PUSD UPDATE

Dear PUSD Community,

Believe it or not, autumn has officially begun. Temperatures are starting to drop (thankfully) and trees are beginning to shed their leaves. I see fall as a season of change and similarly, we are entering an Era of Transformative Education at PUSD. I was excited to hear about specific changes at a recent Board presentation delivered by Helen Hill, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. Ms. Hill explained how along with our community partners, we are better preparing teachers to remove or minimize barriers to learning. This is the second year of an ongoing process designed to address levels of marginalization in our District. I believe the Era of Transformative Education will continue to have a positive effect not only on Black, Latino, and low-income students, but ultimately on all PUSD students.

In this week’s update, we highlight outstanding students who’ve been selected for the Tournament of Roses Royal Court. We elevate exceptional educators who are sharing their knowledge with others from across California. We continue to support families in keeping children safe and we are asking parents to help plan for the future. I look forward to working with all of you to make our district the best it can be.

Thank you and have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Brian McDonald, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Michelle Cortez-Peralta of Pasadena High School (pictured, third from right) and Zoe Denoncourt of John Marshall Fundamental (pictured, fourth from right) have been named to the 2023 Tournament of Roses Royal Court. Members of the 2023 Court will each receive a $7,500 educational scholarship and serve as ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses, the Pasadena community and the greater Los Angeles area. The Court is presented by Citizens Business Bank and selections are based on a number of criteria including academic achievement, community and school involvement, public speaking ability, and youth leadership. The 2023 Royal Court will ride down Colorado Blvd. on the Royal Court float in the 134th Rose Parade presented by Honda and attend the 109th Rose Bowl Game, both on Monday, January 2, 2023.

PUSD is celebrating student interns who are not only strengthening their own resumes but also helping community business partners. Students, teachers, and business leaders gathered at the first annual Career Technical Education (CTE) mixer hosted by Red Hen Press last week in order to celebrate how PUSD college, career and academy programs have changed lives. Every year, PUSD students benefit from guest speakers, resume reviews, mock interviews, job shadows, internships, and work-based learning experiences throughout the area. The programs have led to meaningful real-life job experience, positive collaborations with community partners, and even prestigious college acceptances. Congratulations to all of the participants!

Photo: Students Adara Dowell, Nautica De Alba, Gabrielle Trujillo

(Part of a series)

Several PUSD educators are sharing their knowledge with their counterparts from across the state and we are SO proud! They were selected to present workshops at the 2022 CATESOL State Conference in Pasadena over the weekend. CATESOL is a professional organization serving teachers of English to speakers of other languages in California.

Robert Hernandez (PUSD Director, Planning, Innovation, Accountability, & Special Projects)

Presenters included: Robert Hernandez (PUSD Director, Planning, Innovation, Accountability, & Special Projects), Elizabeth Najera (Blair School), Jose Ortega (PUSD Curriculum, Instruction & Professional Development), Reyna Uka (Octavia E. Butler Magnet), Jason Trapp (Octavia E. Butler Magnet), Byanka Haro-Bañuelos (formerly Octavia E. Butler Magnet), and Jennifer Miyake-Trapp (formerly Wilson Middle School, now Pepperdine University).

Jason Trapp (Octavia E. Butler Magnet), Byanka Haro-Bañuelos (formerly Octavia E. Butler Magnet), Reyna Uka (Octavia E. Butler Magnet)

Our leaders highlighted PUSD's support of students who are continuing to develop their home language while also learning an additional language. Presenters also spoke about our Dual Language Immersion Programs (DLIP) and how to support middle school multilingual learners. Thank you for your hard work and for lending your expertise to educators.

Jose Ortega (PUSD Curriculum, Instruction & Professional Development), Elizabeth Najera (Blair School)

Discover your child’s path to greatness! From academics to life skills, see for yourself how PUSD equips your child to thrive. Sign up to tour today! www.pusd.us/tours

If your student is stuck on a quadratic equation, has no idea how to begin an essay, or feels lost during a lesson, PUSD can help. Once again this year, we are offering free tutoring for students in grades 3-12 through paper.co . Paper’s live tutors can help with homework and they are accessible 24/7. Students can get rapid feedback on everything from word problems to writing assignments to world history. Tutors collaborate with teachers and can also provide multilingual support in Spanish, French, and Mandarin. Everything can be done in an easy-to-use app. In addition to the app, Paper is accessible on every Chromebook, and all students can access Paper through their very familiar Clever portal with a single sign-on. Tutors respond within seconds, so there is very little wait time. Visit https://www.pusd.us/Page/9235 to learn more.

Your child can also get HelpNow, a new digital resource from the Pasadena Public Library that offers live tutoring for learners of all ages. Real-time homework assistance is available 24 hours a day by laptop, tablet, or phone. Tutors do not provide answers — they provide guidance and help. All tutors have passed background checks and possess, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree. HelpNow can also assist families with non-academic needs, such as studying for the citizenship exam. To learn more about HelpNow, please visit: All of California Now has Access to HelpNow - California State Library.

PUSD Parents/Guardians: You’re invited to join the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Parent Advisory Committee. Apply today and help review, advise, monitor, and comment on PUSD’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) spending, and the draft and final LCAP. Applications and information here pusd.us/lcap.

Whether you're a parent, adult caregiver, or a member of the community, you can participate in Parent University classes that are designed to help with one of life’s most important roles: supporting children through their academic journey. The classes are offered throughout the school year and can help you:

• Set up a Parent Portal account to find information on grades, assignments, attendance, and more

• Learn how to make the most of your parent/teacher conferences, how to tap your child’s emotional intelligence, and more

• Become a parent leader and have a positive impact on the entire Pasadena Unified community

Contact the Family & Community Engagement office at 626.396.3600 ext: 88191 or go to our web page https://www.pusd.us/Domain/2838

PUSD is again reminding parents about the dangers of fentanyl after local law enforcement seized a cache of fentanyl pills.

According to the California Department of Public Health:

Brightly-colored fentanyl (referred to as rainbow fentanyl) has been identified as a new trend according to the United States (U.S.) Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Rainbow fentanyl can be found in many forms, including pills, powder, and blocks that can resemble sidewalk chalk or candy. Any pill (regardless of its color, shape, or size) that does not come from a health care provider or pharmacist can contain fentanyl and can be deadly.

Please have a conversation with your students about the dangers of fentanyl. We are vigilant about keeping these drugs off our campuses; however, if your child knows of anyone in possession at any of our schools, site administrators should be apprised as soon as possible.

Law enforcement urges community members to call 911 immediately if they encounter fentanyl in any form, and we urge parents to be especially careful with the candy their children bring home during the upcoming Halloween festivities.

For more information regarding the PUSD Substance Abuse and Prevention Program, please contact the school nurse at your student’s school, or the PUSD Substance Abuse Intervention Specialist at (626) 396-5620 xt 86126, or healthprograms@pusd.us.