GUNN COUNSELING SUMMER NEWSLETTER
RISING 10th GRADE
SUMMERTIME!
WE ARE IN THE LAST STRETCH OF THE RACE
You made it through your first year of high school! Sit down for a minute and take the time to reflect on all that has happened over the past year.
You did this and now you are moving on to 10th grade. Congrats to you for a job well done. We hope that you will find this newsletter helpful as you prepare for the summer and fall ahead.
The Gunn Counseling team hopes you have a fun, relaxing, and adventurous summer break!
Please click below to see the Gunn Counseling Vision and Mission Statements
*NEW* : COUNSELING DEPARTMENT PRESENTS IT'S PARENT LIBRARY!
DON'T FORGET TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AS FINAL APPROACH...
Finals Week is just around the corner and that often means additional stress and anxiety. Remember that the Wellness Center is available for drop-in and your school counselor is here to answer any questions or to address concerns that you may have.
In addition, consider the following campus resources to help with your finals preparation:
1. PRIME: schedule time to meet with your teachers to discuss any academic questions you may have.
2. The Academic Center: drop-in tutoring is available for core subjects.
3. Library: Need a quiet place to study or a place to study with a small group? The library is available Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm.
4. Department Tutoring: various departments offer afternoon tutoring. Ask your teacher!
SUMMER SCHOOL 2023
PAUSD offers summer school courses primarily for credit recovery. If you received a D/F/NM/NP during the last progress report for any courses required for graduation, your counselor has recommended you summer school recovery. Notices of registration will be emailed to families by mid-May. Note that if students bring their grade up to a C- or better, summer school will no longer be needed for credit recovery.
Rising 10th graders may also have signed up for the Summer Bridge Geometry A class. Once your final grade is posted, your counselor will adjust the student's math course in I.C. for 2023-24.
VOLUNTEER, FIND A JOB, OR GET INVOLVED!
One valuable way students can continue to learn during the summer months is by volunteering. Volunteer work keeps students by participating in constructive activities and reinforces the message that they should think of and assist others. And the best part of volunteering is that it also benefits your community!
To find a volunteer activity that is suitable, think about your interests. Do you:
· Love to read? You could read to a younger child or elderly neighbor. Some libraries may need help with their children’s summer reading programs.
· Want to help those in need? You could start a canned food drive in your neighborhood, or collect and donate personal items, such as socks, face masks, soap, toothbrushes, deodorant and hand sanitizer to a homeless shelter.
· Love animals? Call the local humane society and ask about volunteer opportunities. Could you spread the word on social media?
· Care about the environment? You could organize or join a clean-up of a local park or other public space.
· Love to play sports? You could volunteer to help out a youth team coach with practices. Maybe a day-care provider would love to have someone teach kids how to play a sport.
You can find even more ideas for volunteering below:
1. Palo Alto Teen Volunteer Program: Volunteer opportunities in Palo Alto.
2. Volunteer Match: Website for students to be paired with organizations that align with their interests.
3. Hands on Bay Area: Volunteer opportunities in the larger Bay Area.
4. Youth Community Service: Opportunities to volunteer in Palo Alto and the larger Bay Area.
5. Gunn Community Service Page: Please review the information found on the Gunn Community service page to make sure you know what counts as community service, how to track hours, and who to contact with questions.
- Looking for job?
Take a look at this great resource:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10LWOM-TggftTyJkcPz-X_Q0vWsKIX2UQkCv3nlJqc-Y/edit?usp=sharing
PARENT'S CORNER
Quote:
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.
________________
Spend Quality Time With Your Child This Summer:
Summertime can be wonderful family time. You may see your child more during the day. But even if you don’t, you can take advantage of the less stressful evenings.
To spend quality family time together this summer:
· Establish a weekly family night. Cook a meal together, talk, play board games. Avoid screen time.
· Ask for your child’s opinion. Many high schoolers enjoy current events. Because kids this age tend to be idealistic and would like to “save the world,” they also have strong opinions. Take time to hear your child’s thoughts and ideas.
· Hold regular family meetings to solve problems and share ideas about fun ways to spend time together.
· Ask your child to join you when you go on errands.
· Participate in family traditions. If you always camp out in the backyard or have an outdoor movie night, keep doing it. No traditions? Brainstorm with family members and start some.
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Hey Parents! Are you looking to catch up on some reading this summer?
From the Parent Library, here is our recommendation for rising 10th grade parents for this summer:
Eat Move Sleep: How Small Choices Lead to Big Changes by Tom Rath
A quick read that offers advice that is comprehensive yet simple and often counterintuitive. The goal is to help you make good decisions automatic -- in all three of these interconnected areas. Each chapter includes three findings and concludes with three ideas for how you can apply these discoveries in your life. The author suggests that the readers use the resources in this book to start a 30-day challenge to learn new and healthier habits
EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP?
REACHING YOUR COUNSELOR
Andrea Bueno: abueno@pausd.org
Jorge Chavez: jchavez@pausd.org
Myesha Dickson: mdickson@pausd.org
Derek Johanson: djohanson@pausd.org
David Leftwich: dleftwich@pausd.org
Lorenzo Gomez: lgomez@pausd.org
College Advisor, Jon Fidani: jfidani@pausd.org