 What a jam packed last few days of celebrations we have had acknowledging the tremendous growth and accomplishments of our students.
Julie Smith Head of School  We are right in the middle of – what is known in the school world as – the "100 days of May." I am sure you are feeling the crunch of year-end activities in your homes, as well. Below are all the things we want to make sure parents and trustees have on their calendars for the end of the year at Stanbridge [dates & times for community only]:
Congratulations to our Flag Football team who played their last BASSAL league game yesterday in Novato. We are all so proud of their TEAMWORK! Yesterday's 42-28 WIN against Winston Prep was the exciting accumulation of a season of hard work, perseverance, and determination! Their growth witnessed throughout the season was so special. The players and their familes should be so proud. On that note, a huge THANK YOU to all of the families for your support throughout this season! As Coach Gage shared, “You truly have raised amazing individuals & it makes us coaches proud to have had the opportunity to coach them! PROM 2025! As you are reading this, our high school students are enjoying a Casino Night Prom on our campus. Thank you to our parent volunteers, led by High School representatives/dance organizers Helen Siu, Laura Porter, and Lisa Kennedy, who transformed our courtyard to make this a magical evening for our students. Details from fun prom favors to extra cherries in “The Sphere” drinks (Shirley Temples) helped make this night a memorable one. Enjoy your weekend! – Julie Smith Head of School From breakfast to lunch, as well as all the goodies, gift cards, notes, and gratitude in between, on behalf of all the faculty & staff, thank you to all the families who spoiled us this appreciation week! Your little notes and drawings are often cherished and truly help us get through the day. Thank you, as well, to Student Government for providing lunch from Chipotle yesterday for the entire school – students and staff.
Field Day We ushered in the new month with a fabulously spirited week, wrapping up today with Field Day at the Burlingame Parks and Recreation center fields. Huge thanks to our co-Athletic Directors, Daniel Quinal and Gage Daniel, for planning and executing a successful day of field competitions. Our neighborhood groups bonded and stepped up to the plate for a host of games before lunch. AND what a delicious lunch it was! Casadores' catered taco bar was a hit for students and staff alike. The day ended with our students winning the tug-of-war against faculty and staff. I know we were outnumbered, but students really brought their A-game to the match! We didn’t stand a chance. They got us two-for-one this week, winning the annual Student vs. Staff Basketball Game on Wednesday, as well. Thank you to our Stanbridge Parent Association volunteers for all your help and support led by Claire Collet, Pamela Davies, and Lisa Kennedy. It takes a village and we are so glad to have all of you as partners. Please come to our Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast this Wednesday so we can thank you appropriately for all you do for our school. One Community, Many Cultures Stanbridge is a community that has many different cultures and we are in the midst of numerous celebrations. Yom Ha'atzmaut was yesterday, May 1; Monday, May 5, is Cinco de Mayo; and the month of May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. We hope you can enjoy celebrating these beautiful spring days together with family and friends. Wishing you all a restful weekend ahead. – Julie Smith, Head of School Congratulations Stanbridge Bulldogs!
Our Middle and High School students were able to walk to the park to attend our home Flag Football game against Winston Prep Academy yesterday. It was so impressive to see our students both on the team and on the sidelines supporting each other. Thank you to our fabulous coaches, Coach Daniel Q., Coach Gage, and Coach Tevita, for providing a wonderful experience and an encouraging environment for our student athletes. Spirit Week & Field Day This coming week is Spirit Week with Field Day culminating the events on Friday. Parents are more than welcome to join us for Field Day! Students should arrive at school at regular time and they will be transported to the site in our school vans. A taco bar lunch will be provided and we want to make sure we have enough for our parents as well. Please RSVP if your student is in a car seat and/or you plan to join us on Friday. Volunteer Appreciation Volunteer Appreciation is coming up on Wednesday, May 7th. All year long our parent community does so much to support our school and our faculty and staff. This is the time we set aside to gather and appreciate all of YOU, whether you are part of our Parent Association leadership, our Board, volunteered for the book fair, chaperoned for dances, was a mystery reader, provided for bake sales, and more. Currently our RSVPs are very low. Please take a moment to reply to let us know if you can join us on May 7th after school drop off in the morning. Faculty and staff will provide sweet and savory items; we will have a coffee cart here, as well, to provide your drink of choice. We want to celebrate you and all you do for our school community! Enjoy the weekend ahead, Julie Smith Head of School  With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Andrea “Andi” Jobe, who founded Stanbridge Academy in 1982. Andi was 84 years old when she died at her beachfront home in Ecuador, where she had lived for the past several years. We got this news in a heartfelt email from her son, Allen, whose difficulty in school due to a learning disability spurred Andi to create a school for him and other students like him.
Allen wrote that he did not speak until he was seven years old, and doctors were pessimistic about his prospects. Unwilling to accept this, Andi enrolled in a Speech Therapy program and graduated with a Master’s. She took an SLP role at a public school in the South Bay and, alarmed at the poor services students received there, set about creating a school that would accommodate their needs. In his email, Allen described our school’s beginning in a rented space in Mountain View. “She had times when she almost did not make payroll. She never turned away a parent in need. Some would drive buses, clean the school, etc. The school grew and grew into what it is today.” Allen’s note clarified a mystery for us…why the name “Stanbridge”? Here is what he said: “Very few people, I think, know where the name Stanbridge comes from. It is a boarding school in England that my family friend attended. It was a really bad place with really bad food. My mom helped my friend move to a school called Kildonan in New York. It is no longer open. So she thought it would be fitting to name the school a better place than that place in England.” Founding Stanbridge Academy was only one of Andi’s significant contributions to children with disabilities. Andi and her husband, Dr. Richard Jobe, a plastic surgeon, created RSF-Earthspeak, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children learn to speak after cleft palate surgery. Dr. Jobe was also one of the founders of Interplast, an international network of surgeons who provide pro bono surgical care to anyone in need anywhere in the world. We are grateful that Allen reached out to us with the news of his mother’s passing and are inspired by his remembrances. In his words, “I am glad to hear that she is still remembered at Stanbridge. It is her lasting accomplishment. She did not have a strong ego and would almost never take credit for anything. She was really hard to buy presents for. She just wanted to give back.” – Mary Stadler, Director of Counseling Spring Sing
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for another fantastic celebration of music in our Spring Sing. We are grateful to Tobias Banks, our talented music teacher, who is able to encourage and support our budding musicians. It is even more remarkable how cohesive the musicians played together, noting that our elementary and middle school only have music one day per week. You can see remarkable growth in our high school music students who take music class as a full semester or year long elective. To all our participants, congratulations! Support Stanbridge's Fund-A-Need and enter to win incredible donation prizes. Are you still finalizing your plans for Stanbridge’s Spring Break April 14-18? Why not make a difference while entering for a chance to win an unforgettable getaway? Donate to our Spring Gala Fund-A-Need and you could win a five-night stay in South Lake Tahoe at the luxurious Marriott Timber Lodge! This spacious two-bedroom, two-bath villa offers the perfect home base for exploring the beauty of Lake Tahoe. Hike the scenic Mount Tallac Trail, visit Emerald Bay, or unwind at Carson Hot Springs. After a day of adventure, indulge in Mongolian-style cuisine at FiRE + iCE Grill and Bar, then relax in the resort’s modern fitness center, outdoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna. This incredible getaway is available from Sunday, April 13th, through Friday, April 18th. Looking for something closer to home? Treat your child and their friends to an action-packed afternoon at LaserMaxx in San Carlos! Use our gift certificate to create a Deluxe Party Package, which includes:
Other exciting prizes include:
Our Fund-A-Need this year will be raising funds for permanent shade structures in the high school and the elementary/middle school lunch courtyard. Those of you who attended the Spring Sing today, saw that we could REALLY use them! All funds raised at the gala this year will support this campus project. Stay Strong, Bulldogs! Julie Smith Head of School  We would love to have you join us and celebrate Stanbridge. Last Chance to Get Your Gala 2025 Tickets! Today is the final day to purchase your tickets for Gala 2025, happening on Saturday, March 29th! Join us for an unforgettable evening as we honor Mary Stadler, dance to the energetic Justin Geraci duo, and hear from inspiring speakers—all while celebrating and supporting the incredible work being done for your child. Plus, don’t miss out on our Donation Drawing Prize giveaways! Whether you’re attending or not, you’ll have the chance to win amazing prizes like tickets to local sporting events, luxury getaways, and fun family experiences. Entries open this Monday, March 17th, so stay tuned for details on how to participate! Secure your spot today and be part of this special night with the Stanbridge community! Stay Strong, Bulldogs! Julie Smith Head of School Fun moments from some past years' gala celebrations! Plus (now) alumni enjoy a Stanbridge campus visit from our musical guests, the Justin Geraci Duo. We are looking forward to a stunning new venue this year with gorgeous views from the Farallon Room at Skyline College.
ONLY AT STANBRIDGE
We ended the year with a visit from the one-and-only Stanbridge Santa and lively performances at the Annual Holiday Concert. A highlight of the concert is the leadership of performance arts teacher Tobias Banks, he certainly makes our students shine bright. Thank you all for supporting this annual event. (Stay tuned to social media over break for lots of pictures... and get a sneak peek in the weekly collages below!) Thank you to the Stanbridge community for your thoughtfulness, generosity, and support. We appreciate the gifts and the snacks that were brought in for the staff on Tuesday, as well as through the rest of the week. We were able to feast on savory and sweet treats all week long! ANNUAL FUND UPDATE We have now reached over 85% participation in the 2024-25 annual fund from our parent community! A special thank you to our Advancement committee members Cindy Kuenhle, Kinga Czegeni, and Sherrie Shagong for sending emails and making calls to help us close the gap. It takes a village – we appreciate all you do for our community. We all wish you health and happiness as you head off into Winter Break to celebrate the holidays. Spending time with friends and family to laugh, relax, and recharge. Wishing you joy to come in 2025. Happy Holidays! Julie Smith & Danny Martin It's hard to believe that we have just one more week of school before Winter Break and the new calendar year! It will be a busy week ahead full of festivities and, of course, continued learning. We hope to see all of you on campus for our All School Holiday Concert on Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Thank you for your generous response this Giving Tuesday in support of our annual fund. Our community has raised over $160,000 so far with over 70% of our parents contributing. Our annual fund supports all aspects of our program – from Social Learning to scholarships, from Middle El's extensive civic studies to High School Student Government. Application approval for outside grant funding often relies on 100% participation from our community, including trustees, staff, and the parent body, too. There is still time to make a year end gift to our school and to help us reach 100%! Our Board and Parent volunteers will be making phone calls soon to get us to 100%, so avoid the call and make your gift today. Every gift, of any amount, is an appreciated investment in a child’s future here at Stanbridge, and will make a real and significant impact. Stay Strong, Bulldogs! Julie Smith Head of School  As we head into our Break, many of our families will be observing Thanksgiving. We hope you will have the chance to gather with friends or family and enjoy some special time together. These times, building family traditions and having time together away from the hectic pace of everyday life, form amazing memories for your children. Now that the holiday season has begun, we would like to express our deep gratitude to the entire Stanbridge community. To our families that entrust us to care for and educate your children in an environment where they are seen for their individual talents and skills. To the students who continue to grow academically, socially and emotionally and who bring their unique talents to school everyday. And to our faculty and staff who support the learning and holistic health of our students, you are the heart and backbone of our school. We hope the week ahead will be restful and joyful! When we return from break, there will be many holidays that are celebrated by our diverse community. We wish each of you a restful season with family and friends as you gather to share time together. Stay Strong, Bulldogs! Julie Smith Head of School  ELEMENTARY THANKFUL TREE
 Dear Stanbridge Community,
We have had another eventful week at school with our 10th-12th graders on experiential trips. The pictures we have seen show engaged, and happy students – check some of them out below and stay tuned to social media channels for more. These overnight trips help our students practice independence and responsibility as well as work on their executive functioning skills. A huge thank you to our faculty chaperones for providing the guidance and support that make these trips successful. Overnight experientials always kick-off a busy time in the Stanbridge calendar leading up to the all-important Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences. This week, you should have received instruction to sign up for conferences on consecutive Mondays, November 4th and November 11th. Most core faculty members are available to meet with you during these conference days. Please be sure to sign up for your chosen time/s by the Friday prior to conferences. See Tuesday's email for the link to sign up for Middle School, High School, and Specialists. Email your K-5 teacher to sign up for core Elementary conferences. All conferences will be on Google Meet. We are holding an Open House for High School on October 22 for prospective families interested in enrolling their child at Stanbridge. We are also holding a Special High School Open House for our current 7th and 8th grade families the following Tuesday on October 29. Both of these open houses are on campus from 9:00- 11:00 a.m. and will include time to hear about our program and to tour the classrooms in session. Our Bridges class is co-hosting a Preparing for College Zoom session with the Landmark Success Center on Wednesday, October 23, at 5:00 p.m. High Schoolers and their families can join us to see “What Comes Next: an overview of post-secondary options.” This session will include educational and vocational options as well as what supports are available and should be requested. Zoom link to be shared early this coming week. This coming Friday, October 25, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. will be our first High School Dance of the school year! Appropriately Fall-themed for Halloween, the entire High School is invited to attend. So, get your costumes ready and RSVP for this fun, social event. Lastly before Halloween, we have over 125 people signed up to attend our annual community Back to School Picnic on October 27 from noon- 2:00 p.m. If you have not yet signed up, it is not too late – RSVPs are due this Monday. This event is for our Stanbridge community – past and present – and their family members, too! We will provide food and snacks, all you need to do is come enjoy lunch and games with other Stanbridge families! Stay Strong, Bulldogs! Julie Smith Head of School Dear Stanbridge Community,
We had a great week of school and have been enjoying the cooler weather! Remember there is no school this Monday, October 14, for Indigenous Peoples' Day. On Monday morning, when school is closed, our Seniors will head out for their week in Yosemite Valley. Please make sure your Senior is at school no later than 9:00 am on Monday. The van will load up and head out for the long drive shortly thereafter. Our Sophomores and Juniors will also have their experiential trip next week! Wednesday morning they will head out to the Mother Lode/Gold Country in Lotus, returning to school early evening on Friday. We are excited that they will also have the chance to go white water rafting as a part of their trip this year. Please be sure you turn in any medications needed for the trip so that we will not have any delays. These overnight experiential trips give our students the opportunity to practice autonomy and responsibility; create closer bonds with their peers and teachers; improve communication and collaborative skills; and engage in appropriate challenges – all in safe and supportive environments. Middle School students will take part in their overnight trip to the Marin Headlands from November 13-15. We will share pictures and highlights from the trips next week. Enjoy the long weekend ahead! Stay Strong, Bulldogs! Julie Smith Head of School Dear Stanbridge Community, It is hard to believe that the calendar turned to October this week, especially given the unusually high temperatures. Please remember to send a refillable water bottle to school with your child every day. We have water filling stations at school and encourage students to stay well hydrated to beat the heat. We have a series of open houses that will be coming up this fall. Word of mouth about our great school is one of the main ways families come to Stanbridge. Please consider spreading the word about these open house opportunities to families you know who have a child that could benefit from a Stanbridge Academy education. Invite your friends whose children could benefit from Stanbridge.
RSVP Online: Stanbridgeacademy.org/admissions. Have a great weekend! Stay Strong, Bulldogs! – Julie Smith, Head of School   Dear Stanbridge Community,
It was wonderful to welcome so many of our families to Back to School night last evening. We heard from many of our parents how impressed they were with the teachers and their presentations. It is a highlight for our staff to see our students' parents as well. We are partners in your children's educational journey. Today, the staff continued in our quest for excellence in our field of education for neurodiverse students. We reviewed an essential tool in our social emotional learning: Leah Kuyper's Zones of Regulation. You can click on the link to familiarize yourself with these zones. You might be surprised that our staff uses these zones for their personal feelings too. Today we also welcomed Jennifer Abrams, an educator and communications specialist. Ms. Abrams is widely known for increasing intergenerational communication through a variety of exercises and discussions. The materials we engaged with were based on Jennifer’s most recent book, Stretching your learning Edges: Growing (UP) at Work. Having the time for staff to engage in meaningful ongoing education is critical for school improvement. Faculty and staff building a trusting, working relationship improves student outcomes as well. Stay Strong, Bulldogs! Julie Smith Head of School Dear Stanbridge Community,
We are wrapping up our third week of school and starting to settle into routines. This past week the Stanbridge Parent Association (SPA) held its first meeting of the school year. It was encouraging to see so many new faces joining us! Danny Martin shared about our CARES program, and our Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) program. We will continue to highlight different aspects of our program during upcoming in-person SPA meetings. We hope more parents will be able to volunteer this year to help with the many SPA activities. We are alternating between in-person and Zoom for the SPA meetings to try to encourage more families to participate. The next SPA meeting will be October 2 on Zoom from 12:00 - 12:30 pm so that you can join us from wherever you are during your day. SAVE THE DATE- BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION There will be two sessions for the “Back to School” programs on September 19, 2024:
The “Back to School” programs will allow you to hear from your student’s teachers and ask general curriculum questions. If you have more individualized questions regarding your child, we encourage you to email your child’s teacher directly and reach out to set up a time to connect. Parent Teacher conferences will be held in November and those meetings will be specifically about your child. We look forward to seeing you at the Back to School programs and happy weekend! Stay Strong, Bulldogs! Julie Smith Head of School Dear Stanbridge Community, This week was all about settling into our school routines. It is always a pleasure to see happy students in classes and also outside learning and playing. This year, a bright spot has been our new sports court. Through your generous donations at the 2024 Gala, we were able to have the old court replaced to make it an inviting place to be. Our students are enjoying using the Sport Court for Physical Education and for recess/lunch breaks. The photos below capture just some of the ways that the sport court is being used: Coach Gage is warming up with his Middle School Physical Education class and, lunchtime basketball with Middle and High School playing together with teacher, Daniel Geller. Enjoy the Labor Day long weekend ahead and we will see you back at Stanbridge next Tuesday, September 3. Stay Strong, Bulldogs! Julie Smith Head of School Dear Stanbridge Community, We had a very smooth beginning of the 2024-25 school year this week. It was wonderful to welcome students and families during our Back-to-School Orientation and Ice Cream Social on Tuesday afternoon. This provided an opportunity for students and families to meet faculty and staff, as well as meet new students and old friends prior to the first day of school. We appreciate that so many of you joined us on Tuesday. There was a tremendous amount of positive energy and enthusiasm around campus all week, and it is heartwarming to hear students share how happy they are to be back in school! Thank you to our Stanbridge Parent Association (SPA) co-chairs, Lisa Kennedy and Pamela Davies for hosting our back to school coffee get together! It was wonderful to see returning families welcoming our newest Bulldog families into the fold. This community is not only for your children, there is a wealth of information that our families are happy to share with one another. We will continue to look for opportunities to bring our families together to help build a strong community. Our first SPA meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 4th at 8:30am on campus. Danny Martin will be our guest speaker for this first meeting and he will share about our CARES Program, our School-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions (SW-PBIS) System. I hope you are seeing the positive energy at home that we are seeing after the first three days of school. I did hear quite a few students discussing how tired they are getting up early for school, so enjoy a restful, recharging weekend. We will see you back here for Week Two on Monday morning. It is going to be a wonderful school year! Stay Strong, Bulldogs! Julie Smith Head of School PS - Check out some photos from this week below! |
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