Gunn Connection 

Friday, August 19, 2016
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Gunn 2013

WELCOME to the 2016-17 School Year!


Calendar

Fri, Aug 19
Principal's Coffee, 8 AM, PE Classroom, Bow Gym
BikeMobile: FREE bike repairs, 2:15-5:15 PM, near the Village
Welcome Back Dance, 7:30 PM, Quad
Tue, Aug 23
Freshman Ice Cream Social, 3:45 PM, Amphitheater
Fri, Aug 26
Freshman Parent Network Meeting, 8 AM, Staff Lounge
Football vs. El Camino, JV 4 PM, Varsity 7 PM
Tailgate BBQ, 5 PM
Thu, Sep 1
Back to School Night, 6-8:40 PM (see Calendar for schedule)
Fri, Sep 2
Minimum Day (see Calendar for schedule)

 
For a complete calendar of all school events, go to the Gunn Calendar.  For corrections or additions to the Calendar, contact Martha Elderon.
Gunn

BikeMobile Comes to Gunn
TODAY, Fri, Aug 19, 2:15-5:15 PM, near the Village
BikeMobile will provide FREE bike tune-ups for Gunn students and staff! They fix flat tires, adjust brakes and gears, and replace broken or worn out parts like chains, seats, and tires. They cannot replace missing wheels or gears. While BikeMobile mechanics work on your bike they'll explain how it works and how to keep your ride running smoothly. Space is limited, and bikes will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Whether or not you have a bike that needs to be fixed, come learn about bicycle maintenance, bike safety, and more!  

Call for TUTORS in the Gunn AC
Welcome back to school!  It's time to learn more, and to share what you know! The Gunn Academic Center is recruiting PEER TUTORS for the 2016-2017 school year. All subjects welcome. Tutoring in the AC is a great way to earn community service hours! A students tutoring commitment is usually one hour per week. More hours available upon request. Come into the the AC and complete an application. (The AC is in room D-2, attached to the Library.)  

Current Need: Academic Center Lunchtime Monitors
Close to 200 volunteers helped with essential tasks to get the new school year off to a smooth start. Thank you!! We still need ongoing noontime assistance in the Academic Center. In this position you are THE adult in the room. The main tasks are to have students know of your presence, to watch over the automatic textbook check-out and return system and to monitor appropriate use of the 30 computers in the room.
Days and times needed:
Alternate Mondays, 12-1 PM
Alternate Tuesdays, 12-1 PM
Alternate Wednesdays, 12-1 PM
Thursdays, 12-1 PM, 1 or 2 people
Compensation: Joy of interacting with our great students, familiarity with what goes on at Gunn, a cup of tea, and heartfelt appreciation from the students, the AC staff (Michelle and Pam) and me ([email protected]).

Gunn Teams Still Taking New Athletes
It's not too late to join a sport team! Gunn's Football, Cross Country and Girl's Water Polo teams are still looking for new athletes who are interested in joining. Joining a sport team is a great way to make new and lasting friendships, show your Gunn spirit and pride, and get some excercise in too! If you're interested in joining one of the sport teams, you can contact the team's coach or just show up at a practice and go for it!! The coaches contact information and team practice times are both listed on the Gunn website under the athletics tab. GO TITANS!!

Attention Parents of Seniors
Deadline: Oct 28
Every year, the yearbook staff sets aside a portion of the yearbook for Senior Baby Ads. These ads allow parents of seniors to honor their child and send them a supporting message. Graduation from high school is a noteworthy step in every child's life that surely makes every parent proud. As a long-standing tradition at Gunn, these Senior Baby Ads help celebrate this monumental achievement. See the attached form, and be sure to start putting this together for our October 28 deadline.


FROM THE PREVIOUS ISSUE:

Parents: Dance Chaperones Needed!
Fri, Aug 19, 7:30-10:30 PM, Quad
Without chaperones, the Welcome Back Dance on August 19 (7:30 PM) can't happen! Please sign up HERE. You will have fun, and the students and staff will thank you!
 
Some Back to School Help Still Needed!
Gunn depends on SO MANY of our wonderful parent vounteers during the opening of each school year to help welcome students to campus and begin their new year smoothly. Below are current needs. Respond to Norma Hesterman ([email protected]) with your name and the name and grade of your student, or sign up HERE. The students and staff will thank you! For each activity bring a warm smile for our students! Please fill out the green forms you received in your summer packets and return them.
Mon, Aug 15
Collect and organize student packet forms. Nine, or more, volunteers needed at Spangenberg, 8:00 to 11:00.
First 2 weeks of school
Help in Student Activities Center writing receipts, entering data, helping students in following shifts: 8:30-11 AM, 11 AM-1:30 PM, 1:30-3:30 PM. Sign up HERE.
Fri, Aug 19
Chaperone first dance, 6 more still needed, 7:30-10:30 PM.
 
News from Student Activities

*Titan Ambassadors will be wearing their red shirts during passing periods on the first day of school (Monday, August 16) to answer any questions freshmen might have and to give directions as necessary.

 

*If you missed Photo Day on August 12, we will be having a second opportunity for students to have their pictures taken and get an ID on Tuesday, August 16th, from 8 AM-3:30 PM in the Academic Center.

Buy your Student Activities items online! Visit the Gunn Webstore: https://Gunn-Titans-Store.myschoolcentral.com

 

*All students are invited to the first dance on Friday, August 19th, from 7:30-10:30 PM, on the campus Quad. Current school ID is required to get in (the photo people will hand all students theirs on photo day) and cost is $5 at the door. No guests will be allowed to this dance - Gunn students only! Parent chaperones are needed for the dance!!! If you LOVE running our coat check or selling water, or just want to watch the perimeter - this job is for you!  If you are interested, email Norma Hesterman at [email protected].

 

*The Student Activities Office and Store has moved! Our temporary home is in Room K-6 during campus construction. We will be open from 8:45 AM-4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Come visit!

 

*Questions: Lisa Hall, Student Activities Director, [email protected].

 
Gunn Sports Boosters
Gunn Sports Boosters is always looking for more volunteers. Come to our first meeting which will be held on Wednesday, August 17th. The meeting starts at 6 PM and is held in the Bow Gym (old gym) in the PE Classroom.  We have some exciting announcements about what Boosters is doing for our athletes this year. If you have any questions, you can contact Pam Perez, Boosters President at [email protected].
 
Volunteers Needed for Palo Alto College Fair at Gunn High School
Save the Date: Monday, October 10, 2016
The College and Career Center will once again sponsor the Palo Alto College Fair. Students and parents will have the opportunity to meet with over 150 college admissions representatives in one place. To make this event a success we need lots of parent and student volunteers to help with setup, registration, hospitality, tear down, etc. Watch for the sign up sheet during the first few weeks of school. Students can receive community service hours for volunteering for this event. Have questions? Contact Donna Pioppi at [email protected].

PAUSD & PTAC

Partners in Education: Together We Strengthen Our Schools
Double your donation from now until Sep 6
PiE has launched its 2016-2017 fundraising campaign. We ask to you to join us as our kids need the support of the whole community. PiE funds go to every Palo Alto district school and give each principal the funding needed to staff many programs that make a difference for the students and families at each school location. From our classroom aides, to teachers for STEAM-focused electives, music and art, to caring counselors and mentors, PiE-funded staff make a positive impact on our kids every day. Between now and September 6, you can double your impact via the $500,000 Back-To-School Challenge Grant which matches every dollar donated to PiE. Please donate today! Click here to donate online.

A Public Forum for Candidates for the PAUSD School Board 
Mon, Sep 22, 7-9 PM, PAUSD Offices, 25 Churchill Ave, Palo Alto
Be educated! The Palo Alto PTA Council and League of Women Voters have organized an opportunity for you to meet the the candidates for the PAUSD Board of Education. The Board of Education is the K-12 policy-making body for academic standards, curriculum, instructional materials, assessments and accountability. Thank you to the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto for sponsoring this forum that encourages informed and active participation in government. The League and PTAC neither supports nor opposes candidates. The Candidates Forum is organized to provide equal and non-preferential opportunities for each candidate for Palo Alto Unified School Board to make short prepared statements and to answer questions written by audience members on cards provided at the event. Volunteers help make the event run smoothly.
     The entire Forum will be videotaped by Midpeninsula studios and broadcast later on community TV channels. All other recordings, visual and audio, are prohibited.

Community
 
VTA Bus Changes Proposed: Possible Cuts to VTA88 Service to Gunn
With the goal of making VTA transit more efficient, the VTA has presented concepts for a future regional network (slated to be implemented next summer 2017). Cuts or changes are being considered for the VTA 88 bus (which serves Gunn HS) and the VTA 35 bus. A planning process is underway. Learn more here http://nextnetwork.vta.org and compare the concept maps http://nextnetwork.vta.org/busconcepts.
     Tell VTA what you think before the agency develops a draft network plan. Share your comments with VTA staff at http://nextnetwork.vta.org/questions, copy the VTA Board, [email protected], and express your preferences here: http://nextnetwork.vta.org/ridershippreference.
     If you would like to be added to list to be notified of bus schedule updates and upcoming opportunities to support Palo Alto VTA bus service, join https://lists.sonic.net/mailman/listinfo/88bus.

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Thank you,

Shari Arensdorf & Rita Lee

Gunn Connection Editors & Parent Volunteers