2009 January Harker News Inserts

HARKER

Supplement to Harker News

PERFOR MING ARTS

Benefit Recital Support the Harker Upper School orchestra trip to the National Orchestra Cup in New York this Spring

Sat., Jan. 3 7:30 pm

Nichols Hall Auditorium

A highlighted performance of the evening will be alumni Audrey Kwong, Stephanie Kim, Jonathan Wang and Catherine Chiu performing the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat.

$25 per seat

Tickets can be purchased at the door or reserved by e-mailing me at Chrisf@harker.org.

408.345.9636

OofC: 12/08 (RM)

Supplement to Harker News

Snap Up A Table For You & Your Friends!

Four Simple Steps To Reserve Your Place

Reservation Deadline: February 13th, 2009 #1 - CHOOSE YOUR EVENT! Dinner Gala - $180 each

Luncheon Show - $90 each

In addition to our fashion show, enjoy fabulous pre-show entertainment, a three-course meal, and our Showcase drawing. Attire: dressy casual to dressy. Even if you don’t have a table of ten, you can be seated with folks you know (see next section)!

All the fun of the luncheon show, with a four-course dinner plus a spirited live auction and post-show dancing! Attire: semi-formal to formal, depending on your style! Even if you don’t have a table of ten, you can be seated with folks you know (see next section)!

#2 - DECIDE HOW MANY!

Reserve Individual Seats

Reserve your own seats, but still sit with friends! Just indicate with whom you would like to be seated, either by name (John Bono) or by group (Grade 3). Our reservations staff will do their best to accommodate your request.

Reserve a Table of Ten

Gather your own group and send in a reservation for a whole table.

And even though you’re booking the whole table, everyone can still pay their own way using the Group Order Forms online: Fashion Show> Reservations & Hotel.

Be A Table Captain

Two or More Tables Reserve two or more tables of 10 and have a chance to win a spa gift certificate! Use the Group Order Forms online and contact Mary Malysz for more information at malysz@comcast.net.

#3 - CHOOSE HOW TO RESERVE! Online reservations open January 5th at www.harker.org.

R Reserve Online Invitations have already been mailed; be sure to order by Feb. 13!.

R Reserve by Mail or Fax #4 - SELECT YOUR PAYMENT OPTION! R Charge to your Student Account R Use your Credit Card R Pay by Check (mail-in only)

Break Up The Payment

Remember, now everyone in a group can pay their own way upfront by using the handy Group Order Forms found online: Fashion Show>Reservations & Hotel

Seating assignment is based primarily upon sponsorship level and reservation date. All Freeze Frame Fashion Show reservations must be completed by 5pm on Friday, February 13. No tickets are issued for this event. Table assignments are provided upon check-in. For questions on reservations e-mail fsreserve@harker.org or call the Fashion Show Info Line at 408.345.0115. For all other fashion show issues e-mail fashionshow@harker.org

Supplement to Harker News

alumni announcements

Alumni Visitor Policy Harker encourages and enjoys having alumni stop by the alumni office to visit, tour the campus and visit with current students, faculty and staff. As alumni you are expected to follow the same policy as other visitors to the campus. All visitors are stopped at the guard station and if you do not have a scheduled appointment, just let security know you are a graduate stopping by for a visit. Security will ask for your name, issue a parking pass, call the receptionist to announce your arrival on campus and instruct you to go to the front desk where a name badge will be issued. The receptionist will call the alumni director, Terry Walsh, (or someone assigned to greet alumni in her absence) and she will meet you at the front desk. The visitor policy applies to the school day from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and does not apply for alumni events.

Alumni Award Nominations Do you know an alumnus/alumna who is a dedicated volunteer? Who has an outstanding career? Who has achievement in service? If so, please let us know!

The Harker Alumni Association (HAA) alumni awards are selected annually and presented at the All Alumni Day and Awards. Send your nominations to Terry Walsh at terryw@ harker.org. n HAA Distinguished Alumni Award This award honors alumni who have displayed distinctive achievement in a chosen field of endeavor and outstanding service to society or their communities.

n HAA Phyllis Carley Service Award Phyllis Carley, whose care, commitment, talent and love of children spanned the years of her employment at Harker, lends her name to this award, which recognizes alumni or other friends who have unselfishly devoted their time and energies and made significant contributions towards advancing the programs of The Harker School.

Alumni Class Year Agents An Alumni Class Agent program is being established as part of the Harker Alumni Association. Each graduating class year needs a lead class agent and one or two class agents. The time commitment is not a big one and the work can be done from home. Agents will be given a current roster for their graduating class with the contact information Harker currently has in the alumni database and detailed instructions on how to proceed. Agents will Google, e-mail, use friends or other resources they have to get current contact information and updates on all their classmates. Updates will be submitted to the alumni director for use in the alumni notes. HAA class agents will meet once a year in the fall (this year the meeting will probably be in early January) to review progress of the Harker Alumni Association, discuss and plan for alumni involvement opportunities and nominate candidates for the annual alumni awards. There are a few other responsibilities included in the job descriptions; for more information and to find out if your class year is still in need of agents, contact alumni director Terry Walsh at terryw@harker.org or 408.345.9205.

n HAA Community Service Award This award recognizes the outstanding contributions and accomplishments of alumni who have devoted their time and talent in service to their communities.

2009 DATES TO SAVE! Please see listing of upcoming events on the other side of this sheet.

OofC: 12/08 (RM)

Supplement to Harker News

alumni announcements

2009 DATES TO SAVE! Here are lots of opportunities to return to Harker as alumni and enjoy a performance by the current Harker students! n Winter Concert with Orchestra, Bel Canto & Jazz Band Fri., Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.

Blackford Theater n US Dance Production – “Wing It!” Fri., Jan. 30 @ 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 31 @ 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Blackford Theater n Harker Fashion Show - FREEZE FRAME Fri., Feb. 20, 11 a.m. Luncheon Show & 5:30 p.m. Dinner Show San Jose Convention Center An ideal holiday gift for a friend or parent – plan now to get a group together to attend the show! n Downbeat/Jazz Band Concert Fri., March 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Blackford Theater n Research Symposium Sat., March 21, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saratoga, Nichols Hall Auditorium n Orchestra Concert Fri., April 10 at 7 p.m.

Bucknall Gym n “The Music Man” – US Conservatory Spring Musical Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m.

Fri., April 17 at 7 p.m.

Sat., April 18 at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Blackford Theater n Cantilena/Camerata/Guys’ Gig Performance Thursday, April 30 at 7:00 p.m.

Saratoga, Nichols Hall Auditorium n Downbeat & Bel Canto Performance Fri., May 1 at 7 p.m.

Saratoga, Nichols Hall Auditorium n Class of 2009 Graduation Sat., May 23 at 10 a.m.

Mountain Winery, Saratoga

For more information about any of these dates, check the Harker Web site or contact alumni director Terry Walsh at 408.345.9205 or terryw@harker.org.

n Fourth Annual All Alumni Day & Awards Sat., May 30 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Saratoga Gym and Quad

Turn this sheet over for more announcements.

OofC: 12/08 (RM)

Home&School Working Together for School Success

Connection

®

January 2009

The Harker School Supplement to the Harker News

short notes

Touch base

Parents often contact teachers when they’re concerned about their children. But teachers want to hear from you when everything’s going well, too. Send a quick note about something your child enjoyed (a field trip, a history unit).

When communication becomes a habit, it will be easier to chat if a concern crops up.

Chore balloons

Motivate your youngster to help around the house by turning chore assignments into a game. Write tasks on balloons (vacuum, dust, mop).

Then, set a timer for one minute while you bat the balloons around to each other. When the buzzer sounds, catch a balloon—and do that chore.

Snowman spelling

Improve your child’s spelling with this “chilly” version of Hangman.

First, use a pencil to draw a snowman on paper. Then, think of a word and write one blank per letter. Ask your youngster to guess the letters one by one. For each incorrect guess, erase one part of the snowman (head, hat, nose). Can she figure out your word before he “melts”?

Worth quoting “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”

Anonymous

just for fun Q: What’s as big as a giraffe but weighs nothing?

A: A giraffe’s shadow.

© 2008 Resources for Educators, a division of Aspen Publishers, Inc.

Prevent bullying Bullying is more than hitting or shoving — it’s also using words to make threats, put other children down, or leave kids out.

Help your youngster deal with different kinds of bullying with these suggestions.

Situation #1: Your child complains that she isn’t popular — the “in crowd” won’t let her sit at their lunch table. being honest, and assure her she is not Although you can’t make the stutattling. Talk to her teacher and guidance dents include your youngster, you can build her self-esteem and show her how counselor so they can help handle the to make friends with kids who will treat situation.♥ her nicely.

Encourage her to talk to Resolving to do your best friendly classmates and avoid A new year is the perfect opportunity for those who are mean or exclude your youngster to put his best foot forward. others. Help her gain confidence Share these ideas, and watch him shine: by finding friends who share her interests (music, pets) and invitl Be prepared. Your child should ing them over to play. take completed homework and books to school, sharpen his Situation #2: A classmate has been making fun pencils, and be ready to start working. of your youngster and calling her names. l Look over work Bullies who tease may be carefully. Encourage hoping for a reaction. If they him to double-check get one, they may tease even arithmetic and proofread for more. misspelled words and careless errors on classThe best response is to work and quizzes. speak confidently and walk l Attempt bonus or extra-credit questions on away. For instance, your child worksheets or tests. A few points here and might say, “You shouldn’t talk there can really add up! to people like that.” Then, she should join a group of friends l Add flair to projects. Your youngster can put or approach an adult. graphics, photographs, or drawings on a poster.

Or he could insert a poem or a quote into a Note: Always listen to your report.♥ youngster if she tells you she’s being bullied. Assume she’s

Home & School Connection

January 2009 • Page 2

®

My memoir

Gather memories. Help your

child make a “memory chart.” He can divide a sheet of paper into three columns for people (family, friends, teachers), places (home, school, vacation spots), and activities (scouts, sports, games).

Everyone has a story to tell. Encourage your child to practice his writing skills by telling about his life in his very own memoir.

Get started. Using the chart, he can begin his memoir with something that’s important to him. For instance, he might choose soccer and write, “I am a seven-year-old soccer player,” or, “When I was five, I played soccer for the first time.”

Read examples. Show your

youngster what a memoir is. Read When I Was Little: A Four-YearOld’s Memoir of Her Youth (Jamie Lee Curtis) or Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir (Eloise Greenfield and Lessie Jones Little).

Talk about what’s included, such as facts about the writer’s family and important events in her life.

activit y corner

All bundled up Astronauts use it in their spacesuits.

It’s in the walls of our houses. It keeps us warm, and it keeps us cool, too.

What is it? Insulation!

Let your youngster try this science experiment to see which materials make the best insulators.

You’ll need: ice cubes, wool hat, cotton sock, aluminum foil, plastic wrap Ask your child to hold an ice cube in her bare hand for a few seconds—she’ll see how cold it feels.

Then, have her wrap one cube in each of the different materials.

She can set them all on a tray and see which one keeps the ice frozen the longest. Let her use a watch or clock with a second hand to record how long it takes for each one to melt.

Which insulator works best? Answer: Wool, because it traps the most air. Air itself is a good insulator, providing another layer of protection that keeps heat from moving out of an object.♥ O u r

P u r pos e

To provide busy parents with practical ideas that promote school success, parent involvement, and more effective parenting.

Resources for Educators, a division of Aspen Publishers, Inc. 128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630 540-636-4280 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com www.rfeonline.com ISSN 1540-5621 © 2008 Resources for Educators, a division of Aspen Publishers, Inc.

Organize information. Talk about ways your youngster

might present his information. For example, he could write about events in the order they happened. Or he might divide his memoir into chapters about different parts of his life (school, summer break).♥

Q Being honest & My daughter told me she was visiting her friend A Q: next door. But I found out she really went down the block. What should I do?

A: First, explain that her decision could have put her in danger. You didn’t know where she was, and she went farther than she was allowed to go.

Then, talk to her about the consequences of not telling the truth. Let her know that you may find it harder to believe her next time. You might have to question her more closely or not let her go to her friend’s house alone until you feel you can trust her again.

Note: Whenever possible, praise your child for being you honest. For example, if she admits to breaking a picture frame, say, “Thank for telling me the truth. I know that was hard.”♥

ent Par to Parent

Family show-and-tell

My son’s class has show-and-tell the last day of each month. Owen looks forward to it so much that we decided to have our own family showand-tell every Friday evening. We talked about things we might share, and I suggested that Owen show us his schoolwork or talk about his hobbies.

So far, he has shown paintings he made in art,

demonstrated karate moves, and displayed a model airplane he built. I’ve shared items I’m knitting and projects I’ve done at work. And just like in school, we make nice comments about the things each person shares.

I think family showand-tell has helped us get to know each other a little better. Plus, it’s great practice for when my son gets up in class to talk about something he has brought.♥