Date:	Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Time:	6:00pm
Schedule:	To be announced
Activities:	8th Grade Information Night is an opportunity for interested parents and students to meet members of the school community, including students, parents, faculty and administrators. Families will be invited to rotate through various classrooms so they can learn more about the school's excellent academic programs.
Place:	Ayers Gym
Parking:	There is now plenty of parking out front by the PAC!

How do I schedule a Shadow visit?
Download the Shadow Request Form and return the completed form to Lorry Orcutt at lorcutt@seq.org. Shadow dates are booked beginning in October. Ms. Orcutt will book the Shadow date and then send you verification that the completed Shadow Request Form has been received and a date has been booked. You will receive a reminder e-mail one week before your scheduled Shadow date. The available dates are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Shadow spaces are limited and fill up quickly so sign up early.

When will Shadowing occur?
Shadowing information is available on this website beginning in August, but Shadow information will not be distributed until October. Shadows will be welcomed for visits beginning November and ending in February.

When will I find out when our Shadow experience will take place?
As soon as you return the completed Shadow Request Form to Lorry Orcutt at lorcutt@seq.org, Ms. Orcutt will book the Shadow date (beginning in October) then send you verification that the completed Shadow Request Form has been received and a date has been booked. You will receive a reminder e-mail one week before your scheduled Shadow date. She will also send a reminder the week before your student will be visiting M-A. The Shadow will receive a call from his/her Host when they are first paired then again the night before the scheduled visit.

Who will the student be shadowing?
Shadows will be paired up with a current freshman called a Host. The Shadow will go to the classes and lunchtime club meetings that the Host has scheduled for the day. We do our best to match Shadows with a Host who has similar interests in academics, athletics, and/or extra-curricular activities. We also try to match our Shadows with a Host who graduated from the same middle school.

Is it possible to shadow with a specific student?
Shadows may request a specific student to serve as the Host. We will do our best to meet your request; however, this is not a guarantee. All of our shadow hosts are freshmen. We feel that this gives the most accurate representation of an incoming student's school day. Not all of our freshmen have signed up to participate in the Shadow Host program. Each Host is responsible for one guest at a time, so if they have already been paired with a visitor, we will find another host with similar interests. We make every effort to match eighth grade students with one of our freshman based on their interests (class schedules, extra-curricular activities, gender, etc.). We use gender as one of the criteria for matching to make gym classes and bathroom visits run more smoothly.

What time do Shadows need to arrive and be picked up and where do they meet?
Shadows are required to sign in at the Administration Office in the front of the school at 8:30am at which time they will be given a copy of the Host's schedule and a pass to show the Host's teachers. All Shadows MUST SIGN IN before the shadowing experience begins. Most students will be shadowing a six-period schedule, but we do have a few students who have a seven-period schedule. When the Host calls to introduce him or herself, the Host will let the Shadow know the schedule they will be sharing as well as lunch arrangements. The Shadow needs to be picked up at 3:15pm at the front of the school.

What do Shadows wear?
We ask that all visitors comply with our dress code. Our dress code states that students must dress in a manner that reflects positively on themselves, their parents, and their school. Students are expected to dress in a manner conductive to the advancement of their education and dress in neither a manner that is disruptive nor a safety hazard to others. If you need further clarification, please feel free to ask.

What should a Shadow bring with them?
The Shadow should bring a book to read in the event that the Host has a test or quiz. The Host will also let the Shadow know what he/she typically does for lunch. Students either bring a lunch from home or bring money to purchase lunch at our on-campus facilities.

What should we do if the student is sick or an emergency arises the day of the scheduled Shadow date?
As soon as you know that there might be a reason that the Shadow will not be able to keep the assigned date, please call Lorry Orcutt at (650) 322-5311 x5113 or e-mail her at lorcutt@seq.org. We will let the Host know that the date has been canceled. Due to the number of Shadows visiting M-A, we will try our best to reschedule, but it might be for a date several weeks later or we may not be able to reschedule based on availability.

What happens if all Shadow dates are full or we miss the Shadowing window?
We will host a single day (usually in March) for these students to receive an after-school campus tour and have questions answered by knowledgeable, current students. In May, we will also be hosting Integrate the 8 which is another opportunity for incoming 8th graders to be welcomed into the Menlo-Atherton community.

Please understand that our freshman teachers welcome Shadows into their classrooms four months during the school year. Our spring schedule is filled with High School Exit Exam, STAR, Advanced Placement testing, and preparation for final exams, therefore we end Shadow visitation at the end of February during our third quarter. We host shadow visitations on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays only due to our block schedule. Shadow spaces are limited and fill up quickly so sign up early. Sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Can I schedule a second visit?
Each year Menlo-Atherton hosts many potential students. In order to let every prospective Bear experience a day at Menlo-Atherton, we only allow one shadow visit.

When is the deadline to apply for Open Enrollment?
Open enrollment and intradistrict transfers are handled through the Sequoia Union High School District offices. Information and forms are mailed in November. For more information, parents may call the Sequoia Union High School District offices at (650) 369-1411.


If you have any further questions regarding shadowing or you have a comment, please contact the Shadow Coordinator Kelly Todd at ktodd@seq.org.