LASD girls learn communication skills

When Los Altos resident Stacy Peña’s daughter comes home upset about a conflict with other girls at school, Peña is well-equipped to speak with her using language she will understand.

Peña and her daughter attended a four-week workshop at Santa Rita School earlier in the school year led by the Girls Leadership Institute. Currently a group of 15 Los Altos School District girls and their mothers participate in the series at Loyola School.

LAH Gunn High student named Presidential Scholar in the Arts

Los Altos Hills student Kenric Tam received top honors last week when he was named a 2008 Presidential Scholar in the Arts.

Tam, a Gunn High School senior, is one of 139 outstanding American high school seniors who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship and service at school and in their community. Tam and the other Presidential Scholars will be honored for their accomplishments June 21-24 in Washington, D.C. It will be Tam’s first trip to the national capital.

St. Francis senior steps up as California youth governor

Don’t tell St. Francis High School senior David Murdter that young people aren’t interested in politics and involved in their communities. As California youth governor this year, he has addressed 2,300 teens assembled for mock government sessions and listened to them debate the merits of cigarette taxes, alternative fuel and other policies.

Murdter recently wrapped up his year as youth governor with the California Youth and Government Model Legislation and Court. The educational program exposes young people to hands-on policy and government work. The program recruits teens from around the state, who choose the government positions they want to role-play for the year. The teens run for elected office, hold mock assembly sessions, write bills and lobby for or against them.

Board Brief

LASD board votes on BCS housing

The Los Altos School District Board of Trustees voted to offer the Egan Camp School an additional 2.5 classroom units for Bullis Charter School for the 2008-2009 school year.