**NEW** Welcome to Gunn Connection eNews from the Gunn PTSA
Gunn Connection eNews is a weekly Gunn PTSA publication that contains important information, announcements, and event notifications from Gunn High School, Gunn PTSA, PAUSD and the Palo Alto PTA Council. Welcome to our second edition!
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**NEW** Stay Informed and Connected
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**UPDATED** Gunn Online Back-to-School Packet is live!
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**UPDATED** Gunn Back-to-School Information - Save the Dates!
Sun, Aug 9: Student schedules posted on Infinite Campus
Mon, Aug 10-Tues Aug 11: Students can make schedule corrections
Mon, Aug 10: Principal's Welcome with PTSA's Sophomore Parent Network (6:30 PM)
Tue, Aug 11: Principal's Welcome with PTSA's Junior Parent Network (6:30 PM)
Wed, Aug 12: Principal's Welcome with PTSA's Senior Parent Network (6:30 PM)
Fri, Aug 14: Gunn HS Online Freshman and Newcomer Student Orientation with SEC
(3-4:30 PM)
Thu, Aug 27: Gunn HS Online Back-To-School Night w/Teachers (6-9 PM)
Thu, Sep 10: PTSA Association Meeting (9 AM)
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**NEW** Student Schedules
Student schedules are now posted on Infinite Campus.
Gunn counselors will be correcting schedule errors on August 10th and August 11th.
Please note that counselors are only able to correct errors to student schedules. We are unable to accommodate requests based on teacher preference, learning style, or when in the academic day a class meets.
What is an error?
- Graduation requirement missing from schedule (12th only)
- Course already taken
- Schedule has an error (duplicate, requested class not included, etc.)
- Incorrect level placement
- Substitute an “Alternate” from your requests
If a student's request requires a conversation between counselor and student, the student will receive an email notification with instructions and times to access a Zoom meeting with a counselor.
Zoom meetings will occur:
- August 10 - 12:30-3:30 PM
- August 11 - 10:30-11:30 AM, 12:30-3:30 PM
Please see the Counseling page on the Gunn website for additional information. The Counseling team appreciates your patience as we expect a high volume of requests.
You can locate your student's counselor on the Infinite Campus student schedule.
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**UPDATED** Principal’s “Welcomes” with Parent Networks
Please join Principal Wendy Stratton’s Welcomes on YouTube with parents from each grade level, according to the schedule above. (Please note the correct time of 6:30 PM for all sessions.) Wendy is excited to share her vision and information about the new school year.
Feel free to submit 1-2 questions here, and she will do her best to answer them during the Parent Network sessions or in upcoming correspondences and communications.
YouTube links for Principal’s Welcomes
Sophomore Parent Welcome - Mon, 8/10, 6:30 PM
Junior Parent Welcome - Tue, 8/11, 6:30 PM
Senior Parent Welcome - Wed, 8/12, 6:30 PM
View the Principal's Welcome from August 6
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**NEW** Freshmen Orientation
Fri, Aug 14, 3:00-4:30 PM
9th graders will participate in a virtual 9th Grade Orientation on Friday, August 14 from 3:00-4:30 PM. Freshmen please check out the Gunn SEC Welcome Freshman and New Students page for more information and stay tuned for details from our student activities director, Lisa Hall. Freshmen Orientation introduces students to all that is Gunn High School. Key staff members will be introduced as well, so that students can begin to put names to faces. |
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**NEW** Textbook Pickup Schedule
Drive-up textbook distribution will begin on Fri. Aug 14 for Freshmen, continuing through the following week by grade level. Schedule and pickup instructions will be sent out in the next few days.
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**NEW** Gunn High School Start Time
The first day of school is Monday, August 17th (distance learning), and students will begin with a special assembly at 10 AM. Start times each day are: Monday at 10:00 AM, Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 AM, and Wednesday and Friday at 9:40 AM. Teachers will be taking attendance and students are expected to be logged into their first class promptly each day. Please email the attendance office at [email protected] to report an absence. Look out for the updated bell schedule which will be posted soon on the Gunn website.
**NEW** School Phone Numbers
Starting August 14, you will be able to reach school staff at these numbers:
Main Office: 650-354-8200
Attendance: 650-354-8210
Counseling: 650-354-8212
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**NEW** Support Our Students and Teachers - Pledge to PiE Today
Partners in Education (PiE) raises money to provide all PAUSD students with an educational experience beyond what is possible with public funding. At Paly and Gunn, PiE funds guidance counselors, CASSY counselors, and electives.
Please check your Back to School packet or see the PiE website for more information about PiE. To join our team of volunteers, email [email protected], |
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**NEW** Gunn Parent Networks
Gunn PTSA offers every parent/guardian an opportunity to connect with other parents/ guardians in their student’s grade. If you agreed to receive PTSA communications when registering your student to attend school in Palo Alto, you will automatically be added to your parent network group and will receive information relevant to your child’s grade. Meetings are held monthly and topics vary depending on grade level. The parent network coordinator for your grade will reach out soon if they haven’t already!
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**NEW** Gunn Online Directory: UptoUs
Gunn uses UpToUs for our online directory (and for volunteer sign ups, scheduling events, Parent Networks, and pertinent communications). The online directory is available to all families in multiple languages. You may choose which information is displayed in the directory. Currently the family information you provided to the district is listed per your privacy settings. You may change it any time by logging in to UpToUs.
To access the online directory:
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Existing UpToUs members: Sign into UpToUs using your existing user name and password. Select the Gunn Directory community, and click on the Member List link.
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New to UpToUs?: If you gave permission for the PTSA to contact you during the PAUSD Annual Data Update, you have already been added to the Gunn UpToUs community. Go to UpToUs and click “Forgot Password.” Submit the email address you used during PAUSD Data Update. You may then choose a password and access the directory.
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Not a member of the Gunn community but want to be? Signing up is easy. Go to Gunn UpToUs, click Enter, then Join UpToUs. Complete the registration and your request will be forwarded to the UpToUs Admin.
UptoUs is also available as an app for both iPhone and android.
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**NEW** Gunn Facebook Parent Community
Our Gunn Facebook Parent Community is a great place to ask questions and share events and information relevant to the Gunn community. You must be a Gunn parent/guardian of a current Gunn student to join. The group is moderated by Gunn PTSA volunteers and follows the PTA communication Guidelines. |
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Update on Gunn Sports Schedule
CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) has delayed the start of sports in the state of California until January due to COVID-19. Because of these changes CCS (Central Coast Section) has put out a tentative calendar for the Fall and Spring sports. For more information on tentative start dates click here.
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Support Gunn Students via the Gunn Foundation
Since 1968, the Gunn Foundation has been granting need-based scholarships to college-bound seniors in the Gunn community. Scholarships fund essential expenses— deposits, textbooks, fees, and college costs that are often unmet by aid packages. Especially now with the impact of COVID, Gunn Foundation scholarships can make a huge difference in the future of a Gunn student. Look for the Gunn Foundation on Step 4 of the online back-to-school packet or visit our website ( gunnfound.org) and consider making a donation to support a Gunn student. Your support, at any level, will truly make a difference. |
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Superintendent Friday Update - 8/7/2020
Read Superintendent Don Austin's message here. |
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PAUSD "Return to Learn - Fall 2020"
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PAUSD "Let's Talk"
Do you need information about your child's school? Do you want to know more about state and District testing, or student safety programs? Do you have questions about District policy, the budgeting process, or the latest on school construction? Do you have an issue, concern or compliment you would like addressed? Most often, you can get the information you are seeking by speaking with a staff member from a specific school or department. To contact the District Office, click on a topic below and make a submission, the appropriate person or department will be notified. https://www.pausd.org/school-life/participate/lets-talk
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**NEW** Town Hall Replays
The Palo Alto Council of PTAs (PTAC), in collaboration with the School PTAs hosted two town halls to address the specific needs for the elementary schools and the secondary schools. Superintendent Dr. Don Austin was our guest speaker along with our district principals and members of his Cabinet Leadership. Both town halls are now available for viewing:
NOTICIAS Y ACTUALIZACIONES DEL PTAC
El Consejo de PTA de Palo Alto (PTAC), en colaboración con las PTAs de la escuela, llevó a cabo 2 reuniones(Town Hall) para abordar las necesidades específicas de las escuelas primarias y secundarias(Middle School y High School). El superintendente Dr. Don Austin fue nuestro orador invitado junto con nuestros directores de distrito y miembros líderes de su gabinete. Ambas grabaciones de las reuniones están disponibles para verse en :
PTAC 新闻与快讯：
Palo Alto家长教师协会理事会（PTAC）与各学校家长教师协会合作举办了两个社区会议，以解决各小学、中学的具体需求。学区总监Don Austin博士受邀主讲。他的内阁成员以及各校校长也应邀出席。两个社区会议的链接如下：
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AAR Needs Volunteers for 2020-2021
Do you have experience in STEAM, humanities, Business or Social Sciences? Do you have 1-2 hrs per month you can give to share your expertise? Mentor students 10-12 grade. All interactions are virtual or via email. Your time commitment would be for the entire academic year 20-21/ Sign up here https://aar.pausd.org/mentor/register or email [email protected].
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Work Permit Renewal Process
Work permits must be renewed within 5 days of the start of every school year; follow this link for information about how to renew a student work permit during distance learning. Reminder that every minor must have a valid work permit to legally work in California. Contact the Work Experience Teacher Rachael Kaci: [email protected] for more info, and visit this site for job postings. |
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Student Jobs
5 tips on landing a job during the coronavirus pandemic: The coronavirus pandemic makes landing a job right now even more complicated, but that doesn’t have to stop you. Watch this 2 minute video, which is applicable for any age in any industry. Students should be encouraged to visit the PAUSD job postings site for information on both volunteer and paid work experience opportunities because “hiring managers will be looking at the entire resume, including volunteer experience." For more information: Rachael Kaci, Work Experience Teacher: [email protected]. |
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**NEW** Voter Registration Reminder
The November 2020 Election is just around the corner! Students who are 18+ and American citizens are eligible to vote. Click below to make sure your teen is registered! Ballots will be mailed to all CA registered voters. Students 16+ can pre-register.
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PLEASE SUPPORT OUR BOOSTERS AND FOUNDATIONS |
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More About the Gunn Connection and Its Publication Guidelines
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The Gunn Connection is published ONCE a week, every Sunday. Deadline is noon on Saturday, the day before publication.
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Please submit ANNOUNCEMENTS ONLY to the Gunn Connection at [email protected]. Only announcements specific to the Gunn community will be published. Any other announcements from outside the Gunn community must first be submitted for review to the PTA eNews ([email protected]), which will then distribute it to the relevant schools in the district. See PTAC eNews Guidelines
- Announcements will be limited to 100 words or less - and one single paragraph. If your submission is more than 100 words or more than one paragraph, it will get edited for space.
- Content should be in the body of your email as unformatted text. No attachments, flyers, or PDFs, please.
- Announcements will be published in two consecutive issues. To have further announcements made after that, please submit your announcement again.
- Please use the words "Gunn Connection" in the email subject line. Items should include a title, the date, time and location of the event, and a brief (100 words or less) description of the activity. List email, contact information and web links at the end.
- Items are published at the discretion of the editors. Editors may also remove items after one week based on space limitations.
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Join our Mailing List
Thank you,
Greta Olbrich and Rika Bosmans
Gunn Connection Editors & Parent Volunteers
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