After winning the Division V State Championship in December, the
Mount Madonna School girls varsity volleyball team has earned a
second state title: the state’s highest collective team grade-point
average during the 2007-’08 school year for all girls varsity
volleyball teams in California. The award was presented by the
California Interscholastic Federation.
Mount Madonna volleyball team scores top honor
After winning the Division V State Championship in December, the Mount Madonna School girls varsity volleyball team has earned a second state title: the state’s highest collective team grade-point average during the 2007-’08 school year for all girls varsity volleyball teams in California. The award was presented by the California Interscholastic Federation.
“This award exhibits one of Mount Madonna School’s primary themes – academic excellence – and is a testament to our students who excel both in the classroom and on the court,” said Sidd McDonald, athletic director.
The California Interscholastic Federation Academic State Championships (formerly the Scholastic State Championships) were initiated in 1996 as a way to recognize teams with the highest collective grade-point average in their respective sport.
The Mount Madonna team’s collective GPA is 3.88. Team members are: Soma Sharan, 9th grade; Erin Mitchell and Zoe Bostick, 10th grade; Camille Schwartz, 11th grade; and Alexa Rosendale, Ashley England, Hannah Meade, Joanna Koda, Rachel Sunberg, Shelby Botula and Tessa Fischer, 12th grade.
Supes support spay, neuter law
Santa Clara County today became the first county in California to take a position on AB 1634, as the County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution of support for the bill.
The bill mandates that all cats and dogs be spayed or neutered – surgically sterilized – before they are six months of age. The bill purports to allow some animals to get an “intact permit” and avoid surgical sterilization, at least temporarily. Failure to comply results in a minimum $500 fine and forced sterilization of the animal.
The stated purpose of the bill is to solve the “pet overpopulation problem” in the state. The supporters of the bill assert that it will reduce the number of cats and dogs euthanized – killed – in shelters. The supporters also assert that it will improve pet health.
In doing so, Santa Clara County joined scores of other cities, organizations and elected officials who are publicly endorsing AB 1634.
No need to pay to lower property taxes
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office is warning residents about recent mailings from companies that offer to lower property taxes. These offers, which can be confused with official government documents, charge a substantial fee to file a “Proposition 8 Assessment Reduction Request” with the Santa Clara County Assessor’s office.
Residents should be aware that they can do this themselves at no charge by using a form provided by the assessor’s office.
Proposition 8 requires the assessor to reduce the property tax on a home when the market value of that home declines. To qualify, homeowners must demonstrate that on Jan. 1, the market value of the property was less than the current assessed value.
The forms to request a reduction can be completed online at
