 Dear Stanbridge Families, Students, Alumni, and Staff,
A very happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Stanbridge Academy! This is a time of year to reflect on what we are grateful for, and I want to express my gratitude to all of you for being part of the Stanbridge community. As we spend the next few days with family and friends, I am reminded of the incredible extended family that exists at our school:
From our extended Stanbridge family to yours, it is with a heart full of appreciation that I wish all of you a happy Thanksgiving. With gratitude, Julie Smith Head of School Dear Stanbridge Community,
Due to the continued poor air quality in our area and a bleak forecast for the next few days, we have made the difficult decision to close school for the week of November 19–23. While this was scheduled to be a short week due to the Thanksgiving break, it looks as if the air quality will continue to remain in the "very unhealthy" range through Tuesday. Out of consideration for the health and well-being of our students and staff, we felt it is in the best interests of everyone to err on the side of caution, particularly with the holiday weekend coming up. Per this weekend's SFGate:
All school-related activities and clubs scheduled for Monday and Tuesday have been cancelled, and we are working with James to reschedule the Food Drive delivery to St. Anthony's so that the STAR Team can still participate. Please look for a follow-up email tomorrow regarding sign-ups for Winter Clubs; the enrollment deadline is shortly after we return from break and Linda will be sharing the club schedule and enrollment form with everyone via email and our website on Monday. This week is typically a time of celebration with family and friends, and we send our best wishes to everyone for a happy Thanksgiving. We also acknowledge the impact that these fires are having state-wide, and share our thoughts of healing, safety, and peace to everyone who has been affected. May the rains arrive soon and bring relief to all. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us via email. With gratitude for being part of the Stanbridge community, Julie Smith and Matt Poynter Stanbridge Head of School and Principal Dear Stanbridge Community,
Out of consideration for the health and well being of our students and staff, we have made the determination to close school tomorrow, Friday, November 16. Air quality has hovered in the unhealthy range all day and forecasts indicate conditions similar or worse for tomorrow. Our open-air campus is particularly impacted by these conditions. All school-related activities—including the high school movie, all clubs, and the weekend handball tournament—have also been cancelled. Junior High parents have received a separate email with details about pick-up time for the WOLF School trip. There will be staff at school to meet the students and supervise them until they are picked up. Please take care this weekend and send caring and healing thoughts to everyone impacted by these fires. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Matt or Julie via email.  These Stanbridge high school juniors and seniors are participating in a monthly internship program at Facebook, exploring possible career paths and gaining real world job experience. Approximately 75% of Stanbridge high school graduates continue their academic careers, while others enroll in residential education and transitions programs, or go directly into the workforce. Whether considering a two-year or four-year college, a vocational trade school, or exploring the job market, there are a wealth of postsecondary opportunities for students who learn differently, but with so many paths to consider, the future can be difficult to navigate. Discover what options are out there, and find the bridge that’s right for you. The 2018 Stanbridge Academy College and Career Fair will be held on campus next Thursday afternoon, November 15, from 1:00 to 3:00. The event will feature more than a dozen representatives from colleges, universities, vocational schools, employment programs, and career support programs from the Bay Area and beyond. High school students and their families are invited to attend this free event which is designed to help students connect their personal interests and passions with long term, postsecondary goals. The fair is open to current Stanbridge students and families, as well as the general public—click here for more information and to RSVP.
 A new episode of Stanbridge Student News has been posted to our website's Parent Portal—Stanbridge families can access by using their portal password. The latest episode features highlights and student reactions from the "amaaaazing!" Chinese acrobats, who performed in the Marilyn Center last month. Also, Athletic Director Mark Kelly gives a fall sports update; the News Team provides important reminders on upcoming November events and holidays; and there's plenty of footage from the annual Halloween Carnival—plus an exclusive inside look on why science teacher Jay Huston was wearing an outrageous costume on a different day, too. All this and more in the latest webisode from Stanbridge Academy's most trusted news source!
This week's Throwback Thursday post looks back to Halloween at Stanbridge, and the creative D-I-Y costumes of resident science teacher/sketch comedian Jay Huston. This year, Jay combined his love of science and appreciation of puns by dressing as The Periodic Table...a costume that also doubled as an actual table, periodically. Similarly punderful costumes included a literal take on Transformers in 2016, a Super Burrito in 2017, and a butter fly in 2014. He hit the high road in 2015 sporting a sleek Ferrari getup, though as a longtime Prince fan we're surprised he didn't opt for a Little Red Corvette. Nevertheless, Jay's creativity is on full display every day in his high school science lab—where he's prone to wear a costume or two even when it's not Halloween if it helps motivate his students. Be sure to check out our Facebook page this weekend for more highlights from this year's Stanbridge Halloween Carnival, and if you're in the market for goods to make your own creative costume, remember that AmazonSmile is donating ten-times their normal amount on qualifying purchases through this Friday.
 Elvis has left the building...and so have the rest of our students after today's annual Stanbridge Halloween Carnival. Our thanks to all of the parent volunteers who assisted with the food, games, face painting, activities, setup, cleanup, and emergency costume maintenance—your assistance helped make this a frightfully fun afternoon for everyone. In addition to any candy that may be collected while trick-or-treating tonight, a reminder that students have even more treats coming their way this week—no school for them until Monday! Both tomorrow and Friday are parent-teacher conference days here at Stanbridge; if you have any questions regarding your appointments, contact Linda or Danny in the main office. Also, don't forget that Friday will feature a special Book Fair "Sneak Peek" for parents, and the Book Fair proper opens shop for everyone on Monday morning. Click here for more details, and have a safe and happy Halloween night! (P.S.—Tons of pictures were taken during today's festivities; be sure to check our social media pages and this weekend's Weekly Bridge email for highlights!)
 If you are an online shopper, chances are you've heard of AmazonSmile. In short, when you shop on Amazon using the AmazonSmile portal, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to a charity of your choice. Thanks to the many Amazon shoppers supporting Stanbridge, more than $1,100 has been raised for our school through the program. That total is part of the more than $100,000,000 in donations that AmazonSmile has raised for charities all around the world, and to celebrate reaching the one-hundred-million dollar landmark this week, the company is making their charitable impact even bigger for a limited time.
Now through November 2, Amazon is raising its donation rate to a full 5% on qualifying purchases made through AmazonSmile—that's ten-times the original rate! With the holidays fast approaching, shopping now through Stanbridge's AmazonSmile portal is an great way to beat the Black Friday crowds and also support Stanbridge students and staff. If you're already an Amazon customer, simply click here to sign-in, and when prompted to select a charitable organization to support enter "Stanbridge Academy." That's it—you can then load-up your cart and 5% of the total price of your purchases will be donated to Stanbridge. Once entered, your Amazon purchases will always default to supporting Stanbridge whenever you login through the AmazonSmile portal. It's an easy, no-hassle way to give—and with the 5% donation rate in effect through Friday, it is (ahem) a Prime time to shop.  A new episode of Stanbridge Student News has been posted to our website's Parent Portal—Stanbridge families can access by using their portal password. The latest episode features the debut of a new segment which polls Stanbridge staff and students on a variety of topics; first up: What is your favorite thing about Halloween? Tune in to discover the "shocking" results, and find out what our SSN newscasters will be dressing-up as for next week's holiday. In other news, the annual STAR Team Thanksgiving Food Drive is currently accepting donations now through November 19th—get all the details on what to bring and where to donate. Plus, get to know Stanbridge's new Office Coordinator/Actor, Danny Marin, who sits down for an in-depth interview; and get out your calendars for some important reminders on upcoming dates and events including the upcoming Book Fair November 5–9. All this and more in the latest webisode from Stanbridge Academy's most trusted news source!
 A final reminder that today is your last chance to see two subject matter experts presenting on their topics of expertise. This afternoon, attorney David Tollner presents his "Top Ten Strategies for Getting the Most from Your IEP." The presentation will focus on the keys to a successful IEP, how to approach it, what to say and not say, and what to do before and after to maximize the supports and services for your child. It is a helpful discussion for any parent with a child on an IEP, and particularly those parents who are not happy with what the district is giving their child. This is the first of Stanbridge Academy's Expert Share Speaker Series presentations this year, and will be held here on the Stanbridge campus beginning at 1:00 p.m., running until approximately 3:00. This is a free event and open to the public; click here for more details and to RSVP.
Later this evening, Carl Honoré will present "Don't Hurry, Be Happy: Parenting in a Fast-Paced World" as part of this year's Common Ground Speaker Series. Tonight is the final opportunity to see this presentation; the event will be held at Crystal Springs Uplands School in Hillsborough starting at 7:00 p.m. See post below for more information on tonight's speaker, and click here for details on all of this year's Common Ground presenters.  This year's Common Ground Speaker Series continues this week, with Carl Honoré presenting "Don't Hurry, Be Happy: Parenting in a Fast-Paced World" on Tuesday and Wednesday at three different venues in the South Bay/San José area. Honoré is an award-winning author, broadcaster, and TED speaker who travels the world teaching individuals and organizations that the best way to power forward in today’s hypercompetitive, hurry-hurry world is often the radical act of willful deceleration.
Click here for more details on times and locations of this week's presentation, and for the full roster of this year's Common Ground speakers. Stanbridge Academy is proud to be associated with the Common Ground Speaker Series. Each school year, the series presents distinguished speakers in education, parenting, and health at venues across the San Francisco Peninsula. Parents, faculty and staff of member schools attend Common Ground events free of charge. Guests not affiliated with a member school may attend for a $20 fee at the door.  Looking to learn more about High School at Stanbridge Academy? Click here to view a overview of our program, and visit our campus this Saturday morning for our Fall Open House. Whether you are considering a placement for the current school year or just thinking ahead for your child, Stanbridge offers a truly unique high school experience for students who learn differently. We offer a strengths-based academic program that aligns with state standards, designed to culminate in a diploma; and our college and career counselor works with all high school students and their families to identify longterm goals and help plan for postsecondary steps. We're proud to provide a whole-school experience for our students that includes arts, athletics, enrichment clubs and electives, and traditional high school events such as dances, prom, field trips, and afterschool activities. Additionally, our campus includes students in grades K–8, which provides numerous opportunities for high school students to develop and practice leadership skills within our community. If you're interested in learning more, click here to RSVP for our High School Open House in January, or complete our online form to schedule a personalized tour.
 Just a reminder that next Wednesday, October 24, Stanbridge Academy will be hosting our first Expert Share Speaker Series event of the school year. Attorney David Tollner will be on campus to present his "Top Ten Strategies for Getting the Most from Your IEP." The presentation will focus on the keys to a successful IEP, how to approach it, what to say and not say, and what to do before and after to maximize the supports and services for your child. It is a helpful discussion for any parent with a child on an IEP, and particularly those parents who are not happy with what the district is giving their child. The event is free and open to the public--click here for complete details and to RSVP.
 The Stanbridge Academy Fall Open House will be held this Saturday, October 20 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. This event will feature presentations from key staff and faculty members; Q&A with teachers from each grade division as well as our Head of School, parent and student representatives; and guided tours of the campus and classrooms. This is a fantastic way to learn about the Stanbridge program and have your specific questions answered by our staff. The event is free and we encourage interested guests to RSVP in advance (click here). If you are unable to attend this Open House, please note that additional events will be scheduled throughout the year (check our website and social media feeds for announcements), and you can always schedule a personalized tour of our campus by completing our online form.
 A new episode of Stanbridge Student News has been posted to our website's Parent Portal—Stanbridge families can access by using their portal password. The latest episode features an interview with Elementary Teacher Molly Chappell, who highlights what's growing in the Stanbridge garden classroom and answers the burning question, "If you could be a vegetable, what vegetable would you be?" (Spoiler alert: Molly would prefer to be a fruit that is often thought to be a vegetable!). Also in this episode: An in-depth look at snail fish, plus reminders of important upcoming events, including picture retake day on Monday, October 15. All this and more in the latest webisode from Stanbridge Academy's most trusted news source!
 Today, a number of Stanbridge high school students—along with other high school students all over the country—are taking the PSAT, one of many steps along the road to graduation. For many families, especially those who have students with learning differences, the thought of what lies ahead after graduating from high school can cause some anxiety. The next step after high school is a big one for students and their families—with so many paths to consider, the future can be difficult to navigate. Discover what options are out there, and find the bridge that’s right for you at Stanbridge Academy's College & Career Fair on Thursday, November 15.
This annual event will feature more than a dozen representatives from colleges, universities, vocational schools, employment programs, and career support programs from the Bay Area and beyond. High school students and their families are invited to attend this free event which is designed to help students connect their personal interests and passions with long term, postsecondary goals. The fair is open to students (eighth grade, high school, and recent HS grads), parents, faculty, administrators, community members, and professionals with an interest in college, employment, and postsecondary programs supporting neurodiverse students. Click here for more information and to RSVP. This Friday, October 12th, is Stanbridge Academy’s first Bake Sale of the new school year! Student Government will be selling home-baked goodies during lunch time, and all students (and staff!) are welcome to purchase a snack or two. This is a great opportunity for students to learn how to handle money and practice buying and selling, with funds raised going toward this year's Student Government Project (TBD). Items should be delivered to the front office on Friday morning before 11:00 a.m., and all items should be individually wrapped. If you have any questions, or wish to provide items for the sale, contact Bake Sale organizer Michelle Mackenzie.
It is only fitting that we formally announce this year's first Bake Sale on the same day that counselor James Warren returns to campus from his medical leave. James is back and better than ever, and it's likely that he'll perform his famous original composition—"The Bake Sale Song"—this Friday. For those who have not yet heard this earworm, click the link above and sing along.  October is ADHD Awareness Month and next week, The Children's Health Council (CHC) will host two community education sessions located at CHC-Palo Alto. Attend these sessions to learn more about effective interventions, strategies to support your child, managing symptoms, as well as guidelines for when and how to seek additional support. Click the links below for event details and registration:
Tuesday, October 9 ADHD & Learning Differences: Are They Related? What is the relationship between ADHD and learning differences? ADHD and learning differences can often occur together. How can you effectively support a child that experiences both learning and attention issues? How do you know what issues you should pay attention to? Attend this session to learn more about effective interventions and strategies to support your child with learning and attention issues. Presented by Jacqueline Nguyen, Psy.D., Psychologist at CHC ,and Nick Ratcliff, Instructional Coach at Sand Hill School Thursday, October 11 Practical Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Supporting Children and Teens with ADHD Presented by David Anderson, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist, Sr. Director ADHD and Behavioral Disorders Center, Director of Programs at Child Mind Institute, NY; and Glen Elliott, PhD, MD, Chief Psychiatrist and Medical Director at CHC.  Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is one of the great dramas of the 20th century, and attention must be paid to the Coastal Repertory Theatre's current production of this classic play. Two Stanbridge Academy staff members play key roles on stage and behind the scenes in the Half Moon Bay repertory troupe's revival—Office Manager Danny Martin steps into the spotlight in the role of Biff, and Counselor Mary Stadler ensures the spotlight hits its mark as the production's lighting technician. Performances run weekends through October 28, save for October 12–14 when Willy Loman and Company take the weekend off for the HMB Pumpkin Festival. Tickets are available through the Coastal Rep website, and our off-off-off Broadway stars are happy to answer any questions you might have about the show (they'll even autograph your program).
 A new episode of Stanbridge Student News has been posted to our website's Parent Portal—Stanbridge families can access by using their portal password. The latest episode features a look at the Yearbook Club, whose student members are already working on this year's edition. Plus, an interview with Junior High's new Language Arts and Humanities teacher Liz Ko; and an SSN exclusive—our crew provides an in-depth profile of Jane Goodall (pictured), the world-famous primatologist and anthropologist who recently presented a lecture in the Bay Area that one of our news crew reporters got to attend. All this and more in the latest webisode from Stanbridge Academy's most trusted news source!
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