With the three students shot to death in the past month within three miles of Palo Alto High School, the administration has yet to communicate directly to students and parents, especially regarding the shooting of two teenagers last Sunday.

Tomas Hernandez, 18, and Moises Jimenez, 13, were shot to death Sunday afternoon in what is believed to be gang-related violence on the corner of Cooley and Scofield Avenues in East Palo Alto. Seema Singh, 18, was also killed Monday night as Westminster Avenue, according to police. Investigators are still searching for the killers.

Assistant Principal Katya Villalobos says that the Paly administration is talking with the district on "what the district’s response is going to be," and that they are trying to figure out "what would be most effective."

"We are trying to be helpful without being very aggressive," Principal Scott Laurence said.

Paly is offering grief counseling and guidance support for students. Laurence said he sent a letter to staff members Monday describing the incident and providing instructions on how to talk to affected students. Laurence is still drafting a letter to be mailed to Paly parent residents of East Palo Alto. According to Laurence, less than 10 percent of the student population at Paly is from East Palo Alto.

"We are aware that some students are related to the victims," Villalobos said. "Obviously we are horrified for our students that are going through this. I want to let them know that our hearts are with them."

One anonymous Latina student said she can identify with the victim’s relatives, as an out-of-town relation of hers was in the hospital after being shot with a bullet. She sees a counselor regularly at Paly, but says that the service is not helpful for her. "No offense, but they’re white and don’t really understand our problems."

Senior Fred Koloto’s first cousin was a victim in an East Palo Alto shooting earlier this month.

"It starts with the parents," Koloto said. "Parents need to raise their kids well, and not get them involved in these situations. They need to get their kids involved in after school activities, check who their friends are, and get them off the streets, especially at night."

Koloto added that he does not think the violence can be stopped. "It keeps going on and on, and if you try to fix it you might end up dying," Koloto said.

According to Latino student from East Palo Alto who asked not to be identified, Paly does not have to worry about gang violence.

"People come here [to Paly] because they want to go somewhere in life, want to do something," he said.