Titan Talk
Henry M. Gunn High School
About Us
Email: mgordon@pausd.org
Website: gunn.pausd.org
Location: 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA, USA
Phone: 650-354-8200
April 9, 2023. Vol 6 Issue #31
Upcoming Events
4/10 Prom tickets Sales close
4/12 World Language Placement Test 3:30-5:30 pm
4/12 Foothill Community College representatives on campus to register students for 23-24 school year.
The Wellness Center
Wellness Center:
Some upcoming events this Month:
County Substance use workshop for Palo Alto parents on 4/26/23
Sunday 4/16 Community resource fair with PAYC
Sexual Assault Awareness - with One Love Lunch Series in April during PRIME
SAVE THE DATE! SafeSpace Youth Mental Health Summit on May 13th, 10am-4pm
More info coming soon!
Check out our new brochure here!
Parent's Guide to Risk & Safety
For our Parent's Guide to Risk Assessment and Safety visit this page! Just as we've given our students more information on supporting their friends and peers, we hope this guide helps our parents and guardians assess the next steps for students needing crisis support or general wellness support.
If you or your student would like to find out more about general resources in the area or explore a curated collection of wellness tips and online support, please visit us at linktr.ee/gwellness for information on all things regarding the Wellness Center!
Visit our virtual wellness center at tinyurl.com/gwellness!
College and Career
Foothill College
Considering Community College? Foothill Community College will be on campus April 12th during PRIME to register students for next year. If you are a senior and have decided that Foothill is where you plan to begin your college journey, be sure to come to this session. Admissions counselors from Foothill will walk students through every step of the process and give a brief orientation on how to register for classes and what to expect at community college.
Anyone interested in attending should reserve a spot in FlexiSched.
If you want to learn more about community college, we encourage you to click HERE for an information video
College Faculty Panel
The College and Career Center hosted a panel of experts that discussed key ways to communicate with college faculty. Topics such as why and how to utilize faculty office hours and the importance of collaborating with the faculty as undergraduates were discussed. Here is the list of panelists and recording of the presentation our Gunn Seniors saw on Friday.
A Healthier Approach to College Admissions
On March 2nd, the Gunn and Palo Alto High School PTSAs hosted Challenge Success for a parent education event titled, “A Healthier Approach to College Admissions.” It was a great event, and I want to say thank you to Gunn PTSA for creating this opportunity!
During the event, Kim Cawkwell, Director of Programs, and Margaret Dunlap, Senior School Design Partner, shared current research addressing many of the important questions we hear from families: What do college rankings really measure? Are students who attend more selective colleges better off later in life? What is “fit” and why does it matter? College advisors from Gunn and Pay joined to address questions from the community. Participants learned practical strategies to help reduce unnecessary pressure around the college admissions process and ways to support their student’s overall well-being and readiness for life in college and beyond.
Below is a link to the video, which will be available until April 28. We ask that you please do not share this link outside of the PAUSD community.
A Healthier Approach to College Admissions (PAUSD) March 2, 2023
Gunn Counseling
Counseling
Counselors are finishing Junior Conferences and beginning/continuing Sophomore conferences. They will be in full swing in April, these meetings provide an opportunity to discuss Summer options, interests, and resources.
Off-Campus requests.
All Off-Campus course requests must be approved by Mr. Gordon through the Off-Campus Request Form. Requests to take an off-campus course for the Summer of 2023 will not be approved until after Spring Break (April 10th). Only requests for Spring 2023 requests will be considered before Spring Break.
Administrative Regulations
The following administrative regulations have been updated to help provide clarity with the procedures for taking courses outside the district towards graduation and challenging courses by examination. These administrative regulations will be effective June 5, 2023:
Geometry
Starting 2023-2024, both Paly and Gunn high schools will offer two lanes of Geometry (Geometry and Geometry Honors) instead of the previous three lanes (Geometry, Geometry A, and Geometry H). This sequence aligns with the science department’s recent move to two ninth-grade lanes (Biology and Biology H). Furthermore, with all non-accelerated eighth-grade students taking the same Algebra class, there is no need to offer three different versions of Geometry.
Students interested in finishing PAUSD’s highest math course (BC Calculus) before graduating and have shown proficiency in five out of seven Algebra strands in middle school are encouraged to take Geo H, while other students should select Geometry (or Algebra if they would like to solidify their foundation). The district still plans to have three different lanes for Algebra 2 (Algebra 2, Algebra 2/TrigA, and Algebra 2/TrigH). All three of these classes will be accessible from either Geometry course.
Middle College
Middle College is still taking last-minute applications. Contact Annette Trail if your student is interested (email: annett.trail@mvla.net).
Summer School
Counselors are now enrolling students in credit recovery courses for Sessions 1 and 2 of summer school based on Quarter and Progress Warning grades in May.
2023-2024 Course Selection
The Course Selection window closed on Friday. Students should have all Course Selections in; any changes must be requested through their counselor.
***Please Note, particularly in Math and Science, Once courses are loaded, level changes will only be made between the first Progress report in September and the 1st quarter. Requests for level changes after then will take place at the Semester.***
Junior conferences are in full swing. Counselors have sent instructions on how to schedule. No Junior Conferences will be scheduled after March 31st.
Tutorial options are available in the Academic Center
After-school drop-in tutoring Clinics - no appointment necessary. Monday - Thursday
All subjects up to the AP level.
Ms. Collart is available to tutor students before school and up through noon, in Math. Students can utilize their preps to attend.
Ms. Steward (Afternoons) Students can drop in for tutoring on a specific subject, or unit, at any point.
Brainfuse: Online Tutoring Service: Open Monday - Sunday: 1:00 - 10:00 pm
Students with Palo Alto Public Library Card can access through Id Portal
Live chat-driven online tutoring (person not bot) and writing labs are available for FREE!
Counseling Dept. Hours:
The counseling department will be open from 8:30 - 4:30 Monday - Thursday and 8:30 - 4 on Friday. Walk-In hours are before and after school, brunch, and lunch. Counselors are also available by email to schedule appointments.
Look for an email from your student's school counselor introducing themselves and providing more detail about their specific schedule.
For meetings that will take more than 5 minutes, students should reach out to their counselor via email to make an appointment.
Counselor emails:
Cora Ross – cross@pausd.org
Derek Johanson – djohanson@pausd.org
Myesha Dickson – mdickson@pausd.org
Lorenzo Gomez – lgomez@pausd.org
Andrea Bueno – abueno@pausd.org
Jorge Chavez - jchavez@pausd.org
David Leftwich – dleftwich@pausd.org
We wish students good luck on their finals and are available to help.
- Gunn’s Counseling Department
SELF (Social Emotional Literacy and Functionality)
SELF 9 & 10th
Check-Ins
Mentors will check in with students in small groups (optionally 1:1). While mentors do check-ins, students will play board games and/or watch something as a community while making food.
Study Hall 11 & 12th
Student Activities
From the Grad Night Committee: Senior Picnic and Grad Night Event Information!
- Regular price tickets (Senior Picnic $90 Grad Night $185) will go on sale March 25 - April 18th
- After April 18th we will compile a waitlist for cancellations.
- Any questions please send an email to gunn.seniorparty@gmail.com
Prom 2023 Donations: With rising costs, it is becoming more challenging to have an affordable Prom event for all of our students. The SEC hopes you will consider helping by donating for Prom 2023! These funds will go towards lowering the cost of Prom overall and ensure that everyone who wants to attend will be able to do so. No donation is too small (or too big!). Donate to the Titan Online Store today!
Need to borrow? Fill out this form: Gown Loaner Request Form IMPORTANT: We do not have caps or tassels - you can order both as a package from Jostens (cost: $20.00)
NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE ORDERED? Check Here
ROCK (Reach Out Care Know)
ROCK (Reach Out, Care, Know) is a peer-led group dedicated to promoting positive well-being and developing more and deeper connections in our community.
ROCK meets every Thursday in N114. Follow us:
Check out their website and on social media:
web: rockatgunn.com
Instagram: @rockatgunn
Email any questions to rockatgunn@gmail.com
Gunn Registrar’s Office News
Please send any transcripts from approved off-campus courses to our Registrar, Ofelia Smith, once completed to be placed on the Gunn Transcript.
Students requesting to take an off-campus course can check out our FAQ page linked here.
Registrar’s Office
College and Career Center
(650) 354-8284
Office Hours
M-F 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Gunn Affiliations
Gunn Foundation
Support Gunn Foundation!
Since 1968, Gunn Foundation, an all-volunteer nonprofit corporation, has been granting need-based scholarships to college-bound seniors in the Gunn community. Scholarships fund essential expenses --- housing deposits, books, enrollment fees --- often unmet by aid packages. Your support of the Gunn Foundation shows the scholarship recipients that you believe in them and their potential. Please click here to make your donation: gunnfound.org/donate. Any amount can make a difference in the college plans and future of a deserving Gunn senior.