Many thanks to those who attended our last PTSA General Assembly Zoom conference on April 16. Our PTSA Executive Board for 2020-21 has been approved as follows:

• President — Kimberly Eng Lee
• Executive Vice President — Lili Nova-Roessig
• VP Community Activities — Jackie Liang
• Co-VP Community Activities — David and Grace Downer
• VP Ways & Means — Audrey Gold
• VP Communications — Jen Schultz
• Co-VP Communications — Eva Dobrov
• Secretary — Karen Shuler
• Treasurer — Pilar Hsue
• Auditor — Karrie Chen
• Historian — Claire Kirner

PTSA General Meeting Thurs, April 16, 6:30-7:45pm – Please join us via Zoom conference for updates from Superintendent Don Austin and Principal Kathie Laurence. We will send a Zoom link via UptoUs prior to the meeting.

We will also vote to approve the slate for next year’s Gunn PTSA Executive Board as follows:

• President — Kimberly Eng Lee
• Executive Vice President — Lili Nova-Roessig
• VP Community Activities — Jackie Liang
• Co-VP Community Activities — David and Grace Downer
• VP Ways & Means — Audrey Gold
• VP Communications — Jen Schultz
• Co-VP Communications — Eva Dobrov
• Secretary — Karen Shuler
• Treasurer — Pilar Hsue
• Auditor — Karrie Chen
• Historian — Claire Kirner

The Palo Alto PTA Council Health & Wellness Committee invites you to hear our expert panelist: Jeanie Chang, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, this Thursday April 2 at 7:00pm offer her insights on how we can engage in ‘family closening’ during this time of social distancing of a pandemic situation. This time of navigating the unknown understandably leaves parents stressed, worried and even scared.

Click on the link to join the Zoom webinar: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14O6jLe-F14wLELkcNTpuXEg_lxKZ33Zo3xbcs0bGVHQ/edit?usp=sharing

This webinar is limited to 100 participants. If you are unable to join us live, you may listen at a later date as it will be recorded and posted online on Palo Alto Council Website.

Thank you all for your patience and flexibility as we transition from Phase I (first week) to Phase II (next two weeks) of our closure.  We are planning now for a likely Phase III (closure beyond Spring Break).  Each phase is described in the links below and increases expectations for staff and students.  

• https://www.pausd.org/school-closure
• https://www.pausd.org/coronavirus/plain-talk-faq

Mass communications from the District Office will subside and site messages and direction will increase.  Our principals at all levels will push updates to families each Wednesday throughout the closure.  The plan could shift if significant events occur or conditions change.  Students should expect routine communication from parents beginning in Phase II and escalating in Phase III.

Thank you for your understanding and partnership.  We are all in this together and appreciate our teachers for learning a completely different method of delivering instruction.  We will get better each day through professional development, identification of best practices, and student feedback.

Sincerely,

Don Austin, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

School will be closed from March 16-April 10. Stay healthy and stay tuned for more details!