Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sports Update

Submitted by Miriam Rotman

Winter Sports

Wrestling - Stephan Weidemann (Sr) finished in first place at the CCS championships with 3 pins on the way to a triumphant 5-0 win against Sam Watson (St. Francis). Next up for Stephan - state Championships in 2 weeks - good luck! Julian Calderon (Jr) finished 9th.
Also - Cadence Lee (Fr) represented Gunn well at the Girl's State Championships. Cadence entered unranked and finished in 7th place (state...).

Girls Soccer - Missing a key player (Alyssa Perrault- who scored the winning goal in the CCS first round), the girls put up a valiant fight against a bigger, tougher, St Francis squad (seeded 1st). At half-time as a result of great defensive work the game was 0-0 and St. Francis was starting to look anxious.
In the second half under a offensive onslaught by St. Francis, they finally scored. Molly Barnes (Sr. goalie) made sure by her great work in goal that no more goals were scored. Although Gunn had their chances to score, they failed to convert, resulting in a 1-0 win for St. Francis. It was a very well played game with excellent work in the mid-field and back line. Congratulations Coach Damian and his Lady Titans on a great season.

Girls Basketball - Won their quarterfinal game. Gunn 50 - San Benito 26.

Spring Sports

Softball -
The Lady Titans dropped their season opener 2-1 to San Jose's Evergreen Valley. Casey Maltz pitched well in the loss, giving up just 4 hits and no earned runs. Laura Tao led the offense with two hits and scored the lone Titan run. Claire Collins and Taylor Aguon provided the defensive highlight, combining for a double play.

Baseball - Won the season opener against Cupertino. Gunn jumped to a 7-2 lead with timely hitting and great pitching. The Cupertino squad fought back but the game ended 7-5 in Gunn's favor.

Track & Field - Open the season with a meet at Aragon HS (San Mateo).

Friday, February 25, 2011

PALO ALTO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’s 45th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

Submitted by Kim Nguyen

PALO ALTO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’s 45th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
March 27th Concert to benefit the Music in the Schools Foundation
Featuring the South American folkloric group Trio Chaskinakuy
Benjamin Simon, Music Director


The award-winning Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra will celebrate its 45th Anniversary with a very special concert to benefit the Music in the Schools Foundation, a local non-profit organization dedicated to making music education classes available to students in the Ravenswood School District. Under the direction of PACO music director, Benjamin Simon, the program will feature a giant-size string orchestra performing Bach's magnificent Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major. The program will also feature the South American folkloric group Trio Chaskinakuy, performing several songs with the Senior PACO orchestra. The concert will take place on Sunday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m. at CostaƱo Elementary School, 2695 Fordham Street, East Palo Alto. Ticket prices are $25 for adults and free for children. For more information, please call 650-856-3848

SINFONIA OF THE PALO ALTO CHAMBER ORCHESTRATO PERFORM

Submitted by Kim Nguyen

SINFONIA OF THE PALO ALTO CHAMBER ORCHESTRATO PERFORM
March 20th Concert to present renowned composers from around the world
Michel Taddei, Guest Conductor


Under the direction of PACO guest conductor Michel Taddei, PACO's Sinfonia Orchestra will present a program of renowned composers from around the world. The program will open with the energetic and joyful third Brandenburg Concerto of Johann Sebastian Bach, followed by chamber works of Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Dmitri Shostakovich. With the sultry rhythms of Argentina perfectly conveyed through string orchestra timbres, a set of contemporary tangos by Benedict Brydern will be performed to take us to a different part of the globe. The last and principal work on the concert will be the Novellettes, opus 58, by Niels Wilhelm Gade. The concert will take place on Sunday, March 20, at 3:00PM at the Cubberley Theater in Palo Alto. Admission is free. For more information, call 650-856-3848

PALO ALTO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’s 45th SEASON

Submitted by Kim Nguyen

PALO ALTO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’s 45th SEASON
THIRD CONCERT March 19th
Concert to feature Stanford faculty violinist Debra Fong
Music Director, Benjamin Simon


PACO's third subscription concert of our 2010-11 season features one of the Peninsula's most accomplished professionals, Stanford faculty violinist Debra Fong. She will perform Vivaldi’s Ever-green Spring from The Four Seasons as well as the charming, seldom-heard Violin Concerto by Fritz Kreisler, one of the great violin virtuosi of the 20th century. The orchestra will also perform Osvaldo Golijov’s Last Rounds for String Orchestra, a sizzling, tango-inspired work that might have you dancing in the aisles. The concert will take place on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. at the Eagle Theater of Los Altos High School, 201 Almond Ave, Los Altos. Ticket prices are $15 general, $10 senior and $5 student. For more information, please call 650-856-3848

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

SELPA 1 CAC March Parent Education Event

Submitted by Karen Mueller

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 (www.selpa1cac.org) All of our events are free and open to anyone who feels they might benefit. No registration is necessary.

Debut of the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra Season Second Concert

Submitted by Kim Nguyen


Debut of the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra Season Second Concert,
Sunday February 27 at 3:00pm
at Cubberley Theater, Palo Alto


Under the direction of guest conductor Eugene Sor, PACO's Debut Orchestra continues its 2010-2011 season with a concert at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 27 at the Cubberley Theater in Palo Alto. Gunn 9th grade violinist, Iris Chen, will be one of the nineteen musicians on stage. The talented young group will perform Johann Sebastian Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, a familiar favorite to music lovers throughout the world. Also on the program is Gustav Holst's charming St. Paul's Suite, written in 1913 in dedication to the school where Holst taught for much of his life. Rounding out the program will be movements form two popular string quartets by composers who mastered the quartet genre: Mozart's Hunt Quartet, K. 458 and Beethoven's "Serioso" quartet, opus 95.
Admission is free.
For more information, call 650-856-3848 or visit http://www.pacomusic.org/.

A Message From The Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Wow, it is difficult to believe but we are already in week three of second semester. As winter begins to end, Gunn activities--academic, co-curricular and extra--curricular are humming along. We have officially begun Registration Season by welcoming the class of 2015. The Guidance and Administrative Staff have finished our "Gunn 101" presentations, culminating in our Academic Open House on February 1.

Over the next two weeks you and your student(s) will be receiving registration information. The 2011-2012 Gunn Course Catalog is now available on-line. Please take the time to read and review--it includes a lot of handy information from course descriptions, homework estimates, and the Advanced Placement Application---here is the link: http://gunn.pausd.org/registration/catalog/gunncatalog1112.html

This is also the time of year that we want to hear from you. Below is the Parent/Guardian Input Request. I encourage you to send input to the teachers;

Parent/Guardian Input—2010-2011

Each year at this time, parents and students are asked to provide input on teacher(s). We urge you to respond to this request because it is one of several important sources of information that help teachers and their supervisors improve instruction. Students will be asked to complete input forms in their classes. Parents are required to sign their input, while student input is anonymous.

Please remember that a teacher’s assigned supervisors are the sole evaluators (administrator) of teacher performance and that this input process is not an appropriate or effective means to present complaints. If you have a specific problem or concern about a teacher and you have not been able to resolve it, please contact their Instructional supervisor and/or administrator.

Your completed form goes directly to the teacher and is not seen by anyone else unless the teacher chooses to share it. Return each form to (Name of Teacher), Gunn High School, 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306. You may also give your input to the teacher directly by email.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear ___________________________________________________________
(Teacher’s name)

Student’s grade level : 9 10 11 12

Period: A B C D E F G

Appropriate, timely and effective communication with student and home about student progress:

Success in meeting student’s academic needs:

Success in demonstrating that s/he is aware of my student’s personal needs which affect academic performance:

Other comments (attach additional sheet if necessary):


Signature of parent/guardian (required):______________________________________________

Thank you and sincerely,

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

Monday, February 7, 2011

Sports Updates

Wrestling
The Gunn Titans came into Thursday’s meet with a 4-0 dual meet record in the SCVAL as did the Fremont Firebirds. Something had to give…and tonight it was Fremont. Both teams won seven matches, so it was the major decisions, tech falls and pins that made the difference for Gunn in their 36-33 win.

This was also "Senior Night" for the six seniors on the Titan squad. It was the last time Stefan Weidemann , undefeated (ranked #1 in CCS and 4 in state) competed in front of his home crowd. Weidemann won by a tech fall, heading into the CCS Championships with a 17 win no losses record. Although the Titans still have one dual remaining next Thursday, it is against a small Harker Academy squad, so Thursday's meet was essentially for the championship. This marks the first league title for Gunn wrestling in six years.

Additional highlights - Cadence Lee, a Titan freshman, won her weight class at the CCS championships , pinning all her opponents and beating the top-ranked girl in the semi finals. Cadence will be representing Gunn at the State meet and we wish her good luck!

For the wrestling fans of Gunn - the SCVAL championships will be held at Wilcox HS on 2/12/2011, and the CCS Championships will be held at Independence HS (San Jose) on Feb. 25-26. We wish all the wrestlers - good luck!

Boys Basketball
After 2 tough losses to Cupertino and Paly, the Titans faced a tough game against a determined Los Altos squad. For the Titans who hope to stay in the De Anza Division race “Losing was not an option,” said Gunn Boys’ basketball player, Taylor Perricone. Thanks to Perricone, who led all scorers with 21 points, the Titans pulled out what looked like would have been an improbable win as they rallied from 31-14 down to win the game. Perricone was a huge part of it as he scored 17 second half points, including four three pointers. “We played great defense in the second half,” said Perricone. “I got into a zone and so did Anthony Cannon and we made it happen.” The comeback was the biggest deficit that Gunn has overcome in at least 10 years and was a critical win for the Titans. After Gunn’s 50-47 win Perricone said “We were going to do whatever it takes to pull this game out.”

The Titans will be hosting PALY for the last home game of the season this Friday 2/11 at 7:45. Please come and cheer them on.

Girls Basketball
After 2 unexpected losses to PALY and Mountain View, Gunn (15-4, 7-2 SCVAL) stayed in the Santa Clara De Anza Division race, but can’t afford any more stumbles the rest of the way.

Gunn guard Claire Klausner is all of 5 feet, 6 inches but the sophomore rebounded like she was at least 6-feet tall in the Titans’ 48-34 victory over Monta Vista-Cupertino. Klausner had 11 boards, most of them on the offensive end. We have goals every game for rebounds, steals and assists,” said Klausner, who had six points. “Everyone rebounded. I made it my one goal to rebound.”

With contributions from Zoe Zwerling 13 points, Cat Perez 15 points, J. Magg 5 points adding to Claire Klausner's 16 points Gunn defeated Mountain View 48-34. “We came out with a lot more energy this time,” Gunn coach Sarah Stapp said. “Everyone contributed.”

The Lady Titans will host the last home game of the season this Friday 2/11 at 6:00 PM against PALY.

Soccer
Friday night was an exciting game for the Gunn Titan Girls Soccer Team as the Titans were pumped up and ready to play the Vikings on Paly's home turf. The fans came out in full force to cheer the squad including senior Melissa Sun who was able to join the team on the sideline while recovering from recent ACL surgery.

Gunn dominated the second half, producing a promising scoring chance less than two minutes in, as freshman forward Sarah Robinson, who missed the first game, was denied by Paly goalie Alex Kershner. The Duke-bound keeper was tested often over the final 40 minutes. The game-winning goal came in the second half. In the 68th minute, feisty freshman Sarah Robinson ran down a long pass on the left wing and turned toward the goal.. Senior Holly McKenna finished things up, popping the ball past the Viking keeper. “Freshman to senior...there is symbolism in that” Cohen said after the game. “I am just happy for the girls and being a part of changing the long-standing history.”

Coach Damian Cohen was thrilled with the team play. “The girls were tenacious and passionate and played good soccer” Cohen commented. “They were in hard on every tackle, moved off the ball and had great team shape.” Titan keeper senior Molly Butera kept calm and snapped up every Viking shot.

“They know this made our season because it’s a rivalry within the town,” Gunn coach Damian Cohen said. “Palo Alto has had the upper hand, at least in soccer, as long as I can remember. … And I think it meant the world to them to win."

“They should be excited,” Ernesto Cruz (Paly's coach) said. “They haven’t beaten us for five years. And they did a tremendous job, and they deserved the win.” Next week the Lady Titans continue with league play meeting up with Los Gatos at Gunn on Wednesday night. The Senior Night celebration will include a pre-game ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of the squads eight graduating seniors, Molly Butera, Holly McKenna, Jesse Klein, Melissa Sun, Anna von Clemm, Bonnie Cardillo, Diana Wise, and Lisa Jackson. Game Time 6 p.m.


Highlights
Wrestling - Gunn are undefeated in League winning all dual meets. Cadence Lee won the Girl' s CCS wrestling title for her weight class.

Soccer - The Lady Titans pulled off a stunning 1-0 upset of PALY on the Viking's home turf.
Senior night 2/9 playing Los Gatos.

Basketball - The Boys came back from a 31-14 deficit to beat a determined Los Altos 50-47.
Basketball senior night 2/11 for both girls and boys squads facing the tough PALY teams.

Updates on Arastradero Road from Palo Alto's Chief Transportation Official

Quick Updates by intersection:

Clemo Dr Crosswalk
- handicap ramp work done
- flashing beacon system done but left off until the marked crosswalk goes in
- marked crosswalk should go in after the signal work in about two weeks

Hubbartt Drive Speed Signs
- when I left the field this afternoon they were finishing the one sign in the median facing westbound traffic towards the school and starting the second sign facing eastbound traffic towards Donald.
- both sign installations should be complete by Thursday
- we will need to do some tree trimming around the sign facing eastbound traffic next week
- striping work around island should go in after the signal work in about two weeks

Coulombe Traffic Signal
- handicap ramp construction work underway
- new pole should start going up next week
- construction estimated for completion end of next week but the left-turn movement will not be active for about one month while we finish procurement of video detection equipment. The operation after initial construction will be a permissive left turn as it was before the start of construction until then.
- Striping work for the crosswalks will happen immediately after the work at Clemo and Hubbart is done.

Restriping from El Camino Real to Alta Mesa
- Public Works Engineering was going to do this for us but they don't have any contingency funding left in their contract
- I have three bid requests out and should have a low-bid by Thursday. We'll work on getting the low-bidder on board quickly so they can do the restriping within three weeks.

Note from Arthur Keller: The restriping on the Westbound direction from El Camino Real to Alta Mesa is to lengthen the two-lane portion before it merges down to one lane, in order to allow for more stacking of cars. Currently, wiaitng cars fill up this area, leaving no room for Westbound traffic to cross El Camino Real at peak traffic times.