this fall’s First Lego League robotics challenge called NANO Quest. The robotics program introduces boys and girls, from grade 4 to 14-year-olds, to engineering, science, math and technology.
First Lego League pairs an academic challenge with a sports-like playing field where students invent independent robots. Teams of four to six students receive a new challenge each fall. For eight weeks, each team is responsible for the design, construction, programming and testing of their robot to compete in the challenge.
Los Altos Robotics sponsors the Los Altos FLL Competition, a qualifying event for the Northern California state tournament in San Jose. Last year, 23 Los Altos area teams with more than 120 local students participated. Cost per student is in the $125 to $160 range.
Visit www.LosAltosRobotics.org for details and recent tournament video. Team registration has started at www.firstlegoleague.org.
For more information, visit www.LosAltosRobotics.org or call Michael Schuh at 965-8037.
MVHS marching band sponsors benefit
Families are invited to join the Mountain View High School Spartan Marching Band at the high school dining hall for a lasagna dinner 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
The dinner, $12 per person, will benefit the Carol Fischer Memorial Fund, which provides scholarships and underwriting for instrumental music students. Before the dinner at 4 p.m., guests can view the marching band’s rehearsal of its new field show, “Tsunami,” written by music director Adam Beck.
Mountain View High School is at 1299 Bryant Ave. For more information, contact Won Hur at wonhur@mindspring.com.
Covington hosts time-management expert
Parents are invited to a speech by Ali Meyers, an expert in teaching time management, study and organizational skills to students, 9-11 a.m. Sept. 20 in Covington Elementary School’s multipurpose room.
The speech is intended to offer parents new ideas and fresh perspectives on time management and organizational skills. Parents can learn how to build independence and self-management in their children. There is time for questions after the speech.
The Special Education Local Plan Area Community Advisory Committee is the event sponsor.
For more information, contact Karen Mueller at 964-3689 or mueller4@ix.netcom.com.
Adult Ed programs bring students to the garden
The MVLA Adult Education program is looking for volunteers to help Castro Elementary School students with gardening this fall.
The program brings Castro students into the Mountain View Senior Center garden on Tuesday afternoons. With three students per volunteer, students benefit by interacting with adults, learning new vocabulary and concepts and having an opportunity to ask questions while exploring nature’s life cycle.
For more information, contact Linda McCrary at lmccrary@mvlaae.net or 940-6024.
