Saratoga News

Letters

Make the news easier to read

If you want to make the Saratoga News easier to read, you should make the print darker and not so much in tiny print.

It wasn't always this way. Did you get a new printer?

I like to read about our local news, but would like it easier to read, in darker print.

Has anyone else complained about this?

Florence Worrell
Pierce Road

Dollars per head count in Campbell

The Campbell Elementary School District's motto is "Kids count in Campbell." I believe they mean head count because the reason they want to retain Saratoga residents located in the Campbell District is for the dollars per head. Otherwise, they couldn't care less.

E. Marshall
Saratoga

Foundation gives class six computers

This school year, Saratoga School received six personal computers from the Detwiler Foundation Computers for Schools Program for use in a fifth-grade classroom. Having these computers in the classroom enables the students to integrate technology with their curriculum and experience using them as an everyday tool for learning. We have yet to realize the full potential that these computers can add to teaching and learning in the classroom, but for a start, they are enhancing students' study of the local watershed, the Saratoga Creek, which is an important component of our science curriculum. Students visit the creek and take water quality samples. They use the computers to write, record and organize the data collected. Eventually, we plan to put this information on-line and share it with others participating in similar studies locally and in other areas. This accomplishes one of the goals we have for our science program--to develop students who see themselves as real scientists working with real-life science problems.

We want to thank the consortium of local businesses who have come together to provide these computers to the foundation. Intel, Siemans, Pacific Bell and IBM are the larger donors who come to mind, but we also want to acknowledge the many smaller companies, individuals and service clubs who contributed to this effort. We are grateful for the tangible support that really makes a difference in the way our students learn.

There is still a critical need for computers in many other classrooms throughout our local area. Having been fortunate enough to be a recipient of computers from this program, we want to urge the public to donate their PC-compatible 486s, Pentium and Mac II or better computers to the foundation so that they can continue to provide them for the schools. Since the Detwiler Foundation will match the donations one-to-one, schools will double their volume of donated computers. The foundation is one of the best sources for the number and quality of computers that schools need since it provides a one-year computer replacement guarantee. Interested parties may call 800-939-6000 to donate their computers.

Lily Ogden, principal
Saratoga Elementary School

Bravo to the Saratoga High School streakers

Bravo to the Saratoga High "streakers" team, which last week offered up an interactive civics lesson. Here's what we learned: Disobedient streakers must be punished. Due to participation in one ritual, the partially clad "streakers" (an oxymoron is born!) must forgo another ritual: graduation ceremonies, wherein they would have been covered from neck to ankle in gowns.

Ironies aside, I wonder what actual crime these students perpetrated on their campus last week. General unruliness/dress code violation? Temporary lack of good judgment?

They obviously cannot be convicted of streaking while they were dressed.

I went to Saratoga High in the early '70s. Back then, we had real streakers, remember?

As one who personally witnessed the Redwood Streaking Incident of 1995, I offer this opinion of the "trauma" visited upon us: Much like the unexpected passage of a herd of exotic animals, the event was surprising, colorful and lasted all of about 90 seconds. (Indeed, most of the students missed the whole thing, to their regret). It is hard to imagine that an incident of such short duration could still be the driving force behind the unfair punishment of these latest so-called "streakers."

Won't you please reconsider punishment options for these students? If they have committed some crime, would not community-service hours be more to the point?

Karen Erickson
Lutheria Way

A copy of this letter was sent to Saratoga High School Principal Kevin Skelly and the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union School District Board of Trustees.

Thanks to students, it was a great time

I would like to take this time to express our appreciation to the Interact Club of Saratoga High School for their participation in the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Saratoga Retirement Community.

This was held on Easter Sunday, March 30, for children 2 through 10 years of age. The students from Interact hid candy eggs and led games and face-painting.

With parents looking on, a great time was had by all.

Thank you from all of us, the residents and staff of Saratoga Retirement Community.

Joyce Davis, activity director
Fruitvale Avenue

Freelance opportunity

The Saratoga News occasionally uses work by freelance writers and stringers. Interested writers should send clips and a resume to Carolyn Leal, editor of the Saratoga News, at 14375 Saratoga Ave., Ste E2, Saratoga, 95070.

Correction

A story in last week's SARATOGA NEWS erroneously stated that the schools have provided half of the funding for the Warner Hutton House teen center. The community has raised half of the funding, some $8,400, to keep the center open.

[ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ]