A group of 150 Campbell area parents and educators have formed South Bay Preparatory, a nonprofit organization they plan to turn into a charter school.

The group received pro bono help from Peter Gumaer, who practices in Campbell. South Bay Preparatory incorporated as a nonprofit in July.

The group began with Campbell resident Kelly Lambert and nearly 20 parents from area schools in April. Discouraged by overcrowding and the lack of community on middle and high school campuses.

The parents envision a school that will serve seventh- through 12th-graders in Santa Clara County. They hope to locate within the Campbell or Moreland school districts. The school would serve 400 students, or 25 students in a classroom.

The group developed a work-in-progress mission statement and created an eight-person governing board and eight committees. Its mission emphasizes parent participation, a challenging curriculum and helping students develop emotionally, socially, morally and intellectually.

South Bay Preparatory will meet on July 20 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Campbell library. The meeting is open to the public.

Voters are asked to
select a language

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters is conducting a survey to ensure that voters receive election information in their preferred language.

The Preferred Language Survey was mailed to more than 400,000 registered voters earlier this month and another mailing is planned for later in July. The survey asks voters which one of five languages they want their election materials in, aside from English.

Other ways voters can change their preferred language include completing a survey card at the polls; marking a preferred language on an absentee return envelope; or printing the survey from www.sccvote.org. For more information, voters can also call 866.430.8683.

Donation honors
Barbara Vrevich

The Campbell City Council on July 5 accepted a $4,938 donation for landscaping and exterior improvements that were made to the Ainsley House and its grounds.

The donation was made by Michael, Teresa, Barry and Nicolas Vrevich in honor of Barbara Anne Vrevich, Michael's wife, who died in November 2003.

Barbara Anne Vrevich was an active volunteer at Ainsley House, greeting visitors and working in the gift shop for nearly six years before her death.

The funds were used to remove old shrubs and plants, install a flagstone walkway, new bench, fence and gated area. The funds were also used to add new landscaping.

Keep your critters
cool this summer

The Humane Society Silicon Valley urges people to take care of pets during hot summer months.

When temperatures outside soar, the temperature inside a car can rise to 120 degrees quickly, even with the windows open a crack. Pets can suffer from heatstroke just like humans, and it can be fatal.

Rabbits should stay inside with air conditioning or in a cage in a shady spot that is well ventilated. A frozen bottle of water in the cage can help rabbits stay cool.

Pet owners should also watch for heartworm, as the disease can be transmitted by bites from infected mosquitoes.

Save intense activity for the early morning hours or the late evening when it's cooler. Be aware that short-nosed dogs have difficulty cooling themselves by panting.

New principals at
elementary schools

Campbell Union School District welcomes two former Campbell employees back into the fold as principals, Julie Henderson and Lesa Nieri.

Henderson will replace Peggy Bryan as Sherman Oaks Community Charter School's new principal and Nieri will replace Kathleen Jacobsen, who retired this year as the principal from Lynhaven Elementary School.

Henderson began teaching at Rosemary School in 1994, before becoming a bilingual program coordinator in the district office from 1995 to 2000. Currently, she is the director of professional development at the California School Redesign Network at Stanford University.

Nieri worked as a teacher and literacy coordinator with the district from 1994 to 1999. After leaving Campbell in 1999, Nieri worked with Santa Clara Unified School District coordinating professional development for new teachers.