Palo Alto Partners in Education Needs Your Support

submitted by Belle Griffiths, belle.griffiths@sbcglobal.net




We are so thankful to the many Gunn families who have supported Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE) in the past. It is because of your support, GUNN WILL RECEIVE OVER $347,000 from Partners in Education this school year. These funds are enhancing your child’s education in many areas:

College & Career Counseling

Additional counseling help for students which has allowed Gunn to make counselors more accessible to every student with a need, to begin the College Pathway program, and to support College MAP and PIQE for Spanish-speaking students. More counselors at Gunn allow more students to benefit, especially from the support programs that help all students’ readiness for college. PiE pays for approximately 25% of college and career counseling at Gunn.

Career Technology Education

PiE dollars have funded training, set-up and equipment funds for "Project Lead the Way," a hands-on, math and science-rich curriculum that will offer new engineering oriented classes using project based learning.

• Intro to Engineering Design in 2010-2011

Technology Integration

Technology mentors that help all teachers at Gunn use technology more effectively in the classrooms. PiE-paid technology experts optimize the use of the technology paid for by the bond issue, and maximizes the time that teachers can spend on teaching and learning in the classroom.

Why is it important for you, parents of Gunn High School students, to make a donation, this year?

• PiE money raised this year will be available for the 2011-12 school year. Given the current economic outlook, the expectation is that the Palo Alto Unified School District will have to make cuts totaling $3.8 million in the 2010-2011 school year even after taking $3.5 million from our undesignated reserves.
• PiE is the only nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to raising money for all PAUSD schools. Only PiE contributions can fund additional teachers and staff. PTA funds cannot.
• PiE dollars are allocated on a per student basis so every child throughout our school district benefits.

This year the PiE High School Fund needs to raise at least $735,000 to meet the needs at our two high schools. High school donor participation must grow to help PiE meet this dollar goal. Your support has never been more important!

What you can do!

Please show your commitment to excellent education in Palo Alto by making a donation to Palo Alto Partners in Education. By targeting your PiE donation to the PiE High School Fund you know that your dollars are supporting critical needs at Gunn. Your student will directly benefit from your support.

• Look for the PiE letter and form in your back-to-school packet or donate online at www.papie.org
• Online payments can be made as one time gift or on an installment plan
• Ask if your employer offers a company matching gift program and so increase your donation.
• Call the PiE office at 650-329-3990 for more information about how you can get involved.
• All donations are 100% tax deductible
• Questions? Concerns? Contact one of your three Gunn PiE Representatives:

Belle Griffiths at belle.griffiths@sbcglobal.net
Nancy Smith at nancysmith@earthlink.net
Cherrill Spencer at cherrill@slac.stanford.edu

Thank you for your support,
Belle, Nancy and Cherrill