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 1, 2020: Vol 3 Issue 24
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.
This week in SELF
In SELF this week, students will be engaging with the important topic of building a culture of consent through lessons created by Anea Bogue, a renowned sexual health educator and the creator and director of teen empowerment programs REALgirl & REALboy. Anea and her team have designed and developed these lessons specifically for the students of PAUSD, drawing on her experience and conversations with students, parents and staff in the district over the past two years. Through these lessons, students will learn about and discuss consent, healthy relationships and sexual misconduct in a safe environment with their SELF mentor (grades 9-11), or a teacher or counselor (grade 12). The lessons given this week constitute the first part of a two-part workshop, the second of which will be taught on 3/13 (for grade 12) and on 3/16 (for grades 9-11). After the lesson this week, 9th and 10th grade SELF students will begin one on one check-ins with their SELF mentors, and 11th grade students will watch the first part of the film Miss Representation. To learn more about Anea Bogue, please visit www.AneaBogue.com.
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
CAASPP Testing & College Placement Information Night March 11 6:30pm
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.
Gunn Annual Service Day: Adult and Student Signups Open NOW! STUDENT SIGN UPS CLOSE THIS COMING TUESDAY SO SIGN UP SOON
Service days are
Thu, Mar 12, 8:00 AM-no later than 2:15 PM
And Fri, Mar 13, 8:25 AM-3:00PM (on campus service times will vary)
Each year, Youth Community Service (YCS) sponsors the popular Gunn Service Day. This year Gunn Service Day will be split into two parts. Students and adults will have the opportunity to sign up for an off-campus service project on Thursday (3/12). On Friday (3/13) students can drop by the library where there will be service projects available to all students throughout the day. YCS-Interact and Key Club students are working very hard to make this day happen. For off-campus service projects, students will travel in buses to various service sites such as pre-schools, parks, or soup kitchens. MANY adult chaperones are ESSENTIAL to accompany the student-led teams. Signups are posted on the Gunn website. Please check this page for updates on the event. Questions: nhesterman@pausd.org and ashley@youthcommunityservice.org.
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.
College and Career
Feb 25: 7-9 Gunn Library The GAP FAIR: there will be approximately 40 booths coming. All are welcome!
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/
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.
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 and Fletcher students featured in benefit concert
Jack Davisson, a freshman at Gunn and his sister, Elle, a student at Fletcher are classical guitarists (the Davisson Duo) are partnering with Notes for Nourishment and Guitars Not Guns (GNG) to perform a benefit concert, all proceeds of which will go to further the Guitars Not Guns mission of providing underserved youth with an alternative to gun violence through access to guitars and lessons.
The concert is scheduled for Sunday, March 29 at 5 pm and will be held at the Mission Dolores Basilica, 3321 16th St, San Francisco, CA.
Gunn Foundation
Gunn Foundation Scholarship Application and Board Recruitment
The application for need-based scholarships from the Gunn Foundation is open now to the Class of 2020. The application deadline is February 28. Please visit http://gunnfound.org/application/ to learn how to apply via Going Merry. Gunn Foundation scholarships are based on financial need and help with college expenses like tuition or housing deposits, textbooks, and transportation.
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