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Students adapt to grading changes T he Palo Alto Unified School District’s shift to a credit/ no-credit grading system has provoked varied responses from the Palo Alto High School community.

Paly students and parents have mixed feelings over the grading switch, and question whether the change was the right decision. Nonetheless, some juniors like Karlene Salas find solace in the relaxed atmosphere of the credit/no-credit system.

“For me, it [credit/no-credit grading] was a relief because I was stressed out about everything,” Salas said.

Additional sources of anxiety for Salas and for others include concern about college applications, as Verde profiles editor Andie Tetzlaff discusses in her perspective “Halt to a hard year” on page 44. During their junior year, students are expected to take standardized tests and finish with solid grades going into the college applications.

“It’s slightly discouraging because some people either want to raise their overall GPA or just worked hard at the beginning of this semester so it could feel like that all went to waste,” junior Trisha Razdan said.

In addition to grades, the cancellations of standardized tests like the SAT and ACT as well as the reimagined AP tests have further complicated the admissions process and frustrated students. According to an update from the College Board, 91% of respondents indicated they wanted their hard work to pay off by taking AP tests online.

NEW ASB, NEW DIRECTOR — Greer Stone (right) will take the position of Palo Alto High School’s student activities director, replacing Matt Hall (left), starting next year. “The student activities director position speaks to my passions, because it provides me an opportunity to work with students in creating a school environment that promotes community and celebrates diversity,” Stone said. Photos: Palo Alto Unified School District

Gunn teacher announced as new student activities director

GREER STONE WILL replace the position of Japanese teacher at Gunn Matt Hall as Palo Alto High due to the retirement of Yuki Hikada, the School’s student activities director current Gunn Japanese teacher. at the start of the 2020-2021 school year, “Throughout those nine years of Paly, according to an announcement made by I’ve always had my eye on returning to the Palo Alto Unified School District on what I enjoy most, which is being a JapaMay 13. nese teacher,” Hall said.

Stone is a Paly alumnus and worked as As the Palo Alto Board of Education is a World and U.S. History teacher at Henry discussing changes to next year’s schedule, M. Gunn High School and Jane Lathrop Stone noted the importance of acknowlStanford Middle School. Stone is a former edging the pandemic when dealing with practicing attorney and is actively involved student activities next year. in the local community through the Santa “It goes without saying that the greatClara County Humans Rights Commisest challenge for next year will be creating a sion, the Santa Clara County Justice Resense of normalcy for students while dealview Committee and the Palo Alto Miding with the reality of a COVID-19 world,” town Residents Association. Stone said.

“I believe this eclectic mix of experiWhile the change may seem signifiences will have prepared me for the mulcant, Hall explained that the role of student tifaceted responsibilities of the student activities director is one of a mentor to ASB activities director position,” Stone said. “I rather than the leader. have so many fond memories of student ac“You’ve ultimately got to decide totivities when I was a student here, and I’m gether with the students what the best way eager to continue Paly’s greatest traditions forward is because it’s not ‘Matt Hall’ govwhile further developing their potential.” ernment, it’s not ‘Greer Stone’ government,

Hall is leaving the position of student it’s student government,” Hall said. activities director after nine years of teaching and advising at Paly. He will be taking by GIAN-PAOLO VON RUDEN

BLENDED LEARNING — The Palo Alto Unified School board is considering a blended learning schedule for secondary schools in the district. “We wouldn’t be able to have 100 percent of our students on campus at the same time and still abide by social distancing guidelines,” said Associate Superintendent Sharon Ofek. Photo: Sharon Ofek

District administration drafts re-opening plans for fall

THE PALO ALTO UNIFIED others attending Thursday and Friday. On School District administration redays when the students are not on campus, leased a draft of possible schedules they will distance learn, and all students for when the schools reopen in the fall. will distance learn on Wednesdays.

The school board is creating plans A proposed blended learning schedule for three different ways of reopening the has also been released for the elementary schools: full distance learning mode, blendschools. ed or modified format, and reopening with The elementary schools’ proposed no restrictions. schedule splits the student body into two

A draft of the remote learning schedgroups, with one group attending school ule for secondary schools has been released, in the morning and the other in the afterand consists of students attending schednoon. Under this arrangement, all elemenuled Zoom classes from 8:30 a.m to 3:30 tary students would attend school Monp.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and day–Friday with room cleanings in between Fridays. On Wednesdays, students have ineach group. dependent work time and can attend virIf in-person learning takes place in the tual clubs. fall, the distrcit plans to take essential ac

The secondary school’s blended schedtions to keep the students and staff safe. ule splits the student body in two, with half attending Monday and Tuesday and the by PAISLEY ANNES

Multiple teachers announce their departure S taff from multiple departments have announced their plans to retire from Palo Alto High School following the end of the 2019-2020 school year.

While the “thanks for 45 years” sign tion of specially-curated boxes full of fresh many people have turned to their kitchens was hung outside the store front just last produce, or the “essentials,” like european to find comfort. And the Milk Pail Market year, the Rammussen family’s grocery store cheeses, jams and their famous croissants. has reopened to fill that need. is open for business once again. Despite the shelter-in-place order,

The reopened market has modified Milk Pail Market has a steady stream of their business to ensure that their customcustomers. Unfortunately, the high deby SOFIA ANTEBI

by GIAN-PAOLO VON RUDEN

Milk Pail Market reopens amid pandemic

THE MILK PAIL MARKET, the ers are kept safe by having customers drive mand of their products is hard to keep up once beloved grocery store, has reby the store to pick up their groceries. with, leaving the market with many empty opened for drive-thru at their wareCustomers can make their way through shelves. house located in Mountain View. the drive-thru, and choose from the selecWhile everyone is stuck at home,

The faculty members leaving their positions include Japanese teacher and student activities director Matt Hall, science teacher Michelle Steingart, journalism adviser Esther Wojcicki, guidance counselor Susan Schultz, theater director Kaye Woods and living skills teacher Letita Burton.

Among those who are leaving, Hall and Steingart plan to change jobs in the district, with Hall moving to Henry M. Gunn High School, and Steingart acting as vice principal at Paly. Hall plans to work at Gunn as a Japanese teacher, replacing teacher Yuki Hikada.

Wojcicki plans to retire after a long run as a celebrated educator. Working for 36 years as a journalism adviser at Paly, Wojcicki has won numerous awards and written multiple books throughout her long and successful career.

Verde has also profiled Woods, Shultz and Burton. The articles can be found at www.verdemagazine. com.