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Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Tentative agreement between PAUSD and PAEA marks end of impasse

Tentative agreement between PAUSD and PAEA marks end of impasse

Violet Tivol, Lifestyle Editor May 19, 2024

PAUSD and the Palo Alto Educators Association reached a tentative agreement on May 6, weeks after an impasse was declared on March 29. This agreement will be voted on by the teachers’ union from May 13 to 17 and the result will be announced on May 17. It has also been added to the agenda for the...

Required ethnic studies course to be implemented beginning fall 2025

Required ethnic studies course to be implemented beginning fall 2025

Violet Tivol, Lifestyle Editor October 30, 2023

On Sept. 12, the PAUSD school board recommended that district staff implement the soon-to-be required ethnic studies course in fall 2025 as a graduation requirement for the Class of 2029. Although this recommendation extends the district’s initial time frame by a year, PAUSD will implement the course...

COVID transparency survey

PAUSD administration should improve transparency regarding COVID-19 cases

Raphael Semeria, Managing Editor February 11, 2022

In the past year, billions of dollars in COVID-19 relief have been allocated to schools in order to provide students with safer learning environments. Now, the skyrocketing number of cases and transmissibility of the Omicron variant has led many Americans to once again ask schools to take extra safety...

PAUSD combats staff shortages with new initiatives

PAUSD combats staff shortages with new initiatives

Irene Tsen, Managing Editor February 11, 2022

Following the recent Omicron variant surge, the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) has faced a substitute teacher shortage due to increased staff absences. To continue in-person instruction, the district has implemented new measures to address the shortage, including calling for parent volunteers...

BREAKING NEWS: School released early due to main water line break

BREAKING NEWS: School released early due to main water line break

The Oracle Staff September 23, 2021

Around 12:10 p.m. today, the administration made an announcement over the Public Address system informing students and staff that school would have an early release at 12:20 p.m. due to a break in the main water line.  The pipe break was a result of the parking lot construction project. While...

Students return to new safety guidelines, bell schedule

Students return to new safety guidelines, bell schedule

Raphael Semeria, Managing Editor August 20, 2021

After a year of online classes, Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) schools are reopening at full capacity, welcoming new and familiar faces back to the hustle and bustle of in-person school. Students will return to campus, experiencing the many changes made to the 2021-2022 school year compared...

Missed the reopening town hall? Here are the details.

Missed the reopening town hall? Here are the details.

Julianna Chang and Catherine Chu February 18, 2021

Along with the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) board member Jesse Ladomirak and School Board Representative Thomas Li, school administrators Wendy Stratton, Michalis Gordon, Harvey Newland and Leonel Argumedo answered student questions about the new reopening plan at the town hall meeting on...

Teachers express concern, disapproval over revised reopening plan: "It does not feel like [the district has] our safety as the first priority."

Teachers express concern, disapproval over revised reopening plan: “It does not feel like [the district has] our safety as the first priority.”

Raphael Semeria, Managing Editor February 11, 2021

Following the announcement of the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD)’s revised reopening plan on Tuesday night, staff members expressed shock and disapproval. By dividing the student body into two groups and allowing them the option of attending classes over Zoom while on campus or staying...

Update: Superintendent Don Austin announces new plan potentially reopening middle school, high school campuses by early March

Update: Superintendent Don Austin announces new plan potentially reopening middle school, high school campuses by early March

The Oracle Staff February 9, 2021

Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Superintendent Don Austin announced a revised reopening proposal at Tuesday night’s school board meeting that could have 7th to 12th grade students returning to classrooms as soon as early March. For students to be able to return in-person, Austin said, Santa...

The mental health pandemic: Reopening and high school campuses amidst a rise in COVID-19 cases presents the unique challenge of weighing students' mental health needs against their physical health needs.

The mental health pandemic: Reopening and high school campuses amidst a rise in COVID-19 cases presents the unique challenge of weighing students’ mental health needs against their physical health needs.

Catherine Chu and Haley Pflasterer December 17, 2020

Almost nine months after schools shut down in March, the COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearly every aspect of teenagers’ lives. Education and day-to-day life have been relegated to the virtual sidelines while opportunities for face-to-face socialization with friends have plummeted after the issuance...

Zora Zhang

In the room where it happens: Recent criticism around PAUSD’s decision-making process speaks to the need for effective communication when managing a public health crisis.

Jessica Zang, Features Editor and Assistant Business Manager December 17, 2020

Transparency questioned For weeks, virtual classrooms buzzed with both worry and excitement about reopening elementary schools for in-person learning. On Sept. 29, hordes of students, parents and teachers alike powered on their Zoom applications to tune into a virtual Palo Alto Unified School District...

Superintendent Don Austin cautions secondary schools "highly unlikely" to reopen given Santa Clara County's purple tier status

Superintendent Don Austin cautions secondary schools “highly unlikely” to reopen given Santa Clara County’s purple tier status

Julianna Chang, Managing Editor November 17, 2020

In a Tuesday press conference with The Oracle staff, Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Superintendent Don Austin cautioned it was “highly unlikely” secondary schools would be reopening due to Santa Clara County’s recent move into the purple tier of COVID-19 cases. According to Austin, middle...

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