GunnTogether Times (April 15, 2022)
Principal Stratton's Newsletter
Dear Titan Families,
With seven weeks left of this school year, we still have so much to accomplish, and so much to look forward to. The students, staff, and families of Gunn High have made this school year safe, engaging, and successful. With great enthusiasm, we look forward to celebrating several of the traditional rites of passage that high school provides in the coming weeks. Thanks for all you have done to make the 2021-2022 school year special.
In the Spirit of GunnTogether,
Principal Stratton
wstratton@pausd.org.
Principal's Coffee Social
Thu, April 28, 9:15 - 10:15 AM
The PTSA invites you to join us for a coffee social in the Bat Cave (outdoors, in front of the main office) to chat with Principal Stratton. Enjoy a cup of coffee and a treat, meet a new parent, and reconnect with friends you haven't seen in a while. Bring your questions for Wendy and special guest Board of Education member Jesse Ladomirak.
New Attendance Management System
At Palo Alto Unified School District, we continuously strive to improve. We remain committed to providing a meaningful education for all of our students. Now, more than ever, “showing up” – attending, participating, and staying engaged – is critical for student success. While the pandemic continues to affect some, it is very important for students who are healthy and well to show up. To this end, we are increasing communication with parents and students about the importance of attendance.
Our new attendance management system carefully tracks days of missed classes and ensures parents are notified in a timely manner. Our goal is to connect with parents quickly to remove barriers families may face in getting students to school.
Thank you for your trust and partnership in preparing, educating, and inspiring each PAUSD student.
April 26 & 27 Alternate Schedules
To accommodate Title IX/Consent lessons, we have the following alternate schedules:
TUESDAY, APRIL 26
Period 1 (9:00-10:20)
Brunch (10:20-10:35)
Period 2 (10:35-11:50)
Consent Lesson (12:00-12:50)
Lunch (12:50-1:30)
Period 3 (1:30-2:45)
Period 4 (2:55-4:10)
Period 8 (4:20-5:35)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
Period 5 (9:00-10:20)
Brunch (10:20-10:35)
Period 6 (10:35-11:50)
Title IX Lesson (12:00-12:50)
Lunch (12:50-1:30)
Period 7 (1:30-2:45)
PRIME (2:55-3:45)
PLC (3:45-4:10)
State Testing: Participation Rate Penalty Reminder for CA Dashboard Academic Indicator
Thanks to the 85% of our 11th grad class who have completed their state tests and supported Gunn's effort to assess our instructional programs. Our team will continue to reach out to the remaining 15% of the class until the testing deadline (which is at the end of the month). Any and all students who have yet to test will be fully supported in identifying a time to test that works within their schedule and does not impact them academically. Thanks for doing your part to give back to Gunn High, and provide us with the data we need to measure our efforts and impact.
To meet federal requirements, beginning with the 2022 California School Dashboard (Dashboard), California will assign the Lowest Obtainable Scale Score (LOSS) to each student needed to bring the participation rate of the school, and district, and/or student group to 95 percent. The LOSS assigned to each of these students who did not test will be used in calculating the Distance from Standard (DFS). Note that the assignment of a LOSS to not tested students occurs only when the CDE calculates the Dashboard Academic Indicator. Students who did not test will not receive a LOSS on their individual CAASP) student score reports or in the CAASPP Student Score Data File. See the “Participation Rate Flyer” for details.
Will 2022 CAASPP results be posted publicly without accountability rules applied?
Yes. The CAASPP results webpage will continue to report results for SBAC, CAA, and CAST by district/school/grade/student group. Participation rates are NOT factored into results posted on the CAASPP results webpage. (Reminder: The CA Dashboard shows how LEAs & schools are performing on indicators included in California’s school accountability system. Participation rates ARE factored into results posted on the CA Dashboard.)
What about the California Science Test (CAST)?
Federal law requires states to meet the 95 percent participation rate target for science and to submit that data as part of the federal reporting requirements. Therefore, LEAs and schools are required to test at least 95 percent of their students on the California Science Test or the California Alternate Assessment in Science. While the Dashboard currently does not include science results, the CDE will continue to apprise the State Board of Education as to when it will be feasible to do so.
Thank You, PTSA!
Our PTSA parents regaled staff with a Latte Cart and delicious brunch treats throughout the year. We are SO grateful -- "Latte Days" really cheer up our week. Thank You!
Junior/Senior Prom at the Metreon, APRIL 30
To those wondering where Prom is this year, we have great news! Here's Prom Reveal Video:
https://youtu.be/W0KuPWG2OYchttps://youtu.be/W0KuPWG2OYcCheck out gunnsec.org/prom to learn more!
PLEASE NOTE: The Gunn Junior/ Senior Prom has a limited number of tickets available, determined by the size of the venue. Once all of these tickets are sold, we are sold out - so plan accordingly and purchase your tickets early.
IMPORTANT - TICKET SALES DEADLINE:
Due to a requirement to finalize our headcount for the venue and transportation, ticket purchases in the SAO will close on April 19 at 4:00 PM or UNTIL SOLD OUT, whichever comes first.
TRC (Testing Resource Center)
Art Contest
Art Contest: Imagining a stigma-free world
"To Be Honest" announced its Spring 2022 Art Contest. What do you think the world would look like if a stigma around mental health did not exist? Many art mediums accepted.
Open to individuals ages 14-25 in Santa Clara County, due April 29.
Emerging: Creative Minds Persevere (PAUSD K-12 ART SHOW)
Come one, come all!
Opening Reception, Thursday, April 21, 4:30-7 PM
5:00-5:30pm Paly Pop Acapella Groups FolkBeats & Vikapella
6:00-7:00 pm Gunn Senior Jazz Combo
LOCATION: CUBBERLY COMMUNITY CENTER, I BUILDING
April Dates
April 19
- Last day to buy Prom tickets (if not sold out)
April 21
- Opening Reception for PAUSD student art show (4:30-7 pm)
April 21-25
April 28
- Principal's Coffee, 9:15 am (Bat Cave)
April 29
- Last Day for Juniors to Make-up State Tests (We need 10% more of our juniors to test!)
April 30
- Junior-Senior Prom (see info. above)
Managing Stress and Fostering Resilience
Project Cornerstone hosts another parent workshop April 26 titled "Managing Stress and Fostering Resilience."
In this interactive workshop, the Developmental Relationships framework helps teens thrive while strengthening families.To register, see the flyer below.
HOME GAMES:Baseball (April 19, 21, 23)
Softball (April 19 & 21)
Tennis (April 19)
Golf (April 20)
Lacrosse (April 20, 21, 23)
Swimming & Diving (April 22)
AP Exam volunteers needed
**NEW** Gunn Urgently Needs Parents to Help Volunteer
- At the AP Exams FIRST TWO WEEKS OF MAY
We are seeking volunteers for the first TWO WEEKS OF MAY for the AP Exams. Please click to browse the jobs and sign up if you can. THANK YOU! Sign up HERE.
Museum of Tomorrow!
The Museum of Tomorrow (MoT), in partnership with Safe Routes to School, held a pop-up museum event on April 15 focused on Sustainable Transportation at Gunn High School. The one-day event offered experiential learning, artistic installations, and the power of social media to support efforts to stop climate change while reinforcing safe pedestrian, bicycling, and carpooling safety education. The co-founder was on site all day, and Gunn students ran displays during lunch and after school. Thank you to the PTSA and Parent assistance for supporting this wonderful event.
Site Council Parent Reps Wanted
The Gunn Site Council is seeking two elected parent representatives to serve two-year terms August 2022-June 2024. Please submit a short candidate statement for the ballot by
April 24.
We are appealing to parents who are passionate about and/or can share valuable insights that will benefit all Gunn students, including but not limited to, closing the achievement gap, improving connectedness and a sense of belonging for students in underrepresented groups, expanding support for college and career readiness, and deepening social-emotional learning.
Are you interested? Here is a link to submit your application.
Yearbook Scholarships
If you'd like to make a donation to support the 27 scholarship seniors getting a yearbook, please use use this link on the SAC webstore site and click "Product Categories," "Club Fundraiser, " “Donate to the Olympian Yearbook program."
Thank You from Kristy Blackburn and The Olympian staff
Join the PTSA!
PTSA Invites You to Join the Team!
How Will My $8 Membership Be Spent?
PTA membership pays for officer training, advocacy, insurance and operational costs of the Gunn HS PTSA. By becoming a member, you can join discussions and vote at PTA meetings. It’s easy to join. Go here for more details.
Volunteer Drivers
Parents who drive for sports matches and other field tripsmust complete the special district required driver form and have it approved and signed by the principal BEFORE the trip. This form must be accompanied by:
- a copy of the driver's license AND,
- a copy of the declaration page of the driver's insurance policy showing AMOUNTS of coverage.
The district requires minimum coverage of $300,000 bodily injury per occurrence and $100,000 property damage per occurrence. (You must have a declaration page attached showing adequate coverage. The cost of raising your property insurance coverage is minimal.) EACH driver must complete a new form each school year, which will cover all field trips for the present school year. New this year: For sports matches away from Gunn (or any other approved field trip) parents are allowed to drive but they must go through the vaccination verification process. All drivers who transport students other than their own must complete this process. Please upload your vaccination record HERE. Questions: nhesterman@pausd.org
Academic Center volunteer needed
Can you help out in the Academic Center 12:00-1:00pm? Enjoy time with Gunn's delightful students and learn about our academic and extracurricular programs. Responsibilities include being the welcoming adult presence in the room, monitoring the automatic textbook check-in system, and overseeing the use of computers and printers. You can volunteer once a week or every other week, and partner with another parent if you'd like. Contact Norma Hesterman at nhesterman@pausd.org.
ELL Language Tutors needed
The PAUSD English Learner Program is currently looking for adult tutors to support elementary students in languages other than English. Potential candidates must care about and enjoy children. The Palo Alto Unified School District English Learner program seeks fluent speakers and writers of Spanish, Farsi, Chinese, and Japanese.
Tutors will support beginning English Learners by helping them understand classroom teacher instruction and the core content. Tutors will be utilized to explain information and translate for the child, and the teacher in the classroom and at parent meetings. Tutors are often used to translate written English into the child’s primary language to support parents that prefer to read in languages other than English.
Tutors are important resources in the English Learner Program because they provide a means of communication between beginning English speaking students, teachers and parents.
Interested applicants should complete the EdJoin Classified application. Please refer to the EdJoin website for further information.
Henry M. Gunn High School
