State PTA offers scholarships

The California State PTSA scholarships deadline is approaching. This scholarship recognizes high school seniors for school and community volunteer service and has no grade-point-average requirement. Applicants must be PTA members. Application deadline is Feb. 1. Students consult counselors for an application.

Honorary Service Award recipients will be honored on Founders Day at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in room 12101. First semester finals begin Jan. 25. Jan. 28 is a student-free day and the end of the first semester.

For the latest Hoover news, visit the Hoover website at http://www.hooverhs.org.

Toll Middle School

Toll PTSA would like to thank Tonya Claycomb for organizing the Food and Toy Drive. She and her student assistants collected 35 boxes of food. Also thanks to Nancy Fetterhoff, who chaired Toll's successful December book fair. Thanks also to Magda Hamalian and Becky York. Susanna Garamanoukian also deserves many thanks for her superb work running the Toll Malt Shop.

If you have questions about the Toll Middle School PTSA, or would like to volunteer, e-mail Raquel Grecius at markkeppelmom@yahoo.com.

Balboa Elementary

Bravo to the Tunesmiths for performing their holiday concert, under the direction of Jeanne Smith. Thank you to Jody Gallagher for running the sound department for all the concerts. Thank you to Greg Boyadjian for providing Balboa with a wonderful traveling holiday quartet, including Mary Deyell, Johanna Linna, Alexandra Warshaw and Lauren Warshaw.

The toy and book drive will run Tuesday through Friday. Please bring donations to the classroom. The first PTA meeting of the year begins at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20 in the auditorium. That meeting will include Family Game Night.

To volunteer at Balboa, contact the school at (818) 241-1801.

Franklin Elementary

Franklin families with current students and future Franklin families need to get student magnet applications in by Jan. 22. The PTA Father Daughter Dance is Feb. 11 at a time to be announced. Preparations are well underway for a great event!

The Friends of Benjamin Franklin Foundation is gearing up for a great Silent Auction Fundraiser at a date to be announced near the end of February. Community members are invited to participate in the fundraiser and support the great work of the school.

To volunteer at Franklin, contact the school at (818) 243-1809.

Jefferson Elementary

Yellow Ribbon Week highlighting suicide prevention and awareness is Jan. 18 to 21. There will be a Chinese Acrobat assembly at Jefferson on Jan. 24 in the school auditorium at three different times for different grades. The first one starts at 8:30 a.m.

On Jan. 27 Jefferson will have a flag ceremony in the auditorium, starting at 8:30 a.m. for kindergarten and first grade, 9:15 a.m. for fourth through sixth and 10:10 a.m. for second and third grade.

To volunteer, call Jefferson at (818) 243-4279.

Mark Keppel Elementary

Mark Keppel PTA welcomes students back to school today. To volunteer at Keppel, contact the school at (818) 244-2113.

Fran Tunno can be reached by e-mail at heyfranla@gmail.com.