The PTSA Parent Networks invite all grades to meet with Principal Herrmann, on Friday, December 4, from 8-10 AM in the PE classroom (located on the N-building side, which is on the left as you face the entrance of Bow Gym). We will be joined at 8:30 AM by Dr. Herrmann and some of her staff. Please RSVP here (again) so we have enough coffee and remember to pick up a parking pass from the office.

Global Navigators Scholarship Parent Meeting

Mon, Dec 7, 7 PM, Room H-5 (Sra. Matchett's room)

Gunn Has been awarded a sizable study abroad scholarship through CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) and some student information meetings have already taken place. The Global Navigators Scholarship Parent meeting will give parents an overview of the program, allow them to meet a CIEE representative, and to ask any questions they may have. We are aware that the meeting takes place on the first night of Hanukkah, and we apologize for this. We needed to work with the availability of the CIEE representative, who comes from Portland ME. If you are unable to attend the meeting, or need more information, please contact Liz Matchett at lmatchett@pausd.org.

Percussion Ensemble Concert

Thu, Dec 10, 7:30 PM, Spangenberg

Percussion ensembles from Gunn Freshman Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble as well as the JLS Percussion Ensemble will perform a wide variety of musical styles. Highlights include: Techno Pop (Nathan Daughtery), Scamper (Jared Spears), Rondo alla Turk (Mozart), Funeral March for a Marionette (Gounod), and original compositions by PAUSD percussionists. All are welcome!

Another Successful Turkey Feast!

On November 19, Gunn students enjoyed a favorite school-wide event: the Gunn PTSA Turkey Feast. The feast raised over $3000 and collected over 200 cans of food for the Ecumenical Hunger Project. A big thank you to all the volunteers who made it such a huge success; the Gunn SEC officers who kept the food flowing; and special thanks to our wonderful leaders Donna Pioppi and Mary Catherine Williams. To see a photo show of the event please click here.

FROM THE PREVIOUS ISSUE:

Gunn Junior Parent Holiday Potluck

Fri, Dec 4, 6 PM, 3785 Grove Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94303

Here is an opportunity for Junior parents to meet and relax and share yummy delicacies over fun conversations and get to know each other better, as our kids embark on this phase in High School. PLEASE DO JOIN US EVEN IF IT IS FOR A SHORT TIME! Sign up for a dish and a drink!

When: Friday, Dec 4th, 2015

Who: Gunn Junior PARENTS ONLY - due to space restrictions in winter time we are limiting to parents only

Time: 6 PM onwards

Where: 3785 Grove Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94303

Season of giving--Can Drive: Please bring a can or 2 to donate to a food drive. Every little bit helps! If you have any questions or suggestions please contact Ani_Gnanalingam@hotmail.com or BarbaraBest@gmail.com.

Korean Parents Network Meeting

Sat, Dec 5, 10 AM, 3723 Ortega Ct, Palo Alto

Korean Parents Network will meet on Saturday, December 5th at 10 AM. Come join us for a casual Saturday morning coffee. If you have any concerns or questions, please come and share. We will meet at 3723 Ortega Court, Palo Alto. Contact Julia Byun at juliajbyun@yahoo.com

Volunteer to Help with Juana Run

Gunn Sports Boosters is looking for volunteers who can help us with the Juana Run. If you have a student athlete, please consider getting involved. Most jobs can be done from home or on the actual day of the race, Saturday, February 27th. Please contact Carol at cjkib@sbcglobal.net.

Gunn Teacher Grants Awarded by PTSA

PTSA recently completed the Fall round of funding for Gunn Teacher Grants, approving nearly $15,000 of grants for teachers to use immediately in their classes. Thanks to Gunn parents, your generous contributions to our school allow PTSA to award the following grants:

*World Languages: Guest speaker for French Civilization and Culture; super site access codes for additional AP French enrichment; and one iPad Air and Splashtop software for mobile teaching.

*Physical Education: T-shirts for freshmen who participate in the Gunn PE Triathalon.

*Science: Materials for hands-on lab activities in Marine Biology (underwater fishing cameras for underwater robot building project, obstacle building materials for pool competition); and parking reimbursements for field trips.

*Math: Sixty TI-Nspire calculators for class use and to be available for student use outside of the classroom.

*Career Technical Education: Five video camera shoulder rigs for mobile filming.

*English and Social Studies: Funding a portion of the cost of upgrading the departments' Turnitin subscription to improve the interface with Schoology.

PAUSD / PTAC

The Mindset Revolution: How to Help Children Learn and Love Math

Mon, Dec 7, 6:45 PM, MP Room Jordan Middle School, 750 N. California Ave, Palo Alto

In this presentation Dr. Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Education, Stanford University and presenter at the White House on girls and STEM, will share the latest brain science that sheds important new light on the best ways to learn math. She will also engage the audience through videos of students learning math in different ways and share a wealth of resources to help students on their mathematics journeys. (Target audience: 4th to 12th grade parents, teachers, middle and high school students.) RSVP appreciated: http://goo.gl/forms/kb00AQ44fD. Co-sponsored by PAUSD and Parent Advocates for Student Success, a parent network dedicated to closing the achievement gap in PAUSD.

"Surviving and Thriving during the Holiday Season and Beyond" Holiday Coffee for Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities, Special Needs and Other Challenges

Fri, Dec 11, 8:30-9:45 AM, Lucie Stern Community Center, Palo Alto

Parents are invited to join in this community gathering for an interactive discussion led by Shari Grande, MSW, a Clinical Social Worker, Certified Parent Coach and Special Needs Mom. Shari will focus on the extra stress that the holiday season can present for children (and their families) with challenges and provide strategies to help us survive and thrive during the holiday season and beyond.This event is open to all Palo Alto parents and caretakers. Translation provided for Spanish and Mandarin speakers. Sponsored by the PTA Council, PTA Inclusion Representatives and the Palo Alto CAC. For additional information please email Christina Schmidt at paloaltocac@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.cacpaloalto.org.

Student Nutrition Services Update

* Food Service Open Forum is being held on Fri, Dec 11, from 3-4 PM in the board room at the district office. This is for students, parents and community members to come ask questions, give feedback and learn about the Student Nutrition Service Department.

* 3rd Annual Future Chef Competition Coming Soon! Recipe submission card will be available in January. The theme this year is Health Breakfast recipes.

* New Street Eatz format opened at Gunn High School. This format offers made from scratch rotating choices featuring flavors from several retail styles including Sunset Chicken strips, Main Street Tacos, Olvera Street Tortas and more. Build-to-Order Bars added to Middle School. Pasta, pizza and potato bars were what the students asked for and now they are here.

* More info: Student Nutrition Services | Palo Alto Council of PTAs

PAUSD Code Fest for K-12 Students, Educators & Families

Sat, Dec 12, 1-5 PM, JLS Middle School, 480 E. Meadow Dr, Palo Alto

Bringing you PAUSD's Code Fest during the week of the Hour of Code. Everyone is welcome. The event will contain thirty hands-on sessions and challenges to choose from during three 50 minute sessions, ranging from computers to robots to iPads and phones. Registration & FAQ: bit.ly/PAUSDCodeFest Questions? Contact Smita Kolhatkar: skolhatkar@pausd.org.

California School Parent Survey

Available until Dec 18

Please help our school district by participating in the California School Parent Survey. This year Palo Alto Unified School District invites ALL parents and guardians to participate in a school-specific survey, the California School Parent Survey (CSPS). Its purpose is to obtain parent perceptions of student behavior and attitudes, school programs and policies, and the overall school climate as they relate to student well-being and learning. It deals with such issues as truancy, safety, harassment, substance use, school connectedness, and learning supports. The survey is a companion to the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) for students in grades 5, 7, 9, and 11, and the California School Climate Survey (CSCS) for staff. This year, PAUSD is administering all 3 surveys, student (CHKS), staff (CSCS), and parent (CSPS). Please look for Infinite Campus reminder message this week which will include your school link and access code for participating in the parent survey. For more information, please contact Soula Nikolakopoulos, (650) 329-3986.

Palo Alto Council of PTAs Sports Page

PAPTAC maintains a web page featuring calendars, clinics, tryouts and camps for Peninsula sports teams of interest to students. Web page: http://ptac.paloaltopta.org/sports-and-activities/

Community

Palo Alto High School Fiery Arts Winter Glass Sale

Fri, Dec 4, 3-6 PM; Sat, Dec 5, 11 AM-4 PM, Tower Building, 50 Embarcadero Rd, Palo Alto

Exquisite Paly-designed decorative and functional hand-blown glass. PALY GLASS is a triple win - they make impressive & memorable gifts, your proceeds benefit Paly's Sculpture classes and there's easy parking. The glass is hand made by instructors, alum, and students. It is our last public sale for the school year to fund the program. Free demonstrations, hot apple cider and cookies too. Contact: PalyFieryArts@gmail.com or http://sites.google.com/site/PalyGlass. Like our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PalyFieryArts.

Dance Connection & Palo Alto Dance Connection Youth Ensemble Present the 17th Annual Production of The Nutcracker

Fri, Dec 4, 7 PM; Sat, Dec 5, 2 PM & 7 PM; Sun, Dec 6, 3 PM, Spangenberg Theatre, Gunn High School, 780 Arastradero Rd, Palo Alto

Celebrate the holiday season with a classic the whole family will enjoy. There are four breathtaking performances for audiences of all ages. The production includes many dancers who are PAUSD students ranging from elementary school to high school. Tickets available online at: www.danceconnectionpaloalto.com.

Ragazzi Boys Chorus - I Dream a World

Sat, Dec 5, 4 PM, St. First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto

Ragazzi Boys Chorus presents I Dream a World, an effervescent holiday concert series inspired by the classic Langston Hughes poem of the same name. These jubilant Bay Area concerts celebrate the power of love and music to transform lives across cultures. Selections include a Sufi chant sung in Arabic, Hebrew pieces, and classical European choral works. Concerts will conclude with Ragazzi's carol sing-a-long featuring favorites such as Deck the Halls, Joy to the World, and O Come All Ye Faithful. Info and tickets http://ragazzi.org/performances/

Paly Choirs' 13th Annual Madrigal Feaste

Sat & Sun, Dec. 5 & 6, 2-4:30 PM, Westminster Hall (Jordan MP Room), 750 N. California Ave, Palo Alto

His Majesty King Henry welcomes all ye to his palace, to join him and his third wife, Queen Jane Seymour, in the festivities of the yuletide season. When ye arrive at the palace ye may find that his young daughter, the Princess Elizabeth has disappeared! Suspects abound in Westminster Palace including the King's other daughter Princess Mary. As ye discover the truth about the disappearance of Princess Elizabeth ye may see tomfoolery, shenanigans, mischief, and the occasional anachronistic guest star (rhymes with Maylor Wift). Interspersed ye shall hear the finest choirs in all the lands, see a jester of unparalleled talent, and feast on sumptuous tea sandwiches and desserts. Huzzah! Tickets available at palymadrigals.com.

Palo Alto Art Center - Holiday Family Day

Sun, Dec 6, 2-4 PM, 1313 Newell Rd, Palo Alto

Join us for hands-on artmaking projects that transform everyday objects into gifts, goodies, and d�cor for the whole family. Design your own wrapping paper and cards, create brooches and pins, compose wonderland scenes, and personalize garlands to display in your home. A special performance by Firebird Youth Chinese Orchestra will take place from 4-4:30 PM. Palo Alto Art Center Foundation members receive early entry to the event for a special artmaking activity from 1-2 PM.

Jordan Choirs Winter Concert - "Let It Be"

Wed, Dec 9, 7 PM, MP Room, Jordan Middle School, 750 N. California Ave, Palo Alto

Please join the Jordan Choirs for its Winter Concert - "Let It Be." This will be the first big concert of the year and all of the Jordan Choirs will entertain the audience with music by Mozart, Haydn, and Faure, as well as a variety of Beatles hits from across their career. It's sure to be a fun night celebrating all of the amazing ways that music has transformed over the centuries to give us what we have and appreciate today in modern music. In addition to the formal concert, we will have an optional Audience Singalong immediately before at 6:30. Join our choirs in singing some of your favorite Beatles songs from over the years. All are welcome to join in the spirit and sing along!

Annual Holiday LEGO Show, "Living LEGO-cy"

Open Fri-Sun, Dec 11-Jan 17, 11 AM-4 PM (closed Dec 25 & Jan 1), 351 Homer Ave, Palo Alto

The Museum of American Heritage (MOAH) is excited to host the Annual Holiday LEGO Show, "Living LEGO-cy," brought to you by the talented Bay Area LEGO User's Group at the MOAH's Frank Livermore Learning Center. It will feature a large model train layout made entirely from LEGO, with the rest of the room filled with all types of impressive creations, from castles to spaceships to sculptures. Admission: $3 per person, cash only please (BayLUG and MoAH members are free!). Contact: (650) 321-1004 or mail@moah.org. Note: Street parking, or take Caltrain to Palo Alto and walk a few blocks southeast.

Ragazzi Boys Chorus Winter Recital

Sat, Dec 12, 5 PM, First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto

Join us in celebrating the singers of Ragazzi Boys Chorus, from small to tall. Many of Ragazzi's groups are showcased, particularly our younger boys. Ragazzi's program of musical growth and progress is laid out, from the entry-level groups through middle school. Each group performs a set of songs, and wonderful seasonal music is presented throughout the concert. Info and tickets http://ragazzi.org/performances/.

Spanish Immersion Opportunity for High School Students in Oaxaca, Mexico (Summer 2016)

Application Deadline: January 6, 2016

If living in a beautiful and historic city, improving your Spanish language skills, learning about another culture, and building new friendships is something you'd like to do, come to the family information meeting about Neighbors Abroad's student exchange. Neighbors Abroad, Palo Alto's sister city organization, has sponsored a summer student exchange with Oaxaca, Mexico, since 1965. Applicants should be high school students at least 15 years old by June of 2016 who are studying Spanish at any level. For questions and an application packet, contact Marion at marionb@sonic.net or Lynne at lynnerussell1@gmail.com (parent of a Gunn HS senior who participated in the exchange). For more information about Neighbors Abroad, visit www.neighborsabroad.org.

Gunn Connection Publication Guidelines:

The Gunn Connection is published ONCE a week, every Friday. Deadline is noon the day before publication.
Please submit ANNOUNCEMENTS ONLY to the Gunn Connection at gunnconnection@paloaltopta.org. Only announcements specific to the Gunn community will be published. Any other announcements from outside the Gunn community must first be submitted for review to the PTA eNews (enews@paloaltopta.org), which will then distribute it to the relevant schools in the district.
Announcements will be limited to 100 words or less. Any lengthier or more in-depth articles or news should be submitted to the Gunn Connection Extra (GunnNews@gmail.com).
Announcements will be published in two consecutive issues. To have further announcements made after that, please submit your announcement again.
Please use the words "Gunn Connection" in the subject line. Items should include a title, the date, time and location of the event, and a brief (100 words or less) description of the activity. List email, contact information and web links at the end. Content should be in the body of your email as unformatted text. Attachments subject to approval by the editors.
Items are published at the discretion of the editors.

Thank you,

Shari Arensdorf & Rita Lee

Gunn Connection Editors & Parent Volunteers