Posted by Just Wondering, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Apr 11, 2012 at 12:53 pm

Survival Fest? What in the world does that have to do with the 7th grade California State Standards? Or are they training students to survive 8th grade at Hillview which certainly will require survival skills and any other help they can get.

Posted by Sugar coated dreams, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Apr 11, 2012 at 9:26 pm

I think it's great that teachers at Hillview enrich and enhance their curriculum with meaningful activities for their students that provide memorable experiences that kids will remember for years to come. And, to the person who had a question about curriculum connections...they must not know the whole truth before making a comment because survival is a major theme of the core literature kids are reading this year...not only survival of the fittest but things like man vs. nature, man vs. society, man vs. self, man vs. man, etc. So as an outsider's perspective...I find it refreshing that teachers go above and beyond and not just stick to teaching the test...because after all...isn't that what teaching is all about: to inspire and spark interest. I mean who says learning can't be fun. And come on...if I were a kid...I would gobble all this up like candy!!!! And maybe...this preparation would really train kids for the formidable 8th grade year...since high school, I hear, is a piece of cake!!!!

Posted by HV parent, a resident of the Atherton: other neighborhood, on Apr 12, 2012 at 7:44 am

Survival reflects the new principal's ongoing effort to replace beloved traditions that generations of HV students have enjoyed with new "traditions" that he can point to as his personal achievement.

In a few years, no one will remember, but it's sad for the current crop of students who were hoping to participate in the same events that their older siblings raved about.

Posted by Just Wondering, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Apr 12, 2012 at 2:29 pm

Sugar Coated Dreams, it is wonderful to look on the positive side but give me a break. An entire day of kids gaming, playing on a rock climbing wall and making bracelets is a big organized playdate, not curriculum enrichment. They'll remember a trip to Raging Waters as well, but classifying that as a physics lesson is a stretch, to say the least. Surely the Hillview teachers are capable of deeper experiential learning.

Posted by Edwin, a resident of the Menlo Park: Felton Gables neighborhood, on Apr 15, 2012 at 9:43 am

Well at least Superintendent Ghysels didn't show up with his guitar and start hogging the mic and singing.