The Harper Herald
February 2006
Produced by the Francis Harper Jr. High PTO
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Jazz Choir Cabaret
Tickets are now available for the Davis High School Jazz Choir Cabaret, to be held
February 4th and 5th, 2006. The event includes dinner, dessert, and both individual and
group musical numbers performed by the DHS Jazz Choir, an energetic singing and
dancing group under the direction of William Zinn and Pam Trokansky.
The theme of this year’s Cabaret is “Broadway to Hollywood”. Proceeds from the
event will help fund the group’s trip to Los Angeles this spring, where they will participate
in ‘Disney’s Magic Music Days and attend exchanges with other show choirs in the area.
Ticket prices are $32.50 for adults, $20.00 for seniors, $15.00 for children and students
and will include dinner, dessert and performance. Performances will be in the Emerson
Junior High School MPR and will begin at 6:00PM on Saturday, February 4th, and at
5:00 PM on Sunday, February 5th. Reservations or information regarding this
performance for Cabaret may be made by contacting Karen Farley at 758-1006 or go
online to leave a message at cabaretticketsales@hotmail.com
* * * * *
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
7th grade – Kate Raymond
We’re wrapping up our Lit Circle unit with dramatic interpretations of our novels’ climactic
moments and Response to Literature essays that grapple with theme. I’m very happy with the
willing spirits these kids have as they tackle essay after essay. Next up? We pay particular
attention to writing a formal summary in preparation for our research papers in the spring and the
state writing sample test in early March.
This is the time of year that all those hours of reading – SSR at school and reading at home –
really begin to pay off. I am beginning to see considerable improvement in the writing of many
students and now I can count on one hand the kids who have trouble staying engaged in reading
their books during SSR at school. I compare this to the beginning of the year where about a third
of my students were finding it very difficult to focus on reading for 10 minutes at a time. Thank
you, parents and guardians, for all your efforts finding books that your child would want to read,
for insisting that your child reads every night and for limiting television and video playing time as
needed. At school, I talk with kids about their books, ask for book recommendations, read aloud
stories that I think will grab them, have them read good passages aloud, give out book lists, do
book talks and model reading as often as possible. I’m also continuing to require that my
students fill out a Reading Reflection Sheet that documents five hours of reading at home every
two weeks. Your signature is required on this form and confirms that your child is indeed reading
at home.
A special thanks to Dion Wiedenhoefer, one of our Core parents, who coordinated the
successful Carousel fundraiser in December. The Wiedenhoefers, along with the
Slizeskis, Totahs, Coles, Rabers, Mathisons and the Ashby girls, kept that carousel
whirling to our goal of $200! With a grant from Davis School Arts Foundation, this gives us the
funding we needed to bring radio sound engineer Tony Palermo to Harper in the spring to do a
radio workshop with our Core. More on that later.
Please email me at Kraymond@djusd.k12.ca.us if you have questions about your child’s
progress. You may also check the homework or download a Reading Reflection Sheet at
www.teacherweb.com.
* * * * *
ART WITH HEART 2006
This month, Arts and Crafts students are designing blankets for Project Linus, a
national volunteer program that supplies handmade blankets to youngsters with a
variety of special needs. The blankets will be assembled by Sewing Class
students and sent to the Woodland chapter of the Linus Project where each
blanket will be connected with just the right child.

Art 1 students are collecting and sketching new stuffed animals that will
ultimately be bagged and sent to the Davis Police. The furry critters will be given
to kids, in emergency situations, who are in need of a "friend." The stuffed
animals need to be new and not more than 10" in length, so that they can store
easily in the trunk of a police car. Please send any new stuffed animals you
would like to donate to Room A-3. Thanks!

Happy, "artfelt" wishes for a great new year!
* * * * *
BATTLE OF THE BOOKS
IT'S COMING! The annual Harper JHS Battle of the Books is coming and all 7th
graders have been invited to participate. Teams consisting of four students will
READ eight books and gather on March 29th to demonstrate their knowledge of
the books. This is an enjoyable way to encourage teens to read for
comprehension while fostering an enthusiasm for and a love of reading.
Judges are also needed to help the day of the Battle of the Books. No previous
knowledge of the books is required. You will be provided with all the questions
and the answers. If you would like to volunteer to be a judge, please call the
Harper JHS library (757-5330x264).
* * * * *
HARPER HERALD THANK YOU
The PTO would like to thank the people “behind the scenes” of our monthly
newsletter. Without their volunteer help, the Herald would not get produced each
month. You may have noticed the credits of News Editor Diane Dedoshka and
Layout Editor Rosanna Tierney. They gather the news and create the newsletter.
The Herald’s lone reporter, Susie Evans covers the sports beat. However, it
would not get copied, assembled or mailed with out our production crew. It is a
time consuming task. Diane, Rosanna and the PTO give a heartfelt THANK YOU
to Production Crew Coordinator Joyce Hamaguchi and the staff she assembles
each month. We appreciate the following people who have helped with
production at least once:
Tara Barbier, Lauren Clancy, Julie Hamilton, Laura Murray, Susan Nicoll, Betsy
Puett, Robert Shakya, Mieke VandenReek, Susan Wolbarst.
* * * * *
THE PTO’S HELPING HAND
Because of the generous donations made to the PTO from membership and fundraising,
the PTO was able to grant teacher requests.
From Mathematics teacher Kathy Shaffer
Thank you so much!!!!
Please pass on my gratitude to the rest of the PTO. You have really helped the math department.
The graphing calculators will add so much to our courses.

From Art teacher Susan Lewis
Thanks to the PTO donation of $200 for

Art scholarships for students who weren't able to make donations for art
materials, I'm able to provide the Arts and Crafts class with new materials, such
as muslin and fabric pastels for designing blankets for the Linus Project (a
national nonprofit that donates blankets to ill and/or needy kids all over the
country):

The Art 1 class with stuffed animals to sketch and send to the rescue
squad of the Davis Police Dept.

The Art Survey class with printing ink and printing foam to make
self-portrait frames

The 9th grade Ceramics class with rolls of clear packaging tape to make
see-through sculptures.

Without your help and support, these opportunities for art would be much
less doable. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and for all of my
enthusiastic young artists as well!
* * * * *
STUDENT ACTIVITIES FOR FEBRUARY!!

African-American History Month
- Activities to include Advisory activities, possible assembly with guest speaker (TBA)

Feb. 3 – Valentines Dance – Sponsored by Harper Yearbook Class!
7:30 – 10:00pm; Harper MPR and Gym

Feb. 15 – Student Talent show “American Idol” theme!
During an extended lunch, teachers will judge who is Harper’s “American Idol”

NEW CLUBS FORMING
Reading Club – Ms. Shaner, Room E-32 Wednesdays. at lunchtime
Students and staff are invited to bring a book and something to eat and
enjoy some quiet reading time. No talking will be permitted so all
attendants are
guaranteed a safe, quiet place to enjoy their favorite book!

7th Grade Leadership Club - Mr. Thomsen, Advisor
Will be an outlet for 7th graders to plan and participate in rallies, Day on the Green, etc.
Also, those in 7th grade interested in signing up for Leadership or running for office next
year will receive information.
* * * * *
Student of the Month
CONGRATULATIONS
To December’s Students of the Month

S. Kumar S. Pandey S. Testa
N. Magrino M. Collins V. Bhula
S. Deraas J. Adams A. Harder
M. Hughes A. Orr J. Perrin
J. Silva D. Coronado J. Pexton
V. Herthel B. Rogers M. Artz
W. Layton C. Kodira I. Y. Kim
M. Murray Evan Pretzlaff M. Sauceda
E. Hernandez N. Kline S. Suh
Nominated by TWO teachers!
D. Mittow
* * * * *
9th Grade Parents/Guardians
Davis High School PTA Needs You

The Davis High School PTA is looking to fill positions on their executive board
and committees for the 2006-2007 school year. 9th grader parents and guardians
must be members of the PTA to be eligible. If you are a member of the Harper
PTO and do not have another child in elementary or the high school that has a
PTA, you need to sign up with the PTA. Remember PTA is a separate parent
group from PTO. To find out how you can help next year, and to sign up, please
contact Kathy Magrino at kmagrino@comcast.net
* * * * *
Dollar a Day DRIVE
The Davis Schools Foundation has launched its annual capital campaign,
known as the Dollar a Day drive. The goal is to raise $1 million to support district
wide programs. If the foundation receives a dollar a day for every child in the
district we could raise over $3 million to support educational excellence in Davis
public schools. With pressure growing to maintain excellent program quality on
a shrinking budget, the Davis Schools Foundation is necessary to supplement
existing programs and services in the schools.

Given widespread community support of the drive, our goal is attainable. While
we recognize that not all parents can give a dollar a day ($365), we hope that
you will participate at whatever level possible. Donations at all levels are
appreciated and crucial to the success of this drive and the mission of the
Foundation.

Harper Junior High recently received $6,000 from the Davis Schools Foundation
for its library. Thermometer posters showing donations made to date have been
staked throughout Davis so the community can be aware of the drive’s progress.
Check out the poster board thermometer at your school.

Information about the foundation and the campaign was sent home to all
DJUSD families prior to winter vacation. For further information, go to
www.davisschoolsfoundation.org or call Janet Berry at 530-902-1624.
* * * * *
PTO MESSAGE
From Co-President, Jane Schafer-Kramer

Last fall, the PTO’s Fundraising Committee met to consider a long wish list of
items that the school needed, and the committee had the difficult task of
prioritizing those items for this year’s fundraising targets. At the top of the list
were – no surprise here – books and classroom supplies. As I read through the
list, there was one item that jumped out in my mind and landed firmly at the
bottom of the priority list: painting the school mascot on the floor of the gym. I
couldn't justify spending $4,000 out of a limited fund for what I considered an
“interior decoration” when our students needed copies of books that their English
teachers were assigning and the multi-purpose room didn't have a projection
screen! It wasn't until a couple of months later that I even thought to ask my
daughter – a Harper eighth grader - for her opinion on this. (We parents always
know the right answers, right?) So just how important is the likeness of a Harper
Husky on the gym floor? Well, as it turns out, our students feel that visible
symbols of our school identity are very important.

Harper is still a new school, and in a lot of ways our school identity is still
developing. The students put a great deal of thought and energy last year into
the selection of the husky as their school mascot; in this second year, we'd like to
help them define what it means to be a Harper Husky. A lively discussion about
school spirit was a highlight of the January PTO meeting, and we came up with
the idea of building a school spirit drive around an effort to raise money to paint
the husky on the gym floor. Lots of suggestions were tossed about: a fun
run, our own version of the Iditarod*, a nerf basketball shootout, a read-a-thon, a
poetry slam, events during school hours just for the students, and perhaps some
family events as well. Sounds like fun? Well, we can get the ball rolling and
perhaps start some new Harper traditions, but we need help. Are you a parent
who is more inclined to participate in a school sporting event rather than a PTO
meeting? Are you looking for a fun way to share in your child's school
experience? Do you find that working with kids is more appealing and rewarding
than working with grown-ups? Could you carve out a few hours from your busy
schedule to help us launch the spirit drive? If so, we need to hear from you!
Please share your ideas and availability by contacting us. You may send an e-
mail to me at harperpto@aol.com, call me at home at 750-7943, contact Principal
David Inns at the school (dinns@djusd.k12.ca.us, phone 757-5330), or contact
Student Activities Director Scott Thomsen (sthomsen@djusd.k12.ca.us). We
need to hear from teachers as well as parents; we know that you have ideas,
resources, and the Harper Husky Spirit!

(*The Iditarod is a world-famous dog sled race held annually in Alaska. Can we
have our own Iditarod without the snow or the huskies? )
* * * * *
2005 FRANCES FUND EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
The 2005 Frances Fund exceeded the target of $20,000, bringing in $22,124!
What a tremendous gift our families and community have given the Harper
students! We are pleased to announce the selected materials have been ordered
with money allocated by the Frances Fund. Classroom literature sets, library
books, geometry software, calculators, social studies curriculum, microphones
and a large projection screen are on the way to benefit Harper students.

The success of the fundraiser was made possible by the generous donations of
Harper families, including recent contributions by the Kline, Monell, and Nelson
families. We thank you for your continued donations to the Frances Fund.
A huge THANK YOU also goes to these Harper parents who served on the
Frances Fund committee: Rosanne Bernardy, Madeline Brattesani, Dave
McNeill, Cliva Mee, Julie Testa, Nancy Cole and Liz Smith. Harper is fortunate to
have such dedicated parents!

We sincerely appreciate all the work and generous donations that made the 2005
Frances Fund a success.
Thank you!

Wendy Allen and Leslie Baroody
2005 Frances Fund Coordinators
* * * * *
DRAMA PRODUCTION NEWS

HELP!
Did you record any of the Harper plays? I am looking for recordings of Alice in Wonderland,
When in Rome...,,and Romeo and Juliet. I would also appreciate any photos you may have for
our archives. By the miracle of modern technology we lost our archives. Please e-mail me at
chopper@djusd.k12.ca.us if you can help

Robin Hood The Musical
The spring musical is going to be Robin Hood the Musical. Auditions will take place the second
week in February. Listen to the daily bulletin for updates.
* * * * *
Espanol

Spanish 1A classes have been presenting memorized dialogues in Spanish in front of the class,
where one person invites the other to do something and the second person refuses politely with
an excuse. We are finishing up Chapter 3 in our book, related to hobbies and leisure activities.
We are also learning to use a simple future tense in Spanish to talk about future plans. It is
important that students keep track of assignments and quizzes in their planners and review
vocabulary and verb endings.

Spanish 1B classes have also been presenting memorized dialogues in Spanish in front of the
class. Since Chapter 9 is about health and sickness, one person in the skit is the doctor and the
other is a patient with a health problem. Chapter 9 also presents the difficult grammar concepts
of indirect objects and the expression "hace que." We are ready to begin more writing in this
class. Vocabulary and verb forms should be reviewed regularly, and the planner should be used
to keep track of assignments and quizzes.

Spanish 1 is finishing up Chapter 4, related to food. Vocabulary is colorful and very practical.
Students will be making menus and doing restaurant skits. We have now covered the regular -ar
and -er verbs and some irregular verbs. Students are practicing the difficult concept of
agreement of adjectives with what they modify in number and gender. We had our Semester
Final on January 24, the last week of the first semester. This is a high school level class, and
we'll be picking up some speed in the book during the second semester. It is very important that
students keep track of assignments and quizzes in the planner and regularly review vocabulary
and verb forms.
* * * * *



NEWS FROM THE
HARPER BAND BOOSTERS
We hope you all had a wonderful winter break! Now that we are back we want to
share some fantastic news and let you know what's coming up.
Honor Band
First of all, a hearty congratulations to those students accepted into the North Bay Honor
Band! Students applied by providing an audition tape. Seating for each instrument was
limited. Good work!!
Harper Bands First Ever Solo/Ensemble Recital - "For the Love of Music"
Please join us for a fun evening of fine music and dessert. On the evening of February
10, Harper Bands will hold a solo/ensemble recital in the MPR. Performances will be by
students alone
or with their families and friends. Admission is $5 per person or $15 for a family and
entitles you to some great music, all-you-can-eat desserts and a chance to win an iPod
nano. Come join the fun!! For tickets contact Debbie Finley at 756-4996 or
dfinley@dcn.org.
Spring Music Festival
Coming up on Saturday, March 25, all Davis Junior High School bands will participate in
an adjudicated music festival. Each band will play rehearsed selections as well as sight-
read selections and expert judges will offer constructive remarks on the performances.
Students will also participate in instrument-specific clinics. Lunch and snacks will be
available. Harper, Holmes and Emerson Booster Clubs are working together to support
this educational and fun event. This year, Harper's role is 'facilities' (setup, takedown,
scheduling). Volunteer to help by contacting Shirley Gee at sjgee@ucdavis.edu or 756-
2651.
Fundraisers
We are the grateful recipients of a $5000 donation toward the purchase of an instrument.
Along with the proceeds from our direct donation drive, we will be able to purchase at
least the baritone saxophone, a gong, and more music. Please continue to support Band
Boosters by using Nugget scrip cards and designating Harper Bands as the recipient.
And yes, say 'Harper Bands' loud and clear when you order the first Tuesday of every
month at Papa Murphy's Pizza on West Covell Blvd near Albertson's.

Shirley Gee & Marja Koivunen
President Vice-President
* * * * *

DJUSD SCHOOL BOARD
The Board of Education meets the first and third Thursdays of each month at
7:30 p.m. These meetings are held at the Community Chambers, located at the
city offices at 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis.

The school board now has 3 new members, Sheila Allen, Gina Daleiden and Tim
Taylor. They join Keltie Jones and Jim Provenza.

If you would like to communicate with a member of the board of education go to
the district website at www.djusd.k12.ca.us/District and follow the links.
* * * * *
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET INVOLVED
Harper is a wonderful place! Fantastic administration, staff and students make is
so. What can make it better? YOU!! Statistics prove that it is good for your child
when you get involved at the school. Volunteer your time and energy, keep up
with news by reading the newsletter or browsing the PTO website and JOIN
PTO. Each and every one of your efforts to help makes our school a better place
for your child. To join PTO or see how you can help, contact Shirley Gee,
membership/volunteer chair, sjgee@ucdavis.edu or 756-2651.
* * * * *
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
LOTS OF THANKS
Thank you to the PTO for a goggle sterilizing cabinet and cart. You’ve provided one more piece of
the puzzle in our quest for a truly top-notch science department. See wish list below for other
ways to help.

Three enormous cheers for Helen Kado-Fong and her family for providing some much-needed
shelving, organization and labeling of the science prep room. Our department is deeply
appreciative and motivated to continue your work.

Thanks also to the Norton and Harris families, as well as many others, for more wonderful
donations. You add so much to our teaching. Thank you.

8TH GRADE NEWS: Mr. O’Brien and Mr. McKim’s classes finished the chemistry unit at the end
of January with lots of lab experience. This concluded our study of physical science. Now we’re
going deep into human biology and genetics with some connections back to physics and
chemistry. Family Life will be taught by our nurse, Rhona Youtsey. Expect permission slips during
late Feb or early March. Don’t forget that 8th grade students keep a book at home and use class
sets at school. Also, your child should have turned in the blue book and is now ravenously
devouring the content of the green book.

7TH GRADE NEWS: Mr. O’Brien’s classes finished with their study of life science and we are
beginning our study of physical science starting with an investigation into our place in the
universe! 7th graders should have turned in their green books and now keep a blue book at home.

SCIENCE WISH LIST:
Once again, this is a “one man’s junk is another’s treasure” appeal. We are well equipped but
always looking to improve. Ask Mr. McKim (kmckim@djusd.k12.ca.us) or Ms. Salim
(isalim@djusd.k12.ca.us) if you’d like to help.
20 Newton Spring Scales for 8th grade physics labs. Set of 10.
Microscope with greater than 400x power for Biology. Need just 1.
10 ml Graduated Cylinders with large diameter openings for 7th grade density labs. We need
10 of them. Diameter should allow a quarter to pass.
5 doorstops for installation on doors common to prep room. Available at local hardware stores
for less than $10 each
Clear vinyl tubing (¾” inside diameter) to direct faucet spray down into lab sinks. This reduces
counter mess and floor mess. Price unknown, need approx. 50 feet.
Nylon strapping to hold goggle sterilizing/storage cabinets on carts. Total of two needed.
Available at hardware stores for approx. $20
4 utility carts (gray plastic with large casters) for preparation and transportation of science
materials. Available for approx. $140.
40 Sterlite containers 6-quart size (to match currently used containers) for storing and shelving
science equipment, also for setting up group lab kits.
Akrobins available from the Container Store. More info available upon request. These are
stackable plastic organizing bins that allow you to grab small items individually, or pick up the
entire bin for lab use. They stack into our prep room cabinets as well as inside our drawers.
Depending on size, they vary from $0.99 to $5.99. For $300 worth, we believe our organization
needs will be met.
Magazine Subscriptions: 40 copies for use with all classes as time allows, also as emergency
substitute plans. Titles of interest are Science News and Current Science
Speakers for science CPU’s: these would help with any multi-media presentations that students
create. The CPU’s are stored within cabinets to avoid lab spills on them. This renders their
speakers useless. If we had a few speakers to place on the counter near the monitor and
keyboard, we could get the most from our student efforts and enjoy any on-line multi-media
resources as well.
pH paper (rolls or strips for ranges 0-14)
litmus paper (rolls or strips, blue or red)


* * * * *
YEARBOOK NEWS

Yearbooks are still for sale for $37. Careful! The price goes up after Easter Break. Order forms
available in the office or in Mr. McKim’s room G48. Send payment to the office c/o Mr. McKim (or
email at kmckim@djusd.k12.ca.us). Don’t miss this year’s improved tome of memories – more
color pages!

The yearbook class sent one of three batches of pages to press in late January. All that practice
with writing, layout design, filing, and photography is starting to show results. Fundraising to
improve equipment and increase the number of color pages in the yearbook takes two forms
during January and February. The first? A variety of Valentine goodies sold during lunches and
distributed on Feb. 14th. The second? A Valentine Dance on Feb. 3 complete with decorations,
activities and refreshments.

Snapshots? Great Photos?
If you’ve got a real whammy of a photo, send it to Mr. McKim via the office or electronically via
email to kmckim@djusd.k12.ca.us (jpg format please). We’re not only interested in photos of
achievement. We also love emotional close-ups, vacation pictures, and here’s a new idea: a
particularly memorable or embarrassing family photo. The yearbook staff might just find the
perfect place for it in the yearbook. Thanks to those that have already submitted photos.
* * * * *
SITE COUNCIL
The Site Council is in the process of reviewing updates to Harper’s School
Level Plan and allocating about $40,000 in school improvement funds to meet
the needs of the school.
At its meeting in December, the Council allocated $550 for English staff
members to attend a reading and literacy workshop and up to $4000 for a
collaborative art mural project at Harper. Decisions will be addressed during the
February meeting on proposals from the English Department for source materials
and aid time; from the Mathematics Department for class sets of graphing
calculators; from the English Language Development program for SSR books
and professional development; from the Science Department for classroom texts
and for staff to attend a national conference of science teachers (NSTA) in
California; from the Social Studies Department for maps, primary source
materials and other needs; from the Library for periodicals and other resource
materials; from the Industrial Arts department for a storage shed and upgrade to
CNC 3D-modeling software; from the Home Economics Department for a
collaborative project; and from the WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) Program for
continued teacher training and supplies.
Council meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. The next
one is February 16, from 7:30 to 9:00 am in Room G49. All interested parents
and students are welcome to attend and make comments.
* * * * *
CAREER DAY HELPERS NEEDED
Career Day at Harper Junior High School is February 9th, 2006 from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. In
order to make this the success we want it to be, we need volunteers to provide the following:
breakfast items such as bagels and cream cheese, donuts, pastries, fresh fruit, fruit juices, and
bottled water; paper plates and eating utensils; and flowers for the serving tables. Further details
about the time and place will be provided as soon as they become available. Please contact
Leslie Brumer at leslie@lbrumer.com if you are able to help. Thank you!
* * * * *
PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

Public Art at Frances Harper JHS!
In an exciting development, it appears that Harper will be able to create and
display a series of mosaic murals at Harper. Temo Moreno, a local mural artist
and part time instructor at UC Davis, has been working with Harper’s art teacher
Susan Lewis to create a plan for three beautiful mosaic murals depicting Frances
Harper and one of her stirring poems. The current plan calls for the large
readable mosaics to be suspended in the canopy of the entryway outside the
main office, where they can be easily viewed as people enter the school campus.

The plan to have some type of public art at Harper has been in the works since
last year. A $1000 grant from the Davis Arts Foundation has enabled the school
to retain Temo Moreno and get the project design phase underway. This year
the Harper School Site Council was able to provide additional funding to the
project in support of the California Visual and Performing Arts standards. In
addition, the City of Davis appears to be poised to add additional funding so that
the project can be fully funded before it begins.

The design has had several iterations to date and will need to have final approval
from student groups, district staff and the site council before the project begins.
Once the design is approved and the method of installation assured, the
materials can be purchased and the process for creating the panels will begin.
Temo Moreno and his staff of UC Davis interns will direct and assist Harper’s
budding artists in making each panel. One of the main aspects of the project will
be to have a great deal of hands-on student participation, as well as participation
from others in the school community.

This is a project that we can all support and will be a legacy for all future Harper
Huskies to enjoy.

To Play Sports or Not to Play Sports? That is the Question!
There are different reasons for different kids, but sometimes students who have
steadily earned fair to good grades have a period of “junior high melt down”
during which their grades drop, some to failing levels. Each sports season I am
asked by more than one parent, in their efforts to influence their student’s work
habits, if they should make their child sit out for the sports season or until the
grades improve.

For all students, after school activities take up time that could be used for
studies. But amazingly, research by groups like the California Association of
Activities Directors and the California Interscholastic Federation, shows that most
students who are involved in school activities actually do better in school.

The key is always balance. How many hours a week does your teen athlete
spend at practice and games? Most teens that spend fewer than 20 hours per
week on a sport can also be good students. Playing a sport can help your teen
learn time management. In fact many students earn their best grades during
their sports season, and they spend less time watching TV or “hanging out” with
friends.

Playing a sport can also help your child set higher goals for themselves. Athletes
often set their sights on going to college. If your son or daughter spends time
with students who are aiming high, perhaps he or she will set their sights higher
as well.

Parents might also want to talk with the coach or our athletic Director, John
Campbell. Share your concerns about your athlete’s grades before the season
begins. All the Davis schools have clear policies about grade standards for
participation in school sports. Bring your child to the meeting and ask the coach
or AD to explain about the grades and test scores needed to keep playing sports
in high school and college. Then set clear expectations. Most teen athletes will
do their best to rise to the challenge.
* * * * *
Counseling News
Talent Search
Academic Talent Search is a program for 6th through 9th grade students offering
accelerated and enrichment courses. These courses are taught at Sacramento
State University during the summer and give students an opportunity to
experience a university environment and to take classes that are not usually
available at the secondary level. In order to be a part of this program, students
need to take the College Ability Test, which will be offered at Harper Jr. High on
February 9, 2006, at 3:30 p.m. (Testing is also taking place at the Sacramento
State campus on 2/4, 3/4, and 3/25). Applications (which include a $10.00 fee)
can be picked up at the Harper office and returned to the counselors.

Key Dates for 06-07 Student Course Selection

Incoming 7th Grade Dates:

Principal and Counselor visit elementary schools
* March 2nd at 9:00 - Valley Oak
* March 3rd at 9:00 - Birch Lane and at 1:15 – Pioneer
* March 6th at 9:00 - Montgomery
* March 8th at 5:30 in the MPR – Incoming 7th grade Parent Information Night
OR
* March 9th at 7:30 in the MPR – Incoming 7th grade Parent Information Night

* March 14th at 7:00 – Harper Open House
* March 17th – 7th Grade Planners due in the 6th grade classrooms

Incoming 8th Grade Dates:
* Feb. 6th-10th – Counselors visit English classes to distribute and explain 06-07 selection
materials
* February 9th at 7:30 in the MPR - Incoming 8th grade Parent Information Night
* February 21st - 8th Grade Planners due in English classes

Incoming 9th Grade Dates:
* Feb. 6th -10th – Counselors visit English classes to distribute and explain 06-07 selection
materials
* February 16th at 7:30 in the MPR - Incoming 9th grade Parent Information Night
* February 21st - 9th Grade Planners due in English classes

Incoming Davis High School (DHS) 10th Grade Dates:
* February 2nd from 7-8:30 – Parent Info night at DHS Performing Arts Bldg, (Last names
A-L)
* February 2nd from 7-8:30 – Parent Info in Spanish if parents show interest. Parents can
RSVP by calling Counselor Jennifore Elmore at 757-5400 x 148
* February 6th from 7-8:30 – Parent Info night at DHS Performing Arts Bldg, (Last names
M-Z)
* February 16th (a.m.) – DHS Counselors to 9th grade English classes
* February 27th – DHS Counselors to Harper to pick up completed planners

Incoming DaVinci HS 10th Grade Dates:

* Visitation, Parent Information Night to be determined.

* * * * *
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“newsletter” in the subject line and include your name and yours student’s name in the
message. You will then be notified when the newsletter is available on the Harper PTO
website: http://www2.dcn.org/orgs/harperpto.
The Herald is usually on line about a week before it would find its way to your mailbox.