The Willow Glen Resident

Around The Glen

SJ students outpace nation in SAT scores

San Jose Unified School District students continue to outpace kids throughout the country on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, according to scores released last month.

California SAT math scores for 1997 averaged 514, which is 23 points lower than the district average. The state verbal scores, at 496, were 16 points lower than the district's.

District students scored higher in math on the 1997 SAT than the previous year, but verbal scores remained flat. Students posted an average score of 537 in math, a four-point increase from 1996. Verbal scores came in at 512, one point lower than last year's 513.

"For the past two years we have provided significant additional support to enhance mathematics teaching methods in the primary grades," said Linda Murray, San Jose Unified superintendent. "We have fundamentally changed the way we teach mathematics, and it is showing in all of our standardized tests."

Despite the slight decrease in the district's verbal scores, Murray remains optimistic.

The district is focusing its efforts on early literacy and increased writing in the academic curriculum, and the results have been seen in students' improved reading and writing skills on other standardized tests, she said. "I expect to see this improvement reflected in SAT scores in the future."

--Annette Ha

Career Closet hosts annual fundraiser

The San Jose nonprofit organization Career Closet, which provides free business clothing to economically disadvantaged women in Santa Clara County, will hold its annual fundraiser at the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara.

Titled "The Art of Making a Living," the event will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. and will be hosted by Wendy Tokuda of KRON-TV.

"This is our largest fundraising event of the year," said Mary Cefalu, Career Closet's executive director.

Guests can expect a buffet dinner and drinks in the museum's rotunda, an oral and silent auction that includes a dinner for 30 cooked by Santa Clara County firefighters, and theme gift baskets.

"We think everyone who attends will have a great time," Cefalu said.

For tickets or information, call 448-3215.

--Annette Ha

Community center hosts poetry readings

Willow Glen's Divine Science Community Center hosted the first of three Dragonfly Press poetry readings Sept. 13.

San Jose poet Shelley Miller and Los Angeles poet Joan Eyles Johnson were the two featured poets.

The other readings, one in October and one in November, will also be held at the center (1540 Hicks Ave.) and will feature other established Bay Area poets.

The poets were chosen on an anonymous basis by Wisconsin poet Tom McKeown, the founder of The Wisconsin Review. The poets will receive $50 for their appearances.

The poetry series was begun by Dragonfly Press founder Cynthia Lowe and associate editor Michael Vaughn to create a forum for up-and-coming regional poets.

"We wanted an opportunity, first off, to showcase writers in the area--especially the West Coast--who don't ordinarily get showcased," Lowe said. "We held this competition for the reading, not necessarily for publication; but then in turn, we also received quite a few quality manuscripts that we are publishing."

--Michelle Ku

Presentation goes country for auction

Presentation High School's annual Candlelight Auction will be held Friday, Oct. 24, at San Jose's Fairmont Hotel.

Featuring the theme "Country Days and Country Nights," the oral and silent auctions include 1,000 widely varied gifts.

Presentation High School has been holding the Candlelight Auction for the past 15 years. Last year, according to Sister Stephanie Still, the benefit brought in $100,000 for the students.

"It's been very successful," said Still, who expects about 250 people to participate this year.

The cost is $125 per person for the silent and oral auction and a gourmet dinner. For more information or to make a reservation, call Presentation's development office at 264-5110.

--Annette Ha

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