Titan Talk
Henry M Gunn High School
About us
Email: mgordon@pausd.org
Website: https://gunn.pausd.org/
Location: 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA, USA
Phone: (650) 354-8200
March 9, 2020: Vol 3 Issue 25
Superintendent's Update Regarding Coronavirus - March 9, 2020
CAASPP testing has been postponed until late April or early May, due to the continuing concerns regarding COVID-19.
This week in SELF
In SELF classes this week, for half of the SELF session, 9th grade cohorts will be participating in Service Day activities on campus, in partnership with the YCS-Interact and Key Clubs at Gunn. During the other half of the session, 9th graders will engage with a lesson on appreciating diversity, primarily through the vehicle of a quiz highlighting different global cultures. The 10th grade SELF students will have a movie day, watching a variety of films that speak to either the current unit (Understanding my Brain) or the upcoming unit (Locus of Control). Each 11th grade cohort will be playing games or taking on-campus field trips with another 11th grade cohort, in keeping with our efforts to deliver on students' requests to engage in more "intercohort" activities.
The Wellness Center:
In collaboration with Bring Change to Mind and ROCK, the Gunn Wellness team hosted Mental Health Awareness Week in an effort to reduce stigma around mental health and promote resilience and community in our students. Throughout the week students took part in art activities, student and staff panels, and a Wellness Fair to support students in normalizing experiences with mental health.
Coming Soon:
Save the Date: Saturday March 28, 2020 10am-2pm
Beyond the Books Conference: Cultivating Success, Communication, and Resiliency. More details coming soon!
Mindful Minute:
Take 5 minutes to read this article from Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child to learn why it's important to foster resilience in youth and how parents and teachers can do that.
Public screening of the film "Mind the Gap"
Please join us for a March 6th screening of Minding the Gap, an Oscar nominated film on how skateboarding helped three boys find their way out of violent family situations. The movie touches on important issues relating to teen mental health and how sports can be an important coping mechanism. Minema Presents will be screening it at Sports Basements in Redwood City, Presidio, and Berkeley where we'll have complimentary snacks, drinks, and some meaningful dialogue after.
Gunn Counseling
Course Selection has closed. Students can request changes through their counselor through May.
Here are the latest newsletters from the counselling department.
9th Grade Counseling Newsletter
10th Grade Counseling Newsletter
11th Grade Counseling Newsletter
The Palo Alto Youth Council: Anti Vaping event
CAASPP Testing & College Placement Information Night March 11 6:30pm - Cancelled
Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions This event has been cancelled.
Jessica Shillings, Academic Preparation Initiatives Specialist for San Jose State, will be speaking to Gunn’s Junior parents about the Early Assessment Program which helps determine Math and Written Communication placements at the CSUs and UCs.
Ms. Shillings will give an overview of the CSU's Early Assessment Program and the importance of the CAASPP exam in determining college readiness on Wednesday March 11th at 6:30 pm in the Gunn Library.
Now more than 200 colleges and universities in 10 states have decided to use the assessments as part of a multiple measures approach to determine whether students are in need of remedial support. Additionally, six colleges in South Dakota use Smarter Balanced scores for “guaranteed general admission.”
The EAP and CAASPP participation is required for eligibility for the State Seal of Biliteracy and the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma.
College and Career
If you need help finding a summer internship of volunteer work, we have materials from the Summer OPS night and new postings from folks that will be available in the C&CC area, please drop by. Talk with Linda Kirsch or Leighton Lang to get help as needed.
Silicon Valley Information Evening on Wednesday March 25th Study in the UK will be 5 PM and Applying to Cambridge will be 6:15 PM
Studying in the UK, and the other covering Applying to Cambridge for international students, both followed by a Q&A at Los Altos High School, who are kindly hosting. This event is open to students and parents who are interested in finding out more about the UK and/or the University of Cambridge – attendees can register for one or both sessions. I’d be grateful if you could advertise this to your student and parent networks. Attendees can book directly using this link: https://gecko.fm/fktdg.
Monday April 6 6:30 pm--- Boston U will be at the Westin in San Jose. Register bu.edu/admissions/visit-us/bu-in-your-area/
Saturday April 25th at The Santa Clara Convention Center the major NACAC fair will be held on Saturday from 1:30-4:30
Sunday April 26th Exploring Educational Excellence at Independence High School (617 N. Jackson Ave San Jose) at 2 PM: Brown Columbia, Cornell, Rice and University of Chicago.
Wednesday April 29 : Community College Fair in the Gunn Library at 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM . Come meet with reps and learn about the California Promise option and transfer agreements they offer.
All are welcome.
EXPLORING EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE on April 26, 2 PM @ Independence HS:617 n. Jackson AVE SJ. This is the annual 5 pack: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Rice and the U of Chicago who want you to register at exploringeducationalexcellence.org. Expect to be there for for 90:” of presentation and Q&A.
Attention Junior Parents: There are a small number of you who have not responded to outreach to set appointments for this meeting with Linda Kirsch for Post HS discussion. We will now start setting appointments to meet with the student and let you know the date and time so that if you did want to attend you may come. If you know the is a better date or time, just reply to e-mail contact and we will adjust to meet your needs. This discussion provides valuable information that is specific to your student and what s/he wants to do after HS be is college, military, job. The C&CC has valuable information for the student and there are many new laws and regulations that have changed this year that needs to be discussed. All contact can be directed to lkirsch@pausd.org to facilitate a timely appointment. Come to the main office for a parking permit first then upstairs in the new yellow building for the appointment.
The Disability and Educational Support Program (DESP) at West Valley College
The Disability and Educational Support Program (DESP) at West Valley College has scheduled evening orientations in April and May for high school seniors and their parents. This evening is intended for students who have received special education services in high school and are thinking of pursuing a certificate, degree or transfer at West Valley College.
If you have any questions about the event, please feel free to e-mail DESP at desp@westvalley.edu or call at (408) 741-2010.
Foothill Middle College & College NOW Information Nights
Are you a bright, curious free-thinker who is yearning for a more mature
environment? Are you looking for a supportive and accepting community?
Are you capable of doing college level work? Foothill Middle College is now
recruiting students from Palo Alto Unified and Mountain View-Los Altos High
School Districts for next school year. Middle College is an alternative program
that serves bright students who may not be performing up to their full potential,
or students who are dissatisfied with the traditional high school environment.
Foothill Middle College will be holding 2 open houses on 3/10 and 3/18 at 6:30 in Appreciation Hall on the Foothill campus.
The program is located on the Foothill campus and offers students the
opportunity to attend both high school and college classes concurrently.
Students accepted into the Middle College program leave their home school
and take all of their classes on the Foothill College campus. Every Middle
College student completes graduation requirements and receives a diploma
from his/her home school. For more information visit the foothillmiddlecollege.org website, and contact your student's counselor.
College Now! - Open House
The MVLA High School District, Palo Alto School District, and Foothill College have collaborated on a new program - College Now! - so that qualifying juniors and seniors can start college early and graduate from high school with a year or more of transferable credits.
College Now! is ideal for students who are highly self-motivated, mature, independent, responsible, and hardworking. These students may have 'outgrown' high school and are seeking a stimulating educational environment that is different from their home high school.
Join us at upcoming open house to learn more about the program:
CN Open House for Parents and Students
Thurs. 3/12/20 at 6:30pm in the Hearthside Lounge (Rm 2313) at Foothill College. Please bring $3 for parking.
Sources of Strength
Sources of Strength: Peer Leaders and Trusted Adults met on January 30 to celebrate completed projects, work on ongoing projects, and begin new ones. Current projects include a column in The Oracle, teaching Sources lessons in SELF, presenting Sources at Middle and Elementary Schools, and a positive message wall. Returning and new participants are welcome!
Follow us on social media: @gunnsourcesofstrength
Contact any member of the Sources of Strength leadership team: Kristy Blackburn, Rosie Castil, Genavae Dixon, Paul Dunlap, Tara Firenzi
Mental Health Awareness Week
Students make ribbons for mental health awareness
Student ground graffiti for mental health awareness
ROCK (Reach Out, Care, Know).
ROCK and Sources of Strength are sponsored Gunn’s Third Annual Mental Health Awareness Walk – a 5K from Gunn to Bol Park on Saturday morning.
ROCK sponsored or supported many lunchtime events in the quad during Mental Health Awareness Week, such as Uni-Tied, chalk drawing, and making stress balls.
Mark your calendars for the Third Annual Warriors Watch Party for Wellness for Friday, March 20, in Bow Gym right after school. See them take on Detroit, have some snacks, and win prizes!
ROCK meets weekly in N114.
Contact rockatgunn@gmail.com or pdunlap@pausd.org with any questions. Follow us: @rockatgunn. Learn more at our website.
Student Activities
Senior Grad Gown Ordering - Still need to order your cap and gown? Order online, over the phone, or through the mail (late fee may apply):
- Call to order at 1-800-JOSTENS
- Order online at www.jostens.com
- Cap & Gown Unit Only: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productDetail/1006004/Henry-Gunn-High-School/-/1245103532/CATALOG_REPOSITORY/Cap-and-Gown-Unit/1245103608/
Gunn Foundation
Gunn Foundation Scholarship Application and Board Recruitment
The Gunn Foundation thanks donors throughout the Gunn community whose donations make these scholarships possible. If you would like to become more involved in supporting our students, please inquire about joining the Gunn Foundation Board of Trustees by contacting Althea Brown, Nominating Committee Chair, at thegunnfoundation@gmail.com or by visiting our website: http://gunnfound.org/news/
To apply to join the Board, click here.
PTSA
The Gunn PTSA supports Gunn highschool in many ways such as teacher grants, student activities, fundraising and organizing volunteers. Please visit the Gunn PTSA website for more information.
Palo Alto Partners in Education
Thank you to all that have supported Partners in Education (PiE). The donations to PiE continue to support many programs at Gunn, including our