Thursday, June 10, 2010

Goats for Haiti

Touria Javid, touria.javid@ri.org




Relief International invites you and your family to dedicate a life changing gift to a family in Haiti - a gift that can send Haitian children to school and enable access to healthcare.

The Situation
The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked the island nation of Haiti in January made bad situations worse, destroying entire communities and displacing more than one million people. Four months later, Relief International is working with Haitian families to develop tools and resources to help rebuild their lives. A critical part of this initiative is our Goats for Haiti program.

What Can $25 Buy?
6 grande vanilla lattes from Starbucks
2 Twilight movie tickets

OR

1 goat for a family in Haiti

How You Can Enable Lasting Change
With a $25 donation, you can purchase a goat for a family in Haiti which will provide a steady source of food, additional income for education and health care (as surplus milk and offspring are sold in the marketplace) and most importantly - a chance at a self-sustaining livelihood. Quite often, a single goat can pay for one year of school tuition.
As the 2010 school year wraps up, we encourage you to empower families in Haiti by purchasing a goat which is a safety net against starvation and a door to a better future.

To support Goats for Haiti, visit https://ri.org/Goats_for_Haiti/

College Essay Workshop

Goals – Strategies – Qualities - Inspirations

  • AUGUST 10 7:30 to 8:30 pm
  • Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
  • Marci Reichelstein, College Admissions Advisor and Member, Western Association for College Admission Counseling

Writing thought provoking, insightful and self-reflective essays that inject a “life-force” into your college application is critical for competitive college admissions. Come learn successful strategies of how to develop themes for your essays based on the issues your application may surface and how you see the world differently. We’ll discuss essay objectives for UC applications versus those for private colleges, important questions to ask yourself when evaluating your work, and qualities of a memorable essay. “Before” and “after” selections of improved essays will be read and handed out as tangible examples.

Years of marketing experience, three college admissions teams and thousands of applications inform Marci Reichelstein’s essay and education advice. Show yourself to college admissions teams as the unique and talented individual you are!

This workshop is timed to be of immediate value to many rising seniors that will be working on their essays at the end of summer. PAUSD starts August 24, 2010!

SIGN UP NOW: http://compasstocollegepa.eventbrite.com

Reserve your SEAT and a PRINTED HANDOUT - available before the session for easy note-taking.
A reminder and directions will be sent during the summer.

If you cannot make this date - check for other sessions in the area (http://www.eventbrite.com/org/493960689?s=1831698) or email marci@reichelstein.com.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Ginsburg DVD Ready for Pick-up; New Orders Accepted

Carrie Manley, carrie_manley@yahoo.com

Orders of the Dr. Ken Ginsburg "Resiliency" DVD are now ready for pick up at the front desk at the PAUSD office, 25 Churchill. This DVD contains two of Dr. Ginsburg's recent presentations: his March 25 presentation to parents and educators, "Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Preparing Our Children for Life", and his March 26 presentation to Gunn High School students: "Real Success". DVDs may be ordered until Fri. June 21, for pick-up starting Mon. June 24. $2 per DVD. Please send your order and payment to Palo Alto PTA Council volunteer Carrie Manley, 764 Marion Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94303, checks payable to Carrie Manley.

Click here for order form.

Charleston/Arastradero Corridor Project

Traffic Around Gunn:
Charleston/Arastradero Corridor Project

The Phase 2 Arastradero Road Trial Restriping Project between El Camino and Foothill Expressway will be implemented this Summer 2010 as a one-year trial in conjunction with the City's Street Maintenance Project.

Project Schedule:
Resurfacing and restriping project...............................Late July - Mid-August 2010
Enhanced crosswalk project near Briones Park...........Late August - September 2010
Monitor and Evaluate Phase 2 Project.........................September 2010 - June 2011

A community meeting has been scheduled to present the detailed design of the project and accept comments from the public before the final striping design is completed:

Tues, June 15, 2010, 6:00 p.m.,
Juana Briones School, Cafetorium, 4100 Orme Street.

For project and meeting details and more information:
www.cityofpaloalto.org/charleston

What To Do With Your Test Prep Books?

Alejandro Lira, alira@pausd.org

Hey Seniors,

Please consider donating your test prep books (SAT, ACT, AP, etc.). If you no longer want to keep your test prep books, you can drop them off at the Academic Center (AC) and they will be shared with the returning students in the fall. Thank you, and best wishes!

Contact: Alejandro Lira at alira@pausd.org

Two Gunn Students Receive NCWIT Award: Congratulations to Gunn students Lisa Fawcett and Celine Nguyen

Gunn students, Lisa Fawcett and Celine Nguyen, were honored with 23 other high-school women by the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and Bay Area Affiliate as part of an effort to encourage more young women to choose careers in technology. An award ceremony was held at The Computer History Museum on June 6, 2010.

The young women are recipients of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing, which recognizes high-school women for their computing-related achievements and interests. Each recipient will receive a $250 gift card, A Day@Google, 1GB Microsoft flash drive, one year memberships to the Computer History Museum and The Tech Museum, an engraved award for both recipient and school, and much more!

Congratulations, Lisa and Celine!

VTA 88 Bus Schedule for Finals

Tuesday, June 8th and Thursday, June 10th

(Tuesday Period B and Thursday Period E final start 8:30am)
88L & 88M will depart Louis/Fielding & Middlefield/Colorado at 7:45am
will arrive Gunn approx. 8:10am.
An additional S/B 88 trip will depart from Middlefield/Colorado at 7:45am.

(Tuesday Period D and Thursday Period F final, start 10:30am)
Take S/B 88 9:31am departure from Middlefield/Colorado

(12:10 release after Tuesday Period D and Thursday Period F final)
School trippers will depart Vets Hospital at 12:20pm (88M), 12:22pm (88L).
Regular scheduled N/B 88 will depart Vets Hospital at 12:15pm.
An additional N/B 88 trip to Middlefield/Colorado will depart Vets Hospital
at 12:23pm.

Take N/B 88 trip departure from Vets Hospital at 10:10am or 11:10am
if going home after first final.

Wednesday, June 9
(8:00 start)-no AM adjustments will be made for Period A final

(Wednesday Period C final, 10am start)
Take S/B 9:31am departure from Middlefield/Colorado

(Wednesday Period G Final, 12:15pm start)
Take S/B 88 11:32am departure from Middlefield/Colorado

(1:55 release)
School trippers will depart Vets Hospital at 2:05pm (88M), 2:07pm (88L).
An additional N/B 88 trip to Middlefield/Colorado will depart Vets
Hospital at 2:08pm.

Take N/B 88 trip departure from Vets Hospital at 10:10am
if going home after Period A final.

Take N/B 88 trip departure from Vets Hospital at 12:15pm
if going home after Period C final.

Thanks to the VTA for accommodating Gunn's schedule.

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Note that a limited number of VTA Summer Blast Passes for June, July, and August is available at the SAC for a reduced price of $60.

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Sign up at http://lists.sonic.net/mailman/listinfo/88bus for 88 bus updates.

Donate to the Gunn Foundation! Volunteer to serve on the Gunn Foundation Board!

Jim Fox, jimafox@pacbell.net

The Gunn Foundation provides scholarship awards to graduating Gunn seniors who have financial need and who exhibit likelihood of success in post-secondary education or training. The scholarship funds help Gunn graduating seniors upon their registration in college, community college, or other educational or training program after high school.

Founded by Gunn parents, teachers, and community members in 1968, the Gunn Foundation has been funded by donations from parents and community-members ever since. The Gunn Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization (donations are tax-deductible).

We always accept donations; we are also interested in adding new members to the Gunn Foundation Board.

For more information please contact:
The Gunn Foundation
780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306

or contact Jim Fox, Chair of the Gunn Foundation at: jimafox@pacbell.net

BACK-TO-SCHOOL Help Needed!

Norma Hesterman, nhesterman@pausd.org

Gunn depends on an incredible amount of volunteer assistance during opening days in the fall. Volunteers are essential in welcoming the students to the campus and helping them begin their new year smoothly. Please help where you can, as many times as you can. Please respond to Norma Hesterman at nhesterman@pausd.org including:

Your name_________________________________________
Name of student(s)___________________________________
E-mail____________________________________________
Phone____________________________________________
Address___________________________________________

Help MAY be needed to assemble school-wide bulk mailing
___Mon., Aug. 2, ___Tues., Aug. 3, 9:00 to 12:00

Orientation for all program distribution volunteers
___Mon., Aug. 16, 7:30 to 8:00

Early program distribution for seniors only, 6 people needed
___Mon., Aug. 16, 8:00 to 11:00

Early program distribution for juniors only, 6 people needed
___Tues., Aug. 17, 8:00 to 11:00

Early program distribution for sophomores only, 6 people needed
___Wed., Aug. 18, 8:00 to 11:00

Early program distribution for freshmen only, 6 people needed
___Fri., Aug. 20, 8:00 to 11:00

Opening day, 40(!) volunteers needed to distribute schedules, collect and organize forms, help in offices, dry tears
___Tues., Aug. 24, 7:15 to 9:00

Help with school photos, 8 volunteers needed
___Tues., Aug. 24, 8:00 to 12:00

During lunch, mark & distribute gym clothing
___Wed., Aug. 25, ___Thurs., Aug 26, ___Fri., Aug 27

Help in Student Activities Center during the first two weeks of school in the following shifts:
___8:00 to 11:00, ___11:00 to 1:00, ___1:00 to 3:00.
Preferred day__________________________________

Finals Week Schedule

Monday, June 7 -- Review Day:
Period A (7:55-8:45)
Period B (8:50-9:40)
Brunch (9:40-9:50)
Period C (9:55-10:45)
Period D (10:50-11:40)
Lunch (11:40-12:20)
Period E (12:25-1:15)
Period F (1:20-2:10)
Period G (2:15-3:05)

Tuesday, June 8:
Period B final (8:30-10:10)
Brunch (10:10-10:25)
Period D final (10:30-12:10)

Wednesday, June 9:
Period A final (8:00-9:40)
Brunch (9:40-9:55)
Period C final (10:00-11:40)
Lunch (11:40-12:10)
Period G final (12:15-1:55)

Thursday, June 10:
Period E final (8:30-10:10)
Brunch (10:10-10:25)
Period F final (10:30-12:10)

May Pedal4Prizes

Kathryn Latour, kathryn@latoursrus.com

We had the last of our Pedal4Prizes events for this school year on Wednesday, May 26th and rewarded many of our biking students through a Blockbuster/Jamba Juice gift card raffle. The lucky winners were Dale Anderson (10), Becky Baldwin-Brown (11), Edward Elias (9), Lara Elliott (9), S. Olivia Zu (9), Koji Habu (9), Chris Bennett, Justine Ziebell (9), Kathrina Onate (11), Sahana Kumor (11), Grace Lee (9), Kenji Frahm (12), Daniel Wallace (10), Grace M. (11), Shaiwa Hammer (11), Tyler Adams (12), Dongmeng Li (9), Varun Bhadkamkar (9), Rupali Raju (11), Sonja Heikkinen (11), Erik Qian (9), Joseph Shin (12), Carl LeMaster (12), Jonathan Anker (12), Audrey Knox (11), and Calvin Wei (11). Congratulations! And for those who biked but did not win, thank you for doing your part to save our environment. There were 451 of you in total who biked that day. Thanks also go to our volunteers Serena Choy and Christine Fawcett for their help in distributing prizes.

In April we also held a special event to reward all students who purchased either a helmet or bike during that month. Bike purchasers received a $25 gift card and those who bought helmets received gift cards for $10. Those students were Peter Huang (9th - $35 Target card), Skyler Dean (9th - $25 Rasputin card), Lisa Fawcett (12th - $25 Baja Fresh card), Charlie Chang (12th - $25 Target card), Rachelle Goodrich-Gere ($25 Target card), Anne Jaffe (9th - $10 Baja Fresh card), Gurpal Virdi (10th - $10 Target card), Yuan Yuan (9th - $10 Baja Fresh card), and Sierra Leder (10th - $10 Target card). We have budgeted to do this reward event again in the fall so plan your biking purchases accordingly. And now as the school year ends, please remember to bike often but safely: observe the laws, properly wear your helmets, and be watchful of traffic. We will be back next year with more rewards!

Pedal4Prizes Team: Renu Virdi, Kathryn Latour