Sports Update (9/27/13)

Submitted by Miriam Rotman

It was rivalry week against cross town Paly for both water polo teams who played at Paly, and the girl’s golf team and all teams came up trumps!

Water polo – The girls’ team swamped Paly with a 13-1 drubbing, with Natasha Batista scoring 4 goals and Caroline Anderson and Lauren Johnson 3 goals each. Coach Mark Hernandez was very pleased with the performance “It meant a lot to our program to play as well as we did in their house. We shared the ball well and played intelligent defense”. For the boys there was more at stake as twin brothers and head coaches Matt & Brandon Johnson (both Gunn Alums 2006!) faced each other as opposing coaches. Matt, Gunn’s new head coach, and the Gunn team beat up on Paly 14-7, and yes, beating your brother always makes a victory sweeter… Gunn (1-0, 2-3) got five goals from sophomore Christian Znidarsic and four from senior Coby Wayne. Ari Wayne added three goals for the Titans. "We played great defense," Matt said. "We can score. That's not a problem."

Golf - The SCVAL season in girls' golf is nearly half over and one thing is for sure at this point: Gunn is the team to beat.  The defending champion remained perfect on the season with a pair of victories at Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course.   The Titans (6-0, 7-0) this week topped Saratoga, 200-249, and Monta Vista, 200-270, following a 195-197 victory over Paly last week.  Senior Jayshree Sarathy and junior Anna Zhou led Gunn on Monday as each shot a 1-over par 35. Lianna McFarlane-Connelly and Tiffany Yang each shot 41 with Sandra Herchen rounding out the scoring.

Volleyball- Girl’s volleyball team jumps to 2-0, starting off the season defeating a very good Mountain View team and Monta Vista two nights in a row.  In the season opener in our brand new gym, Gunn faced Mountain View. Nicole Brigham lead the Titans with 45 setting assists spreading the ball out very well.  Both Erica Johnston & Meghan Mahoney lead the team with 12 kills each.  Erica sealed the victory with 11 points in a row in game 4 and earned 10 aces in the entire match.  This was a great way to begin the season!  Against Monta Vista, Gunn started strong with a 24-8 lead in the first game with another strong serving performance with Senior Erica Johnston and Junior Cindy Yang.  Setter, Nicole Brigham had another solid match with 37 assists.  Erica Johnston smashed 13 kills, Meghan Mahoney 9 kills, and Miranda Crothers hit 500 as a Middle Blocker.  Libero, Tahra Knudsen was all over on defense with 17 digs tonight and a total of 52 digs in just 2 matches. 

Come cheer the girl’s and see the new gym, as we are hosting a tough match next Tuesday against Los Altos. JV @ 3:30, Varsity @ 6:45.

Football - This is homecoming week, so we expect everyone to come to the game and cheer on our Titans and see the cheer team at their finest!! JV @ 5:00 and Varsity @ 7:30.

Athletes of the week – Sarah Robinson (senior, Cross country)  won the first SCVAL cross-country meet of the season with the fastest time out of 154 runners, and won the Lowell Invitational title (fastest time of the day) while helping the Titans win a team title, and was chosen athlete of the week (Palo Alto Weekly). Joining her were golfers Anna Zhou and Jayshree Sarathy who both earned honorable mentions. Go Lady Titans!!

Spring Fever or Loss of Motivation

Submitted by Roni Gillenson

Spring Fever or Loss of Motivation:  How to Help Your Underachieving Teen

By Jennifer Jones, LCSW, Site Director, Palo Alto High School

                  It’s that time of year; the long winter is over, trees are blossoming, the temperature is warming, and we all want to go to the beach instead of to work.  That’s why Spring Break was invented.  But what if a week of vacation doesn’t revive and re-inspire?  What if that loss of interest in work isn’t temporary? As the Supervisor in a counseling center on a high school campus, I have been hearing a lot lately from parents and teens about a general loss of motivation and interest in doing well in school.  If it didn’t just start prior to spring break and isn’t “Senioritis;” if it’s been ongoing, what can parents do to increase a teen’s motivation to succeed?

                  As human beings we develop the motivation to please our parents as we receive nurturance, love, food and other basic needs from them.  As we grow from babies to toddlers and throughout childhood, we receive both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards for behaving appropriately and doing what we are told.  By the time we become independent adults, we have learned what happens when we “don’t behave,” when we procrastinate, don’t complete our tasks, act irresponsibly, or make poor choices. How we spend our time is our choice now and we deal with the consequences. Teenagers need to test; they need to find out “what will happen if…?” on their journey to adulthood.  Making poor choices or mistakes is part of the process. 

As parents, we have the most influence over our children’s lives, until they hit adolescence.  At this time, their focus turns to the outside world.  They begin to learn more from their friends, other adults, and the surrounding culture. They start behaving differently and want to spend less time with family, all normal developmental processes.  Their interests may broaden and motivators may change.  But when a parent notices a significant and alarming shift in their teen’s school performance it can be a cause for action. Two factors that tend to lead to a loss of motivation in teens, and which parents can still greatly influence, are:

1) Loss of self-confidence/self-esteem, and

2) Lack of control/choices in their life. 

Sometimes a very authoritarian-style of parenting, which includes lecturing, criticizing, having unrealistic expectations, and engaging in frequent power struggles with children can erode a child’s self-esteem.  If there are too many conditions for love and acceptance, the child may just give up entirely or chose to rebel by doing poorly. 

Sometimes we parents don’t realize we continue to parent our teens as if they are still younger children.  We haven’t shifted our parenting role to match their changing developmental needs.  We may continue to tell our teens what to do, when and how to do it, and how they should feel about it.  This can create dependence, low self-esteem and/or resentment.

Parents can help re-motivate their teens by empowering them to act responsibly.  Teens need to be given choices. Consequences of each choice can be explained while allowing the teen to make their own decision, and ultimately learn from their own mistakes. Parents can create a more respectful, cooperative environment by allowing teens to participate in creating the house rules.  Parents can be firm but kind, “I love you and I don’t like this behavior.”  Natural consequences are generally more effective than punishments.  Parents can involve teens in problem solving.  Parents can ask their teen what they think they should do in a given situation, leading the teen to finding a solution rather than telling them what the solution should be.  Parents can also help re-inspire their teens by doing the following:

1     1.   Provide unconditional support and acceptance

2      2.   Encourage teens to explore their passions, validate those passions and provide the tools necessary for exploration

3      3.   Help teens discover their unique strengths and abilities

4     4.    Set small, realistic goals, especially for the procrastinator

5     5.   Provide positive feedback and constructive criticism

6     6.   Provide incentives (money, electronics, more freedom, etc.)

7      7.   Encourage teens to do volunteer work in their community

When something more serious is suspected, there is help out there for parents and teens.  Parents can go to their student’s Guidance Counselor, School Psychologist, Student Support Services or ACS Counselor to meet, discuss and figure out what is going on and where to access the best support, help and resources that is needed.

Teens respond to the same motivators as adults.  As parents we should remind ourselves about what motivates us, what it’s like to feel inspired, and how it feels to be successful - then consistently model that for our children.

Adolescent Counseling Services is a community non-profit, which provides vital counseling services on eight secondary campuses at no charge to students and their families. To learn more about our services please visit the ACS website at www.acs-teens.org or call

Sabrina Geshay, LMFT, Site Director at Gunn (650) 849-7919.  ACS relies on the generosity of community members to continue offering individual, family, and group counseling to over 1,500 individuals annually.  ACS provides critical interventions and mental health services, building a better future for tomorrow. If you are interested in helping to support our efforts, do not hesitate to call

to make a donation.  It goes a long way in helping teenagers find their way!

Site Council Agenda May 6

Submitted by Rene Hart

GUNN HIGH SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL

AGENDA

May 6, 2013  3:55pm Staff Lounge

CALL TO ORDER                                                                                      Geoff Butner

OPEN FORUM:  Members of the public may address the Council on non-agenda

                            Items.  (LIMIT of FIVE MINUTES per person.)

OLD  BUSINESS

Approval of April 8, 2013 Meeting Minutes (five minutes)

NEW  BUSINESS

Elana Zizmor information on proposal #2

Data from Titan 101 Surveys/Overview Titan 101                                  Daisy Renazco

Safe Schools Plan Approval                                                                    James Lubbe

Final Discussion and Decision of New Proposals

Evaluation Presentations

       #11 Judy Adams/Cindy Peters     

Agenda Lightning Round - List of Critical Topics not on the Agenda

    (To add to end of agenda or for future agendas or follow up)

Constituency Representatives’ Reports

§  Principal’s Report                                                                       Katya Villalobos

     Call for Principal’s Cup Committee

     Update on School Activities/Student, Faculty Achievements

                  Update on GAC and Gunn One Year Action Plan

                  Facilities Update/Site Council Tour before end of May

                   Summer School Update

             Board of Education                                                                     Katya Villalobos

§  PTSA                                                          Becky Thomas

§  Parent Report                                                       Linda Lingg

§  SEC                                                                                               Kathleen DeCoste

§  Site Council                                                                                  Rene' Hart

   Preliminary Allocation

   Fall Call for Proposals    Due date will be 9/3/13 to submit.

       We will review in September and vote in October.

   Call for 4 Faculty Members for 2013-15 (need to spread word among faculty).

      Chris Bell and Tina Nesberg are eligible for re-election.  Josh Paley is eligible for 2  more terms since he is completing Faith Hilal’s term..Gabriella Garger has served 2 terms and is ineligible to run again. 

   Goodbye and thank you to Gabriella, Linda, Monica, Wonhee and Somina.

   Next Meeting on September 9, 2013 at 3:55 in Staff Lounge.                        

              Round Robin - questions or concerns

Light Refreshments provided by Judy Adams and Meg Omainsky

Running with the Bulls 5k race on Sunday May 12

Submitted by Ruta Puranik

RUNNING WITH THE BULLS: 5K Race on Sunday, May 12th at 9am- Please volunteer.

 

This year's Running of the Bulls 5k Race is on Sunday, May 12th in Palo Alto celebrates its 11th anniversary (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001ZnWsUdg_0ImtmJ4uGHmKVDIm1jvQRa6h0Z8gfYpn2JnfCbAjChmWz8riFoQG_L1bVnSdm7oG_6BUo2Kz56ct1kfXZUIZsZvbE-PL_9xKfQQ=).   Don't miss this special event.  Not a runner?  Please consider being one of the many volunteers needed to make this long treasured event a success.  If you are unfamiliar with our race; costumed cows and bulls chase you through our 5k course. Some of them are Olympic Athletes, others just like dressing up. 100% of event proceeds go to our beneficiary organizations: A Foundation Building Strength, GunnHS and the Bay Area Track Club.

Race Registration begins at 8:10am  on day of the event or mail in your registration. It is a fun family event on mother's day. The starting point is 780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA.

Volunteers Needed during the race- Please sign up: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Al7nWjVX1yJHdENsT3JXRkVmWFVjTnFqVEJ2Z3U4Z2c&usp=drive_web#gid=0

Thank you for participating...a portion of the proceeds from the event will be applied to scholarships for students in the Gunn Class of 2013 who would otherwise be unable to attend Grad Night festivities.

 

P4P Thank you Article

Submitted by Kathryn Latour

On Monday, April 22, 2013, the weather was so gorgeous and the sky so blue, it was as if the Earth knew that Gunn would be holding a Rally for the Planet to celebrate Palo Alto-wide Earth Day. The day began with the distribution of tickets for all students who elected NOT to come to school by car (carpoolers excepted). Adult volunteers Don Nielson, Kim Harisay, Nina Bell, Loren and Linda Baker, Steve Shi, and Sonya Bradski assisted Penny Ellson and Kathryn Latour (P4P) and members of the Gunn Green team in handing out over 1000 raffle tickets to bussers, walkers, skate boarders, and -- our favorite -- cyclists, who made up over 585 of those eco-friendly commuters.

At the lunch time rally, Gunn students were honored by the presence of PAUSD School Board President Dana Tom, and City of Palo Alto Mayor Greg Scharff who drew the winners of the Earth Day Raffle. Congratulations go to these winners who won the following gift cards: freshman Sherry Z. (iTunes), senior Paymahn M. (Sprinkles), junior Lauren S (Cinemark), and junior Stephanie C (Van's). Also at the rally, the Green Team and Traffic Safety manned displays underscoring the importance of recycling, biking safely, and using VTA as a commuting option. VTA gave away bike reflectors and provided information on bus service, including their new Summer Blast Pass for students up to age 17.

The following afternoon, the Earth Day celebration continued with the Palo Alto Police Department, represented by Officer Michael Kan, offering bike licensing to Gunn students. He was helped by Explorers Austin K. (freshman) and Dillon T. (sophomore), adult volunteers Marilyn Keller, Lynne Russell, and Nancy Smith, Kathryn Latour and Penny Ellson and Green Team members Eliana R. (junior), Chrissy K. (junior), Mario K. (junior), President Wendy P. (senior), Yannie Y. (senior), and Kevin L. (sophomore). All totaled, these volunteers licensed 51 bikes! Students who were not able to take advantage of this on-site licensing can go to any Palo Alto Fire Station to have it done. (Call for times.) There is a nominal fee but licensing one's bike is a surer way to get it returned if it is stolen.

Many thanks to the Gunn community for helping its student body value our planet!

P4P Team        

Gunn Volunteer Recognition and Service Awards Luncheon

Submitted by Francesca Lieb

ALL PARENTS ARE INVITED, do not miss it!!! 

Gunn Volunteer Recognition and Service Awards Luncheon

Thursday May 2^nd @ 12:15 TO 1:30pm in the Gunn Gymnasium.
You are cordially invited to attend the Gunn Volunteer Recognition and Service Awards Luncheon honoring everyone who has volunteered in any way during this school year.
Please come!  We are looking forward to thanking you.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Norma Hesterman (nhesterman@pausd.org) or Francesca Lieb (francesca.lieb@gmail.com)

ACS: Navigating the Relationship with your Teen

Submitted by Roni Gillenson


Navigating the Relationship with your Teen by Chris Chiochios, LMFT, Site Director for JLS Middle School

In my work with teens and their parents, I find that one of the most common and primary “complaints” or problems that bring families to seek additional support for their teen or child is communication, or lack thereof. Communication is happening, except that it is may be muddled and mixed with overwhelm, need, worry, frustration, concern, anger, reactivity, defensiveness, or resistance. The challenge becomes how to share concerns and address “problems” that are emerging in a way that is constructive and collaborative and focused on building solutions.

One of the most effective and most challenging ingredients, in navigating the changing relationship with your teen is to see them, accept them, and acknowledge with them that they are changing, that they are becoming an adult. This does not mean that they are an adult yet, but they need experience and practice along with your support, guidance, expectations, limits, rules, and boundaries to complete their transition from child to teen to adult. Developmentally, adolescence is a time of establishing ones’ identity separate from the family as a unique individual in this world. The challenges of growing up during these times are immense and many. One of the greatest gifts that we can give to our children is a sense of trust, respect, security, and unconditional acceptance within a world of filled with conditions, pressures, stressors, and uncertainty.
Often what happens is that out of our intention to help, to guide, to impart our knowledge and experience, the opposite happens and the impact is much different than what we had intended. As this dynamic mounts, problems increase. Rifts begin to take hold. Communication diminishes or becomes increasingly negative, charged, or one-sided.

The power of listening is important, especially as your child moves into adolescence. The gifts, knowledge, and guidance that we have to share with them during this time cannot come about without the presence of love, acceptance and respect, availability, curiosity, and empathy. Engagement and curiosity are processes that add to the creation of attunement or the experience of “feeling felt”. Attunement and feeling felt convey love, respect, compassion, and a willingness to understand another perspective, especially one that we don’t agree with or don’t find effective or “right”. As my fellow site director, Martha Chan wrote recently,  “Listening can be a challenge for many of us; as parents, we have accumulated wisdom and
experience we would like to impart to our children, to save them from having to make the same mistakes we did or that we saw our friends make. And once we start talking, we often keep going in hope that our teenager will make some response, join in the conversation, or otherwise acknowledge that he is listening.” Often when our desired reaction or response does not happen, we make an assumption, an evaluation, or a judgment. It is as if a knot is being formed and pulled tighter.

I found an inspiring reference to this process in a blog by Dr. Laura Dessauer that speaks to the desired intention and preferred impact of our efforts as parents with our teens. She referred to these commitments as the essential messages that they need to hear from you, their parent. She wrote these as follows:

You are lovable: No matter what, you are lovable. You do not have to do anything or be anything more than what you are to be loved and to be lovable. In this moment I recognize you and love you just as you are.

Sometimes it hurts: At moments life is painful and there is nothing you can do to make it any better. It just feels bad and I am here to be with you in these difficult moments.

You are safe: Although I can’t protect you when things go wrong or you are scared, know that you have within you tremendous courage. Even when things feel dark and hopeless, take a deep breath and know that you are in this moment, okay.

Let me try and understand: I may not know what it is like to be you. I don’t know what happen in your heart and in your mind. I don’t know why you act the way that you do sometimes, so please help me understand. I am willing to listen and respect what you have to say.

I respect you: You have different ideas, and see the world differently than I do. Sometimes we struggle to meet eye to eye, but who you are as a person is good and kind and there are moments when I look at you and have such deep respect for the person that you are.

Teach me: At times I forget to be patient, sometimes I snap at you, at times I want things done quickly, and done “my way”. Please continue to teach me patience, remind me to be flexible, show me the gifts that you have in your heart about love and kindness. I can learn so much from you when I am willing to slow down and just be with you.

You are good enough and you are whole: Please remember that nothing anyone says or does, or nothing that you can do or say, will make you less than whole. You are lovable and there is nothing that you can have, do, or be that will make you more loveable than who you already are.

You are worthy: You are worthy of happiness, love, and kindness, and all the goodness, no more and no less than any other being. Sometimes I struggle to remember this in my own life and I thank you for reminding me.

Let your uniqueness shine: I know at times it feels like things would be better if you just fit in and you were like everyone else. It feels so isolating to be different and stand out. I honor and celebrate what makes you uniquely you, no one else on this planet can take your place, and that’s truly remarkable.

I am sorry: I try to help you grow into being a happy and kind child, and sometime I try too hard and I forget what an amazing gift you are. You are funny, kind, you have such a generous heart, and love to laugh and play. I’m sorry for those
times when I forget to look at you with the love and compassion you deserve.

The take away from this that I wish for those reading this article would be that this period of time can be incredibly challenging and uncertain. You are an incredibly important figure in your teens’ lives. It is a time of great change. The role and importance of home and family cannot be underestimated. Having a secure home base that is a safe haven for your teen to recharge, to work out problems, to gain understanding, to feel a sense of peace and solace, and to get support is essential AND always a work in progress. You may have the best intentions, but when the impact does not line up, it is like rolling a large boulder up a hill. Listen and engage, and that boulder can feel lighter and less heavy and maybe you’ll even have some help pushing it up the hill.

References:
Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson, “The Whole Brain Child”
Patt and Steve Saso, “10 Best Gifts for Your Teen: Raising Teens with Love and Understanding”

Adolescent Counseling Services is a community non-profit, which provides vital counseling services on eight secondary campuses at no charge to students and their families. To learn more about our services please visit the ACS website at www.acs-teens.org or call Sabrina Geshay, MFT, Site Director at Gunn (650) 849-7919. ACS relies on the generosity of community members to continue offering individual, family, and group counseling to over 1,500 individuals annually. ACS provides critical interventions and mental health services, building a better future for tomorrow. If you are interested in helping to support our efforts, do not hesitate to call to make a donation. It goes a long way in helping teenagers find their way!

Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) Wants You!
Do you care about local teens and families? Are you interested in making sure accessible mental health services are available to the community? ACS is currently looking for individuals to serve on our Board of Directors. For more information, please contact Janet Chaikind, ACS Vice President, at governance@acs-teens.org.

FREE Prevention Offerings from ACS
Take advantage of ACS’ FREE Substance Abuse Prevention Workshops offered monthly at the Palo Alto Family YMCA. For more info, please visit www.acs-teens.org. ACS also offers the Substance Abuse Info Line (SAIL) where trained therapists are ready to answer your questions or provide you with resources related to teens and substance abuse. Operating Monday-Friday from 5PM to 7PM, you can reach SAIL at (650) 384-3094.