Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Donation to Ecumenical Hunger Program

Marilyn Putney, putneym@gmail.com

The Gunn PTSA and the SEC are happy to report that the proceeds from the Turkey Feast totaled a little over $3500 and it is all going to the Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto to help brighten the holidays for many families. Thanks again to the Gunn Community!

Meet Your Special Education Director

Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010
9 to 11 am
hospitality begins at 8:45am
Covington Elementary School Multi
205 Covington Rd, Los Altos

Hilarey Davis, MVLA High School District
Steve Gingras, MVW School District
Anne LePage, Los Altos School District
Carol Zepecki, PAUSD
Panel will be moderated by Phil Shemanski, SELPA 1 CAC.

Meet your Special Education Director and hear about existing, new, and planned programs and services in your school district. Find out how to most effectively work with your special ed team. Find out how California budget cuts and Federal stimulus money affected programs in our schools. Ask your questions and voice your suggestions and concerns. Your input will be taken on cards handed to the moderator.

This parent education event is sponsored by the SELPA 1 CAC (www.selpa1cac.org) All of our events are free and open to anyone who feels they might benefit. No registration is necessary.

Gunn Sports Boosters Meeting December 16

Gunn Sports Boosters Monthly General Meeting
December 16th
6pm - 7pm
Gunn Library

Gunn Sports Boosters meet monthly on the third Wednesday of each school month. Come along and learn what you can do to help promote athletic excellence at Gunn.

Contact Steve.Allen@GMX.com for more information

Friday, December 4, 2009

2009 Gunn High School Winter Choral Concert

Marilyn Putney, putneym@gmail.com

Take some time out of your busy schedules and come enjoy this beautiful choir concert which will include:
  • A mass for women’s voices by Canadian Latvian composer Imant Ramnish
  • A Gloria by Emma Lou Diemer
  • Schubert’s Mass in G with Gunn’s amazing orchestra
  • Many solos by Gunn’s choir performers
Featuring the Gunn Concert Choir, Treble Choir, and Chamber Singers,
under the direction of William Liberatore
When: Thursday, December 17, 7:30 pm
Where: Spangenberg Theatre

Tickets available at the door: $7 for adults, $5 for students

¿Tiene su Hijo las Herramientas para Tener Exito?

Magdalena Fittoria, mfittoria@pausd.org

Venga a reunirse con otros padres del Districto Escolar de Palo Alto (PAUSD) quienes participaran en lo que esta o no esta trabajando para sus niños. Use esta sesión informal para aprender buenas estrategias para cultivar niños exitosos.

Martes, Diciembere 8, 2009
De 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Moldaw Zaffaroni Clubhouse Boys and Girls Club
2031 Pulgas Avenue
East Palo Alto, CA 94301 (650) 646-6090

Tendremos Guarderia. Se serbira una cena ligera, pueden traed algo de comer si desean.

Para mas informacion:
Hilda Espinoza (650) 813-9556 (Español)
Kim Bomar (650) 323-7845 (English)

Este evento es co-patrocinado por Parent Network for Students of Color and Hispanic Community (PNSCHC), PAUSD, y Palo Alto Council of PTAs

Does Your Child Have the Building Blocks to Success?

Magdalena Fittoria, mfittoria@pausd.org

Come join other Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) parents prepared to share what is or isn't working for your child. Use this informal session to learn great strategies for raising highly successful children.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
From 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Moldaw Zaffaroni Clubhouse Boys and Girls Club
2031 Pulgas Avenue
East Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 646-6090

Childcare and light dinner will be provided. You are welcome to bring a dish to share if you like.

For more information:
Hilda Espinoza (650) 813-9556 (Español)
Kim Bomar (650) 323-7845 (English)

Co-sponsored by the Parent Network for Students of Color and Hispanic Community (PNSCHC), the Palo Alto Council of PTAs and PAUSD.

Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra to Perform at Dinkelspiel Auditorium

Kim Nguyen, paco_publicity@yahoo.com

December 19th Concert Features Viola virtuosa Sharon Wei
Benjamin Simon, Conductor

Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra presents their winter performance of a collection of works in the acoustically acclaimed Dinkelspiel Auditorium Saturday, December 19th at 8:00pm at Stanford University. Both the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra and its sister ensemble, the Sinfonia Orchestra will perform under the direction of PACO music director Benjamin Simon. Featured guest artist, the acclaimed virtuosa Sharon Wei will perform Bruch's gorgeous Romanze and Benjamin Britten's haunting Lachrymae, based on an Elizabeth song by John Dowland. Also in the program is Corelli's popular Christmas Concerto. The final piece performed will be the powerful Tchaikovsky's Symphony Number 2 also known as the Little Russian. For more information call 650-856-3848 or visit http://www.pacomusic.org.

Track Watch Update

Diane Downend, Diane@edenbridgehomes.com

Starting on November 23, 2009, the Palo Alto Police Department will retain a private security firm to staff the Meadow rail crossing every day from 7:30am to 11:30pm (this may be adjusted to cover the later hours, allowing the volunteers to staff earlier shifts – pending). The plan is to maintain this until the end of the school year. Community volunteers may also continue to assist at this and other locations. Police officers will also continue to have an increased presence in the area.

The Police Department is accepting donations to support this and other safety efforts. Checks payable to the City of Palo Alto should be sent to:

Barbara Teixeira
c/o Rail Crossing Watch Fund
Palo Alto Police Dept.
275 Forest Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Officer Kenneth Dueker
Coordinator, Homeland Security & Public Outreach
Palo Alto Police Department / assigned to City Manager's Office
275 Forest Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301
650-617-3100 x1281

Turkey Feast 2009

Diane Downend, Diane@edenbridgehomes.com

The Gunn community united on November 19, 2009 for the PTSA sponsored annual Turkey Feast. While more parents than can be counted invested their time and energy to make the event a success, the PTSA salutes Marilyn Putney and Maryanne Welton for their amazing leadership to make this magical day come together. The spirit of Thanksgiving was everywhere. One after the other of students gushed with thank yous and exclamations of “This is the best day of the school year!” To all of the parents I say a hearty, “thank you!” but I cannot possibly say it as skillfully as this following blog post by a Gunn student to HMGGMH….

“As four-fifths of the students lined up for food today (Turkey Feast), I couldn’t help but think: this is amazing. It was unfathomable that Gunn parents cooked delicious turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pie, etc-all homemade food for 2,000 people. And, probably more, since teenagers tend to eat twice the amount of an adult. It made me smile. Turkey Feast and the parents of HMG students GMH.”

It’s so very true. The students, the teachers, the administration and support staff and the parents of the Gunn community GIVE ME HOPE! Happy Thanksgiving!