Saturday, June 11, 2011

Get SAT ready this summer with Gunn Library

Submitted by Cynthia Easton
Gunn Library subscribes to online test prep from Shmoop.

SAT and ACT Test Prep:
Review and practice for Reading, Writing and Math
Sentence completion
Passage comparisons
Writing essays and improving sentences and paragraphs
Numbers and operations
Algebra, Geometry, Statistics and Probability

AP Test Prep:
Explanations, examples and exercises
Practice problems
Review and drill questions
Full-length timed practice exams
Test-taking tips and strategies


How to access Shmoop:
From the Gunn Library website, Gunn Library Tumblr
Use the AP SAT Test Prep link at the top of the page.
Magic Word = titansrule (also found on InClass)
Create your own username and password

Thursday, June 2, 2011

PiE Update









PARTNERS IN EDUCATION (PiE) GRANTS $3.4 MILLION TO PALO ALTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
With more parents and community members supporting us than ever before, including 545 Gunn families, Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE) donated $3.4 million to Palo Alto Schools in late March. PiE, the education foundation that raises funds to staff school programs across the Palo Alto Unified School District, raises money centrally and allocates funds on a per student basis directly to all elementary, middle, and high schools in the district.
“The incredible generosity of PiE donors reflects our community’s commitment to providing an excellent education to our children,” said Kevin Skelly, PAUSD Superintendent. “This generosity couldn’t come at a better time, as uncertainties with state funding remain, making the partnership between parents, schools and our community even more important.”

What PiE has paid for this school year at Gunn High School
This current school year, Principal Katya Villalobos used over $347,000 donated by PiE last March to (a) pay for more counseling help for Gunn students, (b) offer a first time Introduction to Engineering Course and (c) pay for the technology mentors that help all teachers at Gunn use technology more effectively in the classrooms. She said: "At Gunn, PiE donations make continuing and new curriculum possible. Students are touched directly by PiE from class opportunity to college and career planning. Thank you for the continued support--PiE is a part of what makes Gunn a special place for teaching and learning."

What PiE will pay for next school year at Gunn High School
Of the $3.4 million raised from PAUSD parents and community between August 2010 and February 2011, $825,000 has been given to the principals at the two high schools and Gunn’s share (approximately $415,000) will be spent on the following programs for school year 2011-12: (a) to fund additional college and career counselors to better help students with their post-high school transitions; (b) to pay for additional student guidance to foster teacher-student connections and build student resilience and (c) to continue funding of career and technology electives such as engineering and biotechnology, which help prepare our students for an ever-changing world.

Gunn High School also awarded PiE funds for special projects next school year.
In addition to the foundation's grant to PAUSD, another $68,059 for 22 teacher grants to 19 school programs across the district was awarded for the fall 2010 teacher grant award, one of the largest amounts ever offered by PiE for teacher’s grants in a single round. Some of these funds will be used for teacher-directed programs at Gunn involving the robotics team, the music program [ during which students will learn music from African, South American and Asian cultures], and a new anti-stress program using yoga.

Your current Gunn PiE Team thanks you and introducing the new Gunn PiE Team
Belle Griffiths, Nancy Smith and Cherrill Spencer applaud the 545 Gunn families who donated to Partners in Education this year and trust that all Gunn families will respond even more generously this coming school year when our new Gunn PiE team seek your annual donation to PiE. Nancy Smith will be staying on to lead the team and she will be joined by Sonya Bradski, Asha Guha and Aarti Johri.

About Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE):
Palo Alto Partners in Education (PiE) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) education foundation dedicated to supporting all Palo Alto public schools. We partner with parents, the Palo Alto Unified School District and the local community to raise funds to give all students in PAUSD the best education possible. Since PiE’s inception in 2004‐05, we have donated more than $15 million to Palo Alto Schools. For more information about PiE, please visit www.papie.org .