Sunday, January 30, 2011

Sports Updates

Wrestling
Last weekend select members of the Gunn varsity team competed in the very tough and prestigious wrestling competition "Mid-Cal invitational" held at Gilroy.

Senior Stefan Weidemann turned in a very impressive performance by winning his weight group, while beating highly ranked opponents from around the state. Weidemann is the first Gunn wrestler ever to win this prestigious event and has now amassed 15 wins and no losses. "I give a lot of credit to coach Creighton for getting Stefan strategically ready for his opponent in the finals," said head coach Chris Horpel.
Three Gunn wrestlers made it to the second day of this large 2 day 70-team tournament: Weidemann, Eric Cramer (sophomore) and Chris Jin (junior). Cramer came within one match of also bringing home a medal.

Gunn has three dual meets remaining (Lynbrook, Fremont, and Harker) before the SCVAL Championships. Gunn and Fremont look to be on track for a showdown for the league championship as both teams remain undefeated.
Next up: A home dual meet versus Fremont (Feb 3).

Basketball
Girls - Friday night was a battle as the 2 best teams in the league squared off. Both teams came into the game undefeated in De Anza League play and clearly appear to the be the class of the league. Palo Alto came into the match having lost 6 consecutive games to the Gunn Titans. Coach Sarah Stapp knew the showdown between the girls basketball teams would come down to turnovers and defense on Friday night. Stapp watched her Gunn squad turn the ball over too many times. The result was a 47-39 victory by the host Vikings over Gunn.
These are the next home games -

Girls Boys
1/28 Lynbrook at Gunn 6:15 1/28 Lynbrook at Gunn 7:45
2/2 Mountain View at Gunn 7:00
2/4 Monta Vista at Gunn 6:15 2/4 Los Altos at Gunn 7:45
2/11 Paly at Gunn 6:15 2/11 Paly at Gunn 7:45


Boys - Going into the matchup at Palo Alto, the Gunn Boys' Basketball squad knew it would have to limit mistakes, take advantage of all of their opportunities and slow down Paly's athletic advantage. Unfortunately the Palo Alto squad used their athletic ability to blow open a close game on their way to a 66-51 win at Paly. Jack Hannan led all scorers with 16 points, Anthony Cannon scored 12, Taylor Perricone added 10 and Matt Redfield scored nine.

Soccer
Girls - The Lady Titans captured their first league win in a battle with the Homestead Mustangs. After the exciting 4-3 win over the Homestead Mustangs, coming back from a 2-3 deficit, the Lady Titans have suffered 2 consecutive losses (to Paly and Monta Vista) and a 1-1 tie with Sacred Heart. Although Gunn controlled much of that game, Sacred Heart Prep capitalized on one their few scoring opportunities. It took nearly twenty shots on goal, but Gunn finally found the equalizer when Alyssa Perreault played the ball to Sarah Robinson-- who had a nice chip finish. Gunn's overall record is 6-4-3.
The last home games of the season -
2/2 Homestead at Gunn 6:00
2/9 Monta Vista at Gunn 6:00
Boys - This season hasn't been kind so far this year to Gunn High School, but on Wednesday night they finally got the benefit of a break to defeat visiting Santa Clara 1-0. The key moment came four minutes into the second half when a Santa Clara player tried to clear the ball from his own box when it ricocheted off Sammy Hayward's leg and into the Santa Clara goal for the only goal of the game.

"We finally got a break," said Gunn Head Coach Dave Lovercheck after the game. "In the beginning of the season we weren't getting any breaks and now we're getting some." Gunn did have to sweat out the last couple of minutes of the game when Santa Clara almost scored off a corner kick when a loose ball was fired in by a Santa Clara player that Paul Blanchette blocked and then a return effort got behind Blanchette who had to reach behind his back to knock the ball away. Gunn's win over Santa Clara improved their league record to 1-2-2.
Gunn's fortunes began to change last week when a late goal by Mason Naar tied the game 1-1 with Paly.
2/4 Paly at Gunn 6:00
2/16 Los Gatos at Gunn 6:00

Lacrosse
Gunn High School adds the Blocho brothers from Santa Clara University to take over and guide a budding program. Jim Blocho came out to the Bay Area to coach at NDNU as the Defensive Coordinator and then took on the Head Coaching position at Santa Clara University. Jim and Mike played at the collegiate level, both at Canisius College and Jim played at C.W. Post as well. Both have played within the Canadian Box Lacrosse League and Mike has furthered his career with a couple stints within the NLL.

The duo are excited to head up the Gunn HS lacrosse program, hoping to bring, "a potent combination of a stingy and punishing defense with the likes of a high octane, chaotic, yet effective offense."

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Gunn 2011/2012 PTSA Positions Open

Wanted: Gunn Parents (PTSA Members) to serve on the PTSA.
Who can serve? Any Gunn Parent who would like to be involved.

For more information or to sign up, please contact any member of the Nominating Committee:
Steve Hubbell
Charlene Chang
Elaine Kjos
Ruth-Anne Siegel
Jaya Padmanabhan

PTSA Executive Board Positions:
Executive Board positions are elected. No board member can serve more than 2 consecutive terms in the same position. CO-VP Positions are non-voting positions. A brief description of each position is included.
President - Preside at board meetings, nominate/appoint representatives and chairs, authorize payments, prepare annual reports, perform other duties as prescribed by the association
Executive Vice President - Serve as primary aide to the President. Perform duties of President in the absence or disability of the President.
1st VP Community Activities - Serve as the chair of Programs, responsible for the Parent Ed program. Also responsible for publicizing events to the Gunn community.
1st CO-VP Community Activities
1st VP Ways & Means - Serve as the chair of the Membership, responsible for all activities related to marketing, communication, reporting, and record keeping of the membership.
1st CO-VP Ways & Means
1st VP Communications - Serve as the chair of the Honorary Service Awards (HSA) committee responsible for the annual HSA event in May. In addition, oversee the various liaisons. Responsible for consistent distribution of message/information to the Gunn community.
1st CO-VP Communications
Secretary - Keep an accurate record of the proceedings of all meetings. Along with the President, prepare and sign all authorizations for payment of expenditure according to the bylaws of the association.
Historian - Assemble and preserve a record of all the activities, achievements and volunteer hours of the association.

Liaisons
Appointed by the President; Serve as the conduit between PTSA and the designated organization.
School Board Observer
Gunn Drug & Alcohol Committee(3 positions)
PiE School Chair (2 positions)
Facilities Steering Committee
Emergency Preparedness(2 positions)
PA PTSA Council Rep #2



Standing Committees/Chairs
Appointed by the President; No member can serve more than two consecutive terms as Chair of the same committee
Grad Night – Chair - Organize the graduation celebration after the commencement ceremony and assist in the logistics of graduation picnic after the rehearsal the day before the graduation.
Grad Night - Treasurer
Challenge Success - Co-Chair


Other Committees/Communications
Appointed by the President; No term limits
Webmaster
Parent Network Rep 2013, 2015 - Foster parent-to-parent support and provide and share information to engage parents in school and student life at Gunn.
Parent Directory #2

Hospitality
Appointed by the President; No term limits
Back to School Brunch/BBQ (Aug) - Plan, organize and execute the Back to School Brunch for Gunn teachers and staff.
Homecoming BBQ (Oct)(4 positions) Advertise the event and sell tickets upfront, ask for food/dessert donations, purchase supplies. Set up and clean up on the day of the event with volunteers.
Turkey Feast (Nov) 4 positions -
This event is for the entire Gunn community students and staff. Work with Gunn administration for extended lunch period, coordinate volunteers for setup, clean up, and serving on the day of the event.
Holiday Luncheon - Responsible for all aspects of organizing a lunch that serves 150-200 staff members held mid-December.
Holiday Luncheon - Dec
Health Fair Chair Organize team of volunteers to put on the fair in spring.
Health Fair - Co
International Fair/Pot Luck (2 positions) -
Coordinate with the World Language Department to organize the week long International Fair and organize the International Potluck lunch.
Gunn HSA Volunteer Lunch (2 positions) - Responsible for all aspects of organizing a lunch that serves 150-200 staff members held in May.
Senior Awards Night - June (Jr Parents) - Provide refreshments for Senior Awards Night.
Teacher Appreciation - Responsible for all aspects of organizing a lunch that serves 150-200 staff members.
Latte Snacks

Service
Appointed by the President; No term limits
Direct Appeal (2 positions)
Gunn Beautification Day (3 positions)
PTSA Wardrobe Rep (2 positions) -
Twice a year clear out Gunn Lost and Found after notifying students and parents via Gunn Connection.
Student PTSA Rep
Traffic Safety(2 positions)
Transit Coordinator(2 positions)
Trip Reduction-Pedal 4 Prizes(2 positions)

Nominating Board
These positions are elected by the Board.
No one can serve who served on the previous year's committee
5 Primary Members and 2 Alternates

Friday, January 21, 2011

Gunn Site Council Parent Reps Wanted

WANTED: Gunn Site Council Parent Reps
Site Council needs two (2) parent representatives to serve a two-year term, starting next September. Are you interested? Here are the FAQS:

WHO CAN SERVE: Any Gunn parent who wants to work on policy development and financial decision-making in a cooperative setting with 4 faculty, 3 staff, 3 other parents and 4 students. Each representative serves a 2-year term. A maximum of 4 consecutive years (2 terms in a row) is allowed, according to the 1999 revised bylaws. Thus, two of the four parents on Site Council are up for re-election or replacement each year.

WHAT DOES SITE COUNCIL DO: Around $45,000 in funds from state and district grants are given to Site Council to spend on departmental projects which are "new and innovative" and/or significantly benefit our students and staff...everything from "pilot classes" such as the Algebra Restart class and Multi-cultural Literature to curriculum development to updating classroom technology to iclickers for Social Studies and English and a Broadcasting Teleprompter for CTE. Each spring, we issue a call for proposals from every department on campus for the following year. Each project is evaluated to determine its effectiveness in meeting its projected goals. We additionally work on the School Plan, and work on WASC, as well as issues that crop up through the year.

WHEN DO WE MEET? You must be willing to devote 2.5 hours a month for 1 or 2 monthly meetings on Monday afternoons at 3:30 here at Gunn in the Staff Lounge.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE NEEDED? You must have a child enrolled at Gunn High School, possess some financial and/or policy decision-making abilities, and be able to attend meetings at least once a month. No, you do not need to be a CPA or CEO - just genuinely interested in taking the time to learn how Gunn operates and a desire to improve life and learning here for our students and staff.

HOW DO YOU APPLY? Complete the information below and submit it to the Site Council office NO LATER THAN MON., FEBRUARY 14. You can either fax it to 493-7801, mail it to Gunn Site Council at 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306, or email the needed info to rhart@pausd.org.

The slate of candidates will be published posted for two weeks in Gunn Connection - one vote per household is allowed. The paper and/or e-ballots will be tabulated with the results posted in April or May.

Questions? Please call the Site Council desk in the Main Office at 849-7932 or email to
rhart@pausd.org.


Your Name _________________________________________________________


Your Gunn student(s)'s name(s) and grade(s) _____________________________

____________________________________________________________________


Your Address _________________________________________________________

Phone ______________________________________________________________


Email_______________________________________________________________


Background statement (Previous experience on Site Council? Special expertise?
Work and/or life experiences that are valuable in group decision-making situations?)


___________________________________________________________________


___________________________________________________________________


___________________________________________________________________

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Barbara Emerich Scholarship 2011

Submitted by Grace Yu
Barbara Emerich Scholarship 2011

The Barbara Emerich Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications from qualified seniors attending schools with PTA/PTSA belonging to the 6th District (Santa Clara County) PTA. Gunn PTSA is a 6th District PTA member. Two scholarships of $750 each will be awarded to students who are planning to attend a 2 or 4 year college and who have been actively involved in community service. The scholarship announcement and application are attached below. The application deadline is April 1, 2011.



Barbara Emerich Scholarship 2011
Barbara Emerich has held PTA leadership positions from local schools to the state level for more than 50years. Her commitment to children is unparalleled, particularly in the areas of juvenile justice, gun control, teenage health and special needs.

The Sixth District PTA proudly honors Barbara Emerich's extraordinary service by awarding scholarships to two high school seniors who best exemplify her dedication to youth and families.

January 2011

Dear PTA Presidents, Scholarship Advisors, Career Centers and Staff;

We are pleased to announce that the Barbara Emerich Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications from qualified graduating seniors. Barbara Emerich, a PTA volunteer and leader for over 50 years, continues to dedicate her time and talents in support of children, particularly in the areas of juvenile justice, gun control, teen health and special needs. This scholarship was created to honor her exemplary service.

Two scholarships of $750.00 each are available to support students who are planning to attend a 2 or 4 year college. Applicants must be current high school seniors with a minimum 2.5 GPA and should have a strong record of community service/volunteering in education, counseling, mentoring, tutoring and preschool or with special needs children.

Applications should be emailed or postmarked no later than Apri1 l, 2011. Finalists will be contacted for a phone interview in April. We will proudly announce the two recipients by letter and present them with certificates in May, 2011.

Please review this scholarship application and forward it on to the appropriate counselor that may be aware of potential candidates. Thank you for helping us to appreciate and support students who give back to our community.

If you have any questions, you may send an email to office@capta6.org. Applications can be found at Applications.


Sincerely,


The Barbara Emerich Scholarship Committee

Sixth District (Santa Clara County) PTA
1290 Ridder Park Drive M/C 214
San Jose, CA 95131-2304
www.capta6.org
(408) 453-6536

SELPA 1 CAC Parent Education March Event

Submitted by Karen Mueller

SELPA 1 CAC Parent Education March Event

Health Insurance - Presented by Michelle Droz, Vice President of Benefits, Woodruff Sawyer and Co, San Francisco. Would you like to learn more about various health insurance plans, both through private employers and purchased independently? Which of them approve (or deny) coverage for chronic conditions that affect many of our children? How do those various plans cover traditional, alternative, and experimental medical treatment? How should parents work with their health care and insurance providers to achieve best outcomes, both medically and financially? How will the recent Health Care reform affect your family – ask the expert!

Wednesday, Mar 16, 2011 - meeting is 7 to 9 pm. Hospitality begins at 6:45pm. Springer Elementary School Multi, 1120 Rose Avenue, Mountain View, 94040.
This parent education event is sponsored by the SELPA 1 CAC http://www.selpa1cac.org. All of our events are free and open to anyone who feels they might benefit. No registration is necessary.

Principal's Blurb

Submitted by Katya Villalobos

Principal's Blurb

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As you are aware we have incredibly talented students at Gunn from music to the arts, engineering tech to bio-tech, writers to poets, cooks to equestrians, ballerinas, future scientists and diplomats. The Gunn staff are thankful you share them with us. Here are a few highlights I wanted to share about our incredible students;

1. Four Gunn students were recognized in the Intel Science Talent Search; Seniors Audrey Ho, Brain Zhang, Andrew Liu, and Youyang Gu--they each received $1,000 scholarships.

2. Music;
Five Gunn students had the honor of being invited to participate in the Santa Clara County Honor Band concert Jan. 16 at Evergreen Valley High: Kelly Catlin (senior flute), Marisa Kanemoto (sophomore clarinet), Jeffrey Mi (freshman clarinet), Daniel Wallace (junior clarinet), and Joyce Wen (freshman flute).

Senior Kelly Catlin, flutist, and sophomore Ethan Kim, bassist, were selected for the California All-State Honor Band and Orchestra. They will represent Gunn in February at the California All-State Conference in Fresno.

Our own Band Director, Todd Summers, was recognized by his colleagues in the California Music Educators Association this past week as a Teacher of the Year--way to go Todd!!

3. This school year Gunn launched the Small Learning Community (SLC), where the motto is a "Sense of Place". Twenty-eight 9th graders are enjoying this inter-disciplinary program, which includes the following:

Gunn’s Small Learning Community hiked to Yosemite Falls in the snow on their fun and successful field trip to Yosemite Dec. 12-16. Thank you to organizers Dawna Linsdell and Tarn Wilson, as well as teacher-chaperones Kristen Owens, Julie Munger, Steve Ames and Katie Settle. If you would like further information, the SLC website is; https://sites.google.com/a/alumni.ucdavis.edu/slc/


Finally, we are preparing for the next academic year--believe it or not. Registration for 2011-12 will begin with the Gunn Team Visiting JLS (1-25-11@7PM), Terman (1-26-11@7PM) and Gunn's Open House for Incoming Students Feb. 1 @7PM in the Gym. Current students will do online registration--they will receive instructions when counselors visit their English classrooms. There will be a registration section on the website soon.



Sincerely,
Katya Villalobos
Principal
Henry M. Gunn High School
780 Arastradero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650-354-8200
650-493-7801 (FAX)

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Finals Schedule for Route 88

RT 88 schedule for Finals will be as follows:

Tuesday, January 18th and Thursday, January 20th (8:30 start) School trippers 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.

(12:12 release)
School trippers will depart Vets Hospital at 12:22pm(88M), 12:24pm(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 12:25pm.


Wednesday, January 19th
(8:00 start)-no AM adjustments will be made

(1:59 release)-no PM adjustments will be made. School trippers will depart Vets Hospital at 2:14pm(88M), 2:16pm(88L). Regular scheduled N/B 88 will depart Vets Hospital at 2:18pm

Adjustments to SB 88 Schedule

Minor adjustments have been made to the S/B 88 schedule. Effective Monday, January 10th, the S/B 88 morning trip will depart Middlefield/Colorado at 7:13am and the S/B 88L will depart Louis/Fielding at 7:14am. There are no adjustments being made to the S/B 88M departing at 7:19am.